THE Championship begins tomorrow (Friday) night and Dunfermline get the season under way with their home game against Dundee being screened by BBC Scotland (7.05pm kick-off).

The Pars are 13/8 (Skybet) to get off to a winning start, the Dark Blues 9/5 (Hills) and a draw 12/5 (Bet365). Both teams have had good starts to their campaign, progressing to the last 16 of the League Cup. There should not be a lot to choose between them and a high-scoring draw is the verdict.

Prediction: Dunfermline 2 Dundee 2.

The two Dundee clubs head the betting in the outright market although the bookies feel there is an open look to the league this season. Dundee United are 9/4 (Bet365), Dundee 4/1 (Unibet), Partick 5/1 (Betvictor), Inverness CT 7/1 (Ladbrokes), Dunfermline 10/1 (Betvictor: paying each way terms ⅕ odds 1,2,3), Ayr 12/1 (Betvictor), Morton 25/1 (Betvictor), Queen of the South 25/1, Arbroath 40/1 (Hills/Bet365) and Alloa 66/1 (Hills/Bet365).

There is only one live Premier match over the weekend as Kilmarnock meet Rangers at Rugby Park on Sunday (Sky Sports Football, 1.30pm). Killie have to recover from their embarrassing Europa League exit and Rangers are 4/5 (Ladbrokes) to kick them while they are down. Kilmarnock are 19/5 (Skybet) and a draw 3/1 (Bet365).

Celtic host St Johnstone in a Saturday 3pm fixture and are 1/5 (Skybet/Boylesports) to get off to a winning start; Saints are 19/1 (Betfair Sportsbook) and a draw 13/2 (Hills).

The Europa League second qualifying round second leg ties take place tonight (Thursday) and both Scottish representatives are in solid positions. Rangers, holding a 2-0 first leg advantage, are well placed to avenge their shock exit to Luxembourg opponents Progres Niederkorn two years ago. The match at the Josy Barthel stadium is live on Premier Sports 1 (6.30pm kick-off) and Rangers are 1/4 to claim the spoils on the night. Progres are 14/1 (Coral), while a draw is 5/1 (Unibet).

Aberdeen are locked at 1-1 with Georgian outfit Chikhura Sachkhere but with the second leg at Pittodrie (7.45pm) they should complete an aggregate victory. The Dons are 1/4 to win in 90 minutes, a draw 24/5 (Hills) and Chikhura 12/1 (Ladbrokes).