- Opta supercomputer indicates that Rangers will win the league
- The Gers have been in incredible form in recent weeks
- Celtic and Hearts seem to scrapping to the finish line
Opta’s supercomputer gives Rangers the strongest chance of winning the Scottish Premiership this season.
The Gers are hitting form at the right time after scoring 14 goals in the last three league outings.
The supercomputer takes into consideration all sorts of factors to arrive at its final verdict.
Derek McInnes’ side have left the Premiership for most of the season, but Opta doesn’t believe they will stay there.
The supercomputer thinks McInnes’ team will finish second in the Premiership, with Celtic finishing third.
The last time Hearts split the Old Firm was in 2006, with Rangers finishing third and Celtic winning the title.
20 years later, it’s expected that Rangers will be the title winners, securing number 56 in their history.
The supercomputer prediction
According to Opta, despite Rangers sitting one point behind Hearts in the league, they have 47.1% chance of winning the league.
In comparison, table-toppers Hearts have a 33.9% chance of securing the title, while it’s 18.9% for Celtic.
How has Opta come to this conclusion?
Rangers are the form team in the SPFL as we head into the season split, currently on a 15-game unbeaten streak in the league.
It’s not just their streak that gives them the edge, with the Rangers scoring goals at will in recent weeks.
In the last three, they shipped four past Aberdeen and Dundee United and hit six past Falkirk most recently.
Despite losing on penalties to Celtic in the Scottish Cup, their recent performances against Celtic and Hearts in the league have been good.
They shipped four past Hearts at Ibrox, and their most recent visit to Parkhead resulted in a 3-1 victory.
Their title contenders
Hearts and Celtic haven’t been the most convincing in the league as of late.
In Hearts’ last seven league outings, they have won four, drawn one, and lost two, including a defeat to Rangers.
What’s more concerning for the Edinburgh side is the way they have won these games.
In three of their four wins, Hearts have scraped by with 1-0 wins against Falkirk, Aberdeen, and Dundee.
They recently drew 2-2 with bottom-of-the-table Livingston and can’t seem to find their free-flowing best.
A 3-1 win against Motherwell last time out would have steadied their nerves momentously.
As for Celtic, it took them extra time to defeat St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final after beating St Mirren 1-0 in the league.
It took a last-gasp winner to beat Dundee 2-1 after losing 2-0 to Dundee United in the game prior.
Celtic and Hearts seem to be scrapping their way to the finish line, while Rangers seem to be thriving and hitting their best.
Read Rangers analysis
The recent form of each of the three clubs suggests that Rangers are the frontrunners to secure the title.
As James Tavernier said in his most recent interview on Rangers TV, “It’s in our hands.”
The recent results, the performances, and the sheer volume of goals all indicate that Rangers will finish on top.
However, five games are still a lot of football, and it’s the team that wants it most that will secure the title.
Hearts have done exceptionally well to stay at the top for so long, scrapping and clawing their way to stay in contention.
The drifting momentum makes it feel like it’s Rangers’ to lose.
Five games. Three teams. One trophy.
