*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Aberdeen’s 39 points from 20 league games is bloody impressive. No, I’m not just saying that because Neil Lennon’s Celtic are farting their way to just barely over two points a game – there’s genuine merit to their total. Motherwell, who came third last year, notched just 46 points from 30 games – a touch over 1.5 points per game. The year before? Killie at 1.76 points per game.
Still, it probably won’t count for much when they play Rangers.
Sunday 3pm: Aberdeen v Rangers
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Not even Aberdeen themselves, upon finishing second a few years ago, could top their current tally of 1.95 points per game in the Scottish Premiership. So how much weight do we put behind the form out of Pittodrie? Is Lewis Ferguson going to be capped by Scotland?
Can Aberdeen keep this up? Is their form merely suggesting they’re playing above themselves? Well, none of this really matters because Rangers do not ship goals – so I hope you at least enjoyed those few paragraphs of feigned enthusiasm. Here’s your three best bets.
Rangers to Win to Nil
Look, I don’t need to be lengthy in explaining just why this is the only bet you should be considering – it just is. Everyone and their mother had question marks over Steven Gerrard and his ability to man manage with a calm head, but it appears that when you’re seeing results – not only domestically but in Europe – players will listen to you.
Does it help that there’s a few loose cannons in that side that can relate to the former Liverpool cruncher? Absolutely – and it’s a formula that’s seen them come out victorious in Old Firm games now, which up until very recently, was a major mental block for the club.
I don’t believe for a second that Rangers will drop points on a grass pitch (it’s happened just once this year), no matter how good the opposition are, and they’ll probably not be shipping a goal to complement that level of dominance. Rangers to Win to Nil is the way to go.
Under 2.5 Goals
So naturally if you’re getting a clean sheet, it’s logical to go Under 2.5 Goals but it’s more than just that. Rangers, for all their flamboyance in Europe, are a team that grind out results in Scotland and very rarely do they let loose if they’re comfortable.
Gerrard is far more considerate and practical when it comes to running up the score. He sees the value in never letting a couple of goals’ lead slip away rather than win a game 7-2, where bad habits develop. And as we’ve seen, there really aren’t too many bad habits around Ibrox at the moment.
Half-Time/Full-Time: Draw/Rangers
For all that I concede Rangers will win this game, I don’t believe it will be easily secured and with Aberdeen closing in on Celtic for second, there’s a sense that they’ll be trying everything to land a point, even if that means sitting ten behind the ball.
This may go against what has gotten them to where they are to this point, but it’s a needs must in this situation. Given how much of a comedown it is post-Old Firm for Rangers, it would make a lot of sense for them to take some time to get going – so there’s plenty of value in this Half-Time/Full-Time: Draw/Rangers selection.
Three best bets for Aberdeen v Rangers
Rangers to Win to Nil
Under 2.5 Goals
Half-Time/Full-Time: Draw/Rangers
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
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