February 20, 2024

Top 14 Predictions for Round 16

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Team Ratings for Round 16

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
Stade Toulousain 7.31 7.24 0.10
Stade Rochelais 5.27 6.40 -1.10
Bordeaux Begles 4.29 4.07 0.20
Racing 92 3.49 3.42 0.10
Toulon 3.44 3.11 0.30
Stade Francais 2.82 2.62 0.20
Clermont 1.76 1.47 0.30
Castres Olympique 1.35 -0.39 1.70
Montpellier 1.32 2.09 -0.80
Section Paloise 0.44 -0.44 0.90
Lyon -0.70 2.97 -3.70
Bayonne -1.04 -1.32 0.30
USA Perpignan -3.82 -3.64 -0.20
US Oyonnax -8.30 -10.00 1.70

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 105 matches played, 76 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 72.4%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Bayonne vs. Clermont Feb 18 21 – 13 3.20 TRUE
2 Bordeaux Begles vs. Section Paloise Feb 18 10 – 20 11.70 FALSE
3 Lyon vs. Stade Rochelais Feb 18 28 – 17 -0.30 FALSE
4 Racing 92 vs. Montpellier Feb 18 20 – 44 10.70 FALSE
5 Stade Francais vs. USA Perpignan Feb 18 32 – 19 13.20 TRUE
6 Stade Toulousain vs. US Oyonnax Feb 18 61 – 34 21.60 TRUE
7 Castres Olympique vs. Toulon Feb 19 25 – 17 4.00 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 16

Here are the predictions for Round 16. 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 Castres Olympique vs. Bordeaux Begles Feb 25 Castres Olympique 3.60
2 Lyon vs. US Oyonnax Feb 25 Lyon 14.10
3 Montpellier vs. Bayonne Feb 25 Montpellier 8.90
4 Racing 92 vs. Stade Francais Feb 25 Racing 92 7.20
5 Section Paloise vs. Toulon Feb 25 Section Paloise 3.50
6 USA Perpignan vs. Stade Rochelais Feb 25 Stade Rochelais -2.60
7 Clermont vs. Stade Toulousain Feb 26 Clermont 0.90

 

Super Rugby Predictions for Week 1

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Team Ratings for Week 1

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
Crusaders 18.86 18.86 0.00
Chiefs 13.21 13.21 0.00
Blues 12.20 12.20 0.00
Hurricanes 9.73 9.73 0.00
Brumbies 6.52 6.52 -0.00
Highlanders 1.17 1.17 0.00
Reds 0.07 0.07 -0.00
Waratahs -1.90 -1.90 0.00
Rebels -4.59 -4.59 0.00
Western Force -6.15 -6.15 -0.00
Fijian Drua -9.21 -9.21 0.00
Moana Pasifika -10.80 -10.80 0.00

 

Predictions for Week 1

Here are the predictions for Week 1. 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 Chiefs vs. Crusaders Feb 23 Crusaders -2.60
2 Rebels vs. Brumbies Feb 23 Brumbies -8.10
3 Western Force vs. Hurricanes Feb 23 Hurricanes -10.90
4 Blues vs. Fijian Drua Feb 24 Blues 26.40
5 Highlanders vs. Moana Pasifika Feb 24 Highlanders 15.00
6 Reds vs. Waratahs Feb 24 Reds 5.00

 

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February 16, 2024

Say the magic word?

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Q: Did you see you can be 50% more influential by using this one word!!

A:  Not convinced

Q: But it’s a Harvard study! With Science!

A: How did they measure influentialness?

Q:

A: <eyeroll emoji>

Q: How did they measure influentialness?

A: By whether someone let you in front of them at the photocopier

Q: What’s a photocopier?

A: When we were very young, books and academic journals were published on this stuff called paper, and stored in a special building, and you had to use a special machine to download them, one page at a time, on to your own paper

Q: That must have sucked.  Wait, why are they asking about photocopiers in a study about influencers now?

A: It’s a study from 50 years ago (PDF)

Q: It says 1978, though. That’s nowhere near… fifty…….. Ok, moving right along here. Why is a study from 50 years ago about photocopiers going to be useful now?

A: If it supports the message you just wrote a book about, it might be.

Q: So the study compared different ways of asking if you could use the photocopier?

A: Yes

Q: And the ones where they used the magic word worked better?

