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| '''Sports betting systems''' refers to a set of events that when combined for a particular game for a particular sport represents a profitable betting scenario. Since ] involves humans, there is no deterministic edge to the house or the gambler. Systems supposedly allow the gambler to have an edge. | '''Sports betting systems''' refers to a set of events that when combined for a particular game for a particular sport represents a profitable betting scenario. Since ] involves humans, there is no deterministic edge to the house or the gambler. Systems supposedly allow the gambler to have an edge. | ||
| ]s use systems in their analysis to set more accurate odds. Therefore the novice gambler may believe that using a system will always work, it is the general consensus that at some point |
]s use systems in their analysis to set more accurate odds. Therefore the novice gambler may believe that using a system will always work, but it is the general consensus that at some point the ] will have adjusted for the system to make it no longer profitable. Very short-lived systems are called trends. Any single event that estimates a selection to have a higher likelihood of winning is called an angle as they are meant to be used in conjunction with other angles and trends to produce systems. | ||
| == Betting on systems == | == Betting on systems == | ||
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Sports betting systems refers to a set of events that when combined for a particular game for a particular sport represents a profitable betting scenario. Since sports betting involves humans, there is no deterministic edge to the house or the gambler. Systems supposedly allow the gambler to have an edge.
Sportsbooks use systems in their analysis to set more accurate odds. Therefore the novice gambler may believe that using a system will always work, but it is the general consensus that at some point the oddsmakers will have adjusted for the system to make it no longer profitable. Very short-lived systems are called trends. Any single event that estimates a selection to have a higher likelihood of winning is called an angle as they are meant to be used in conjunction with other angles and trends to produce systems.
Betting on systems
Systems can be deceiving. Any sample space can be constrained enough with meaningless criteria to create the illusion of a profitable betting system. For example, a coin can be flipped with heads being home teams and tails being road teams. Heads and tails each have a 50% probability of landing but if the amount of flips is limited to a small number, it is conceivable to create the illusion of predicting heads will come up 75% of the time.
That, in conjunction with the fact that sportsbooks adjust their odds according to the systems makes it difficult to follow systems indefinitely. The sportsbooks are slower to adjust the odds in some sports versus other sports depending on the number of games played and the amount of money they take in from bettors.
Betting systems based on statistical analysis have been around for awhile, however they have not always been well known. One group that was known for their accurate predictions was called The Computer Group. They formed in Las Vegas in 1980 and successfully wagered on college football and basketball games for years making millions. Billy Walters, who was recently profiled on 60 minutes, is the most famous member of the group.
Sports betting systems have not always been well trusted or liked by bettors. The stigma is that a sporting event has too many intangibles that a machine can't predict. However, things have begun to change recently as owners of teams have begun to take notice of the value in statistics. Front offices have hired noted statistical analysts such as Jeff Sagarin.
Books like Sabermetrics, by Bill James, and Basketball on Paper by Dean Oliver, have begun to bring detailed statistical analysis to the forefront of sports betting systems. Blogs are now being written more frequently about the topic and sports handicapping services have made claims of great success using sports betting systems from advanced statistical research.
Determining systems
Determining systems is a matter of using computer analysis tools and extracting all the possible games that meet a bettor's criteria. Then the bettor analyzes the results of those games to make a determination if one team is favored over the other.
Two Types of Betting Systems
Regression Analysis
Regression analysis is a type of statistical technique used to determine the important variables that affect the outcome of the event. In the case of sports betting this is usually done with multivariate linear regression. Because sports events are very complicated and there are many variables it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to be able to accurately identify each variable that affects the outcome of the game. Also, regression analysis assigns a "weight" to each variable that identifies how much it affects the outcome of the event. For example, Advanced NFL Stats ran a multivariate linear test on American football games. The results determined that the most important aspect to winning the game was passing efficiency. One of the problems that results from using linear regression is determining causation vs correlation. Simply put, it is being able to identify the difference between something causing an event and something happening because of an event. For example, every time I have a temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit I also have a sore throat. Is the high temperature the cause of the sore throat or are they merely correlated, happening at the same time. Regression analysis will be able to identify that the events occur together, but not if one causes the other.
Statistical anomalies
These are deviations from the common rule and give you a competitive advantage. You may be surprised to know that most scores in an American football game happen only in the 3 and 7 point markers? Of course there are always missed extra points, safeties and conversions, but when compared to all points scored, they only account for a minor percentage. This point statistical distribution factor opens up the possibility of statistical anomalies.
To find anomalies you need to cautiously review players and team statistics. You should also know significant factors such as: injuries, does the team tend to win more in indoor or outdoor sports stadiums, weather (for outdoor games), what atmospheric conditions is the team used to playing in, etc.. You can also look for anomalies based on public opinion and team psyche.
Factors that are used into determining betting systems are a mix of psychological, motivational, biological, situational factors that, based on past performances, support one team over another. It is generally believed that more than one factor pointing towards a team is needed to have a successful betting system.