I think Airdrie could prove to be awkward opponents for Ross County on Saturday. The Diamonds ended last season on a high note, pulling off something of a great escape. They have since won three of their four Scottish League Cup group stage matches, most notably earning a 1-0 victory away at top-flight Dundee. While Rhys McCabe’s men will have been disappointed not to have qualified from their group, I think they carry the necessary attacking threat to score at least once against Ross County on Saturday.

There has been a sizeable turnover of players at Ross County this summer, and there were also some signs in their Scottish League Cup outings that they could be suffering from a relegation hangover. Don Cowie’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by perennial Scottish League Two strugglers Stranraer before being put to the sword 3-1 by Partick Thistle last weekend.

Therefore, County could struggle to keep out an attack-minded Airdrie side that scored in each of their four Scottish League Cup outings, hitting multiple goals in three of those contests. It’s also worth noting that the Diamonds struck in six of their final nine Scottish Championship home games last season.

I suspect St Johnstone’s clash with Partick Thistle on Saturday will be a lot closer than the pre-match odds suggest. While I can understand why the Saints are odds-on favourites here, I think Thistle are simply too big to ignore at 1.47 to get on the scoresheet on Saturday.

Mark Wilson’s men made the net bulge in 28 of their 36 Scottish Championship matches last season, including 13 of their 18 assignments away from Firhill. Since then, the Jags have emerged victorious from each of their four Scottish League Cup group stage games, wrapping up top spot in the section with a mightily impressive 3-1 win away at Ross County last Saturday. Thistle fired in a combined total of 11 goals across their four group stage victories, striking at least twice in each of those four triumphs. 

While St Johnstone also posted four wins from four en route to top spot in Scottish League Cup Group F, they failed to keep clean sheets in their wins over both East Kilbride and Raith Rovers. In-form Thistle should provide Simo Valakari’s backline with plenty of problems on Saturday, with the visitors more than capable of making their mark at McDiarmid Park.

Inverness are the bookies’ outright favourites to win the Scottish League One title this season and I am in complete agreement with that viewpoint. Despite being hit with a 15-point deduction during the early months of last season, the Caley Jags finished a commendable 7th and preserved their third tier status with room to spare. In fact, had they not been penalised their overall points return would have seen them finish as runners-up. Manager Scott Kellacher has since made a number of eye-catching additions to his squad, and his side should be there or thereabouts come next May.

While Inverness certainly merit consideration to hit the ground running by claiming a win at Kelty Hearts on Saturday, I’m happy to instead opt for a touch of insurance with the Double Chance option. The Highlanders avoided defeat in 26 of their 36 league games last season, including three of their four meetings with Kelty Hearts.

As for the hosts, they failed to win a sizeable 15 of their final 18 league games of last season, not to mention their only victory during the group phase of the Scottish League Cup came against Highland League outfit Brora Rangers.

Based on the League Cup results of Morton and Dunfermline, the price to see two or more goals at Cappielow on Saturday is outrageously good.

In previous seasons, these have been a couple of relatively low-scoring sides, yet that’s not the current form of this duo. During the group stages of the League Cup, all four of Morton’s games produced at least three goals, while each of Dunfermline’s fixtures produced two goals (including three that saw three or more strikes).

Scoring was not much of a problem for either of these teams. Morton found the net on 10 occasions while Dunfermline netted nine. This marked a particular turnaround for the visiting side, who appear to have benefited from a full pre-season under Neil Lennon after scoring just two goals in the seven games he oversaw at the end of last term.

Each of the last three meetings between these teams has produced at least two goals, with Morton twice winning 2-0 at home last season.

Over 1.5 goals looks strong for an accumulator.

Paul Hartley’s home side showed good form in the League Cup. Their only defeat over 90 minutes was against Championship outfit Queen’s Park, while they held Premiership opponents Falkirk to a 0-0 draw at home. That continues a strong home record that has seen Cove lose only twice at home in all competitions since last November.

By contrast, Queen of the South have been hapless on the road. Last season, the Dumfries club picked up only three away wins over the course of the whole season, with each of these coming against opponents who finished in the bottom half of the table.

Queens have started equally badly on their travels this time around. I tipped them to be upset at League Two Stranraer last season and they delivered with a 1-0 defeat – the third successive match in which they have failed to score.

After losing three out of three away to Cove last season, the price on the hosts simply avoiding defeat looks a big one.

East Kilbride will play their first home SPFL match on Saturday and will expect to celebrate it with a victory over Spartans.

With major investment having flooded into Kilby in recent years, Mick Kennedy has built a strong team that is expected to win immediate promotion. Although they suffered two defeats from four in the League Cup, those came against St Johnstone and Inverness, who are competing in higher divisions. Their only match against a League Two opponent was a crushing 4-1 win away to Elgin.

Spartans, meanwhile, have not played an opponent from this level yet. Instead, they have lost a couple of away matches against Cove Rangers and Falkirk without scoring. Indeed, the Edinburgh side have lost seven of their last nine away matches in all competitions.  

With East Kilbride looking to put down a statement of intent, I think they’re a very good price going into this game. Value on backing the new boys may not last long, so make the most of it while it’s still there.