A: Not really. They had three versions of the request. Two of them gave a reason and also used the magic word, the third didn’t do either.

Q: But the ones that gave a reason were 50% more influential?

A: In the case where someone was asking for a short use of the photocopier, the success rate was 60% with no reason and over 90% with a reason (and the magic word)

Q: And when it wasn’t short?

A: 24% with no reason, 24% with a bad reason (and the magic word), and 42% with a good reason (and the magic word)

Q: So what really matters is how long you want someone to wait and whether you have a good reason?

A: That would be an interpretation, yes

Q: In 1978

A: Yes

Q: Still, our parents always told use to “say the magic word” when making requests

A: Actually, they didn’t

Q: Well, no, but they might have

A: And the word they were looking for wasn’t “Because”

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February 5, 2024

United Rugby Championship Predictions for Week 10

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Team Ratings for Week 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
Leinster 11.23 10.73 0.50
Bulls 9.89 9.00 0.90
Munster 8.10 10.54 -2.40
Stormers 6.44 8.93 -2.50
Glasgow 5.98 4.19 1.80
Ulster 5.32 7.80 -2.50
Connacht 4.13 3.17 1.00
Lions 0.68 -4.26 4.90
Edinburgh 0.65 -2.26 2.90
Sharks 0.28 0.85 -0.60
Benetton -2.39 -5.12 2.70
Cardiff Rugby -4.23 -5.16 0.90
Ospreys -4.52 -7.79 3.30
Scarlets -9.96 -2.23 -7.70
Dragons -14.27 -8.14 -6.10
Zebre -17.33 -20.25 2.90

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 72 matches played, 47 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 65.3%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Sharks vs. Lions Jan 07 26 – 20 1.60 TRUE
2 Bulls vs. Lions Jan 28 30 – 28 12.90 TRUE

 

Predictions for Week 10

Here are the predictions for Week 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 Scarlets vs. Munster Feb 17 Munster -14.10
2 Zebre vs. Edinburgh Feb 17 Edinburgh -14.00
3 Lions vs. Bulls Feb 18 Bulls -7.20
4 Leinster vs. Benetton Feb 18 Leinster 17.60
5 Sharks vs. Stormers Feb 18 Stormers -4.20
6 Cardiff Rugby vs. Connacht Feb 18 Connacht -4.40
7 Glasgow vs. Dragons Feb 18 Glasgow 24.20
8 Ospreys vs. Ulster Feb 19 Ulster -5.80

 

Top 14 Predictions for Round 15

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Team Ratings for Round 15

Sorry I missed round 14 predictions. I have been overseas and a bit out of contact.

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
Stade Toulousain 7.04 7.24 -0.20
Stade Rochelais 5.66 6.40 -0.70
Bordeaux Begles 4.97 4.07 0.90
Racing 92 4.51 3.42 1.10
Toulon 3.64 3.11 0.50
Stade Francais 2.82 2.62 0.20
Clermont 2.00 1.47 0.50
Castres Olympique 1.15 -0.39 1.50
Montpellier 0.30 2.09 -1.80
Section Paloise -0.24 -0.44 0.20
Lyon -1.09 2.97 -4.10
Bayonne -1.28 -1.32 0.00
USA Perpignan -3.83 -3.64 -0.20
US Oyonnax -8.03 -10.00 2.00

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 98 matches played, 72 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 73.5%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Clermont vs. Lyon Feb 04 38 – 21 8.80 TRUE
2 Section Paloise vs. Castres Olympique Feb 04 33 – 44 6.20 FALSE
3 Stade Rochelais vs. Montpellier Feb 04 18 – 10 12.30 TRUE
4 Stade Toulousain vs. Bayonne Feb 04 46 – 26 14.20 TRUE
5 US Oyonnax vs. Stade Francais Feb 04 19 – 23 -4.40 TRUE
6 USA Perpignan vs. Racing 92 Feb 04 26 – 5 -3.40 FALSE
7 Toulon vs. Bordeaux Begles Feb 05 32 – 37 5.90 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 15

Here are the predictions for Round 15. 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 Bayonne vs. Clermont Feb 18 Bayonne 3.20
2 Bordeaux Begles vs. Section Paloise Feb 18 Bordeaux Begles 11.70
3 Lyon vs. Stade Rochelais Feb 18 Stade Rochelais -0.30
4 Racing 92 vs. Montpellier Feb 18 Racing 92 10.70
5 Stade Francais vs. USA Perpignan Feb 18 Stade Francais 13.20
6 Stade Toulousain vs. US Oyonnax Feb 18 Stade Toulousain 21.60
7 Castres Olympique vs. Toulon Feb 19 Castres Olympique 4.00

