ABERDEEN will be desperate to exact League Cup revenge on Raith Rovers when they finish their group stage campaign at Pittodrie tomorrow.
Jim Goodwin’s men have started the new campaign strongly, chalking up successive victories against Peterhead, Dumbarton and Stirling Albion without even conceding a goal.
Optimism is starting to grow amongst the Red Army again but it was a similar story last summer before a Cup exit to Raith sparked a downward spiral that eventually ended in Stephen Glass being axed.
It’s hard to see that happening again tomorrow, especially with the Dons having home advantage instead of facing a return to Stark’s Park.
Rovers are also a team in transition under new gaffer Ian Murray and have drawn with Stirling and Dumbarton since thrashing Peterhead 6-0 in their group opener.
That suggests Aberdeen should win fairly comfortably and I like the 17/10 on offer at UniBet for the Dons to be winning at half-time and full-time.
McBookie also price a home win to nil at 21/10 and that looks good value given Raith drew a blank at Dumbarton in midweek.
The same firm also have a corner handicap and Aberdeen -1.5 looks good for accas at 5/6.
There have been plenty of shocks so far in the group stage with Premiership sides Hibs and St Mirren already eliminated.
St Johnstone could join them in crashing out if they fail to beat Ayr United in Group F this afternoon.
Callum Davidson’s men sit third in the section and can only go through as one of the best runners-up with Annan already secured of top spot.
With second-placed Queen of the South away to whipping boys Elgin, even a win for Saints might not be enough to save their skins.
St Johnstone seem to have solved their scoring problems, netting six times across their last two games, but are now leaking goals.
That makes BTTS and over 2.5 goals the best options but both are odds-on so I’m combining them in a McBookie bet builder that pays 103/100.
Melker Hallberg is always a threat from midfield and appeals at 11/2 with McBookie for anytime scorer after netting in midweek.
Queen of the South should take care of business up in Elgin and are just 1/3 with McBookie for the win.
City have conceded four in each of their last two games so I’m going into the handicaps with McBookie pricing Queen of the South -1 at a tempting evens.
Group B is tight, with Partick a point ahead of Kilmarnock after beating the Premiership side on
penalties. Both should win at home today against Montrose and Stenny with a double paying 12/10 at Coral.
Livingston are another top-flight team in peril as they sit second behind Inverness in Group G.
A win today at home to Kelty should be enough to take the Lions through as one of the best runners-up and I fancy them to be leading at half-time and full-time. That bet pays 6/4 at BoyleSports.
A win for Inverness at home to Cove Rangers will take them through and I’m backing Daniel McKay for a goal at 2/1 with McBookie.
Ross County look in good shape to get through as they lead the way in Group C heading into a home game with League Two East Fife.
The Staggies have won to nil in their last two group games but a repeat in this clash pays just 3/4 with McBookie.
East Fife scraped a 3-2 win over Buckie in midweek so betting on goals looks the best shout with over 3.5 strikes paying 7/4 at Unibet.
New boy Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila has scored in his last two games for County and looks good at 11/8 with McBookie for anytime scorer.
Falkirk’s win over Hibs has been the biggest shock so far and the Bairns now only need a home victory over Clyde to secure top spot in Group D.
SBK price the Bairns at 13/16 and that looks pretty generous based on their form so far. To boost those odds further, Bet365 price Falkirk at 2/1 to be winning at half-time and full-time.
Arbroath haven’t put a foot wrong so far in Group E with a win away to St Mirren on day one followed by comfortable victories over Cowdenbeath and FC Edinburgh.
But they could still be knocked off top spot today as they host an Airdrie side who eliminated the Buddies with a 2-0 midweek victory.
Both teams have conceded just once in three games so I fancy under 2.5 goals at evens with Bet365.
Dundee only need a home win over Forfar to stay top of Group H and Alex Jakubiak appeals at evens for anytime scorer after netting two goals so far.
Super singles
- Aberdeen HT-FT (17/10, Unibet)
- Hiwula-Mayifuila to score (11/8, McBookie)
- Falkirk HT-FT (2/1, Bet365)
Deadly double
- Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock to win (6/5, Coral)
In December 2020 we sadly 
