October 4, 2016

Mitre 10 Cup Predictions for Round 8

Team Ratings for Round 8

The basic method is described on my Department home page.

Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Canterbury 15.64 12.85 2.80
Auckland 8.51 11.34 -2.80
Taranaki 7.18 8.25 -1.10
Tasman 4.78 8.71 -3.90
Wellington 4.43 4.32 0.10
Counties Manukau 4.21 2.45 1.80
Otago 0.09 0.54 -0.40
Waikato -2.94 -4.31 1.40
Hawke’s Bay -3.50 1.85 -5.30
North Harbour -4.83 -8.15 3.30
Bay of Plenty -5.24 -5.54 0.30
Manawatu -5.45 -6.71 1.30
Northland -11.60 -19.37 7.80
Southland -14.77 -9.71 -5.10

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 54 matches played, 42 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 77.8%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Waikato vs. Canterbury Sep 28 23 – 29 -13.00 TRUE
2 Tasman vs. Counties Manukau Sep 29 15 – 10 4.50 TRUE
3 Wellington vs. Southland Sep 30 60 – 21 19.70 TRUE
4 North Harbour vs. Bay of Plenty Oct 01 44 – 34 3.20 TRUE
5 Manawatu vs. Hawke’s Bay Oct 01 21 – 30 4.50 FALSE
6 Auckland vs. Otago Oct 01 54 – 17 7.00 TRUE
7 Taranaki vs. Canterbury Oct 02 34 – 39 -5.00 TRUE
8 Northland vs. Waikato Oct 02 48 – 27 -9.70 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 8

Here are the predictions for Round 8. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Manawatu vs. Wellington Oct 05 Wellington -5.90
2 Auckland vs. Tasman Oct 06 Auckland 7.70
3 Canterbury vs. North Harbour Oct 07 Canterbury 24.50
4 Southland vs. Northland Oct 08 Southland 0.80
5 Otago vs. Counties Manukau Oct 08 Counties Manukau -0.10
6 Waikato vs. Hawke’s Bay Oct 08 Waikato 4.60
7 Wellington vs. Taranaki Oct 09 Wellington 1.30
8 Bay of Plenty vs. Manawatu Oct 09 Bay of Plenty 4.20

 

Currie Cup Predictions for Round 10

Team Ratings for Round 10

The basic method is described on my Department home page.

Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Lions 11.35 9.69 1.70
Cheetahs 5.33 -3.42 8.70
Blue Bulls 4.74 1.80 2.90
Western Province 3.05 6.46 -3.40
Sharks 2.67 -0.60 3.30
Griquas -12.69 -12.45 -0.20
Cavaliers -13.07 -10.00 -3.10
Pumas -13.22 -8.62 -4.60
Kings -19.59 -14.29 -5.30

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 35 matches played, 26 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 74.3%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Lions vs. Sharks Sep 30 28 – 16 12.20 TRUE
2 Western Province vs. Cavaliers Sep 30 30 – 28 21.80 TRUE
3 Pumas vs. Kings Sep 30 38 – 30 10.30 TRUE
4 Cheetahs vs. Griquas Oct 01 63 – 26 19.50 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 10

Here are the predictions for Round 10. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Blue Bulls vs. Western Province Oct 15 Blue Bulls 5.20
2 Cheetahs vs. Lions Oct 15 Lions -2.50

 

October 3, 2016

Stat of the Week Competition: October 1 – 7 2016

Each week, we would like to invite readers of Stats Chat to submit nominations for our Stat of the Week competition and be in with the chance to win an iTunes voucher.

Here’s how it works:

  • Anyone may add a comment on this post to nominate their Stat of the Week candidate before midday Friday October 7 2016.
  • Statistics can be bad, exemplary or fascinating.
  • The statistic must be in the NZ media during the period of October 1 – 7 2016 inclusive.
  • Quote the statistic, when and where it was published and tell us why it should be our Stat of the Week.

Next Monday at midday we’ll announce the winner of this week’s Stat of the Week competition, and start a new one.

