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Modelling Association Football Scores and Inefficiencies in the Football Betting Market

Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C (Applied Statistics)Published 1 June 1997
Mark Dixon, Stuart Coles
Citations439
SJR quartileQ2
SJR score0.65
SNIP0.78

Abstract

SUMMARY A parametric model is developed and fitted to English league and cup football data from 1992 to 1995. The model is motivated by an aim to exploit potential inefficiencies in the association football betting market, and this is examined using bookmakers’ odds from 1995 to 1996. The technique is based on a Poisson regression model but is complicated by the data structure and the dynamic nature of teams’ performances. Maximum likelihood estimates are shown to be computationally obtainable, and the model is shown to have a positive return when used as the basis of a betting strategy.

Keywords

Economics, Econometrics and FinanceBusiness, Management and Accounting