 

Rugby Premiership Predictions for Round 13

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Team Ratings for Round 13

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
Saracens 6.48 6.82 -0.30
Leicester Tigers 6.17 6.13 0.00
Northampton Saints 4.34 2.66 1.70
Harlequins 3.93 1.93 2.00
Bristol 3.19 1.00 2.20
Exeter Chiefs 3.02 -0.89 3.90
Bath 1.44 -1.26 2.70
Sale Sharks -0.18 6.46 -6.60
Gloucester -3.72 -1.45 -2.30
Newcastle Falcons -13.92 -10.63 -3.30

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 60 matches played, 44 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 73.3%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Harlequins vs. Leicester Tigers Jan 27 19 – 20 4.80 FALSE
2 Bristol vs. Bath Jan 28 57 – 44 6.60 TRUE
3 Northampton Saints vs. Newcastle Falcons Jan 28 38 – 13 24.10 TRUE
4 Saracens vs. Exeter Chiefs Jan 28 40 – 22 7.60 TRUE
5 Gloucester vs. Sale Sharks Jan 29 32 – 20 0.40 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 13

Here are the predictions for Round 13. 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 Bristol vs. Northampton Saints Mar 23 Bristol 4.90
2 Leicester Tigers vs. Gloucester Mar 23 Leicester Tigers 15.90
3 Exeter Chiefs vs. Newcastle Falcons Mar 24 Exeter Chiefs 22.90
4 Saracens vs. Harlequins Mar 24 Saracens 8.60
5 Bath vs. Sale Sharks Mar 25 Bath 7.60

 

January 8, 2024

Top 14 Predictions for Round 13

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Team Ratings for Round 13

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
Stade Toulousain 6.31 7.24 -0.90
Stade Rochelais 5.73 6.40 -0.70
Racing 92 5.71 3.42 2.30
Bordeaux Begles 5.03 4.07 1.00
Toulon 4.17 3.11 1.10
Stade Francais 2.40 2.62 -0.20
Clermont 1.12 1.47 -0.40
Castres Olympique 1.06 -0.39 1.50
Section Paloise 0.25 -0.44 0.70
Montpellier 0.15 2.09 -1.90
Bayonne -0.63 -1.32 0.70
Lyon -0.77 2.97 -3.70
USA Perpignan -4.50 -3.64 -0.90
US Oyonnax -8.41 -10.00 1.60

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 84 matches played, 64 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 76.2%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Bordeaux Begles vs. Bayonne Jan 06 24 – 23 13.00 TRUE
2 Montpellier vs. Toulon Jan 06 27 – 17 1.60 TRUE
3 Racing 92 vs. Castres Olympique Jan 06 34 – 30 11.90 TRUE
4 Section Paloise vs. Stade Rochelais Jan 06 20 – 29 1.80 FALSE
5 Stade Francais vs. Clermont Jan 06 14 – 14 8.60 FALSE
6 Stade Toulousain vs. Lyon Jan 06 45 – 0 11.60 TRUE
7 USA Perpignan vs. US Oyonnax Jan 06 27 – 12 9.90 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 13

Here are the predictions for Round 13. 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 Bayonne vs. US Oyonnax Jan 28 Bayonne 14.30
2 Bordeaux Begles vs. Stade Francais Jan 28 Bordeaux Begles 9.10
3 Castres Olympique vs. Clermont Jan 28 Castres Olympique 6.40
4 Lyon vs. USA Perpignan Jan 28 Lyon 10.20
5 Montpellier vs. Section Paloise Jan 28 Montpellier 6.40
6 Toulon vs. Stade Rochelais Jan 28 Toulon 4.90
7 Racing 92 vs. Stade Toulousain Jan 29 Racing 92 5.90

 

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Rugby Premiership Predictions for Round 12

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Team Ratings for Round 12

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
Leicester Tigers 5.64 6.13 -0.50
Saracens 5.56 6.82 -1.30
Harlequins 4.47 1.93 2.50
Northampton Saints 4.24 2.66 1.60
Exeter Chiefs 3.94 -0.89 4.80
Bristol 2.61 1.00 1.60
Bath 2.03 -1.26 3.30
Sale Sharks 0.85 6.46 -5.60
Gloucester -4.74 -1.45 -3.30
Newcastle Falcons -13.83 -10.63 -3.20

