IT'S Scottish Cup week and there could be the usual sprinkling of shocks all over the country.
But there's unlikely to be one in Greenock where in-form MORTON can not only ease past Montrose, they can do it by conceding a goal on the handicap at 11/8.
Dougie Imrie's side have been in excellent form recently in the Championship and has jumped from being relegation strugglers to being just one place off a play-off spot at the top of the table.
You need to go back to November 11 for their last defeat and there were plenty of murmurings about Imrie's job, but Ton have turned it around.
They've won five out of their last eight league games and drawn the other three – most impressive of all was a 3-2 win at Tannadice against leaders Dundee United.
But League One Montrose seem to be heading in the opposite direction having won just one league game going back to the week before Morton's last loss.
Last week, they lost at home to struggling Stirling Albion and although they have drawn a few games, they may find it hard to keep up with Morton at Cappielow.
The biggest chances of shocks look to be high-flying Championship sides against plodding Premiership outfits.
AIRDRIE were frustrated last week when their game at injury-ravaged Dunfermline was the only game in Scotland called off, but they can get at least a draw against St Johnstone on the double chance at 5/6.
This season the Diamonds defeated Dundee at home and have also disposed of Motherwell and St Mirren in the League Cup at home recently.
Teams don't like going to the Excelsior, as Raith Rovers found out the other week when they lost.
Airdrie are in good form at the moment with three wins in a row and they haven't conceded a goal at home for three games too.
Saints have undoubtedly improved under Craig Levein, but they have a lot of foreign players in their side and it's hard to see them relishing a trip to darkest Lanarkshire.
PARTICK THISTLE somehow lost a bitter Premiership play-off when they conceded three goals in the last 20 minutes in Dingwall last summer.
But they can gain a measure of revenge against a Staggies side who may be rusty after a winter break and who were in poor form before it.
The Jags will be up for this and should be backed for a win or a draw with the double chance evens.
Scottish Cup Bets
- MORTON -1 11/8
- AIRDRIE DOUBLE CHANCE 5/6
- PARTICK THISTLE DOUBLE CHANCE evens
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
Great tipping here – thanks v much! All came in.