When you bet on sports, it’s best to look for advantages. You want to ensure that you have the best possible chance at winning your bets, which likely means thorough research.
Stat databases are a tool to help with that research. These are collections of sports data that can help you better understand what happens during games. Many of these resources are available on the internet if you’re willing to take the time to find a slight advantage.
This guide will go through everything you need to know about sports stat databases. From basic topics to more advanced discussions, read on to learn more about this lesser-known tool.
Benefits of using a sports database
The main advantage to using databases is that you can gain access to a wealth of information that you would likely not have otherwise. While the specific stats will depend on where you go, the sites generally do a great job at collecting and aggregating info to provide deeper insight.
Perhaps you’re looking for information on NFL games in specific weather conditions? Maybe you’re looking for historical matchups between two NBA coaches and want to see if those games typically go over or under (O/U) in total scoring? Those are just two examples, but there are many more.
Of course, having this information is only a small part of the battle. It’s a tool that you can use to help you make more informed decisions. You still need to be able to pick winning bets, something that is easier said than done. Don’t purchase a stats database subscription thinking that it’ll make you a profitable bettor by itself, and don’t fall for advertising that claims otherwise.
How do sports stats sites work?
While different sites may vary in how they work, the basics are the same for many. They gather information from various sources, such as the professional leagues themselves, then aggregate it and present it, usually showing trends or other information that may be of interest.
Accessing the data is usually quite easy. The first thing to note is if the site you’re thinking about using costs anything. For free sites, the information and data should appear prominently on the homepage for anyone to browse.
For paid sports stats sites, you will need to create an account or complete some transactions before you can access the data. This means that you will need to provide some details and go through the registration process.
Many sports database sites allow people to download the data. You can then plug it into mathematical models or programs. Having a bit of technical skill does help in this area, but even a beginner can get started without too much trouble.
What do sports data sites cost?
While many free online resources act as stat aggregators, some of the best databases cost money. A range of them will be available at different price points. To start, you can look through free databases to see if they meet your needs.
If you’re looking for something a little more in-depth, you can start considering the options in the next tier up. One thing that you should consider when analyzing if it’s worth it for you to subscribe to a stats database is your average bet size. If your bet size is high relative to the cost of the database, then it can be worth it to make that purchase. This is a calculation that you should be making for any expenses that you might be used to further your online sports betting activity and success rate.
What are the best free sports stats websites?
In terms of free sites, the various reference sites are great resources. A different site provides data for each major North American sport, from basic to advanced stats. However, such sports betting stats sites still have some limitations, which is not surprising considering there is no cost.
- Baseball-Reference
- Basketball-Reference
- Pro-Football-Reference
- Hockey-Reference
If you’re looking for something with a little more power, there are plenty of options. Because there is such a range of stats providers — and because different bettors may be looking for different things — it can be difficult to narrow down a list to a few favorites. However, here are a few of the top names:
- Stats Perform
- Sports Data.io
- Sports Insights
How to tell if a sports stats site is good
How do you identify the best websites for sports statistics? To start, you want to ensure that the data provided is accurate. If a site provides the source of its information, that’s a good start to determining its legitimacy. Out-of-date data is worthless, so it’s also essential that the database is updated frequently. Look on the website for information on how often it updates its data or a tracker that shows this. This can help establish trust in the site.
In addition, you should aim to find a website with a variety of data. The more data you can access, the better. Look to see what categories a site offers before you commit to anything.
Last but not least, check the user experience. It’s great if your database has a ton of information, but that can make things difficult if the interface is terrible. Being able to sort through and filter information and data quickly is valuable.
What do you do with all this data?
Once you’ve found one (or more) sports databases that work for you, the next step is to figure out how to use the data. The information can help inform your bets and theoretically should lead to more success in the long run. The more you know about each team and player in a game, the more you are likely to know about the various potential results.
Professional handicappers and other more experienced bettors use a lot of information to reach decisions. Data is a great starting point to find potential wagers that you like the look of.
Let’s say that there is an upcoming NFL game that you are interested in. You can look at how each team has performed in recent weeks, the long-term trends between the two coaches and teams, how the expected weather conditions have impacted each team, and what the advanced analytics say.
Even though all of that data may give you a direction of where you want to bet, it’s a good idea to not bet blindly just because the numbers suggest something. It’s still a good idea to look for confirmation from multiple sources and pay attention to any news stories and injury information leading up to a game.
What stats to look for in sports betting
For NFL betting, there are a bunch of worthwhile trends that are worth looking at. Because coaches play such a large role, it’s worth looking at previous matchups between the two head coaches. Weather can also be a large factor, and looking at trends in specific conditions is a good idea.
When betting on MLB games, looking at how hitters fared in their last matchup against the opposing team’s pitcher is a good start. Perhaps a team has a couple of hitters with a lengthy track record of success versus a specific starting pitcher.
In NBA betting, it can be useful to see how teams score and the defense that they will be facing. For example, looking at different zones on the court and seeing how each team shoots the ball in those zones can give you an idea of how they match up against different styles of defense. For NHL betting, meanwhile, it can be helpful to pay attention to where each team is trending and how the goalies are performing.
These are all just potential starting points. One of the nice things about sports betting databases is that you can go as in-depth as you want. If you want to just skim a site to get an idea of trends, you can do that, and if you want to spend hours in a deep dive, you can do that, as well.