Scottish Premiership title race: Opta predicts winner from Celtic, Rangers and Hearts
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(Credit: Imago) Wed 18 March 2026 18:15, UK Opta has reaffirmed that Heart of Midlothian are the favourites to win the Scottish Premiership title over Celtic and Rangers.The Jambos suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday, while both the Old Firm clubs picked up key victories.This has allowed Celtic to move within two points of the summit, while Rangers are three points off.However, Opta has insisted that Hearts still have a 61.3 per cent chance of winning the Scottish Premiership title despite their recent setback.On top of this, despite Rangers’ recent narrow win, they are heavy favourites to finish third, putting them at risk of Conference League qualification. ⚽ Rangers Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert previews and verdicts, and tactical analysis for every Gers fixture. VISIT THE RANGERS MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Hearts remain favourites to win Scottish Premiership titleDespite both Rangers’ and Celtic’s best efforts in recent weeks, they have been unable to dislodge Hearts at the summit.With just eight games to go, each side will play another three fixtures before the league splits, and they will have to face each other one more time.Hearts’ pre-split fixturesDundee (H), Livingston (A), Motherwell (H)Celtic’s pre-split fixturesDundee United (A), Dundee (A), St Mirren (H)Rangers’ pre-split fixturesAberdeen (H), Dundee United (H), Falkirk (A)All three sides have some tough fixtures pre-splitWhile some may make Celtic the favourites given their recent uptick in form, and their impressive dismantling of Motherwell on Saturday, Opta on 16 March via Sky Sports has insisted that Hearts are the favourites.The Hoops are the second favourites at 24.4 per cent, while Rangers are deemed to have a 14.3 per cent chance.As a result, Celtic are favourites to finish second, and therefore qualify for the Champions League at 39.2 per cent, while Rangers’ odds of remaining in third are 48.8 per cent.Could Danny Rohl lose his job at Rangers?Football Insider recently revealed that Rangers weren’t set to sack Rohl anytime soon despite his recent shortcomings.While their victory over St Mirren on the weekend was solid, it was just one step in the right direction in what has been a disastrous few weeks.If Rangers do finish third, it would mean another campaign without Champions League football, and could even see them thrown into the Conference League.— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) March 15, 2026 However, despite this, the board remain happy with Rohl, and are pleased with the work he has done since Russell Martin’s sacking back in October.Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if they have a change of heart between now and the end of the season.
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