League 1 Betting Tips

I think St Mirren can make life difficult for Falkirk on Saturday, which is why I’m backing the visitors to score. 

Despite enduring a difficult campaign last term, this was a fixture that the Buddies enjoyed, winning on both of their visits to the Falkirk Stadium.

While the Bairns exceeded expectations last season, they have lost a number of key players over the summer and are now facing a period of transition. 

There have already been signs of that during the Scottish League Cup, with Falkirk losing 1-0 at home to Ayr before being held to a 1-1 draw at Alloa.

John McGlynn’s side like to play on the front foot, but that attacking approach can leave gaps defensively, something that became increasingly apparent towards the end of last season.

Indeed, Falkirk failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 of their final 13 Scottish Premiership matches last term.

Another team I’m keen to back to score at least once on Saturday is Dunfermline, who travel to Inverness. 

The Pars look well-equipped to challenge near the top end of the division this season, and they possess the attacking quality to cause the Caley Jags problems.

After a slow start to the previous campaign, Dunfermline ended the season strongly, scoring in three of their four playoff ties before grabbing a consolation goal in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

They have carried that momentum into this term, securing qualification to the knockout stages of the Scottish League Cup with three wins from four matches, including an impressive victory away at St Mirren last Sunday.

Inverness were a tough nut to crack during their title-winning League One campaign, but they will encounter a much greater challenge this term and could struggle to keep a dangerous Dunfermline attack quiet.

I’m expecting Livingston to make a winning start to life back in the Scottish Championship when they host Queen’s Park on Saturday. 

The Lions endured a miserable return to the Scottish Premiership last term, but they boast a squad that looks stronger than most in the second tier.

While Glenn Whelan’s side failed to progress from their Scottish League Cup group, they avoided defeat in all four matches inside 90 minutes, including an emphatic 8-0 victory over Forfar in their most recent outing at home.

Queen’s Park enjoyed an impressive group stage, winning three of their four matches, but still failed to progress after coming up short against Aberdeen, who exposed the quality gap between the two sides. 

Livingston may not be operating at that same level, but they should have enough quality in their ranks to secure a solid, if unspectacular, victory on their return to the Scottish Championship.

I think East Kilbride can hit the ground running in Scottish League One by defeating Queen of the South on Saturday.

Mick Kennedy’s men have already produced some eye-catching performances in the Scottish League Cup, sweeping aside Dunfermline 3-0 in their opening match before pushing St Mirren all the way in a thrilling 4-3 defeat.

Queen of the South, meanwhile, could be facing a difficult campaign amid financial struggles and the departure of key player Kai Kennedy over the summer.

The Doonhamers’ only victory during the group stage of the Scottish League Cup came against Highland League outfit Brora Rangers, while they suffered defeats by 4-1 and 3-1 against Aberdeen and Queen’s Park respectively in their final two fixtures.

That does not bode well ahead of a clash with an East Kilbride side that won each of their final seven home matches on their way to the title last term.

Ross County are the outright favourites for the Scottish League One title, and I’m expecting them to begin their promotion push with three points away at Peterhead on Saturday.

The Staggies have endured a miserable couple of seasons, tumbling down to the third tier after back-to-back relegations, but they look equipped to bounce back immediately after retaining key players and strengthening over the summer. 

Stuart Kettlewell’s side also arrive at Balmoor with confidence behind them, having comfortably secured qualification to the knockout stages of the Scottish League Cup with three wins and a draw from their four matches.

Peterhead, meanwhile, endured a disappointing League Cup campaign, claiming just one victory from four matches, with that success coming against lower league Elgin.

The Blue Toon have also lost several influential players over the summer, and they could hardly have asked for a tougher opener.