EPL: Relegation Chances for Premier League's Worst Teams

Spring has officially sprung—the birds are chirping, the grass is greener and the worst teams in England are scrambling to avoid relegation.

With only seven weeks remaining, there are currently eight clubs—Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Bolton, Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton—in danger of being relegated down to the second tier of English football.

Only 10 points separate the clubs who would currently be relegated and the clubs who would survive to fight another day.

Anyone can talk predictions about next year's Champions League. I'm here to give you my predictions on what teams will have the saddest group of supporters come May.

Stoke City

Remaining home matches: Wolverhampton, Everton, Arsenal and Bolton

Remaining away matches: Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester United

They're the mostly highly ranked club of the eight in danger, but they have the toughest schedule. All three of their away matches might very well be losses, and with Arsenal fighting for a spot in next year's Champions League, at least one of their remaining home matches is nearly already a tally in the loss column.

Stoke City will drop four of their remaining seven matches, but they've built a 10-point cushion between them and the relegation zone. They'll be close by season's end—my guess is 17th place—but they'll stay in the top flight.

Chance of being relegated: Unlikely

West Bromwich Albion

Remaining home matches: Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers, Aston Villa and Arsenal

Remaining away matches: Manchester City, Liverpool and Bolton

With only an eight-point lead on the relegation zone, WBA has a little less wiggle room than Stoke City. Sadly for Baggies fans, they have a weaker roster.

This weekend's match will be the biggest of the season because if they can get three points from Blackburn, they'll be home free for the last month and a half. If they fall to Rovers, they have to win three of their six matches. Looking at their opponents, I don't see it happening.

It's a coin flip, really, as they host a Blackburn team that held Manchester United off the scoreboard for 81 minutes. If WBA can defeat Blackburn, they should be fine. If not, look for an all-out effort against QPR and Aston Villa, the only two opponents the Baggies have left they can beat.

Chance of being relegated: Unlikely

Aston Villa

Remaining home matches: Stoke City, Sunderland and Tottenham

Remaining away matches: Liverpool, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City

What a gift Aston Villa's been handed at the end of the season!

With home matches against hobbling opponents like Stoke City and Sunderland and an away match against WBA, the Birmingham-based club has simply to put their all into the clubs they can beat and hope one of their more difficult matches lands as a draw.

If those things happen, Villa should finish higher than they currently sit. I'm predicting a finish at 12th or 13th place.

Chance of being relegated: Very unlikely

Bolton

Remaining home matches: Fulham, Tottenham, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion

Remaining away matches: Newcastle United, Sunderland and Stoke City

Poor, poor Bolton. This, in my opinion, is the end of the road for Bolton's 73-year stay in the top flight of English football.

I predict losses in all of the club's remaining home matches, as Fulham is leaning on Clint Dempsey, and the American is delivering. Tottenham is fighting for a spot in the Champions League, and if Swansea City had played all season how they are currently, they'd be in the Europa League next season. WBA presents the only real possibility for a win, but I think the Baggies have it, well, in the bag.

Their away matches are a little easier, but Newcastle United is fighting for next year's Europa and Sunderland has been (surprisingly) strong as of late.

Chance of being relegated: 50-50

Queens Park Rangers

Remaining home matches: Swansea City, Tottenham and Stoke City

Remaining away matches: Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea and Manchester City

Just two points in goal differential is all that separates the newly promoted Queens Park Rangers from next year's top flight and a one-way ticket back to the Championship.

With home matches against a Liverpool side fighting for Europa and a Tottenham club with Champions League hopes, the remaining fixtures at Loftus Road look very, very difficult.

Factor into that away matches at Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City and there's not much room for QPR to increase their goal differential, much less their standing in the league table.

Chance of being relegated: Definite

Blackburn

Remaining home matches: Liverpool, Norwich City and Wigan Athletic

Remaining away matches: West Bromwich Albion, Swansea City, Tottenham and Chelsea

Unlike Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn has some serious chances to increase their goal differential and even climb the league table.

With Norwich City coming to Ewood Park, three points would be immense. When Wigan Athletic comes to town, three points is an afterthought.

If Blackburn can so much as get a draw when they visit Swansea City, they'll be fine to stay in the Premier League for the 2012-13 season—but probably not for much longer after that.

Chance of being relegated: Unlikely

Wigan Athletic

Remaining home matches: Manchester United, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton

Remaining away matches: Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham and Blackburn

Wigan Athletic is lucky. A home match against Wolverhampton and an away match against Blackburn provide easy chances for Latics to climb the standings. But can they scratch out draws against Manchester United, Newcastle United, Arsenal or Chelsea? That's the reason Wigan Athletic's relegation chances are a coin flip at best.

Chance of being relegated: 50-50

Wolverhampton

Remaining home matches: Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton

Remaining away matches: Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City and Wigan Athletic

I don't even know if this needs to be said, but Wolverhampton will be relegated by season's end, if not sooner. Wolves fans know it, Premier League fans know, I bet even MLS fans know it!

Hosting Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton? Not a chance.

Visiting Stoke City, Sunderland and Swansea City? See above.

Their only chance at victory comes in the final week against Wigan Athletic, but at six points behind even 19th place, look for Wolves to start prepping for their future Championship opponents before May.

Chance of being relegated: Reality

Overall Predictions

They're the worst team in the league—might as well give Wolves' fans an extra slide.

Aston Villa: 13th

Stoke City: 14th

West Bromwich Albion: 15th

Wigan Athletic: 16th

Blackburn: 17th

Bolton: 18th

Queens Park Rangers: 19th

Wolverhampton: 20th

These are my predictions. Thanks for reading! If I missed anything, be sure to let me know by commenting below.