I’m expecting Falkirk to wrap up top spot in Scottish League Cup Group A with a win over Spartans on Saturday. The Bairns come into the final round of league phase fixtures knowing that a victory will secure their passage to the knockout stage. 

After being held to a 0-0 draw at Cove Rangers last Saturday, Falkirk bounced back with a well-deserved 3-1 win over Queen’s Park on Tuesday night. I watched that game first hand and Falkirk were worthy winners in the end.

The Falkirk Stadium has become a fortress in recent seasons and John McGlynn's men should make no mistake against Spartans. While Dougie Samuel’s side are still in contention to qualify, a trip to top seeds Falkirk will undoubtedly represent their toughest test in Group A. The Scottish League Two outfit have already lost away at Cove Rangers, and they should suffer the same fate on Saturday. 

Having hit 10 strikes across their two Group A victories, Falkirk have to be fancied to score a couple of goals this weekend. The Bairns struck at least twice in 11 of their 13 home wins en route to winning last season’s Scottish Championship.

Backing both teams to score was my first thought in regards to Ross County’s clash with Partick Thistle on Saturday. The two teams are facing off in what is effectively a straight shootout for top spot in Group B. County must win if they are to take section honours, while Partick will finish in first place if they avoid defeat.

After hitting Edinburgh City for eight goals on Tuesday night, Ross County are now among the highest scoring teams in the group stage, racking up 10 strikes in three games. The Staggies carry plenty of attacking threat, particularly with Ronan Hale spearheading their frontline. However, at the other end of the Park, County could struggle to keep out a Partick side that have scored eight times across their three games so far. I don't get the impression that Jags boss Mark Wilson will park the bus here, with the squad at his disposal better suited to taking a front-foot approach in the Highlands. 

County failed to keep a clean sheet in their recent match at Stranraer, and likewise Partick in their away day at Edinburgh CIty, and that suggests to me that both defences can be got at in Dingwall.

Airdrie can make home advantage count to take top spot in Scottish League Cup Group C with a win over Alloa on Saturday. Both teams have posted three wins from three, meaning that Saturday’s showdown is a winner-takes-all affair.

Having watched Airdrie on a number of occasions over the last two or three seasons, you can’t help but be impressed by their style of play. The Diamonds are a possession-based side who control matches with their slick passing and quality movement, and I suspect they will prove too strong for their third tier guests.

It was only at the end of last season that Rhys McCabe’s men successfully navigated their way through a pair of play-off ties with Scottish League One opposition, defeating both Stenhousemuir and Cove Rangers, not to mention they won away at Montrose on Wednesday night. Alloa will represent a similar standard of opposition to that of the aforementioned trio, making Airdrie an attractive option on Saturday.

All eyes are on Sunday’s Group D decider between Ayr and St Mirren, but Arbroath go into their final group game still in contention to progress to the knockout rounds as one of the three best runners-up. However, the Red Lichties will have to first win away at Forfar if they are to stand any chance of qualifying - something I think they are more than capable of doing.

Co-managers Colin Hamilton and David Gold guided Arbroath back to the Championship at the first time of asking last term, winning the Scottish League One title with room to spare. They seem to have recruited well since then, and showed  just how tough a nut they are to crack when holding top-flight St Mirren to a draw on matchday one. Confidence will also be high in their camp after dishing out a 6-0 drubbing to Annan on Tuesday night. 

On top of all that, the Angus derby factor should also provide Arbroath with plenty of motivation to take top honours here. Forfar failed to beat Group D whipping boys Annan and have since lost to both St Mirren and Ayr, which doesn’t bode well ahead of Saturday’s visit from their local rivals.

Dunfermline are the only side with anything still to play for in Group E, and the Pars should be backed to record a comfortable home win over Stirling Albion that will at least give them a chance of progression, as one of the best-placed runners-up.

The East End Park club go into this game knowing they need to win the game – and ideally by a sizeable score if they are to have any hope. Having already beaten League Two opponents Dumbarton 4-0 away from home earlier in the competition, they should fancy their chances.

Stirling, meanwhile, have yet to pick up either a point or score a goal in the group phase of this competition. The priority for the Binos will be preparing for next week’s season opening game against Edinburgh City, and that will likely mean giving their squad minutes to get fit.

I can’t overlook the value of Dunfermline winning this game by at least a couple of goals, with a price of 1.8 looking like an absolute steal. There has not been a hint of a shock in this group yet, and that is likely to continue in Fife.

St Johnstone only need a draw to secure their place in the last-16 of the League Cup, but the Perth side really should get a comfortable home win against Elgin, who are the poorest of the three teams they have faced so far.

The Perth Saints have recorded a maximum of nine points to date, including a 3-1 home victory over Raith Rovers in their sole outing at McDiarmid Park. The idea in this game will be continue their strong momentum into the new league season by recording a comfortable win, and manager Simo Valakari’s attack-minded system should help them to do it.

Elgin have been off the pace so far, really raising doubts as how ready they are for the new campaign. Not only have they lost all three games, they have scored only two goals and conceded 11 – the highest number of any team that will be active on Saturday.

I can only recommend backing some type of home win in this fixture. For the more adventurous punter, I’d even suggest backing Saints to score Over 2.5 goals at 1.8 – something they have done in two of their three fixtures so far.

Clyde have put up a surprisingly strong fight in the League Cup, and after snatching a dramatic win against Peterhead in their last outing, look for goals at both ends of the field as they face Morton at Cappielow on Saturday.

For my money, Clyde are one of the most underrated sides going into the league campaign, with Darren Young’s appointment last term signalling an improvement in their fortunes. That’s been continued in the League Cup, during which they have yet to lose in normal time.

The visiting side’s strength has been going forward. They have scored two goals in each of their three games but have yet to keep a single clean sheet. The fact that they scored twice against Premiership Motherwell points to them being able to breech Morton’s rearguard.

The Ton, meanwhile, missed out on their outside chance to win the group as they were thumped 3-0 by Motherwell in midweek. Until that match, they had impressed going forward by scoring seven times in their first two games. Dougie Imrie’s side did, however, concede twice to League Two opponents Peterhead.

With the winner of this tie having a shot at progression as a best-placed second-placed team, I expect this to be a comparatively open game, especially after the opening goal is scored.

It’s all to play for in Group H, with four teams still vying for qualification. I don’t think there’ll be much in the two games at the weekend, despite Premiership clubs Kilmarnock and Livingston both being at home. They are heavy favourites, but labouring offensively, expect these games to be tighter than the odds suggest.

Livvy, in particular, look very short priced. David Martindale’s side are combative and physical but lack imagination and flair. When asked to break down Highland League side Brora Rangers, they only won 2-0. Similarly, they struggled past League One opponents East Fife on the road. This is not a team that is likely to win big very often.

Kelty, on the other hand, have been mean defensively, conceding only one goal. They might only have scored against Brora, but that 4-0 win on the road has been enough to give them qualification hope, albeit slim, ahead of this final fixture. Having frustrated Premiership Kilmarnock to a 0-0 draw at New Central Park, they will hope to similarly annoy the West Lothian outfit.

With Kelty stubborn and Livingston largely impotent, I’m backing the visitors to keep this one competitive.