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
57%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 2.3market HOU by 3
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.
41.5 pointsmarket 38.5
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 57% to win, with the market at HOU by 3.
HOU has the advantage in passing: HOU passing ranks #18, PIT defends it at #16; the other way PIT #22 into HOU's #1.
Form: HOU has the better last five games by 7.4 points a game (PIT -2.2, HOU +5.2).
Home field is with PIT, which the pick has to overcome.
ContextThe model makes it HOU by 2.3 against a market HOU by 3: essentially the same number, so there is little difference to read. The model's total is 41.5 against a line of 38.5: 3.0 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 2.3 · market HOU by 3
ⓘ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 #18, PIT defends it at #16; the other way PIT #22 into HOU's #1.
Rushing game
=
Even
HOU rushing ranks #30, PIT defends it at #26; the other way PIT #7 into HOU's #2.
Third down & red zone
=
Even
HOU third-down conversion ranks #18, PIT defends it at #26; the other way PIT #20 into HOU's #2.
Big plays
=
Even
PIT explosive rush rate ranks #9, HOU defends it at #2; the other way HOU #30 into PIT's #19.
Pass protection & rush
HOU
Slight advantage
HOU sack rate ranks #9, PIT defends it at #9; the other way PIT #12 into HOU's #5.
Ball security
=
Even
PIT turnovers / game ranks #7, HOU defends it at #2; the other way HOU #12 into PIT's #5.
Form (last 5)
HOU
Clear advantage
PIT −2.2 per game over the last five, HOU +5.2.
Market
HOU
Slight advantage
Consensus has HOU by 3; the model says HOU by 2.3.
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 3 · model HOU by 2.3
Mkt HOU 3
Model HOU 2.3
← HOU by 28tiePIT by 28 →
No whole-number margin falls between 3 and 2.3, so the two numbers differ only on a push at 3. The market is on 3, a number 14.5% of games land on exactly (a push). Most common margins: 3 (14.5%), 7 (8.6%), 6 (6.7%), 14 (5.1%).
Totalmarket 38.5 · model 41.5
Mkt 38.5
Model 41.5
20 pts4672 pts
9.3% of NFL games finish between 38.5 and 41.5. 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.
