SCOTTISH football needs some cheering up and one game that could do the trick is Hibs v Aberdeen.
I'm on the side of fans who reckoned John McGinn should have been given a runout against Slovakia or Slovenia or even both.
Gordon Strachan going with experience is understandable but in his last outing for Hibs it was McGinn who stood out against Celtic – outshining all the Hoops' international stars and netting a double in a 2-2 draw.
Frustrated McGinn spent 180 minutes on the bench as our World Cup dream died and he'll be raring to go today.
It's difficult to pick a winner here as both sides have had their moments but I like the chances of McGinn scoring at 5-1 with bet365. To net first the ex-St Mirren man is 14-1 at bet365 which again is decent value.
Hibs are 29-20 favourites with McBookie while the Dons are a best 7-4 with Ladbrokes and a draw pays 5-2 at 188Bet and that could be the one to go for.
Neil Lennon's men have kept just one clean sheet in the league – at Ross County – so try both teams to score at 3-4 with Marathonbet.
Celtic are the side most affected by players who have been away but should have too much for Dundee at home. Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong won't be risked ahead of Bayern Munich on Wednesday and Tom Rogic is being rested after being away with Australia.
Leigh Griffiths could start on the bench with Moussa Dembele starting and McGregor is likely to come in.
Dundee have won one in six and lost 4-0 at home to the champions in the Betfred Cup in September.
Brendan Rodgers's men are no bigger than 1-8 at William Hill and if you want a price on the handicaps it has to be -2 at 4-5 with Paddy Power.
Scott Sinclair was again overlooked by England for their flat performances against Slovenia and Lithuania – so instead he was soaking up the rays in Dubai and that's not a bad second prize.
The wideman will be rejuvenated and could be the first scorer at 17-4 with McBookie.
Elsewhere in the Premiership Motherwell should take derby bragging rights at injury-hit Hamilton. Well have won four out of six league games and are 7-5 at Ladbrokes.
September Player of the Month Louis Moult has a good record against Accies and is 9-2 at bet365 to net first.
Accies will be more concerned about the off-field news that suggests the clubs are in financial trouble after losing at least £750,000 in a banking scam.
The two winless sides – Partick Thistle and managerless Killie – meet at Fir Park and I'd favour the Jags whose performances have been the better barring a 3-0 loss at Motherwell.
Before that they held Hearts, lost in extra time to Rangers and drew with them in the league, drew at Ross County and were edged out 4-3 in a thriller by Aberdeen.
Partick are 6-5 with Marathonbet against a side who have played just two games on the road and six at home.
In the Championship Dundee United are back on form and look a decent price at 7-4 with Marathonbet at Livingston.
Striker Scott McDonald's return sparked wins against Morton and Dunfermline and they beat Linfield in the Irn-Bru Cup with kids. Livi have performed well since being promoted but won just one of four at home.
Leaders St Mirren face a tricky test at Dumbarton whose games have all been tight. The Buddies are winless in four at the Rock and a little short at a best 7-10 with McBookie but could win in a game with both scoring.
In League One Raith were rocked by Albion Rovers last time out but can get back on track at home to Arbroath.
Arbroath's last six have averaged nearly five goals so best bet here is Raith and over 2.5 match goals at 5-4 with Ladbrokes.
Second-placed Ayr should beat Airdrie at home but best bet could be over 2.5 goals at 1-2 with bet365 as seven out of eight have gone that way.
No League Two games with Scottish Cup ties taking place and best bets could be Elgin at home to Edusport and Montrose at home to Stirling University
On the handicaps take Peterhead -1 and Stirling -1 against Colville Park and Lothian Thistle respectively.
Recommended Bets
- McGinn to score
- Sinclair to score first
- Motherwell
- Partick Thistle
- Dundee Utd
- Raith & over 2.5 goals
- Peterhead -1
- Stirling -1
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
