Geeks moneyball the hell out of bookies

01 October 2015 - 02:18 By Liam del Carme

In a clear case of what you put in is what you get out, computer software can now cut through the clutter and, with a bit of margin of error, predict the outcome of rugby World Cup games. And thus far the program developed by data analytics company Principa is shouting the odds better than the bookmakers.The program has correctly predicted the outcome of both England matches. Moreover, five days before the Springboks played Japan, it predicted an upset."We all make subjective calls based on the informal processing of data. What we do is formalise that process," explained Principa's Tom Maydon."We look at previous results and recent form. We also look at what the bookies are saying, as well as qualitative data.The bedrock of the system is the data, which dates back 20 years and incorporates 6000 matches involving 99 teams.How will the numbers stack up when the Springboks play Scotland this weekend?"The bookies are saying South Africa by 14. We're saying South Africa by 11," he said...

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