EVERY Saturday William Hill's Owen Scott and McBookie's Paul Petrie do battle in the junior football challenge.
The dynamic duo will be putting up trebles every weekend and Owen has the bragging rights having won £49 with Paul still to get off the mark. This weekend they've both pick massive trebles from the Scottish Junior Cup.
For those who don't know anything about junior football the level of the top clubs is equivalent or in some cases better than Scottish League 2 outfits and we can gauge that easier now with the champions of the three regions – North, East and West – qualifying to play in the William Hill Scottish Cup along with the Junior Cup winners.
The term “junior” has nothing to do with players' ages and it often confuses people outside Scotland. Some of the top clubs such as Auchinleck, Hurlford, Irvine Meadow and Linlithgow pay bigger wages than most League 1 and League 2 teams and therefore attract players who could be plying their trade at a higher level.
McBookie list all games online and take bets on every junior match while William Hill only take bets in shops.
Here are this weekend's tips from Paul and Owen.
Paul writes: “For many this is the best weekend of the junior season as most teams start their Scottish Cup campaigns. With 61 ties there should be enough games for punters to find a winner. And with Bo’ness 1-50 to beat East End there are plenty short-priced favourites to include in your accas.
I am looking at the more competitive games for my treble to try to find some value. Sadly a last-minute equaliser from St Anthony’s beat my bet last weekend so hopefully I can have more luck.
First up I am backing Greenock to beat Bathgate at 11-8. Neither have played brilliantly this season but Greenock are more than capable of putting in a big performance and I always like backing West teams against their East counterparts when there isn’t much between the teams.
Next I am going for Gartcairn to beat Hermes at 13-8. There is no doubt the Super League in the North has improved in recent years but this is definitely a tricky game for the North side. Gartcairn have adapted well to life in the juniors and will be eager for a good cup run. I can see them sneaking a tight game
Finally, I am taking a punt on Fraserburgh to beat Kinnoull at 11-4. As mentioned there is a big difference in class between the North and the other regions but Kinnoull aren’t in the best form this season and won’t fancy the long trip up to Fraseburgh. The home side of won most of their games so hopefully will take that confidence into the game and provide us with a big-priced winner.
Paul's treble
Greenock
Gartcairn
Fraserburgh
Treble pays £233 to a £10 stake at McBookie
Owen writes: “It's second-round day in the Scottish Junior Cup this weekend and William Hill have a coupon in their shops with all 61 matches on it. There are loads of long odds-on shots so while on paper this coupon looks easy you need to remember it's cup football so there will be some shocks.
I'm avoidngi all the short-priced teams and going for a massive draws treble. First up is Glenafton v Jeanfield at 10-3. Contrasting starts in the league as the Glens have struggled but Jeanfield have started well with their aim for promotion. I can see this being a tight match and playing again next week.
Muirkirk v Craigmark is a match between two of the minnows of the Ayrshire League in recent seasons but both have improved a bit this season and go into this match thinking they can book a spot in the third tound. I reckon it will end all square and they will play again next week. The draw pays 14-5.
Finally I'm taking the Renfrew v Maud match. These games are always difficult to price as the North Region sides always seem to struggle when they come up against other regions but Maud have started the season well and will be quietly confident of getting something when they visit Renfrew. A draw is 16-5.
Owen's Treble
Glenafton v Jeanfield draw
Muirkirk v Craigmark draw
Renfrew v Maud draw
Treble pays £700 to a £10 stake at William Hill
In December 2020 we sadly 
Back when i played for Maud juniors a junior cup game against central/west of Scotland teams usually meant we were whipped! Nowadays Maud are one of the top North junior sides and finished runners up in the superleague last season but they’ve made a poor start this season. Renfrew i know nothing about so no bet for me.
John smith, tough to work out sometimes when clubs from different regions face each other.
Best bets for me but all short are Troon at Lewis, Cumnock at Kello and Largs at Livingston.
I watched Largs beat Clydebank last week and they were pretty solid at the back with a goalscorer in James Mark.
Bankies are at Forfar West End and from what I’ve read we should win narrowly.
Stonehaven home win.
The Hives Alive
Bets 8 (2 wins @ 5/1 and 3/1)
Bet 9
Clydebank
Hurlford
Renfrew
£10 pays £33.70 (mcbookie)
Willie, I hope you’re right with that one.
I can’t make it to Forfar today so will be following on twitter.
Bankies through but Maud out Mr f.
John, pleased for Bankies and Maud were mauled.
good result for the bankies today Paul…..
Hurlford done my treble drawing 2-2 away at Fauldhouse. Amazing the amount of times 1 game beats the treble!
Willie, Hurlford drawing was a surprise but Bankies did well.