THE Betfred Cup got off to an inauspicious start with tougher to call games on than actual results.
Kilmarnock and Forfar were forced to forfeit ties and handed 3-0 victories to Falkirk and Dundee respectively.
Several people emailed to ask if bookies paid on the results but all bets are void. “Losing” punts as well as “winning” ones will see stakes returned in all cases like this.
There are another 15 ties scheduled for Saturday and hopefully all get the go-ahead.
Low stakes are advised with some teams playing for the first time in seven months and any Premiership that goes with a strong line-up against lower-league opposition should have a huge fitness advantage.
Although try telling that to Brian Rice who saw his Hamilton side shocked 3-1 at Annan. Ayr beat Albion Rovers 5-2 in their opener and could hand them another loss at 3-1 with Betfred.
Goals could be the best tactic as five out of six ties on Wednesday saw btts and overs and seven out of 10 on Tuesday went over 2.5 goals.
I’m starting a goals treble with Cove v Hibs in Group B at lunchtime. League Two champs Cove are a high-scoring team and should match Brora’s feat of netting against the Premiership men.
Hibs boss Jack Ross is using the games to bring fringe men up to match fitness and there should be plenty of goals here.
I’m sticking with Brora who entertain a Dundee side without a competitive game after their midweek call-off.
The Highland League champions gave Hibs a fright and will be confident of finding the target against a Dundee side with big ambitions of their own having brought in Charlie Adam.
My third pick is Queen of the South vs St Mirren where there are some h2h stats to consider with three of the past four meetings at Palmerston going over 2.5 goals.
Queens drew 2-2 at Morton in midweek while Saints bashed Partick Thistle 4-1 so form also suggests goals.
For straight wins back Livingston at home to Alloa, Partick against Queen’s Park and shocktroops Annan at home to Stranraer.
In England there are games in League One and League Two and I’ll be on goals between Plymouth and Burton.
Both teams have scored in 13 of Burton’s last 14 while they conceded 36 in 18 away games last season.
Plymouth have already played out a 4-4 draw with Wimbledon and this could be a goalfest. Both to score pays 8-13 at McBookie.
Cheltenham were one of my pre-season fancies after missing out in the play-offs last season.
They lost just two home games in the whole campaign and are in good form having beaten Orient 2-0 then winning 3-0 at Tranmere.
Crawley have started off okay but Cheltenham were 14 points better off than them last season and should win again at 10-11 with McBookie.
Both to Score Treble
- Cove vs Hibs (12.30pm)
- Brora vs Dundee
- QoS vs St Mirren
- (5-1, Ladbrokes)
Top Treble
- Livingston
- Partick Thistle
- Annan
- (4-1, Betfred)
English Double
- Plymouth vs Burton btts
- Cheltenham
- (11-5, McBookie)
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