Celtic, Rangers highlight SPL once again

Soccer Betting Lines

08/13/2010 - Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers have combined to win the last 25 Scottish Premier League titles, so when the season kicks off Saturday, the only suspense is which Glasgow club wins this time.

Celtic has finished second the last two seasons behind Rangers, and both teams remain a cut above the rest of the SPL again this season, although both squads lost a number of players.

"The pressure is always the same for Old Firm managers," Ranger manager Walter Smith said. "Every other SPL manager would like to be in our shoes and it's only when you are there that you encounter the difficulties that managing one of the Old Firm throws up.

"The challenge is always there. Celtic had won three in a row and we have managed to win the last two so we obviously want to make it three and carry that on."

Rangers lost leading scorer Kris Boyd to Middlesbrough of the English Premier League and replacing the striker won't be easy. Boyd led the SPL with 23 goals last season and scored 101 goals in under 150 appearances for the club.

Coach Smith will also be without United States international DeMarcus Beasley, who remains without a club after being with the Scottish team from 2007-10.

Smith did add striker James Beattie, a former England international, from EPL side Stoke City this week, but one or two more additions are likely before the transfer window closes.

Kenny Miller, second on the team and third in the league with 18 goals, is now forced to pick up more scoring load alongside Beattie.

Rangers, which opens at Ibrox against Kilmarnock, lost just three matches last season and topped Celtic by six points. Celtic struggled last season but still finished 18 points ahead of third-place Dundee United.

Celtic, under first-year coach Neil Lennon, will have to replace more notable departures, including striker Robbie Keane, goalie Artur Boruc and defender Edson Braafheid. Keane and Braafheid were on loan from Tottenham and Bayern Munich, respectively, while Boruc transferred to Fiorentina. Midfielder Aiden McGeady joined the exodus Friday, transferring to Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Keane led the club with 12 goals last season, although he joined the team from the English club on loan at midseason.

The Bhoys, who open at Iverness, signed Cha Du-Ri, Gary Hooper, Efrain Juarez, Beram Kayal, Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew and Daryl Murphy to compensate for the losses.

Lennon will have a hard time in his first year in charge, and with just a one- year contract, will also be battling for his job.

"From my point of view you always have a level of respect for Celtic managers and that hasn't changed. Neil is just starting out and my first managerial job was with Rangers so I know what he is going through," Smith said.

Rangers and Celtic will also try to contend in the Champions League, something that hasn't happened in recent years for the Scottish teams.

Also Saturday, Dundee United will try to take a step toward joining the SPL's elite when it opens at St. Mirren. In the day's other matches, Aberdeen hosts Hamilton and Hearts hosts St Johnstone. Motherwell hosts Hibernian on Sunday.

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