So, no-one took me up on starting a thread on the run-in so I'll make the first move. After the weekend, I've assumed there are 5 teams fighting for the 3 automatic places. There are also 4 others aiming at promotion via the play-offs. Therefore, there are 9 teams involved in the promotion fight.
So who's got the 'easiest' set of fixtures. In my totally unscientific method I have treated the league position of forthcoming opponents as points (i.e. 13 th place gives 13 points). The outcome would mean that the promotion challenger with the most points would have the easiest set of fixtures. The raw scores don't give a final picture as Cheltenham only have 10 games left and Swindon still have 12. Thus I averaged the points through the number of games left.
Well, not good reading:
Team. Ave POS of opponent
Swindon. 16.3
Plymouth. 13.8
Cheltenham. 13.4
Exeter. 13.36
Alex. 12
Not only do we have the highest placed opponents (on average) but of 9 promotion chasers, Alex play 5 of them, Exeter play 4, Plymouth and Cheltenham have 3 but Swindon only have to play 1. So, on paper, we're destined for the play-offs.
Of course, Brian Clough once said "football is not played on paper, it's played on grass". Plus the above ( as mentioned unscientific) method does not take into account points already gained as there is a 4 point gap between Swindon and Plymouth.
I've convinced myself that Swindon will be champions but I feel we will finish 3rd. Plymouth will grab 2nd. Of course I am making this prediction before Tuesday night when four of the top teams play.
Anyone else to put their heads on the block in forecasting the promotion places?