IF English teams treated the FA Cup as seriously as their Scottish counterparts we might never have to work again.
Last week I tipped all seven Scots favourites to win at 12-1 – leaving out Dundee v Motherwell – and all my advised handicap bets landed too.
I was confident they would and in fact all the quarter-finalists won by at least apart from Celtic who conceded a late goal in their 3-2 defeat of Partick Thistle.
There are only four short-priced favourites in the remaining six last-16 ties and an acca on Brighton, Man Utd, Spurs and Man City pays no bigger than 14-5 at Marathonbet. That fourfold isn't a guaranteed winner either.
So it's a tough round and low stakes is advised. Today's most interesting game sees Carlos Carvalhal return to Sheffield Wednesday with Swansea.
I'm sure he'll want to leave with a win and having improved the Swans, who have beaten Arsenal and Liverpool since he took charge, they'll be backed at 25-19 with Unibet.
Jos Luhukay has taken over from Carvalhal and has made a steady if not spectacular start. He's been hit by hard by injuries though and will be without seven players who were regulars under the previous boss – Kieren Westwood, Tom Lees, Kieran Lee, Sam Hutchinson, Barry Bannan, Gary Hooper and Fernando Forestieri.
The Swans are now unbeaten in nine and boosted by the capture of Andre Ayew from West Ham on deadline day. He teams up with younger brother Jordan and when they previously played together at Marseille they notched 22 goals and 13 assists. Both could start today and Jordan is 6-1 at Marathonbet to score first.
Brighton look the safest bets today as long as they field a decent side. They are 4-11 with McBookie at home to a Coventry side that's lost three in a row in League Two.
Man United lost at Huddersfield in the league so revenge will be on Jose Mourinho's mind. Both sides are likely to be weakened and this time United should edge it but are just 4-9 at bet365.
I won't be doing much on the Cup so luckily there are plenty of lower-league games to consider.
In the Championship I'm still hurting over Sunderland's comeback from 3-0 down at Bristol City last week. It could be the turnaround for Chris Coleman's strugglers who are worth chancing at 9-4 with McBookie at home to an off-colour Brentford.
Leaders Wolves face a tough test at Preston and both could score here and that could be the case at Fulham v Aston Villa where two on-form teams face off. The former is the biggest price at 21-20 with William Hill.
Cardiff lost all four league matches over Christmas but have recovered well to go five games unbeaten. Neil Warnock man face a Middlesbrough side in mixed form and I like the home at 6-4 with McBookie.
In League One Derek Adams has Plymouth charging towards the play-offs after a terrible start to the season. The Pilgrims are up eighth after four wins in a row and are 19-10 at William Hill to win at Oxford.
I like Accrington at 13-10 with McBookie at Barnet in League Two while there should be goals at Cheltenham v Wycombe with btts paying 3-5 at McBookie.
Recommended Bets
- Swansea (25-19, Unibet)
- Sunderland (9-4, McBookie)
- Preston v Wolves btts (21-20, William Hill)
- Plymouth (19-10, William Hill)
- Accrington (13-10, McBookie)
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.
