CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) gives us his best bets for Saturday's huge clash between Ireland and Scotland.
Ireland v Scotland | Saturday 17:00 | Sky Sports 1
This is a huge match and one I'm eagerly looking forward to. Perhaps I'm the wrong person to write it as I'm Scottish and can't remember being more invested in a tie emotionally in 2015. Quite simply, I can't see Scotland losing on Saturday.
These are two workmanlike sides shorn of the stars that the likes of Wales can boast. If this game was a type of food it would be a fry-up – stodgy, manly and fulfilling.
These are two sides with little between them. Both low scoring outfits relying on a mix of veterans and hard working if unspectacular players. I wouldn't have it any other way.
The sides met in November of last year of course with Scotland edging a precious 1-0 win. Since then the Irish have dropped points at home to Poland which has left them in a difficult position. They really need to get something here.
Are they capable of that though? They look flat-footed just now. One win in their last five matches, no competitive victory since early-September, cracks continuing to appear over Martin O'Neill.
Compare that to Scotland and you have a side with four wins in their last five matches and no competitive loss since early-September. The Scots have been drawn to disappointing results like a magnet in recent years but under Gordon Strachan that's changed. The last time they let down the nation was a flat 2-0 home loss to Belgium in September 2013. The team seem a lot more confident and assured, hey almost like the country itself!
It's no surprise at all to see Under 2.5 Goals as short as 1/2 in this match. It ain't going to be pretty or laden with goals. Fasten your seatbelt for a tactical ride.
So there's not much juice in the goals markets so let's look at the win-draw-win odds and the 12/5 of Scotland appeals more than the 7/5 on Ireland for me but it's 11/5 on the draw that makes the most appeal. We've been through the stats and the Scots seem to have developed if not a winning mentality then certainly a not lose one.
I'll back the draw at 11/5 and poke away at 1-1 and 2-1 Scotland in the Correct Score markets. Enjoy!
Best Bets
Ireland v Scotland – Draw (11/5 Bet365)
Ireland v Scotland – 1-1 Draw (6/1 BetVictor)
Ireland v Scotland – Scotland 2-1 (14/1 Ladbrokes)
7/1 Ireland Or 8/1 Scotland (Betfair)
What a huge game on Saturday! Betfair are offering new players 7/1 Ireland or 8/1 Scotland.
Just open an account before 17:00 on Saturday to access those odds.
