THE Scottish football season gets back underway today and the League Cup group stage usually throws up a few shocks with some of the big boys going in undercooked.
The pick of the games today sees Falkirk host Dundee United and it’s a match that pitches last season’s League One Invincibles against the team that won the Championship.
In addition to winning the title without losing a game, Falkirk also had a deep run in the Challenge Cup, beating United 4-2 in the process.
But the Tannadice side can some heart from the fact they beat the Bairns 1-0 away from home in the League Cup groups last summer, although it counted for nothing after losing to Spartans and Partick Thistle.
Falkirk v Dundee United Top Betting Tips
With Falkirk still on a high after their incredible season and Dundee United failing to convince at times under Jim Goodwin, the home win looks overpriced today at 2/1 with Betfred. If you want to play it a little safer, backing McGlynn’s side to win either half pays 19/20.
What was so impressive about Falkirk’s success last term was the style they did it it, smashing 96 goals in League One.
With their Challenge Cup win over Dundee United producing six goals, this should be a decent watch and over 3.5 goals pays 2/1. Combining BTTS and over 2.5 strikes also takes you to evens at Ladbrokes.
Annan Athletic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Top Tips
Few teams have had a more traumatic summer than Inverness Caledonian Thistle with relegation from the Championship deepening the club’s financial woes.
Duncan Ferguson was a high-profile appointment as boss last term but he couldn’t keep Inverness up and they crashed into the third tier after losing in the play-offs.
Eleven players left at the end of the campaign and Ferguson has a huge job on his hands rousing the squad as they bid to win promotion back to the Championship.
Today’s League Cup tie at Annan Athletic will give us an early indication of how much of a mess Caley Thistle are in.
Annan only just avoided relegation to League Two last term but have a more settled side and are 5/4 favourites today.
That looks decent value and I also like the evens on offer for Athletic to score over 1.5 goals.
Motherwell v Edinburgh City Top Tips
Edinburgh City were another club in crisis last term and they were whipping boys in League One, finishing the campaign with just eight points after a deduction for financial problems.
They couldn’t pay their players on time and ended up fielding a selection of teenage loanees for the final few months of the season.
So a trip to Premiership side Motherwell is the last thing Edinburgh City need at the start of this campaign and it could get messy if the Steelmen are on their game.
Motherwell -3 in the handicap pays 11/8 at Betfred while over 3.5 goals for Fir Park side is priced at evens.
East Fife v Morton Top Tips
The fixtures for the opening day don’t offer up the potential for a lot of shocks but Morton’s trip to East Fife looks like a potential banana skin.
The Fifers went on a nine-game unbeaten run in League Two last term after former Arbroath manager Dick Campbell took the reins.
That moved them clear of the drop zone but the Methil men then lost four in a row to end the campaign on a downer.
Campbell has now had a pre-season to shape his squad though and they could make life tough for Championship side Morton in the League Cup opener.
East Fife are 9/5 in the double chance market while BTTS pays 10/11 for this one.
- BTTS and over 2.5 goals in Falkirk v Dundee United Evens Ladbrokes
- Annan to win 5/4 Betfred
- Over 3.5 Motherwell goals Evens Betfred
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As always, post your betting tips for today in the comments section below.