Scottish Premiership Betting Tips
A guide to betting on Scottish Premiership matches, including odds, predictions and tips for today’s games
By James McMath
If you’re eager to learn more about the Scottish Scottish Premiership (SPL) then we hope this guide teaches you all you need to know.
We’ll cover the main differences between the SPL and the Premier League, the dominance of the Old Firm clubs, and the betting markets available.
We’ll also go over some betting tips to ensure that your SPL betting experience goes as smoothly as possible.
Without further ado, let’s start by talking about how the Scottish Premiership is different to the Premier League.
SPL vs EPL
The SPL is the top division in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). Fans who are used to betting on the English Premier League may find the composition of the average Scottish Premiership season a little confusing.
For starters, there are only 12 teams in the Scottish top-flight, yet each team plays 38 games. This is achieved via a mid-season split, which we’ll discuss in more detail below:
SPL Season Split Explained
Each SPL team plays each other three times in a season. This results in 33 of a team’s 38-game season being completed, before the season is split in two, between the top and bottom-six.
The split is done to ensure that the remaining five fixtures aren’t against teams in radically-different positions in the table. If, for example, Celtic were just two wins away from the title and both their games were against the bottom-two teams, then they’d have an unfair advantage over the team in second-place.
This is also true on the other end of the scale. If a team is battling relegation, then it’d be unfair if their remaining games were against teams who are at the top of the table.
The split also ensures Scottish Premiership fixtures don’t build up too quickly, as there are also two cup competitions running concurrent to the league season.
Now that we’ve gone over the SPL season split, let’s address the elephant in the room - the dominance of Rangers and Celtic.
How Often Do Rangers And Celtic Win?
The levels of dominance displayed by both Rangers and Celtic are unmatched in the SPL. Celtic famously won 9 SPFL titles in a row, whereas Rangers enjoyed an unbeaten season in 2020-21.
The Old Firm clubs absolutely dominate the SPL, and the title race is always between these two every year. If you’re looking for an outright bet, then wagering on any other club is, quite frankly, not worth doing.
The last club other than Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish title was Aberdeen, then managed under Alex Ferguson. Since the 1984-85 season, the Scottish top-flight has exclusively bounced between Ibrox and Celtic Park.
That may make betting on the outright winners a little boring, but thankfully there are other, much more exciting betting markets out there.
SPL Betting Tips
Watch The League
It may sound simple, but the best way to build confidence in SPL betting is to simply watch as many games as you can.
It wouldn’t be unfair to say that the league isn’t as glamorous as the Premier League, and the games are usually played at a different pace. The Scottish-top flight has a unique tempo, so it’s best to become familiar with this as soon as you can.
You should also pay attention to the league both pre and post-split, as they’re both important for different reasons - though the drama tends to heat up after the split, as teams will be playing those nearest to them in the division.
Know The SPL’s Best Players
There’s no shortage of quality players in the SPL, and becoming familiar with them will help you in your betting journey no matter which market you pick.
Whether you want to make bets on the top scorer, assist maker, or the best goalkeeper, it’s essential you keep an eye on the special talents.
Follow The SPL News
It’s crucial to follow the latest team news if you wish to be successful in your Scottish Premiership betting journey.
This means keeping up with form records, injury news, managerial departures, and transfer activity. The more you know about the SPL, the more accurately you can bet on it.
SPL Betting Markets
There are several betting markets out there for SPL betting. Of course, you can always go with the outright winners, but if you want to freshen things up a bit, then here are some other ones:
SPL Relegation Betting
The SPL relegation system is unique as only one club goes down automatically, compared to three in other major football leagues.
With only one relegation spot open, betting on this market can be very challenging and hard to predict. If you feel like your prediction will come true, then you can always bet on the relegation market.
SPL Top Scorer
A metric not always dominated by an Old Firm club, this betting market allows you to predict which player will finish the 38-game season with the most goals.
Players from Ross County and Kilmarnock have picked up the top-scorer prize in recent seasons, making this market one of the more competitive ones.
Third-Place Finish
With the top-two places almost always being between the same two clubs, bookies have now offered a bet on who’ll finish third at the end of an SPL season.
Third-place SPL betting is popular for obvious reasons, and it’s one that is a lot harder to predict than the outright winner.
If you want to challenge yourself in SPL betting, then the third-placed-finish market is a great option.
Individual Match Bets
Of course, you can always bet on individual games if you wish. The usual markets like match winner, over/unders, and handicap bets would be applicable here.
You can also utilise prop bets, where you’ll bet on a player’s performance irrespective of the final match result.
Follow The Tipsters
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on advice from free football betting tipsters. Even if you don’t directly follow their predictions, it’s a great way to keep up to date with team news, betting strategies and what other fans are thinking.
SPL Betting Tips Summary
The Scottish Premiership is an exciting football league with plenty of enjoyment for both viewers and bettors. We hope this guide has taught you more about the SPL and that you’re now in a much better position to start making some wagers on it.
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