Scottish Premiership tips: Five opening weekend punts including Hearts v Celtic
Published:
Robbie Purves | August 5, 2016
Top-flight football north of the border is nearly back and Coral football writers have picked out some super Scottish Premiership tips.
Every top team will be in action this weekend, featuring blockbuster Hearts v Celtic odds encounter at Tynecastle on Sunday and returning giants Rangers taking on Hamilton in the division’s curtain raiser. Read on to discover our five top Scottish Premiership tips…
Bhoys to blast Jambos 3-1
Celtic have beaten Hearts 3-1 three times in the last three seasons, with their last two meetings finishing that scoreline.
The Bhoys have found their feet after Brendan Rodgers took over, and possess a quality laden squad likely to cause Hearts’ defence problems. Leigh Griffiths scored 40 goals in all competitions last term and diminutive Patrick Roberts and lightning quick Moussa Dembele look dangerous.
You have to go back to 2012 to see Hearts triumph over the Glasgow giants, but have attacking threats of their own in Juanma and Tony Watt, the latter a former Celtic player. Coral have Hoops 11/1 to triumph 3-1 on Sunday.
Waghorn bags brace against Accies
Martyn Waghorn scored two or more in eight games for Rangers last season and bagged a brace in his last match prior to the clash with Hamilton Academical – and is 7/2 net two or above again at Ibrox.
The former Wigan Athletic forward has netted 32 goals since his arrival in Glasgow last season, and formed a formidable partnership with 21 goal Kenny Miller last term.
Combine this with the fact Hamilton have conceded two or more three times in their last five competitive games, and you have a recipe for a Waghorn field day.
Goals galore in Perth
Also among our Scottish Premiership tips are over 4.5 goals between St Johnstone and Aberdeen, because the last four meetings have been goal-fests.
With Derel McInnes’ Dons ending the season losing four straight games as their defence slipped and Saints remaining unpredictable at the back, expect forwards to run riot.
Boyd to sink Steelmen
Kilmarnock youth product Kris Boyd returned to the club for his third spell last season. The former Rangers man has an impressive record against Motherwell, scoring nine past the Steelmen during his time in Scotland.
Motherwell finished last year with the worst away defensive record in the league and have done little in the way of substantial strengthening. Expect the nous of Boyd to pay dividends and is 6/1 to net first at Rugby Park.
Goalless in Glasgow
Both Partick Thistle and Inverness Caledonian Thistle struggled offensively last term and look destined to shoot blanks on Saturday.
Jags’ joint most frequent result in the previous campaign was 0-0, and two of the last four meetings between the sides have ended that scoreline. Combine this with the distinct lack of attacking prowess on show, and a goalless draw looks likely at a generous 7/1.
Related
Fancy a flutter on our Scottish Premiership tips? Click the button below.
