Subscribers beat child, writer and algorithm in Premier League prediction race | OneFootball

Subscribers clinched The Athletic’s season-long Premier League predictions challenge on the final day, Arsenal fan Neel from New Delhi edging six-year-old Wilfred and the resident writer, with the algorithm last.

According to NY Times, the weekly contest pitted a guest subscriber, Wilfred, the writer and a data model. Scoring awarded three points for a correct score, one for a correct result and a bonus for any unique correct call, which gave Neel four points for backing Tottenham to beat Everton 1-0 on Sunday.

They were tied on 253 points before kick-off, Wilfred ahead on more exact scores, with the writer on 246 and the algorithm 237. Both nailed Burnley 1-1 Wolves and each took a point for Arsenal 2-0 at Crystal Palace. Both also called wins for Liverpool, Manchester City and Bournemouth, all incorrect.

Neel then outscored Wilfred eleven to five by landing Manchester United’s win, Sunderland’s victory and, crucially, the unique 1-0 for Spurs at Everton. The writer also posted eleven, including exact calls on Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth and Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea, but finished third, seven behind the subscribers and one behind Wilfred.

Across the campaign the subscribers delivered standout weeks, and Wilfred led for much of the run-in. The writer made the most correct predictions overall, 172 to Wilfred’s 160, the subscribers’ 158 and the algorithm’s 145. The model leaned heavily on 1-1 and 2-1, even forecasting nine 1-1s on the final weekend, three of which landed.

Source: NY Times