THE only online bookmaker listing first-scorer prices on all SPFL games are McBookie.com.
It’s a great service they provide and we’ve teamed up with the Scots firm to look at some of the best bets from the Scottish lower leagues. Also, leave your pick of first scorers at the end of this article for a chance to win a £10 free bet with McBookie.com.
You can choose this weekend from the Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two. One correct entry will be picked at random to win the prize. Quote player, team, his odds and a reason if you like.
Meanwhile, here is McBookie.com’s Damian Walker with his weekend selections.
Nikolay Todorov – Inverness
I’m starting this Saturday in the Championship with the Inverness Caley Thistle and Dundee game.
Before a ball was kicked this season the ante-post Championship title betting had Dundee as second favourites and Caley Thistle as third favs, but the pair now sit outside the top four and find themselves shunted out to 14/1 and 25/1 respectively.
But there are signs that Caley Thistle are starting to find their feet after a League Cup win was followed by back-to-back league wins over Raith Rovers and Queen of the South. Those three matches produced six ICT goals without reply.
That latter game was live on the telly and was very impressed with their passing and movement in that 3-0 win.
I have been much less impressed with Dundee, who have underperformed all season in the league and have yet to win on the road – conceding 11 in three games.
An away trip to the Highlands is probably just what Dundee could do without and I fully expect the home side to take the points at 13/10.
Nikolay Todorov leads the way for Caley Thistle this season in terms of league goals scored, with three from four starts.
McBookie make Todorov 11/2 to score the opening goal of the game and that looks fair value.
Simon Murray – Queen's Park
I am dropping down to League Two for the final two selections and I fully expected Queens Park to be odds on for their home game with Edinburgh City.
The Spiders have started to hit top gear and a worry for all in League Two will be that 28-year-old striker Simon Murray is approaching peak fitness.
It is only a few seasons ago that Murray scored 17 goals for Hibs in the Premiership, including the only goal in an Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road.
Murray returned to Scotland in the summer with Queens Park, but was recovering from an injury and has only just started to get minutes under his belt.
However, he hasn’t needed many to show his talent for goals. Murray came on as a 74th-minute sub against Stenhousemuir and scored in the 90th minute.
And last weekend he came on in the 63rd-minute away to Cowdenbeath and scored once again in the 90th minute.
So two goals in 43 minutes and I think we can expect to see him in the starting line up against the Citizens this weekend.
Murray looks a huge price at 9/2 with McBookie to open the scoring.
Thomas Orr – Stenhousemuir
Finally Stenhousemuir bounced back last weekend from back-to-back league defeats to beat Brechin and there’s a great match up for them this Saturday as they entertain a Stranraer side with the same points and goal difference as themselves.
The visitors are unbeaten in four in the league and also defeated Hamilton in the League Cup before losing to Ayr United in the next round on penalties during that period.
I’ve been with Stenny all season but I just think the Blues rate the value at 17/10.
Stranraer striker Thomas Orr has started to find the back of the net this season, with four goals from his last six games.
He is still just 23 years of age and may yet ply his trade at a higher level once again having played in the Championship a few seasons back.
But for now he looks a good bet at 6/1 with McBookie to be the game’s first goalscorer.
Can you find a winner!