What is the magic number to win the Scottish Premiership?
Twenty of the past 26 Scottish top-flight titles have been won by Celtic, the other six going the way of Rangers.
In the 2000s (starting with season 2000-01, when the top flight moved from 10 to 12 teams and with a split after three rounds of fixtures), the average points tally for the champions has been 91.65.
That includes the incomplete 2019-20 season, which was shortened because of Covid and decided on points average.
There are four outliers. In season 2001-02 (O’Neill’s second of his first spell) and 2016-17, champions Celtic exceeded 100 points and Rangers emulated that in season 2020-21.
At the other end of the scale, Celtic won the league in 2013 and finished with 79 points – the only occasion in the 2000s when the champions have finished with fewer than 80 points.
The range of points tallies for champions for the remaining 21 campaigns stands at 80-99.
On 16 occasions, the champions have had more than 90 points, 13 times in the 90s.
Looking specifically at the 2020s, the average points tally of champions has been 93.5.
Therefore, it is likely this season’s champions will finish with more than 90 points in the 91-94 range.
Given that champions have registered an average of 3.5 defeats in the 2000s, a team that wins 30, draws four and loses four would be very well placed to win the league.





