Scottish Football Tips & Predictions
Kai Watson 
Craig Jones
We are with you every week of the season with Scottish football tips and predictions from Kai Watson.
He will deliver his best bets each week from the Premiership down to League Two, and everything else in between.
Kai Watson's Scottish Football Tips
Sunday 16 March - Celtic v Rangers
- Celtic to score in both halves
On Thursday night Rangers played Fenerbahçe in what was, undoubtedly, an energy sapping performance. After having last weekend off to prepare, they went through 120 minutes and a penalty shootout in their Europa League Last 16 second leg.
It was evident by the end of extra-time that the players were absolutely knackered and now they’ll only have one day to prepare for a massive game on Sunday.
I say massive game because every Old Firm game is massive for the fans, in terms of the Scottish Premiership though, this is another dead rubber.
Rangers terrible league form leaves them 16 points adrift of their fiercest rivals and it’s a matter of when Celtic win the league, not if.
That doesn’t mean that this affair will be any less tense than it usually is because, if nothing else, these matches are important for bragging rights and psychological advantage.
This will be Barry Ferguson’s first taste of the Old Firm from the touchline having played in plenty as a player.
He’s talked a good game since arriving and helped Rangers navigate through to the Europa League QF but that was the Ibrox side’s fourth home defeat in a row.
On top of that, Celtic will be looking to get revenge for the 3-0 defeat at Ibrox last time out. Although it means nothing now, each side always want to be the last one to have won this match.
Celtic have scored 48 goals at home this season whilst only conceding three (Aberdeen scored all of them over two games) and are still unbeaten at Parkhead. They’ve only dropped points once at home this season and I can’t see that changing on Sunday.
Celtic being relentless at home would cause Rangers massive issues on any day, never mind just a few days after playing through 120 minutes and penalties.
Celtic press high and aggressively and like to get on the front foot early doors. They average three goals at home per game this season and Rangers are averaging over one goal conceded per game away from home.
Celtic have scored 24 goals in the first half of home games and conceded none so far. That coupled with Rangers away form, on paper, should make this a comfortable win for Celtic.
The last meeting at Parkhead ended 3-0 to the home side with Celtic going in 2-0 at half time and adding a third in the second half.
The last time Rangers won at Parkhead in the league was in October 2020, thanks to a Connor Goldson double. Since then it’s been two draws and six defeats, an abysmal record considering it’s against your biggest rival.
A win for Celtic will put them another game closer to the title and will give them the ability to win it before the split.
If beating your closest rivals wasn’t motivation enough, then surely the chance to win the league before you play them again is.
Brendan Rodgers wasn’t happy about the last Old Firm performance which is another reason I think that Celtic will come all guns blazing to start the game.
There’s goals all over their team and, in my opinion, they’ll definitely score at least one goal in each half.
Sunday 16 March - Dundee United v Dundee
- Simon Murray to score or be carded
The Tayside derby is almost always a tense and fiery affair. The meetings this season have been fairly tight.
The first game at Tannadice finished 2-2, United then went to Dens and got a 2-1 win thanks to a late Sam Dalby goal.
Dundee got their revenge in the Scottish cup though as they won 1-0 at Dens in January.
Both teams are competing for completely different things at this stage of the season. Dundee are fighting to stay out of the bottom two whereas, perhaps surprisingly, Dundee United are competing for the European spots.
I don’t think even the most optimistic Dundee United fan would have foreseen their performance in the league this season. They sit fifth, only two points behind third, with three games left until the split.
Dundee on the other hand, sit in 11th, three points ahead of bottom placed St. Johnstone and three behind 10th placed Kilmarnock.
It’s right at both ends of the table and both teams need the points which should add even more to the occasion.
So why this bet? Why Simon Murray? Well, he’s Dundee’s top scorer with 11 goals in 29 Scottish Premiership matches. He’s also had eight bookings in the league this season.
He’s a fan favourite for Dundee and a nightmare for defenders. His highly energetic and aggressive pressing style lead to him forcing defenders into mistakes.
It also leads to him giving away a lot of fouls as he does all he can to win the ball back. Add in the Derby atmosphere to the occasion and it could kick him up a notch.
I’m a big fan of what Simon Murray provides to the Dundee attack and he’ll be their focal point in their quest to get out of the bottom two.
Murray also scored the winner in the last match between the sides and scored a penalty the 2-1 defeat the game before that.
If anyone in dark blue is going to take the game by the scruff of the neck it’s Simon Murray and this, in my opinion, not only makes him one of the most likely players to score on the day, but also one of the players most likely to get booked.
Scottish Football Tips - Weekly Predictions from Freebets
Scottish football is a world full of tradition and surprises, making it a great focus for fans and anyone interested in betting.
Whether you follow big clubs like Celtic and Rangers as fans, or you’re new to the Scottish leagues, having some helpful betting tips can make things more enjoyable and interesting. We may even improve your betting choices from time to time!
SPFL Betting Tips
Start by getting to know the basics. The Scottish Premiership, the top league, is often led by Celtic and Rangers. Usually too strong for the rest, but other clubs like Hearts, Hibernian, and others, can pull off unexpected wins, shocking the big two.
One point to remember is that the Scottish weather can quietly affect games a little more than in other parts of the UK, though of course, players are generally used to it. Scotland’s cold, wet, and windy, sometimes even in summer, and this can all change how matches play out.
Like any other football league, how a team has been playing recently is very important.
In Scotland’s smaller league system, teams face each other a little more often, so recent results, both in terms of last fixtures and previous head to head meetings, can tell you a lot. With this, it's important for you to be as up to date as the best betting sites with information, and recent records.
Finally, don't forget to check for things like injuries or changes in the line up. A missing key player or someone coming back can make a big difference in any football league. As you move down the footballing pyramid, injuries can often take their toll more than at the top, with smaller squads, and replacements of a lower quality the norm for many.
Scottish Lower League Betting Tips
Don’t forget the lower leagues when you are looking at betting on Scottish football.
The Championship, League One, and League Two have smaller teams involved that might not get much attention but these leagues can offer good opportunities for punters, especially if you become an expert in one particular league.
Alongside the league action, there's also regular cup games, which add a whole new layer to Scottish football betting.
This can also be a minefield though, as per other leagues in Europe, changed teams, resting key players and how seriously these competitions are being taken by some are all additional questions that should be in your thought process before placing your bets.
Scottish Football Free Bets
Before placing any bets on Scottish football, make sure you check out the latest free bets and bonuses below, ideal for those who are looking to open a new betting account.
The brands listed below all have the Scottish leagues as part of their football service, with plenty of ways to bet on each league throughout the season.
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