Scottish Premiership 2024/25 Season Handicap market released

Ahead of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign getting underway, bet365's Season Handicap market has been released.

Our Season Handicap markets assign a points total for each Scottish Premiership team which essentially acts a head start, just as handicaps work in a game of golf.

At the end of the season, each team's handicap is added to their overall points total, and the team with the most points wins.

Here are the assigned handicaps for each Scottish Premiership team ahead of the 2024/25 season:

Scottish Premiership 2024/25 Handicap Betting

Team	Handicap	Odds
Celtic	(+0)	9/1
Rangers	(+7)	9/1
Hearts	(+28)	9/1
Aberdeen	(+34)	9/1
Hibernian	(+38)	9/1
Kilmarnock	(+39)	9/1
St Mirren	(+44)	9/1
Motherwell	(+47)	9/1
Dundee	(+47)	9/1
Dundee United	(+49)	9/1
Ross County	(+53)	9/1
St Johnstone	(+55)	9/1

Celtic (+0)

As defending champions and favourites to win a fourth straight Scottish Premiership title, Celtic will start off scratch in the Season Handicap market, meaning no points will be added to their final total.

The Bhoys seem in a good place under Brendan Rodgers, with impressive pre-season victories over Manchester City and Chelsea supplying the club's supporters with plenty of confidence heading into the new campaign.

With a settled squad in place at Celtic Park, including players of the calibre of Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back, captain Callum McGregor in midfield and Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi up front, it's difficult to look past Rodgers' charges being crowned champions again in 2024/25.

Rangers (+7)

Rangers are unsurprisingly ranked second in the Season Handicap as Philippe Clement's side attempt to wrestle the Scottish Premiership title back from Celtic for the first time since their Invincible campaign under Steven Gerrard in 2020/21.

All does not appear to be well at Ibrox heading into the 2024/25 season, however, with a number of high-profile departures including Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and John Lundstram and a lack of marquee new signings.

The Gers will do everything they can to topple rivals Celtic and be crowned champions of Scotland, but this seems a tall order given the current make-up of their squad heading into the season.

Hearts (+28)

Hearts were by far and away the best of the rest outside of the Old Firm in Scotland's top flight last term, finishing 12 points clear of Kilmarnock in fourth.

The Jambos look in good fettle again ahead of the new campaign, with Steven Naismith making a number of shrewd additions in the off-season including attacking right-back Gerald Taylor on loan from Costa Rican side Saprissa, Yan Dhanda from Ross County and Blair Spittal from Motherwell.

Hearts will be aiming to secure at least a third-placed finish again in the 2024/25 season which will see them balance their domestic duties with participation in Europe.

Aberdeen (+34)

Despite a dismal season last year in which Aberdeen finished seventh in the table, there is renewed optimism at Pittodrie following the appointment of highly-rated Swedish manager Jimmy Thelin.

A charismatic figure, Thelin was able to inspire Elfsborg in his homeland to punch above their weight and achieve two second-placed finishes in the Allsvenskan.

A progressive coach with a forward-thinking style of play, Aberdeen supporters should be treated to a more entertaining brand of football this term, but the seemingly imminent departure of talismanic striker Bojan Miovski will be a significant loss.

Hibernian (+38)

Another Scottish Premiership club who will be led by a new manager in 2024/25 following a poor season last time out are Hibernian, with the Leith-based outfit languishing to an eight-placed finish last season.

Hibs have appointed club legend David Gray as their new manager, with the Scotsman the scorer of arguably the most famous goal in the club's history after netting a stoppage time winner against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final to end a 114-year wait for the trophy.

Gray undoubtedly has a tough job on his hands to drive Hibs back up the table, perhaps not helped by an outspoken ownership led by American Bournemouth figurehead Bill Foley, but he is popular figure amongst the club's fanbase who should offer him plenty of backing.

Kilmarnock (+39)

Kilmarnock enjoyed a terrific campaign in 2023/24, finishing in fourth place to seal entry into Europa League qualifying.

In Derek McInnes, Killie are guided by one of the most experienced managers in the Scottish top flight, with the ex-Aberdeen boss having assembled a spirited squad at Rugby Park who have proven very difficult to beat.

Propped up by a stubborn defence, Kilmarnock also possess real quality from middle to front with Scottish duo Danny Armstrong and David Watson catching the eye in the engine room last season.

St Mirren (+44)

St Mirren are another team who will have been delighted with how last season panned out, with the Paisley side finishing in fifth place in the Scottish Premiership to earn a spot in Conference League qualifying.

The Buddies have an impressive manager in Stephen Robinson, with the Northern Irishman having cultivated a real sense of togetherness at St Mirren which, in a similar fashion to Kilmarnock, has made them very tough to get the better of.

A physically robust team, with Alex Gogic and Mark O'Hara two key figures, St Mirren will strive for another top half finish in Scotland's top flight in 2024/25.

Motherwell (+47)

The 2023/24 season was somewhat underwhelming for Stuart Kettlewell's Motherwell, with the Lanarkshire side finishing ninth in the Scottish Premiership table.

The Steelemen could be in for another tricky campaign following the departure of star striker Theo Bair to Ligue 1 outfit Auxerre, with the Canada international banging 15 Scottish Premiership goals last season.

Much onus will be on technically gifted midfielder Lennon Miller to provide this Motherwell team with creative inspiration this season, with the Scotsman regarded as one of the best young players in the country.

Dundee (+47)

Dundee were one of the surprise packages of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership season, finishing in the top half in sixth place in their first campaign back in the top flight following promotion from the Championship.

A lot of the credit for this commendable league finish must go to manager Tony Docherty, who took charge of the Dee last summer following the departure of Gary Bowyer.

A long time assistant to Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes, Docherty has assembled a strong squad at Dens Park, with Mohamed Sylla, Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan forming one of the most accomplished midfields in the division.

Dundee United (+49)

Next in the reckoning in the Season Handicap market is Dundee's city rivals Dundee United, who were promoted back to the Premiership at the first time of asking after being crowned Championship winners last term.

A transition from a relatively weak Championship to a very competitive looking Premiership will be a big step up for Jim Goodwin's United, who have undergone an extensive recruitment drive this summer.

Some of these new recruits, including Macedonian pair Kristijan Trapanovski and David Babunski, certainly look the part, and the United faithful will be hoping this fresh blood can have them looking up the table as opposed to over their shoulder this season.

Ross County (+53)

Ross County only narrowly avoided relegation to the Scottish Championship last season, forced into a relegation play-off after finishing 11th in the Premiership, but the Dingwall side were able to comfortably see off Partick Thistle 6-1 over two legs to maintain their top flight status.

Now under the permanent charge of former player Don Cowie, the Staggies' main aim in the upcoming campaign is likely to be to stay clear of the drop zone.

County have lost some key players over the summer including top scorer Simon Murray to Dundee and Yan Dhanda to Hearts, but may well have unearthed a gem in new striker Ronan Hale signed from Cliftonville.

St Johnstone (+55)

Another team who were forced to battle against relegation in the Scottish Premiership last season were St Johnstone, who only avoided a play-off against Partick Thistle after a final day victory away at Motherwell.

Led by ex-Scotland manager Craig Levein, St Johnstone are expected to find life in the Scottish top flight difficult again in the upcoming campaign, with the Saints possessing one of the smallest budgets in the division.

However, in strike pair Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka, hailing from Gambia and Sweden respectively, St Johnstone have a forward line capable of causing opposition defences plenty of problems.