Superbigals Scottish Cup 1st round Thoughts. No chance of 100 grand.

It is the time of year again but I am huffing and puffing and sighing.  In the last couple of years we had the big bookies using silly price charts from the Premiership that allowed us to back false prices. Who can forget matches -4 on the handicaps at prices of around 9/2 for games I made around even money shots. Correct score charts making 7-0 etc 100/1 allowing crazy doubles of 10020/1 to stand a real chance. The fixtures have not been too kind but the books are just not straying into shark infested waters this year. The exception appears to be a company called youwin.com who have numerous markets on all games.
I usually have an absolute no brainer 5 timer to return at least enough to fund all exotic bets. This year it is just so tricky. Therefore I am going to make a few points on all the matches.
I will list the best prices as stated by oddschecker rather than target specific books for now.

Brora 2/5  Draw 4/1 Vale of Leithen 7/1
This is the battle of the two top teams in the new feeder leagues. Big Bucks Brora full of ex Scottish Premier league players top the Highland League with full points from 6 matches. Loads of goals scored and only 2 conceded. Vale of Leithen topping the Lowland league after 7 matches with a handy 14 points. The Vale are probably in a slightly false position. The odds for a home win are prohibitive however there definitely is some value to be had at youwin. The away team Vale to score 0 goals in the game looks a tasty 7/4 to me.

Coldstream 7/1 Draw 9/2 Wick 2/5
Wick won this battle 9-1 !!! a couple of years ago to help land some huge touches. They are virtually untouchable at home. This represents a nightmare journey in terms of distance in Scotland. They have started the highland league brilliantly though and sit only 2 points behind Brora having also scored 21 goals and only conceded 2. Coldstream are better than 2 years ago and are holding their own in the EOS Premier League. They have lost their last 2 though without scoring a goal. Is backing heavy odds on away a trip to the poor house ?  Youwin once again are teasing me with the home team Coldstream to score 0 goals in the game at a tasty 7/4.

Deveronvale 8/11 Draw 16/5 Clach 33/10
All highland league battle.  Deveronvale are too short for my liking however not a match for much betting for me. If pushed into a corner once again I would visit youwin to bet under 3.5 goals at 3/4 as their last 6 head to head matches would have landed.

Edinburgh Uni 9/2  Draw 9/2  Spartans 6/11
Old foes now in different leagues battle again.  Spartans should be winning but I think this may be tight. Once again youwin under 3.5 goals interests at 7/5 In their last 16 head to heads this would have landed 11 times.

Forres 7/5  Draw 13/5  Keith 6/4
Another highland league battle   Forres are on a poor run of form and have only 3 wins over Keith in their last 18 head to head. Cannot see any betting edges.

Fort William 13/5  Draw 11/4  Newton Stewart Evens
2 off the competitions usual whipping boys. Newton contributed to the huge wins 2 years ago as they were thumped 6-1 at Huntly. They have improved in the very weak SOS league and are on a winning run. Highland league strugglers Fort William are improved this term with a draw at Buckie last Saturday being a highlight. This is a horrible match to bet on. I hate to say it but I think more value in the home team. No bet for me.

Fraserburgh 8/15  Draw 4/1 Civil Service 19/4
Fraserburgh won this match 4-3 back in 2011.  Civil top the east of Scotland premier. Probably a home win for the highlanders again and price about correct. No bets for me.

Gala 8/15  Draw 17/5 Glasgow Uni 9/2   
Now I love the students who have have contributed to the big wins in all of the last 5 years. Including a predicted win in 2009 over Burntisland. The tax-dodgers actually play in an amateur league in the Glasgow area. The players are only just back and they have started with only 1 win from 4 games. Gala have hit a bit of form in the Lowland league and I make this one of my bankers this week. Would even contemplate taking them on the handicaps.

Girvan 16/1  Draw 7/1  Auchinleck 1/7
Battle of the Ayrshire Juniors.  Auchinleck to win but odds are terrible.

Golspie 7/1  Draw 9/2  Edinburgh City 2/7
Golspie from the Caledonian North league should be well beaten by the Lowland League Edinburgh.

Hawick 37/10  Draw 10/3  St Cuthberts 6/11
Lowly Hawick from the EOS have improved this season. Probably not enough to trouble the Saints who have a decent Scottish cup record for a SOS side. Comfortable away win. Again squeamish with the price for an away win.

Huntly Evens  Draw 3/1  Preston 3/1
Struggling Highland League Huntly at evens to a Lowland League side with 4 wins on the bounce.   No bet for me.

Inverurie 1/7   Draw 10/1  Burntisland 16/1
The most 1 sided tie of the round without question.  Highland League flyers against the newest and worst EOS team. Burntisland were an average amateur team and have not improved much.  An Inverurie clean sheet at Even money with youwin looks outstanding value to me.  So does 7/10 for -2 on handicap.

Linlithgow 4/6  Draw 7/2  Nairn 19/5   
Oh this is tough. The under performing Highlanders against the best Junior team in the East who have hardly lost a game in the last year. I am so tempted by Nairns price but cannot bring myself to go against Linlithgow.  One to watch with interest.

Lossiemouth 13/4  Draw 7/2  Culter 8/11
Probably my favourite betting tie of the round. The struggling Highland League team against the North Junior champs. However lets get this in perspective. The North juniors are poor standard. I honestly believe the odds are a reaction to the league tables. I know Paul Petrie who runs Mcbookie agrees with me on this and is incredibly twitchy about the price he is offering Lossiemouth. He is in line with market though. I believe the market is wrong and should almost have the odds the other way around. My advise is to back Lossiemouth. My neck is on the chopping board with this one however.

Selkirk 11/2  Draw 7/2  Turriff 1/2 
Selkirk & Turriff were the best bets (both landed) in last years 1st round.  This season I fully expect the visiting Highlanders to dispose of the struggling pointless Lowlanders without too much trouble.  Turriff are Even money -1 with youwin. They are an incredible 11/5 to keep a clean sheet.

Threave Evens  Draw 3/1  Rothes 3/1
Threave have been backed in this game. Although both teams have only won 1 game in the League this season I agree with the punters. Rothes have not got past their 1st round in a long time. Threave to win this encounter.

Wigtown 12/5  Draw 3/1  Buckie 11/10
A horrible game to forecast. The improving SOS team with 7 wins from 8 and only 4 goals conceded. Home to Buckie who could only draw with Fort William last week.  Buckie have such a good record away from home in this cup though including thrashing Wigtown 7-1 just 3 years ago.  You decide.

Hopefully some of this will be helpful to you punters. Sorry there are no massive juicy accas to be had.
For further reference please use.
http://uk.soccerway.com/national/scotland/scottish-cup/20132014/1st-round/r22297/
http://www.highlandfootballleague.com/LeagueTable/
http://slfl.co.uk/
http://www.eosfl.com/
http://www.southofscotlandfootballleague.co.uk/Divisions
http://northregionjfa.pitchero.com/
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/sjfa/competitions.cfm?page=1758
http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/ersjfa/Default.asp