NO Celtic or Rangers in action today so I'm starting in the Championship with team of the moment Ayr.
Ian McCall's men have made a super start to the season, winning their Betfred Cup section then starting with a win and draw in the Championship.
They saved their best for last with a thumping 3-0 win at Dundee to reach the cup quarters and a meeting with Rangers at Ibrox.
Lawrence Shankland's grabbed the headlines with 11 goals in eight games this season including a double at a Dundee side who tried to buy him.
But Ayr aren't a one-man team and the defence deserves plaudits too with five successive clean sheets including one at Inverness with 10 men.
Taking everything into account Ayr shouldn't be underdogs at 19-10 with bet365 at home to Dunfermline. One thing going against them is no wins in 10 against the Fifers at Somerset so some might prefer Ayr draw no bet at 11-10 with Unibet.
The Pars haven't kept a clean sheet in six with all of those games except Hearts in the Betfred Cup seeing both score. Ayr and btts pays 9-2 at William Hill while btts is 10-13 at 188BET.
Shankland will be well backed at 13-2 with McBookie to score first and is 19-10 to net at any time.
The four Premiership games going ahead today all look interesting – and it could pay to back against sides who have just lost their main striker for different reasons.
Hearts' perfect start could come to an end at Kilmarnock while new Livingston boss Gary Holt is looking for a No.9 after parting company with Kenny Miller.
They travel to fellow promoted side St Mirren who won their home match with Dundee and last season beat and drew with Livi in Paisley.
Kilmarnock gave Rangers a fight last week before succumbing to Alfredo Morelos's hat-trick and they'll fancy their chances against a Jambos side without their main threat in Laff.
A double on Killie and Saints pays 37-10 at betfair while taking them not to lose is evens at bet365.
Hibs v Aberdeen could be game of the day with both in decent form and I'm tipping a draw at 11-5 with bet365.
With the forwards on show you'd expect goals but only one of the last nine meetings at Easter Road has gone over 2.5 and that was a cup clash.
St Johnstone and Dundee meet in what's being billed a grudge match after last season's bust-up between Tommy Wright and Neil McCann which led McCann to saying his counterpart wasn't welcome back at Dens.
Wright's side have made a decent start and will take great pleasure in piling the pressure on McCann after last week's 3-0 Betfred Cup defeat at home to Ayr. Take Saints to win at 11-10 with Ladbrokes and as it could be fiery back a red card.
On Sunday Celtic and Rangers are in action after Europa League etc – and that's the way it could be for another six rounds.
Celtic have won five in a row at home to Accies and while they should bank the points they could be a bit heavy-legged so leave bets until the team is revealed.
Rangers have a tougher match at Motherwell as Steven Gerrard tries to maintain his unbeaten start. Confidence is high and Kyle Lafferty is set to make his debut second time round.
Take Gers to win at 8-13 with Marthonbet while Lafferty is 4-1 with bet365 to break the deadlock and 11-10 to score.
Elsewhere in the Championship Queen of the South look big at struggling Falkirk. Back them at 2-1 with McBookie and consider evergreen Stephen Dobbie to score at 31-20 with McBookie. As is pointed out in a separate match preview he has a superb record against Queens.
Montrose have made a flying start in League One and are 2-1 with Marathonbet to win at Stranraer and I like Arbroath at East Fife although theu are no bigger than 20-23 with betfair.
Best bets in League Two are Annan at 23-20 with Marathonbet at Berwick and Clyde at 4-5 with Marathonbet at home to Edinburgh.
Recommended Bets
- Ayr (19-10, bet365) Win
- Shankland (Ayr) to score (19-10, McBookie) Win
- Queen of the South (2-1, McBookie) Win
- St Johnstone (11-10, Unibet) Win
- Arbroath (20-23, betfair) Win
- Annan (23-20, Marathonbet) Win
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.
