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
68%Cincinnati BengalsSolid
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.
CIN by 6.2market CIN by 3.5
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.
43.1 pointsmarket 49.5
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 Cincinnati Bengals at 68% to win, with the market at CIN by 3.5.
Quarterback: the pick was locked with Joe Burrow starting for Cincinnati Bengals, and the model prices that in.
Counterpoint: passing favours JAX. JAX passing ranks #10, CIN defends it at #28; the other way CIN #25 into JAX's #4. The pick still lands on CIN because it rests on the whole season's results and the market's price, not one area.
Form: JAX has the better last five games by 12.6 points a game (CIN +3.2, JAX +15.8).
Home field is with CIN, which supports the pick.
ContextThe model makes it CIN by 6.2 against a market CIN by 3.5: 2.7 points of daylight in CIN's favour. The model's total is 43.1 against a line of 49.5: 6.4 points below 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 CIN by 6.2 · market CIN by 3.5
ⓘMost of these areas favor JAX, but the model still picks CIN. The model rates each team on its full body of results, adjusted for who it played, plus the quarterback, rest, home field and weather. Single-area matchups like these are shown for context: over past seasons, when they point the other way the winner has been close to a coin flip, so they have not been a better guide than the ratings.
Passing game
JAX
Clear advantage
JAX passing ranks #10, CIN defends it at #28; the other way CIN #25 into JAX's #4.
Rushing game
JAX
Slight advantage
JAX rushing ranks #14, CIN defends it at #31; the other way CIN #5 into JAX's #16.
Third down & red zone
=
Even
CIN red-zone touchdown rate ranks #3, JAX defends it at #24; the other way JAX #8 into CIN's #25.
Big plays
JAX
Clear advantage
JAX explosive pass rate ranks #9, CIN defends it at #29; the other way CIN #27 into JAX's #5.
Pass protection & rush
CIN
Slight advantage
CIN sack rate ranks #10, JAX defends it at #30; the other way JAX #16 into CIN's #23.
Ball security
JAX
Clear advantage
JAX turnovers / game ranks #13, CIN defends it at #12; the other way CIN #30 into JAX's #3.
Form (last 5)
JAX
Clear advantage
CIN +3.2 per game over the last five, JAX +15.8.
Market
CIN
Clear advantage
Consensus has CIN by 3.5; the model says CIN by 6.2.
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 CIN by 3.5 · model CIN by 6.2
Mkt CIN 3.5
Model CIN 6.2
← JAX by 28tieCIN by 28 →
8.0% of NFL games land between the two numbers. The model’s number is across the key number 6. Most common margins: 3 (14.5%), 7 (8.6%), 6 (6.7%), 14 (5.1%).
Totalmarket 49.5 · model 43.1
Mkt 49.5
Model 43.1
20 pts4672 pts
17.0% of NFL games finish between 49.5 and 43.1. 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.
