THIS could be an inspired bet or one that goes badly wrong.
Last weekend every team except Albion Rovers scored in Scottish Division Two and Three – and I'm go for a repeat tonight with Rovers included.
There are five matches in the two lower leagues which have produced on average more goals per game than any of the other UK leagues. Maybe that's one reason why not all bookies are prepared to offer prices on these Scottish games.
So start with the aforementioned Albion Rovers who are at home to Stenhousemuir. Rovers did fail to net at Stirling as they crashed to a heavy defeat but at Cliftonhill their last two have been score draws with Forfar and East Fife.
The bottom dogs have a plus three home goal difference so sides don't find it an easy place to visit. I'm all over Stenny after the signing of striker Kenny Deuchar but they have conceded in five of their last six. And crucially nine of the last 10 meetings between the sides have seen both score.
Next up it's leaders Cowdenbeath against third-placed Dumbarton. The Sons have moved into promotion contention on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run and will close to within five points of the Fifers if they win.
Dumbarton have netted in their last 10 while Beath have scored in their last six, although they have hit exactly one in their last four. A narrow Sons win or a score draw is my call here.
East Fife have been scoring plenty of goals with 11 in five and held second-placed Arbroath 2-2 at the weekend. They meet a Brechin outfit who held Dumbarton to a 2-2 draw last time out and this has the feel of another 2-2.
The fourth Second Division game sees Stirling entertain Forfar. Stirling have climbed off the bottom with two successive wins and three goals in each of them. Their last six games have featured 24 goals while Forfar's last six have produced 23.
Meetings this season have ended 4-2 to Forfar at Forthbank while up north it was 2-2. The last six meetings have all been over 2.5 goals with four of them over 3.5.
Complete the line with the only Third Division match between Elgin and Annan. It's a marathon trip north for the borderers but they should be used to it by now.
Both meetings this season have finished 1-1 as have Elgin's last two matches at home to Queen's Park and Clyde. Five of Elgin's last six and all of Annan's last six have seen both score so this should be another with Elgin possibly edging a win.
Now the fivefold pays a biggest 9-1 at Skybet and you could be more ambitious and add the two First Division games between Ross County and Partick Thistle and Livingston v Ayr for a return of 35-1 – but much more risk.
By the way bookies offering the SFL games online tonight include the two mentioned plus bwin, Stan James, boylesports, Paddy Power and bet365.
All the SFL games are on William Hill's both teams to score coupon tonight in shops but not on Ladbrokes' goal rush.
Strangely the fivefold pays £163 to a £10 stake at William Hill shops but just a best £100 to a £10 stake online at Skybet.
Both teams to score
Albion Rov v Stenhousemuir
Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath
East Fife v Brechin
Stirling v Forfar
Elgin v Annan
Perm any 4 and all 5 (6 bets)
Fivefold pays £163 to a £10 stake at William Hill (shops), £100 to a £10 stake at Skybet
All seven SFL games pays £362.70 to a £10 stake at William Hill (online)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Good Luck Paul
have you used Hills? If so, i assume the in shop coupon as the prices are dramatically different to the online prices
online v coupon comparison
dumbarton 8/15 8/11
albion 7/10 8/11
east fife 8/13 8/11
stirling 1/2 8/11
elgin 4/7 8/11
£10 five timer pays £163 in shop and £99 online, amazing discrepancy
Julian, it’s unusual for shops to better online. I’ll quote that and stress it. That’s with William Hill if not wrong.
Can someone confirm the different between shop/online prices is true. Gonna stick this bet on my phone but if its better in the bookies ill go there.
Martin, Hills shop prices are Livi v Ayr 5-6, Ross Co v Partick 1-1, Stirling v Forfar 5-6 and the other SFL games are 8-11. Checked the net and one price is better for the First Division and that’s Ross County which is 13-10. But on the net for the five I’ve flagged up you are getting Stirling 1-2, Dumbarton 8-15, Albion Rovers 4-6, East Fife 8-13 and Elgin 4-7. So shop prices for this fivefold are hugely superior. I’m going to ask them why that is although it’s one of the few bets I do in shops.
Cheers paul for letting us know the difference as I was just about to put it on online. Did u get an answer as to why there is such a difference?
Pedro, haven’t got an answer yet, probably tomorrow.
Pedro, I have an explanation from Hills. Firstly, they say that as online win draw win prices are different then so will those for other markets. Also shop prices can often be maintained because more accumulators are taken whereas online they’ll take a lot of singles so difficult not to cut a popular punt as was the case here.
Raging, just put on £20 and they never bothered their backside telling me they’ve changed the odds from 5/6 to 1/2. I said no thanks and asked for my cash back.
I work for William Hill I would be very very surprised if the in shop prices haven’t been amended to slightly favour the website, the customer won’t know about the price change until they have marked the coupon out and taken it to the cashier. Criminal
Matthew, in my experience it’s down to what shop you’re in. There are two Hills I use regularly and one will always tell me about a price change when I’m placing a bet and the other doesn’t. I think one problem is that prices change so often now, it’s no longer fixed odds. And of course the internet plays a part in this.
chris, my local hills have been bad for that all season. at least when i went into Ldbrokes today the girl told me before i placed my bet that Cowden beath had changed from 13/8 to 5/4
Yes it depends what staff are working at the time if they inform you, in my experience though your damned if you do and damned if you don’t as the majority of customers look at you like your stupid if you tell them but when you don’t tell them they moan, most of the price changes are subtle but yoy get some shockers such as when Fleetwood played Yeovil? Fleetwood were 13/8 on coupon then price changed to 5/6
Personally, I’d rather be told out of courtesy and then it’s my choice whether to take the bet or not. What annoys most is when I’ve taken a team because of the price and by the time I realise it’s changed it’s too late.