The Scottish Premier League has been an Old Firm duopoly since 1985 and BBC Sport's football pundits don't see that changing in the next nine months.

But which side of the Glasgow divide do Billy Dodds, Murdo MacLeod, Pat Nevin, Craig Paterson and Chick Young think will be celebrating come May?

And who do they predict will be celebrating Uefa Cup qualification and suffering the misery of relegation?

Pat Nevin
BBC Television and Five Live pundit

It was such a great season just past that it's a pity to start this one on such a downer after Rangers got knocked out of Europe so early.

Stephen McManus lifted the SPL trophy for Celtic last term

But I think they will be quite strong again and I am undecided about who will win the title between them and Celtic.

It all depends on who they bring in before the closure of the transfer window.

If Gordon Strachan brings in a couple of quality players, that will swing it in Celtic's favour.

Rangers lack a bit of creativity in midfield, especially with Barry Ferguson out injured for the start of the season, so Celtic must start as favourites.

I feel that Dundee United are the most likely side to finish third. They did well last season and could have won the CIS Cup and come third last season if Celtic had not taken Barry Robson from them in January.

But I think everybody will be fighting for the top six apart from the bottom three, with relegation coming from one of Hamilton, Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

Champions: Celtic
Runners-up: Rangers
Third place: Dundee United
Relegated: Hamilton, Kilmarnock or St Mirren.

Murdo MacLeod
BBC Scotland football pundit

I am hopeful of a season of quality football when teams like Motherwell can continue to play good football and there is a stronger challenge from Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen.

But I have to go with Celtic to make it four in a row - and that was my feeling before Rangers' debacle against Kaunas - because they simply have the stronger squad.

Rangers lost to Kaunas in Champions League qualifying

Rangers look flat and need to bring new players in if they are to challenge, but they will still be the main threat and I hope for a repeat of a great championship race last season.

Motherwell will be out to show that last season's third place is not a one-off, but Dundee United will be out to have good seasons back-to-back after being up and down for the last 10 seasons and will just pip them for the Uefa Cup spot.

It is a bit predictable to pick Hamilton for relegation considering they are the smallest club and have just been promoted, but the other sides are established in the SPL and Accies don't have the experience or the money to strengthen.

For the sake of excitement, I just hope they get off to a good start and don't get detached early on like Gretna did last season.

Champions: Celtic
Runners-up: Rangers
Third place: Dundee United
Relegated: Hamilton Academical

Chick Young
BBC Scotland football correspondent and website columnist

It would be a brave man to pick Rangers for the title after the turmoil of their European exit.

Dundee United are happy with their pre-season form

On that basis, it must be Celtic because it's inconceivable to me that anyone else can win it.

If it's any compensation to Rangers supporters, I have tipped the Ibrox side for the last two seasons but Celtic have won it.

I don't see anyone having the bank balance to split the Old Firm.

However, I am a big fan of Craig Levein as a manager and his ever-improving Dundee United and I don't see Motherwell repeating what they achieved last season in finishing third.

It could be more exciting at the bottom of the table, with a few contenders.

Inverness have been in the SPL for a while and it is getting more difficult for them to stay up. I think Hamilton can survive.

Champions: Celtic
Runners-up: Rangers
Third place: Dundee United
Relegated: Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Billy Dodds
BBC Scotland football pundit and website columnist

It is not going well at the moment for Rangers, but losing to Kaunas might just act as the wake-up call they needed, just as losing to Artmedia Bratislava did for Celtic a couple of seasons ago.

Celtic have been there and done it in the last three seasons and must start as favourites.

But the title race will be closer than a lot of people think as there wasn't much between the sides domestically last season.

Will Craig Brewster be smiling at the end of the season?

It is a nightmare for Rangers that they have gone out, but for the SPL they might realise that to win the championship they will have to change their style - and that they have to bring in two or three players, and quickly.

I have to go for one of my other former clubs, Dundee United, for third as Craig Levein is a shrewd manager and can always find a good player.

As for the bottom, I have a suspicion that Hamilton will stay up and that Inverness will go down as they got a few results at the right time last season but struggled for much of the time.

Champions: Rangers
Runners-up: Celtic
Third place: Dundee United
Relegated: Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Craig Paterson
BBC Scotland football pundit

Normally, you don't have a good idea of form this early in the season.

Hamilton won the Division One title with a young squad

But, Celtic, having won it three seasons in a row, have to be favourites after Rangers' disastrous exit from Europe as that means Gordon Strachan's side will have the kind of money to use in the transfer market that their rivals don't.

Rangers looked totally lacking in confidence in losing to Liverpool at the weekend then to Kaunas on Tuesday.

They will come in for a lot of stick after making the front pages - that's how bad a result Tuesday was for Rangers and for Scottish football.

But I still think Rangers will be the main challengers and I don't see Celtic running away with it.

I think Motherwell will again be in the running for third, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Dundee United will beat them to it as they looked very good in pre-season against Barcelona until they brought on Messi and Eto'o - and they won't be meeting players of that quality every week.

At the other end, Hamilton have some fantastic young players, were magnificent last season and have a manager that gets the best out of them.

But I always tip the promoted team to go straight back down as they will be playing against teams of a higher quality.

Champions: Celtic
Runners-up: Rangers
Third place: Dundee United
Relegated: Hamilton Academical

Billy Dodds, Murdo MacLeod, Pat Nevin, Craig Paterson and Chick Young were talking to BBC Sport's Clive Lindsay