SCOTTISH Cup first round week has traditionally been a goldmine for punters and BUCKIE THISTLE can continue that run by winning at Albion Rovers at a tasty price.
Albion Rovers v Buckie Thistle
The Coatbridge side face a struggle to avoid trouble again in League Two and are perhaps fortunate Brechin City appear to be in a worse state than them.
They've played 12 games this season and won just two of them and have yet to keep a clean sheet all season.
Intriguingly, there's a bit of needle to add to the tie after Rovers refused a request from Buckie to postpone the game until Monday with Thistle boss Graeme Stewart insisting it would provide them with extra motivation for their trip to Cliftonhill. They fancy their chances anyway.
Buckie have won both their games in the Highland League this season and cruised through to reach this stage against Strathspey Thistle.
Rovers managed to draw at home last season to Highland League no-hopers Fort William, although they did win the replay.
And with Buckie one of the favourites to repeat their 2017 Highland League success, they look value at 23/10 to progress.
Dundee Utd v Motherwell
DUNDEE UNITED look overpriced for the visit of Motherwell at 19/10.
Mickey Mellon's side haven't exactly been the Great Entertainers this season, but they've done all right for a newly-promoted team and there's surely no danger they will get dragged into a relegation fight.
Goals for Lawrence Shankland and Mark McNulty in midweek against struggling Kilmarnock will have done the pair no harm and given them a real confidence boost.
Motherwell followed up their 5-5-0 formation at Rangers last week with a goalless draw against Aberdeen and things look amiss at Fir Park at the moment.
They haven't won in seven games and it's hard to justify why they are favourites for the trip to Tannadice, especially with them being in a false league position after being gifted six points because of breaches elsewhere.
Kilmarnock v Livingston
LIVINGSTON are another team at a nice price of 17/10 who are on fire at the moment and face a Killie side on the slide.
Alex Dyer's side have now lost four in a row in the league and have failed to score in any of them.
Yet they are uneasy favourites against David Martindale's charges who have won all five games for him so far.
His appointment may have been controversial because of his past, but he's certainly got his players at it for him and they can provide a Boxing Day bonus.
Recommendation Bets
- Buckie Thistle 23/10 (McBookie)
- Dundee Utd 19/10 (McBookie)
- Livingston 17/10 (McBookie)
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
