BBC Scotland: Sat 12.30: In the Scottish Cup, It’s 6/1 (Blue Sq) for a 1-1 draw at Inverness and Dundee are 12/5 to draw with Kilmarnock
Inverness and Dunfermline have drawn twice already this season, so ensuring that four of their last five encounters have finished all square. They lock horns again in the Scottish Cup’s only all-SPL tie with Partybets rating the chances of it yielding fewer than 2.5 goals as a 4/5 shot.
Given this fixture’s propensity for stalemates, one goal could be enough to settle it and punters can get 6/1 at Stan James against Inverness securing a 1-0 win. Elsewhere, Betfred chalk 5/2 about the draw and offer 9/2 against both halves finishing level, while Blue Square post 6/1 about a 1-1 outcome.
It took a replay for St Johnstone to overcome Brechin when they met in last season’s Scottish Cup, but bookies expect matters to be much more straight forward for the Saints when they meet again tomorrow. Paddy Power price another draw at 4/1 as Blue Square install St Johnstone as their understandably short 3/10 favourites to progress to the next round at the first time of asking.
With Brechin priced at 10/1 (bet365) to win, the correct score markets have been busy with most punters backing a St Johnstone success. Ladbrokes post 5/1 against a 2-0 home win and Stan James offer 15/2 against the Saints winning 3-0.
Aberdeen have faced Forfar three times in the Scottish Cup, winning each one and it would be a major shock if they failed to make it four from four tomorrow. Bookies concur, with William Hill offering a generous-looking 6/4 against the Dons winning without conceding. Elsewhere, Skybet price Aberdeen 11/10 to hold the lead at the end of both halves and Boylesports offer them at 5/4 to win when kicking off with a one goal deficit.
The Cup draw matches several odds-on favourites with what appears to be rank outsiders, so creating an opportunity for punters to try multiple betting. For example, Betfred rate Dundee United at 4/9 to overhaul Airdrie and consider Hibs a 5/6 shot to beat Cowdenbeath. A £10 win double on the SPL teams would, if successful, return gross winnings of £26.48.
Similarly, Skybet mark Falkirk at 4/9 to beat East Fife and St Mirren at 4/7 to triumph over Hamilton. Backing the two home teams with a £10 win double wager would provide a gross return of £22.70.
Punters prepared to back the shortest-priced teams in this weekend’s ties in an accumulator can still come out on top. Bet365 make Hearts 1/10 to beat Auchinleck Talbot and chalk 1/6 about Motherwell beating Queens Park, while Rangers are 1/7 to win at Arbroath and Celtic 1/11 to beat Peterhead. Backing the SPL quartet in a £10 accumulator would provide a gross win of £16 – assuming all four emerge victorious of course.
Elsewhere, there’s little to choose between Dundee (15/8, William Hill) and Kilmarnock (6/4, Ladbrokes). They’ve met 6 times in the Cup, winning three apiece; Paddy Power’s 12/5 chalked against the draw has proved popular as a consequence.
Raith (11/8, ) and Morton (11/5, Boylesports) promises to be similarly close, although the three remaining ties should see a trio of home sides – Livingston (8/11, Partybets), Partick (3/4, Blue Square) and Ross County (1/2, Stan James) each securing victory.
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