Celtic v Falkirk: Scottish Premiership predictions, best bets and odds

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Celtic, at one point, led LASK 4-0 on aggregate in their Champions League qualifier, before somehow succumbing to a 4-5 defeat after extra time.

Whether you’re a glass half-full or half-empty type of person will decide whether you can see any positives that can be taken from that troubling evening in Austria.

Falkirk are yet to win and yet to score in the Scottish Premiership this term. Could they be the victims of a wounded Celtic on Saturday (15:00 BST)?

Celtic v Falkirk tips

Celtic to Win & Score 1-4 Goals @ 5/12 (Bet365)

Falkirk First Card @ 4/9 (Bet365)

Celtic Race to 7 Corners @ 4/9 (Bet365)

Odds courtesy of Bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

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Magnificent seven

Celtic have won their last seven games against Falkirk, notching between one and four goals in six of those outings.

If anything, the Hoops have become even more dangerous in front of goal with the signing of Kasper Hogh, who scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition job on Kilmarnock.

Camilo Nygren bagged a brace in the first leg against LASK, while Benjamin Nygren has scored in four different games so far.

It’s very difficult to make any kind of case for Falkirk here, who have recorded 0.55 xG in both of their Scottish Premiership games so far. They lost 0-2 to St Mirren and drew 0-0 with Motherwell, while Celtic – as we know – are a whole different animal in domestic competition.

This is a free-flowing, free-scoring Celtic side under Martin O’Neill. We expect them to win comfortably on Saturday, but hopefully net fewer than five goals in the process.

Tip: Celtic to Win & Score 1-4 Goals @ 5/12 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Celtic win and they score between one and four goals in the match.

Under the cosh

With all due respect to Celtic, they could play with the proverbial cigar on against Falkirk.

In their 5-1 victory against Kilmarnock, they didn’t pick up a single card – and why would they, given their absolute dominance?

In that victory over Dundee on the opening day, the Hoops only received one yellow card; and that was a daft moment in injury time from Arne Engels.

Falkirk were put under pressure by Motherwell last time out, which manifested itself in the Bairns committing 16 fouls and picking up a pair of yellow cards.

Assuming Celtic’s complete dominance of this game, surely the pressure they exert on Falkirk will be such that the visitors see the first card?

Tip: Falkirk First Card @ 4/9 (Bet365)

Explanation: We need Falkirk to receive the first card (yellow or red) of the game for this bet to land.

Following the numbers

St Mirren managed to win seven corners when they beat 2-0 Falkirk on the opening weekend of the campaign.

Anything they can do, Celtic should be able to do, right?

Of course, football doesn’t always pan out that way, but with the genuine width in their team, it would be no surprise if the Hoops win plenty of corners, too.

Their tallies this season are eight, seven and nine against LASK (home leg), Kilmarnock and Dundee respectively, so the omens are good for them to land seven or more on Saturday. Even under the cosh in the second leg against LASK, Celtic still managed five corners.

We expect Celtic to go all out here, meaning they are likely to Falkirk in the race to that magnificent seven corners figure.

Tip: Celtic Race to 7 Corners @ 4/9 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Celtic win 7 or more corners and get to seven before Falkirk do.

Celtic v Falkirk: Match result odds

Celtic: 2/9 (Bet365)

Draw: 11/2 (Bet365)

Falkirk: 10/1 (Bet365)

These odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.