Thursday's Scottish Premiership predictions and free football tips

Best bets

Over 2.5 goals in Dundee vs Dundee United
Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 5.30pm Thursday
1pt 10-11 Hills

Hibernian to beat St Johnstone
Kick-off 3pm
1pt 21-20 Hills

Thursday's Scottish football predictions

The Old Firm are not the only city rivals meeting for a new year derby in the William Hill Scottish Premiership – and Dundee United will fancy their chances of building on a strong first half of the campaign when they make the short walk to Dens Park to face Dundee.

United were promoted as Championship winners last season but they have settled well back in the top flight and could go third with victory if other results go their way following one defeat in their last nine outings.

Jim Goodwin's side have suffered just two away defeats all season and have drawn against Celtic and Rangers in the last couple of months, so they won't fear a trip to their Tayside rivals.

Dundee will have been boosted by Sunday's 2-1 win at St Mirren, which ended a run of three straight defeats, and both teams are expected to be positive.

All nine league games at Dens Park have featured at least three goals and that trend should continue in Thursday's derby clash.

St Johnstone, meanwhile, look set for a relegation battle in 2025 after suffering their fourth successive loss in a 4-0 defeat at Celtic on Sunday.

Their only point from their last six games came at Aberdeen, who have fallen off a cliff since making a blistering start to the campaign, and in-form Hibs will have been one of the last teams Saints will have wanted to face in their first fixture of the year.

The Hibees have won their last four games, including a 2-1 success in the Edinburgh derby at Hearts in their last away game, and can make it five on the spin at McDiarmid Park.

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