RANGERS need a Parkhead win today to keep their title hopes alive but the odds are stacked against them with 60,000 Celtic fans looking for their heroes to strike a killer blow.
McBookie have Michael Beale’s men at 10/3 and that’s the biggest price I’ve seen in this fixture for quite a while.
It’s probably because the Hoops beat Gers 2-1 in last month’s Viaplay Cup Final and dished out a 4-0 beating when the Ibrox side last came calling.
And with no away fans present for the final two derbies this season it has made the task even tougher for Rangers.
A draw would leave Celts – who are just 8/11 with McBookie – nine points clear with seven games to play so Beale has no option but to go all out for a win.
It bodes well for an open game with over 2.5 goals and BTTS both just 4/6 at Bet365. Combining those selections in a bet builder will take you up to evens.
For longer odds, over 1.5 first-half strikes pays 6/4 at Ladbrokes.
Betting on cards is always a good option in this fixture and 10 yellows were flashed in the Viaplay Cup Final as passions boiled over in a fiery end to the second half.
With so much at stake today we could see some more desperate tackles and a bit of argy-bargy so it could pay to back a busy day for whistler Kevin Clancy.
You have to go to over 6.5 cards to get to 6/5 at McBookie so the wiser option could be backing players to get in trouble.
John Lundstram is 11/4 at SkyBet for a card and that looks good value as he’s always at the heart of the midfield battle.
Hoops full-back Alastair Johnston also loves a tackle and the Canadian is 5/2 at BoyleSports for a card.
Jota has scored for Celtic in the last two derbies at Parkhead but I fancy the winger for an assist today at 19/10 (McBookie) as he’s more of a provider when on the right flank.
It’s an equally important weekend at the other end of the Premiership table as the battle against relegation to the second tier intensifies.
Kilmarnock were the big winners last weekend as they beat Hearts to move four points clear of the drop zone.
But they’re back on the road again today and face a daunting task against an Aberdeen side who are flying under Barry Robson in the race for third.
The Dons made it four wins in a row by grinding out a win at St Johnstone last weekend and are now just a point behind Hearts.
McBookie make them 3/4 hot favourites for another victory today and it’s hard to disagree with Killie so poor away from home.
But I can see it being quite tight so a one-goal winning margin for either side appeals at 7/5.
Killie midfield Liam Donnelly is usually good value for a card, having racked up 11 yellows this term.
He has been booked in his last three outings and is 8/5 at Bet365 to collect another card.
Ross County played quite well against Celtic in the second half last weekend but still tumbled to a 2-0 defeat in Dingwall.
That made it five defeats in their last six games so the Staggies need to get back on track when they travel to Perth this afternoon.
Despite having 10 men for most of the game, St Johnstone almost nicked a point against Aberdeen last time out so they look decent value at 27/20 (Coral) for a win at home.
Callum Davidson’s men have conceded in their last seven matches so BTTS also stands a chance at 21/20 with McBookie.
Dundee United remain two points behind County at the bottom and host Hibs in the live TV game tomorrow lunchtime.
The Hibees crashed 3-1 to Motherwell last time out so it’s a tough one to call. Going for goals looks the best bet as over 3.5 strikes and BTTS has landed in the last four with Lee Johnson’s side.
You can get evens on over 2.5 goals at Unibet and that looks decent.
City rivals Hearts have been in freefall of late and need a win at home to St Mirren today to stop the rot.
The Buddies are a tough nut to crack and sit just four points behind the Jambos in the table.
But their away form hasn’t been great so I’m on Robbie Neilson’s men for the win at 23/20 with Betway.
Livingston’s hopes of a top-six finish have suffered a blow with just one win in six games.
They travel to a Motherwell side who have lost just once in the same run of fixtures since Stuart Kettlewell took over and the Steelmen look good value at 6/5 (McBookie).
Super singles
- Lundstram card (11/4, Skybet)
- BTTS in Perth (21/20, McBookie)
- Hearts win (23/20, Betway)
Well win (6/5, McBookie)
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. My first novel Moristoun was released in 2015. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site and have been writing the betting tips for the Daily Record newspaper since the sad death of Paul Jain in 2020.
In December 2020 we sadly 
