MOST strikers would be happy with 18 goals in a season – Stephen Dobbie's hit that tally in just 10 games.
The Queen of the South striker is the hottest player in Scotland after following up a hat-trick against Falkirk with a fab four against Ayr last week.
With the leagues taking a break this weekend Dobbie is on a crusade to strike fear into Northern Irish side Crusaders.
The Irn-Bru Cup has thrown up a series of games we don't usually see and punters have to decide how the Irish, Welsh and Scottish leagues stand up with the added complication of two non-league English sides and Livingston Colts.
It really is a day for low stakes but as long as Queens play Dobbie you have to think they'll beat Crusaders.
Bookies are struggling to call these games too with many going 6-4 each of two. Queens are a biggest 6-4 at McBookie and 1-2 with bet365 not to lose.
Crusaders crashed 9-0 on aggregate to Ludogerets in the Champions League qualifiers and 6-2 to Olimpija in the Europa League while five of their last six have gone over 2.5 goals. This should land at 8-11 with McBookie.
My biggest disappointment is not seeing any first-scorer prices as I'm sure punters would be falling over themselves backing Dobbie. Maybe some will appear today but I doubt it.
Dobbie has eight Championship goals in four outings and is 1-2 with McBookie to finish top scorer ahead of antepost favourite Lawrence Shankland (3-1) who has three for Ayr but 12 in all competitions.
Elsewhere ties include Airdrie v Sutton, Boreham Wood v Dunfermline, Falkirk v Connah's Quay, Peterhead v Bohemians, TNS v Queen's Park, Coleraine v Formartine and Sligo v Livingston Colts. If that's not glamorous …
Airdrie have watched Sutton and reckon the National League side are Scottish Championship standard so that spells danger if the visitors send their strongest squad.
Again bookies don't have a scoobie with William Hill making both sides 29-20. Sutton sit seventh in England's top tier and I'll be risking them.
Boreham Wood are one point behind in 11th and should see off a Dunfermline side that's started the Championship with three defeats in four. The English are 7-5 at Marathonbet.
Tonight's live game sees Welsh champs TNS tackle Queen's Park at home and they are 1-2 with Marathonbet. We know a bit about TNS at this level as this is third run in the Cup with just two defeats in eight over 90 minutes against St Mirren and at home to Dumbarton in last season's semi-finals.
The other Welsh side Connanh's Quay travel to Falkirk and tempt at 5-6 with Sky Bet.
Coleraine, who beat Crusaders 3-0 in the league in midweek, are also a short price at 3-10 with William Hill to beat Highland League Formartine but have just lost manager Oran Kearney to St Mirren and I can see a high-scoring Bohemians side beating Peterhead away at 11-8 with bet365.
Edinburgh City have made a good start in League Two and should win at Lowland League East Kilbride. They are 21-25 at Marathonbet.
There are other all-Scots ties and if Partick Thistle are taking it seriously at East Fife they should win at 17-20 with Marathonbet while Arbroath are big favourites to see off Annan with both sides possibly on target.
Recommended Bets
- Queen of the South
- Sutton
- TNS/Coleraine double
- Edinburgh City
- Partick Thistle
- Bohemians
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.
