Predictions 2015-2016 (Round 34) With Magic Numbers, Relegation, and Other Stuff

This past week I picked ten games out of 11 correctly with two correct scores for 160 points.  Lawrenson picked seven out of 11 correctly with two correct scores for 130 points.   Merson picked six out of 10 correctly with one correct score for a total of 90 points. 

My current total for the season is 154 out of 324 with for 2260 points.  Lawrenson has picked 162 out of 324 for 2430 points. Merson has picked 147 out of 319 for a total of 2170 points.

Lawrenson’s and Merson’s new predictions can be found here and here. 

 

PREDICTIONS

My system’s picking rules can be found here.  I had to make adjustments for unequal numbers of games played by using a table calculated by points per game rather than by current position on the table.   This did not affect any predictions this week.  Based upon those rules here are my predictions for the next round of games:

Norwich-Sunderland      2-1

Everton-Southampton  1-1

Man U-Aston Villa           1-0

Newcastle-Swansea       1-1

West Brom-Watford       2-1

Chelsea-Man City            1-1

Cherries-Liverpool           1-1

Leicester-West Ham       2-1

Arsenal-Palace                  2-1

Stoke-Tottenham            0-1

My mid-week predictions could be affected by the weekend’s games so I cannot make them now.  I hope I don't forget to make them on time.

RELEGATION AVOIDANCE

It now takes 44 points to guarantee relegation avoidance. We can still finish as low as 17^th place or in a tied for second with Spurs—although their goal differential will probably see them through anyway.  Leicester, on the other hand, has clinched 4^th place.

MAGIC NUMBERS

These are Southampton’s current magic numbers as explained here. (Note that magic numbers don’t actually go negative because once they hit zero, you have clinched finishing ahead of the other club.  I am just making them go negative to keep track of just how far back some clubs are.) 

Leicester City                     38

Tottenham                         32

Arsenal                                29

Manchester City                26

Manchester United           22

West Ham                           21

Liverpool                             20

Watford                               10

Stoke City                            13

Everton                                 9

Chelsea                               13

Crystal Palace                      4

West Brom                           9

Bournemouth                     7

Swansea City                       6

Norwich City                      -3

Newcastle                           -6

Sunderland                         -4

Aston Villa                          -12