(more…)

October 2, 2016

Briefly

  • There has been some … free and frank exchange of views… this week on the question of criticising published research. The phrase “methodological terrorism” was used. Rather than linking to the combatants, I’ll give you Hilda Bastian and Jeff Leek (who have themselves had strongly-worded exchanges here and elsewhere)
  • Before analytics, businesses often had policies that every customer should be treated like they’re the best customer – because absent the data, the assumption was that every customer had that potential. But in the data age, there is no more benefit of the doubt.Cathy Carleton. Some people (mostly economists) will probably feel that this is all good. That’s  a defensible position, but poor service for the poor wasn’t a goal of the analytics system.
  • There are people here and in the US claiming that self-selected (‘bogus’) internet polls with no reweighting or modelling give useful information. Those people are wrong. Do not be those people.
September 27, 2016

NRL Predictions for the Grand Final

Team Ratings for the Grand Final

The basic method is described on my Department home page.

Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Raiders 10.05 -0.55 10.60
Storm 9.36 4.41 4.90
Cowboys 7.77 10.29 -2.50
Panthers 6.14 -3.06 9.20
Sharks 5.65 -1.06 6.70
Broncos 5.20 9.81 -4.60
Roosters -0.08 11.20 -11.30
Eels -0.82 -4.62 3.80
Bulldogs -1.03 1.50 -2.50
Titans -1.31 -8.39 7.10
Rabbitohs -1.55 -1.20 -0.30
Sea Eagles -2.83 0.36 -3.20
Wests Tigers -4.05 -4.06 0.00
Warriors -6.26 -7.47 1.20
Dragons -7.44 -0.10 -7.30
Knights -17.13 -5.41 -11.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 200 matches played, 129 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 64.5%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Sharks vs. Cowboys Sep 23 32 – 20 -0.90 FALSE
2 Storm vs. Raiders Sep 24 14 – 12 2.40 TRUE

 

Predictions for the Grand Final

Here are the predictions for the Grand Final. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Note that because that is how it appears in the official fixture list, I have listed the Storm as the first team here which is normally the home team. I have treated the venue as neutral. If the Sharks are considered to have home ground advantage, the expected margin drops to 0.70, still a win to the Storm, but close to even money.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Storm vs. Sharks Oct 02 Storm 3.70

 

Mitre 10 Cup Predictions for Round 7

Team Ratings for Round 7

The basic method is described on my Department home page.

Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Canterbury 16.20 12.85 3.30
Taranaki 7.24 8.25 -1.00
Auckland 5.81 11.34 -5.50
Tasman 4.73 8.71 -4.00
Counties Manukau 4.26 2.45 1.80
Otago 2.79 0.54 2.30
Wellington 2.70 4.32 -1.60
Waikato -0.75 -4.31 3.60
Manawatu -4.24 -6.71 2.50
Bay of Plenty -4.63 -5.54 0.90
Hawke’s Bay -4.71 1.85 -6.60
North Harbour -5.44 -8.15 2.70
Southland -13.04 -9.71 -3.30
Northland -14.42 -19.37 5.00

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 46 matches played, 36 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 78.3%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Southland vs. Bay of Plenty Sep 21 20 – 16 -4.90 FALSE
2 Northland vs. Wellington Sep 22 21 – 29 -14.20 TRUE
3 Counties Manukau vs. Waikato Sep 23 35 – 26 9.00 TRUE
4 Canterbury vs. Otago Sep 24 45 – 34 18.80 TRUE
5 Taranaki vs. Manawatu Sep 24 30 – 19 16.50 TRUE
6 Hawke’s Bay vs. Tasman Sep 24 29 – 36 -5.10 TRUE
7 North Harbour vs. Southland Sep 25 35 – 14 10.30 TRUE
8 Bay of Plenty vs. Auckland Sep 25 38 – 44 -5.70 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 7

Here are the predictions for Round 7. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Waikato vs. Canterbury Sep 28 Canterbury -13.00
2 Tasman vs. Counties Manukau Sep 29 Tasman 4.50
3 Wellington vs. Southland Sep 30 Wellington 19.70
4 North Harbour vs. Bay of Plenty Oct 01 North Harbour 3.20
5 Manawatu vs. Hawke’s Bay Oct 01 Manawatu 4.50
6 Auckland vs. Otago Oct 01 Auckland 7.00
7 Taranaki vs. Canterbury Oct 02 Canterbury -5.00
8 Northland vs. Waikato Oct 02 Waikato -9.70

 

Currie Cup Predictions for Round 9

Team Ratings for Round 9

The basic method is described on my Department home page.

Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Lions 11.37 9.69 1.70
Blue Bulls 4.74 1.80 2.90
Cheetahs 4.34 -3.42 7.80
Western Province 4.14 6.46 -2.30
Sharks 2.65 -0.60 3.30
Griquas -11.70 -12.45 0.80
Pumas -12.99 -8.62 -4.40
Cavaliers -14.16 -10.00 -4.20
Kings -19.82 -14.29 -5.50
TBC

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 31 matches played, 22 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 71%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Cavaliers vs. Blue Bulls Sep 23 26 – 48 -13.80 TRUE
2 Griquas vs. Western Province Sep 23 31 – 52 -11.10 TRUE
3 Pumas vs. Cheetahs Sep 23 10 – 52 -10.70 TRUE
4 Kings vs. Lions Sep 24 7 – 71 -23.90 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 9

Here are the predictions for Round 9. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Lions vs. Sharks Sep 30 Lions 12.20
2 Western Province vs. Cavaliers Sep 30 Western Province 21.80
4 Pumas vs. Kings Sep 30 Pumas 10.30
3 Cheetahs vs. Griquas Oct 01 Cheetahs 19.50

 

September 26, 2016

Stat of the Week Competition: September 24 – 30 2016

Each week, we would like to invite readers of Stats Chat to submit nominations for our Stat of the Week competition and be in with the chance to win an iTunes voucher.

Here’s how it works:

  • Anyone may add a comment on this post to nominate their Stat of the Week candidate before midday Friday September 30 2016.
  • Statistics can be bad, exemplary or fascinating.
  • The statistic must be in the NZ media during the period of September 24 – 30 2016 inclusive.
  • Quote the statistic, when and where it was published and tell us why it should be our Stat of the Week.

Next Monday at midday we’ll announce the winner of this week’s Stat of the Week competition, and start a new one.

(more…)

September 25, 2016

Briefly

  • A post from Minding Data looking at the proportion of syndicated stories in the Herald.  I’m not sure about the definition — some stories are edited here, and it’s not clear what it takes to not have an attribution to another paper.
  • On measuring the right numbers, from Matt Levine at Bloomberg View “The infamous number is that 5,300 Wells Fargo employees were fired for setting up fake customer accounts to meet sales quotas, but it is important — and difficult — to try to put that number in context. For instance: How many employees were fired for not meeting sales quotas because they didn’t set up fake accounts? “
  • Data Visualisation: how maps have shown elevation, from National Geographic — including why maps of European mountains are lit from the northwest,  rather from somewhere the sun might be. (via Evelyn Lamb)
  • I was Unimpressed when the authors of an unconvincing paper on GMO dangers had a ‘close-hold embargo’ — allowing journalists an advance look only if they promised not to get any expert input to their stories. It’s not any better when the FDA does it.
September 20, 2016

NRL Predictions for the Preliminary Finals

Team Ratings for the Preliminary Finals

The basic method is described on my Department home page.

Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Raiders 10.02 -0.55 10.60
Storm 9.39 4.41 5.00
Cowboys 8.68 10.29 -1.60
Panthers 6.14 -3.06 9.20
Broncos 5.20 9.81 -4.60
Sharks 4.73 -1.06 5.80
Roosters -0.08 11.20 -11.30
Eels -0.82 -4.62 3.80
Bulldogs -1.03 1.50 -2.50
Titans -1.31 -8.39 7.10
Rabbitohs -1.55 -1.20 -0.30
Sea Eagles -2.83 0.36 -3.20
Wests Tigers -4.05 -4.06 0.00
Warriors -6.26 -7.47 1.20
Dragons -7.44 -0.10 -7.30
Knights -17.13 -5.41 -11.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 198 matches played, 128 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 64.6%. Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Cowboys vs. Broncos Sep 16 26 – 20 6.60 TRUE
2 Raiders vs. Panthers Sep 17 22 – 12 6.30 TRUE

 

Predictions for the Preliminary Finals

Here are the predictions for the Preliminary Finals. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Sharks vs. Cowboys Sep 23 Cowboys -0.90
2 Storm vs. Raiders Sep 24 Storm 2.40