Welcome
Issue One Hundred And Seventy Five.
The world of sports analytics is constantly evolving, uncovering new trends, refining predictive models, and even reshaping betting strategies. From MLB’s unexpected statistical storylines and a fresh take on Hall of Fame evaluations to the fundamentals of football analytics and AI-driven in-play betting, these articles highlight the power of data in modern sports. With the Championship season heating up and machine learning proving its value in wagering, there’s plenty to explore in the intersection of numbers and competition.
This Week's Lineup
XGBoost Learning of Dynamic Wager Placement for In-Play Betting on an Agent-Based Model of a Sports Betting Exchange
This study integrates XGBoost with the Bristol Betting Exchange to develop profitable in-play betting strategies using synthetic data, demonstrating that machine learning can outperform baseline bettor-agent strategies in horse racing markets.
Statistical Meanderings, 2024
A review of MLB’s end-of-season stats highlights unexpected trends, from Arizona’s high-scoring games to Cleveland and Milwaukee’s unusual pitching success, along with standout individual performances and team oddities.
Hall of Fame Points System
A quick-and-dirty Hall of Fame (HOF) Points System for pitchers, using Wins Above Average (WAA) to categorize seasons into tiers (Perfect, Great, etc.), assigning point values accordingly, and emphasizing the flexibility of the approach for further refinement.
Introduction to Football Analytics
Learn all the basics from understanding expected goals to analysing opposition tactics. This learning can be successfully applied to a role in professional football analysis, assist you with a future role or simply provide learning material to help develop your knowledge of data and analytics in football.
Championship Predictions 2024-25: A January Update to the Opta Projections
Leeds remain favorites for promotion, Sunderland have exceeded expectations, and Plymouth face likely relegation in Opta’s latest Championship projections.
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Unexpected Points Added is curated and maintained by Patrick Hayes.
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