Scottish picks: Free betting tips for Saturday's football in Scotland

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's 3pm kick-offs in the Scottish League.

Best bets

Dundee United
2pts 17-20 Coral, Ladbrokes
Back this tip with Coral
Stirling Albion
1pt 17-10 Hills
Back this tip with William Hill
Queen's Park
1pt 19-20 Betfred
Back this tip with bet365

Scottish preview

With the big guns on their winter break, the spotlight moves to the lower leagues in Scottish football, but Dundee United won't be there for long and can take another step to a return to the top flight with a win at Queen of the South.

United suffered a blip last week in their city derby with street rivals Dundee and they were below par for the second half in particular as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

But there might not be too many more games this season when Robbie Neilson's side can be backed at anything approaching evens and 5-6 looks a generous price for their trip to Dumfries.

United have been relentless in their consistency and, prior to the draw with Dundee, had won nine games in a row.

Their last defeat came in October at Palmerston Park and they will be desperate to make amends for their 4-0 shocker that day.

They are now 14 points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship and can show why with a win against a South side who can blow hot and cold and are without the suspended Dan Pybus.

Stirling Albion pulled off a crucial win last week in a local derby at Stenhousemuir and can take another step to safety with a win at Coatbridge today against Albion Rovers.

Albion defended resolutely against Stenny and that's been a feature of their games recently, apart from a one-off home defeat to Brechin City.

Rovers are just one point behind them in Ladbrokes League Two and are involved in a titanic battle to avoid bottom place and the subsequent play-off.

But Stirling won 3-0 at home in this fixture earlier and will be confident of getting the upper hand in this Cliftonhill encounter.

Queen's Park enter a brave new world this month and immediately announced how seriously they are taking professionalism by sacking manager Mark Roberts and replacing him with former Dundee United and Falkirk boss Ray McKinnon.

And they can make a big statement of intent by beating struggling Stenhousemuir at Hampden.

Queen's are a strange club who have been hugely inconsistent. This season they have won at Championship Queen of the South, drawn at Premiership Hamilton Accies and defeated title-chasers Edinburgh City. But they've thrown in a few stinkers too.

But they will fancy their chances of defeating a Stenny side who are on a dreadful run.

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