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
70%New England PatriotsStrong
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.
NE by 7.2market NE by 7
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.
35.4 pointsmarket 40.5
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 New England Patriots at 70% to win, with the market at NE by 7.
Quarterback: the pick was locked with Dillon Gabriel starting for Cleveland Browns, and the model prices that in.
NE has the advantage in passing: NE passing ranks #3, CLE defends it at #3; the other way CLE #32 into NE's #5.
NE has the advantage in big plays: NE explosive pass rate ranks #2, CLE defends it at #14; the other way CLE #30 into NE's #3.
Counterpoint: sack rate favours CLE. CLE sack rate ranks #25, NE defends it at #16; the other way NE #28 into CLE's #2. The pick still lands on NE because it rests on the whole season's results and the market's price, not one area.
Form: NE has the better last five games by 12.8 points a game (NE +8.0, CLE -4.8).
Home field is with NE, which supports the pick.
ContextThe model makes it NE by 7.2 against a market NE by 7: essentially the same number, so there is little difference to read. The model's total is 35.4 against a line of 40.5: 5.1 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 NE by 7.2 · market NE by 7
ⓘ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
NE
Clear advantage
NE passing ranks #3, CLE defends it at #3; the other way CLE #32 into NE's #5.
Rushing game
=
Even
NE rushing ranks #27, CLE defends it at #15; the other way CLE #25 into NE's #12.
Third down & red zone
NE
Slight advantage
NE third-down conversion ranks #10, CLE defends it at #8; the other way CLE #30 into NE's #7.
Big plays
NE
Clear advantage
NE explosive pass rate ranks #2, CLE defends it at #14; the other way CLE #30 into NE's #3.
Pass protection & rush
CLE
Clear advantage
CLE sack rate ranks #25, NE defends it at #16; the other way NE #28 into CLE's #2.
Ball security
NE
Clear advantage
NE turnovers / game ranks #16, CLE defends it at #23; the other way CLE #29 into NE's #9.
Form (last 5)
NE
Clear advantage
NE +8.0 per game over the last five, CLE −4.8.
Market
NE
Clear advantage
Consensus has NE by 7; the model says NE by 7.2.
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 NE by 7 · model NE by 7.2
Mkt NE 7
Model NE 7.2
← CLE by 28tieNE by 28 →
The two numbers sit together; the disagreement is under half a point. The market is on 7, a number 8.6% of games land on exactly (a push). Most common margins: 3 (14.5%), 7 (8.6%), 6 (6.7%), 14 (5.1%).
Totalmarket 40.5 · model 35.4
Mkt 40.5
Model 35.4
20 pts4672 pts
13.9% of NFL games finish between 40.5 and 35.4. 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.
