Ahead of the new season, Scotzine has partnered up with Betting giants Ladbrokes to sponsor our ‘Always Bet on Black’ tipster column.
That means each week our resident tipster Graham Munro will select his five games to bet on and use the latest odds from Ladbrokes.
This week Graham has gone for one game in the Premiership and four from the League Cup. As always remember to gamble responsibly.
Kilmarnock v Dundee
With Gary Locke at the helm of Killie, the fans are likely to find a team that combines tactical awareness and organisation. With the acquisition of Jamie McDonald from Falkirk, the keeper is reunited with his manager from his days at Tynecastle. The experience of Rangers duo Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd should bring a few goals possibly with an assist or two from Kallum Higginbotham.
Dundee fans will have been quietly pleased at the signing of Rory Loy from Falkirk but equally they must be a tad concerned at the lack of genuine width among the Dens Park squad.
I reckon Killie will just have what it takes to nick it.
Prediction: Kilmarnock 2 Dundee 1 – odds 9/1
Dunfermline v Cowdenbeath
Allan Johnston set out his game plan last week with an emphatic 4-1 demolition of Arbroath in the Petrofac Cup and I reckon he will carry on where he left off against Cowdenbeath. The Pars will have too much for the ‘Blue Brazil’ as they look to progress in the Scottish Communities League Cup. The men from Central Park will need to up their game – given they didn’t have a single shot on target in their defeat to Raith – and they will need to reduce the card count.
I take Dunfermline to power on in this Fife Derby without too much anxiety.
Prediction: Dunfermline 3 Cowdenbeath 1 – odds 14/1
East Fife v Dumbarton
Two late goals against the Fifers put paid to a stubborn performance against Scottish Cup finalists Falkirk in their Petrofac Cup tie. Bayview now welcomes the arrival of Dumbarton whose defeat of Greenock Morton away had their fans feeling more than optimistic about the season ahead.
In the past meetings Dumbarton have come out on top against their hosts and I feel there is no reason for this trend to be reversed.
Prediction: East Fife 1 Dumbarton 2 – odds 7/1
Raith Rovers v Albion Rovers
This battle of the ‘Rovers’ has more about Barnestoneworth than Barcelona but it is unlikely to be ‘eight bloody one’! Raith took the honours last week against local rivals Cowdenbeath while the Coatbridge outfit came up short against Ayr United.
The likelihood is that this would be more likely to be a ‘bore draw’ than anything else and as such goals will be at a premium. No chance of a Ripping Yarn?
Extra time will be needed – unfortunately!
Prediction: Raith Rovers 0 Albion Rovers 0 – odds 16/1
Stirling v Airdrieonians
The Diamonds suffered a second half meltdown in their match against Annan and it is likely that manager Gary Bollan will ensure his charges make it to the end of 90 minutes on Saturday without running out of steam. Stirling’s loss to Elgin was disappointing given they held the lead after ex-Celtic star Craig Beattie had opened the scoring.
This tie is likely to be a close encounter and will see both sides finding the net with extra time needed to decide the winner.
Prediction: Stirling 2 Airdrieonians 2 – odds 10/1
* All odds are correct at the time of going to print
