CELTIC will raise the flag today but all eyes will be on Aberdeen v Rangers tomorrow.
The fixtures computer has thrown up a week one cracker and Steven Gerrard's side may have the edge after the Dons used bags of energy in going to extra time against Burnley on Thursday.
I've already tipped Celtic to make it eight in a row but hopefully it will be an exciting race with Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs set to make life difficult for them.
Brendan Rodgers's champs have strolled through two Champions League qualifiers and will have one eye on AEK Athens next week but should open with three points against promoted Livingston.
The Hoops are short at a best 1-7 with Betway so you need to dig deep for value and two possibilities are Celtic/Celtic HT/FT and Celtic to win to nil at 7-10 with McBookie.
If there was no Euro tie forthcoming I'd be looking at Celtic -2 or -3 but Rodgers may rest one or two and there's no reason for the home men to use more energy than necessary.
Odsonne Edouard has been Celtic's star turn in early games and my tip for Premiership top scorer is 11-4 at Unibet to bag the opener.
And so to Pittodrie – we know all about Rangers' excellent record against their fierce rivals but this is all so new to Gerrard and a point would be a decent return.
The draw pays 23-10 at McBookie while Rangers are favourites at 11-8 with Betway and Aberdeen are 21-10 with Ladbrokes.
Home fans will lap up that price but tiredness could play a part and best bet could be both to score at 10-11 with bet365. Six of the last eight meetings at Pittodrie have gone over 2.5 goals.
Elsewhere I like Hearts at Hamilton after morale-boosting back-to-back 5-0 Betfred Cup wins.
Craig Levein has revamped his squad and they should finish top six while it's another season of struggle for Accies.
Take the Jambos at 11-10 with Unibet and consider new striker Uche Ikpeazu to score first at 5-1 with McBookie. The signing from Cambridge has looked a handful for lower-league defences and will fancy his chances of hitting the target.
Killie should see off St Johnstone at 11-10 with bet365 and Kris Boyd, with four Betfred Cup strikes, is 18-5 at McBookie to hit the opener.
New boys St Mirren tackle Dundee at home and this could be a draw.
Tomorrow Hibs, fresh from their Europa League defeat of Asteras, tackle Motherwell at home and again goals should be on the menu. Back over 2.5 match goals at evens with Ladbrokes.
Picking a Championship winner is almost impossible this season with relegated duo Partick Thistle and Ross County battling it out with the likes of Dundee United, Inverness and Dunfermline.
There's not an outstanding team and I'm on Dunfermline each way at 10-1 ( three places) with McBookie and Ladbrokes.
It's so tough bookies are seeing money on League One champs Ayr to repeat Livingston's feat and they are 66-1 at sportingbet.
The Pars start with a tester at Dundee United while best bets could be Ayr who won 2-0 at Firhill last week. They are 21-10 at bet365 to beat them again.
Ross County won 2-0 at Alloa last weekend and are 8-15 at Ladbrokes to see off the Wasps at home.
Raith and Dumbarton are League One joint favourites at 2-1 with McBookie and I'm on the Sons who have made good signings in the shape of Ross Forbes, Rory Loy and Paul Stewart. Back them at 11-8 with 188BET at East Fife today.
Airdrie have also done some good business with Darryl Duffy and Dale Carrick arriving and have looked good in the Betfred Cup. They are 7-4 with William Hill at Forfar.
Peterhead are again League Two favourites but can they get the job done after slipping up at the death last season? A best price of and I'd rather be on Danny Lennon's Clyde at 11-4 with McBookie although keeping hold off David Goodwillie seems crucial to their prospects.
Back Clyde to make a winning start at home to Queen's Park and they are 10-17 with 188BET with Peterhead 10-11 at Coral to beat Queen's Park.
Scottish Anteposts
- Edouard to top score (9-2)
- Dunfermline ew (10-1)
- Dumbarton (2-1)
- Clyde (11-4)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Great minds MR F / and go easy on the Killie should see off St Johnstone chat haha
??????? Scottish Football Returns ???????
It’s been a short summer with the World Cup, Betfred cup and euro qualifiers keeping us punters occupied and I can’t quite believe the new season is upon us tomorrow
Having looked through the full Scottish card league 1 looks like a lottery with the shortest price team 13/10 – I’ve picked out 2 bets for tomorrow and have thoughts on a couple of the Division 2 matches
Hamilton v Hearts KO 3pm
Every season when predictions are out on who will finish bottom , Hamilton are usually everyone’s pick ( including mine ) but every year they prove the doubters wrong. They have lost a lot of key players during the summer though and I can’t see it being anything other than a long hard slog. Craig Levein has made no fewer than 14 signings this season at Hearts they look stronger than last season.
Hamilton have laid a new pitch so hopefully the advantage they usually hold over teams by playing on plastic won’t be evident here.
Taking the Jambo’s to edge this and get their new season off to a winner. They have better players and a better squad than a Hamilton team who will struggle this season
Back Hearts to WIN 47/50 (MarathonBet) (NAP)
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League 2 Previw
Annan v Elgin
It was a miserable Betfred cup for Gavin Price and his Elgin team. They lost all 4 games without scoring and face a long treck down to Galabank. Elgin’s away form last season was brutal and the worst in the league and it’s not surprising with the amount of traveling they do.
Annan are a tough team to beat at home and they were unbeaten in their two home Betfred cup games against Hamilton and and Stranraer and I’m taking them to continue Elgin’s early season woes
Clyde v Cowdenbeath
One thing that has really surprised me is Clyde managing to retain the services of David Goodwillie – the striker could without doubt be playing at a higher level and having scored 25 goals last season they have done well to keep him. Danny Lennon has also brought in experienced journeyman John Rankin who’ll be a good addition at this level – they competed well against better opposition in the league cup and should go well this season
Cowdenbeath kept their senior league status by the skin of their teeth last season and it will be another tough season ahead for them
Annan Double Chance
Clyde to WIN
Double pays 5/4 (Bet365)
Celtic Team today is as follows
Gordon
Lustig
Ajer
Simunovic
Forrest
Brown
Ntcham
Hayes
Rogic
McGregor
Edouard