The pickThe locked winner and its win probability. A priced game's number is built on the market's no-vig price; the model's own margin and total sit beside the market's below, as context.
backtest · not locked
Win chance
54%Houston TexansLean
No moneyline was priced into this call, so it is the model's own number.
Model marginThe model's own predicted margin beside the market's number. Context for reading the game: the model makes no spread pick.
HOU by 1.3market HOU by 7.5
Model totalThe model's own predicted total points beside the market's number. Context for reading the game: the model makes no over/under pick.
47.2 pointsmarket 41.5
Backtest, not locked: this game finished before the model ran on it; the calls were reconstructed from pre-game information.
Why the model calls itThe reasons behind the winner call, in plain sentences drawn from this page's numbers.
The model has Houston Texans at 54% to win, with the market at HOU by 7.5.
Quarterback: the pick was locked with Cooper Rush starting for Dallas Cowboys, and the model prices that in.
HOU has the advantage in rushing: HOU rushing ranks #25, DAL defends it at #31; the other way DAL #27 into HOU's #3.
HOU has the advantage in passing: HOU passing ranks #22, DAL defends it at #16; the other way DAL #30 into HOU's #3.
Counterpoint: sack rate favours DAL. DAL sack rate ranks #9, HOU defends it at #3; the other way HOU #30 into DAL's #2. The pick still lands on HOU because it rests on the whole season's results and the market's price, not one area.
Home field is with DAL, which the pick has to overcome.
ContextThe model makes it HOU by 1.3 against a market HOU by 7.5: 6.2 points of daylight in DAL's favour. The model's total is 47.2 against a line of 41.5: 5.7 points above it.The model makes no spread or over/under pick: neither has shown an edge over the market in our backtests.
Matchup context: who has the advantageWhich team has the advantage in each area, and how clearly. Context for reading the game, not model inputs.
Model HOU by 1.3 · market HOU by 7.5
ⓘContext, not inputs. These areas show how the two sides match up so you can read the game. The model's call comes from the teams' overall ratings, the quarterback, rest, home field and weather, not from these tiles.
Passing game
HOU
Clear advantage
HOU passing ranks #22, DAL defends it at #16; the other way DAL #30 into HOU's #3.
Rushing game
HOU
Clear advantage
HOU rushing ranks #25, DAL defends it at #31; the other way DAL #27 into HOU's #3.
Third down & red zone
HOU
Slight advantage
HOU red-zone touchdown rate ranks #28, DAL defends it at #32; the other way DAL #31 into HOU's #21.
Big plays
HOU
Slight advantage
HOU explosive rush rate ranks #13, DAL defends it at #24; the other way DAL #19 into HOU's #13.
Pass protection & rush
DAL
Clear advantage
DAL sack rate ranks #9, HOU defends it at #3; the other way HOU #30 into DAL's #2.
Ball security
HOU
Clear advantage
HOU turnovers / game ranks #13, DAL defends it at #13; the other way DAL #28 into HOU's #4.
Form (last 5)
=
Even
DAL −5.4 per game over the last five, HOU −3.4.
Market
HOU
Clear advantage
Consensus has HOU by 7.5; the model says HOU by 1.3.
the market, for comparison
Where the lines sitWhere the market's number and the model's sit among every final margin and total in the league's history; the highlighted bars are the games that landed between the two.
3,893 NFL games since 2012
Marginmarket HOU by 7.5 · model HOU by 1.3
Mkt HOU 7.5
Model HOU 1.3
← HOU by 28tieDAL by 28 →
20.7% of NFL games land between the two numbers. The model’s number is across the key numbers 3 and 7 and 6. Most common margins: 3 (14.5%), 7 (8.6%), 6 (6.7%), 14 (5.1%).
Totalmarket 41.5 · model 47.2
Mkt 41.5
Model 47.2
20 pts4672 pts
17.2% of NFL games finish between 41.5 and 47.2. The league’s median total since 2012 is 45.
The model alone was backtested walk-forward (each game priced only from what came before it). Since the winner call started following the market, the calibration that counts is the record of locked picks on the results page. Margin and total are context, not picks. Model reads, not personalized advice. For information only, not betting advice. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.
