Scottish Premiership 2025/26 outright winner predictions: Can Hearts close the gap in a shifting Scottish Premiership?

The Scottish Premiership returns with its usual blend of passion, tension and unpredictability. While most eyes will naturally turn to Glasgow’s two giants, Celtic and Rangers, who have long dominated the domestic landscape, there is a fresh sense of competition building below the surface. Read on to find our best bet for Scottish Premiership 2025/26 outright winner market.

Scottish Premiership outright winner betting tips

Can Hearts Disrupt the Old Firm Stronghold in Scotland?

• Hearts have scored four goals in each of their four Scottish League Cup matches ahead of the Premiership kick-off.
• Lawrence Shankland is the 9/2 favourite to finish top goalscorer this season.
• Hearts receive a +22 point head start in the season handicap, with Celtic rated scratch.

Our Best Bet

The 2025/26 campaign promises more than just a two-horse race at the top, as resurgent sides in the capital and ambitious newcomers look to shake up the established order.

Celtic begin their title defence as clear favourites, a reflection of their relentless form over the past decade. However, they arrive into this season with notable question marks. Significant player turnover and the long-term absence of attacking threat Jota could leave them more vulnerable than they have been in recent years.

Meanwhile, Rangers are determined to bridge the 17-point gap from last season and have equipped themselves with a refreshed squad and an analytically driven managerial appointment in Russell Martin. Beyond the Old Firm, Hearts, Hibernian, and Aberdeen all aim to elevate their status. Hearts in particular have ignited optimism following an assertive start to their League Cup campaign, and the arrival of Derek McInnes has added gravitas to their ambitions. Having hit four goals in each of their early fixtures, their attacking power appears well-tuned for the challenges ahead.

Newcomers Falkirk and Livingston also enter the top-flight with momentum and stability, having secured promotion through consistent performances. Despite being tipped to struggle, both sides have retained key players and appear more solid than traditional yo-yo clubs. That adds further complexity to a campaign already difficult to predict.

Across the board, the competition looks more evenly matched, with established clubs experiencing managerial upheavals and personnel changes. This sets the stage for a season where gaps could be closed, dominance could be challenged, and unexpected narratives may well unfold.

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Best Bet: Hearts +22 Handicap to Win the Scottish Premiership

At BettingTips4You, we prioritise accuracy and value in our selections, which is why we focus solely on offering one standout tip per tournament. Rather than overwhelming you with options, we concentrate on the most compelling angle. That way, it’s easier to track performance and make sharper betting decisions. For the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership campaign, our top recommendation is backing Hearts +22 in the season handicap market, available at 9/1.

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With Celtic starting the season as the scratch team in the handicap, Hearts’ +22 head start in this market offers significant upside. The early signs from the League Cup suggest Derek McInnes has quickly instilled a strong sense of organisation and attacking sharpness at Tynecastle. Scoring four goals in each of their four cup outings, the Jambos have looked fluid and clinical, with confidence clearly flowing through the squad.

Hearts’ consistency in front of goal is matched by their tactical clarity. McInnes is renowned for structured, results-driven football, and he has inherited a team already capable of scoring freely. With the likes of Lawrence Shankland, currently the top pick in the goalscorer market at 9/2, spearheading the attack, their frontline is more than capable of troubling any defence in the division.

Given that Rangers and Celtic will face the usual burden of European fixtures and the pressure of maintaining pace with one another, Hearts could benefit from a steadier domestic schedule. They are also boosted by squad investment and appear well settled—something that cannot be said for other mid-table hopefuls like Dundee United or Motherwell, who are adjusting to new managers and rebuilding squads.

In a handicap market where consistency is king, Hearts’ blend of early momentum, managerial nous, and attacking output positions them as a value-driven bet. If they maintain their current form, a +22 cushion could be enough to take them across the line ahead of more erratic sides.and well-equipped. That combination is rare in this league and makes them a serious title threat.

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