C IS FOR CHAMPS; New bosses Tony and Carlo can guide Celtic and Chelsea to glory.

Byline: Paul Jain

RANGERS and Man United came out tops last May but now could be the time to hail C-stars.

Celtic and Chelsea have new men at the helm and with that freshness they look the sides to beat in the SPL and Premier League title races.

Tony Mowbray has made a stunning start to life at Parkhead with that impressive Champions League win in Moscow and Carlo Ancelotti already has a trophy after Chelsea beat Man United on penalties in the Community Shield last week.

As usual it's a two-horse race in Scotland and some bookies can't split the Old Firm. However,William Hill offer 5-6 Celtic and 11-10 Rangers.

Celtic have spent on the likes of Marco-Antoine Fortune, Landry N'Guemo and Danny Fox while at Ibrox only the "For Sale" signs have been up and on that basis I'm backing a Hoops triumph.

Crashing

Mowbray's men get the season under way at Aberdeen at lunchtime today and can put down a marker by picking up three points against traditionally tough opponents.

The Dons leaked eight in crashing out of the Europa League to Sigma Olomouc and I expect to give their defence a tough time.

Celtic are biggest 4-6 with Coral and Bet365 with the Dons 9-2 at firms like Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and McBookie.

I like Celtic at 6-4 with Hill minus one and will be on Scott McDonald to add to his Moscow goal with the opener. He is 5-1 with totesport.

Paddy Power report 44 per cent of all SPL bets have been on Celtic with a quarter on Rangers. And surprisingly 43 per cent of punters reckon Aberdeen will finish third while I fancy Hearts.

The Jambos are 6-4 at Ladbrokes with Aberdeen 4-1 atVictor Chandler.

A quarter of people have bet on my choice Kris Boyd for top SPL scorer and a quarter are also on Fortune who doesn't look as prolific.

At the other end of the table 79 per cent of Paddy Power's money is on St Mirren to finish bottom but I'll be looking at St Johnstone or maybe Hamilton who have lost key players.

William Hill have priced up regional winners of the SPL and forWest Coast go Motherwell 15-8, Killie 2-1, Falkirk 5-1, Hamilton 5-1 and St Mirren 7-1. Only these sides count.

And for East Coast you can have 7-5 Hearts, 13-5 Dundee Utd, 16-5 Aberdeen, 9-2 Hibs and 25-1 St Johnstone.

While Celtic hope to a make a winning start there can only be one result at Ibrox where Rangers face Falkirk.

The Bairns were lucky to survive last season and wish they hadn't having been handed such a tough opener.

Such is Falkirk's task that Eddie May's men are as big as 18-1 to pick up three points and are 4-1 with boylesports to finish bottom ahead of St Johnstone (7-2, Coral).You can also have 4-1 on Accies withWilliam Hill.

Boyd is 3-1 with Ladbrokes and Hill to get off to a flying start with the opener.

Elsewhere in the SPL best bets today could be Killie who are evens at Coral to beat Hamilton at home.

I also fancy Hibs to beat St Mirren while St Johnstone v Motherwell looks a draw.

Dundee should make it two wins in a row in the First Division at Raith. They are evens with Ladbrokes and remember McBookie are taking first scorer bets on these games. Leigh Griffiths, for example, is 4-1 at Kirkcaldy.

Inverness look bankers at home to Ayr and Partick Thistle can finally beat bogey side Ross County.

In Division Two I fancy Arbroath against a slow-starting Dumbarton and Brechin should beat Cowdenbeath.

In England, Man United are fancied to make it four in a row by a few firms but not Ladbrokes who make them 5-2 second favourites behind Chelsea who are 11-5 with boylesports.

United begin the defence of their crown at home to Birmingham and it's a certain three points against Alex McLeish's men. Back United at 7-4 with sportingbet to triumph by at least two goals.

Chelsea are 1-5 to see off Hull and they will. West Ham could be best bets at Wolves.

CAPTION(S):

PRIZE FIGHTERS: Mowbray, and, right, Ancelotti hope to make great starts