The belated 3rd round of the Scottish Cup takes centre stage today and KevMac marks your card on the best bets across the card as well as the lower reaches of Scottish football.
Celtic v Falkirk
IT would sum up Celtic’s season of misery if they crashed out of the Scottish Cup to Falkirk tonight.
And the Hoops have previous when it comes to shock exits during disastrous campaigns.
The Bairns famously beat them in the 1997 semi-final – a defeat that cost Tommy Burns his job as Rangers were racking up their ninth successive title.
And when Neil Lennon was picking up the pieces of Tony Mowbray’s doomed regime, a last-four defeat to Ross County almost ruined his chances of landing the job the full-time.
Now it’s John Kennedy trying to steady the ship in the wake of Lennon’s departure after the bid for 10-in-a-row hit the rocks
following a quadruple Treble.
But the bookies don’t fancy Falkirk’s chances, with the League One side as big as 30/1 with SportingIndex.
Celtic have actually been playing quite well under Kennedy so I fancy them to progress without much fuss.
Bet365 price a Hoops win to nil at 10/11 and that looks good value given they are playing a team from the third tier at home.
Falkirk lost 4-0 at home to Rangers in the League Cup and that could be a barometer of how this tie pans out. Over 3.5 Celtic goals pays 9/10 at McBookie while James Forrest is 5/6 to score on what should be his first start after a long-term injury.
Falkirk veteran Morgaro Gomis will be in the heart of the midfield scrap and is a decent 11/8 at McBookie to be carded.
Rangers v Cove Rangers
Rangers also play League One opposition at home as they face Cove tomorrow and the minnows are 28/1 shots at McBookie.
It’s hard to find value in this one with a Gers win to nil just 8/13 and over 3.5 goals even longer at 8/15.
The card and scorer markets are probably the best place to go with Scott Arfield catching my eye at 13/10 (McBookie) for a Rangers goal.
Cove midfielder Fraser Fyvie has four yellows from his last seven games and could be worth a punt for a card at 6/4 with the same firm.
Brora Rangers v Stranraer
Brora pulled off the shock of the last round as they stunned Hearts and will fancy their chances at home to Stranraer.
The Highland champions are 29/20 with McBookie for a win and that’s worth a punt.
Dundee v St Johnstone
Trying to pick out shocks is one of a punter’s pleasures and League Cup winners St Johnstone face a tricky trip to Dens.
Dundee have an attack that belongs in the Premiership but a defence that would given even pub-team strikers some hope.
BTTS has been a go-to bet with the Dark Blues all season and it’s a decent 17/20 (McBookie) here.
Former Hibs star Jason Cummings has five goals in his last eight Dundee games and appeals at 13/10 (McBookie) for another goal.
Dundee Utd v Partick Thistle
Two cup ties will take place on the same street at the same time as Dundee United host Partick Thistle.
The last two Jags games have seen 10 goals in total so I’m going for over 3.5 strikes here at 13/10 with Unibet.
Best of the rest
Aberdeen head to Dumbarton having scored just once in their last 10 games so I fancy under 3.5 goals at 10/11 with McBookie.
For a double, I’m backing Ayr to beat Clyde and Morton to see off East Fife (236/100, McBookie).
Dunfermline v Hearts
In the Championship HEARTS boss Robbie Neilson badly needs a win at Dunfermline today to get the fans off his back.
Punters called for his head outside Tynecastle last weekend and that was before a 3-2 defeat against Queen of the South.
So the pressure will be piled on if the Jambos crash again and the Pars are 14/5 to inflict a third loss on the spin. But Dunfermline are in even worse form, with a 5-1 midweek thrashing by Raith making it four defeats in a row.
We should see some goals today and over 2.5 strikes is 5/6 at McBookie with the odds increasing to 2/1 for over 3.5.
Arbroath v Alloa
The other Championship clash today is a relegation six-pointer between Arbroath and Alloa. The Wasps look overpriced at 14/5 but I’m going for BTTS at 17/20 as it has landed in 16 of Alloa’s last 17 games.
Queen’s Park v Stirling Albion
In League Two, I’m backing Queen’s Park to win to nil at home to Stirling (29/20, McBookie).
Super Singles
- Celtic win to nil (9/10, 888 Sport)
- Under 3.5 goals in Dumbarton v Dons (10/11, McBookie)
- Over 2.5 goals at Dunfermline (5/6, McBookie)
- Queen’s Park win to nil (29/20, McBookie)
Deadly Double
- Ayr, Morton (236 /100, McBookie)
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