Opta predicts Rangers will win Scottish Premiership ahead of Hearts
The Opta supercomputer has predicted that Rangers will win a dramatic three-way Scottish Premiership title race ahead of current leaders Hearts and third-placed Celtic.
With just five games remaining in a highly competitive season, Derek McInnes’ side currently sit one point clear at the top of the table.
Danny Röhl’s title-chasers occupy second place, while the Hoops trail a further two points adrift in third.
The post-split fixtures commence this weekend with the Parkhead side hosting Falkirk on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the league leaders face a crucial Edinburgh derby away to Hibernian on Sunday.
Later that same afternoon, the Ibrox club will welcome Motherwell to Glasgow as they look to capitalise on any potential slip-ups.
Supercomputer backs Ibrox glory
Despite the Tynecastle outfit leading the division for the majority of the campaign, both bookmakers and predictive models favour a change at the summit.
The Opta data model calculates that Röhl’s team are the most likely side to lift the trophy on May 16.
That outcome would see McInnes’ valiant squad finish as runners-up, relegating Celtic to third place.
Finishing outside the top two would be a bitter blow for the Glasgow giants, who have not endured such a low league placement since 1995.
Conversely, the Jambos have not split the traditional Glasgow dominance since 2006, and their last league triumph came way back in 1960.
History hints at late drama
Genuine three-way battles for the top-flight crown have been incredibly rare in Scottish football history.
Dundee United claimed their only league trophy during a famous three-horse race in 1983, edging out Celtic and Aberdeen by a single point.
A similar scenario unfolded in 1998 when the Edinburgh side challenged the Glasgow powerhouses before fading during the final stretch.
On that occasion, Celtic eventually prevailed by two points to famously prevent their city rivals from securing ten consecutive titles.
The Gorgie club also suffered late heartbreak 12 years earlier in 1986, when a final-day defeat allowed Celtic to snatch the championship on goal difference.
All three fanbases will be desperate to avoid repeating the historical pain of those late-season collapses as the countdown to May 16 begins.