Scottish Football Tips: Hearts are Livin’ it up

Craig Levein's men have been cut from 150-1 antepost to a best 40-1 at Betway but just 16-1 with William Hill.

It's not quite the 5000-1 the Foxes were priced up at but is 40s too big?

I tipped Celtic and Rangers to be top two at the start of the season and will stick with them but if Hearts can increase their five-point lead while the Old Firm are in Europa League action on Thursdays they'll start to worry the big two.

Today is a perfect chance for them to move eight clear by beating third-placed Livingston before the Glasgow giants play tomorrow.

It won't be easy against a side that lost boss Kenny Miller at the start of the season and was tipped for the drop.

But Hearts are on a high and Tynecastle will be rocking so it's a home for me at 4-7 with Coral.

That's fine for accas such as my homes fivefold but single backers may want to consider the Jambos -1 at 7-5 with bet365.

I tipped Steven Naismith to score first last week and he'll be further boosted by Alex McLeish saying he'll lead the line for Scotland in Israel after his sparkling start to the season. Naisy is 6-1 at bet365 to score first and 2-1 at bet365 to net at any time.

Hearts' capital rivals Hibs played well against Killie last week and will be on my aways at pointless Dundee. Neil McCann's men were hammered by Rangers and there are no signs of recovery.

Hibs are no bigger than 4-5 at Unibet and I'd prefer evens or above. An alternative is Hibs to score 2+ at 9-10 with betfair.

Aberdeen should pick up a first win in four at home to Motherwell. They are 20-21 with Marathonbet but I wouldn't be risking too much.

St Mirren battled superbly against Celtic on Oran Kearney's dugout debut and face a different challenge at Hamilton.

There are positive vibes coming out of Paisley after Alan Stubbs lowered the feelgood factor and while it's asking a lot to win at 2-1 with Marathonbet I'll take Saints at 6-5 draw no bet.

The Old Firm are in action tomorrow after their Europa League exertions. Rangers should have little trouble at home to St Johnstone as long as they're not leg weary.

They are no bigger than 1-8 so for value take Alfredo Morelos, banned against Villarreal, to score first at 15-4 with McBookie.

Celtic face a tougher test at Kilmarnock where they lost 1-0 on their last outing. I can't back them at 4-9 while Steve Clarke's men are a best 13-2 with bet365.

A draw is possible at 10-3 with McBookie and I like both to score at evens with Ladbrokes.

In the Championship every game looks tough to call. Ray McKinnon takes charge of Falkirk at home to former club Dundee United and it could be fiery.

The Bairns chucked away a 2-0 lead to lose at Ayr last week while United's last three have finished 1-1.

It could be another draw and same goes for the Highland derby between Ross County and Inverness although there have been no stalemates in eight meetings in Dingwall.

In League One I like Arbroath, with three wins in four, at struggling Stenhousemuir at evens with William Hill.

Backers of goals should consider overs here as four of the last five at Ochilview have produced four or more.

Edinburgh City helped land my five homes last week and I'm backing them again at Queen's Park who have lost boss Gus MacPherson to St Mirren.

City have won six in a row and are big at 21-10 with bet365 and McBookie to beat a side with one victory in six.

Peterhead are back on track after winning 4-2 at Cowdenbeath and should beat Berwick but 1-3 is too short so instead take Beath at 8-13 with bet365 at home to pointless Albion Rovers.

They led Peterhead at half-time last week and by all accounts played well so should beat Scotland's worst league outfit.