Celtic vs Heart Of Midlothian Prediction

I'm backing Celtic to win this 3-1 on 18 October 2026 at 17:00. Celtic sit top of the Premiership after beating Motherwell 2-0, though they took a heavy 4-1 defeat to Benfica in midweek. They'll be sharper here. Martin O'Neill has depth to work with despite absences in defence, and Camilo Duran has been finding the net regularly. I see Celtic's home advantage and their superior head-to-head record against Hearts as decisive factors. Hearts have been inconsistent—they lost to Falkirk, drew with Kilmarnock, thrashed St. Mirren 5-1, then drew with Nordsjaelland. They score freely and can trouble stronger sides, but I expect Celtic's quality to prevail.

Form and H2H

I'm looking at Celtic's last ten games: five wins and five losses at home, averaging 1.30 goals for and 1.70 against. That's a concern defensively, which is why I'm not expecting a clean sheet. Hearts have won five of their last ten away, drawn four and lost just one, averaging 2.10 goals for and 1.00 against. I like their attacking output on the road. Historically, though, I can't ignore the head-to-head. Celtic have dominated this fixture since 2011—they've won four of the last six meetings, including a 5-0 thrashing and a 4-0 rout. Hearts' only wins came in 2011, and I don't see them reversing that trend here.

Best bet

I'm taking Celtic at 1.58 on the home win line. That's my main play. I also want both teams to score at 1.55, because Hearts have proven they can find the net even against top sides, and Celtic's defensive frailties mean I expect them to concede. I'll pair that with Over 2.5 goals at 1.45. Celtic will dominate possession and create chances; Hearts will get their opportunities on the break. A 3-1 scoreline sits comfortably above that line and reflects what I expect from this match.

Odds to watch

I'm monitoring the Asian Handicap at Celtic -0.25 (1.36), which is tighter than the straight win and useful if Celtic scrape through by one. The Over 2.5 at 1.45 is my secondary play alongside the home win. Both Teams to Score at 1.55 is excellent value given Hearts' attacking form and Celtic's defensive vulnerabilities. If I want to be more aggressive, the correct score of 3-1 is available elsewhere, but I'm sticking with the combination of Celtic win, BTTS yes, and Over 2.5 as my core ticket.