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 55 matches played, 40 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 72.7%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Newcastle Falcons vs. Harlequins Jan 06 3 – 24 -10.40 TRUE
2 Sale Sharks vs. Bristol Jan 06 14 – 22 6.80 FALSE
3 Exeter Chiefs vs. Northampton Saints Jan 07 36 – 42 8.20 FALSE
4 Leicester Tigers vs. Saracens Jan 07 19 – 10 5.30 TRUE
5 Bath vs. Gloucester Jan 08 17 – 10 14.00 TRUE

 

Predictions for Round 12

Here are the predictions for Round 12. 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 Harlequins vs. Leicester Tigers Jan 27 Harlequins 4.80
2 Bristol vs. Bath Jan 28 Bristol 6.60
3 Northampton Saints vs. Newcastle Falcons Jan 28 Northampton Saints 24.10
4 Saracens vs. Exeter Chiefs Jan 28 Saracens 7.60
5 Gloucester vs. Sale Sharks Jan 29 Gloucester 0.40

 

January 3, 2024

United Rugby Championship Predictions for Delayed Games

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Team Ratings for Delayed Games

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
Leinster 11.23 10.73 0.50
Bulls 10.75 9.00 1.80
Munster 8.10 10.54 -2.40
Stormers 6.44 8.93 -2.50
Glasgow 5.98 4.19 1.80
Ulster 5.32 7.80 -2.50
Connacht 4.13 3.17 1.00
Edinburgh 0.65 -2.26 2.90
Lions 0.26 -4.26 4.50
Sharks -0.17 0.85 -1.00
Benetton -2.39 -5.12 2.70
Cardiff Rugby -4.23 -5.16 0.90
Ospreys -4.52 -7.79 3.30
Scarlets -9.96 -2.23 -7.70
Dragons -14.27 -8.14 -6.10
Zebre -17.33 -20.25 2.90

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 70 matches played, 45 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 64.3%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Benetton vs. Zebre Dec 30 36 – 14 15.70 TRUE
2 Edinburgh vs. Glasgow Dec 31 19 – 14 -4.90 FALSE
3 Stormers vs. Sharks Dec 31 16 – 15 10.10 TRUE
4 Connacht vs. Munster Jan 01 22 – 9 -4.60 FALSE
5 Ospreys vs. Cardiff Rugby Jan 02 27 – 21 0.60 TRUE
6 Dragons vs. Scarlets Jan 02 13 – 12 -3.10 FALSE
7 Leinster vs. Ulster Jan 02 21 – 22 9.60 FALSE

 

Predictions for Delayed Games

Here are the predictions for Delayed Games. 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. Lions Jan 07 Sharks 1.60
2 Bulls vs. Lions Jan 28 Bulls 12.50

 

Top 14 Predictions for Round 12

By

Team Ratings for Round 12

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
Racing 92 6.10 3.42 2.70
Bordeaux Begles 5.45 4.07 1.40
Stade Rochelais 5.35 6.40 -1.10
Stade Toulousain 5.33 7.24 -1.90
Toulon 4.59 3.11 1.50
Stade Francais 2.83 2.62 0.20
Clermont 0.68 1.47 -0.80
Castres Olympique 0.66 -0.39 1.10
Section Paloise 0.63 -0.44 1.10
Lyon 0.22 2.97 -2.70
Montpellier -0.26 2.09 -2.40
Bayonne -1.05 -1.32 0.30
USA Perpignan -4.75 -3.64 -1.10
US Oyonnax -8.16 -10.00 1.80

 

Performance So Far

So far there have been 77 matches played, 59 of which were correctly predicted, a success rate of 76.6%.
Here are the predictions for last week’s games.

Game Date Score Prediction Correct
1 Clermont vs. Bordeaux Begles Dec 30 35 – 40 2.50 FALSE
2 US Oyonnax vs. Section Paloise Dec 30 34 – 13 -3.80 FALSE
3 Bayonne vs. Racing 92 Dec 31 27 – 23 -1.20 FALSE
4 Lyon vs. Montpellier Dec 31 20 – 18 7.50 TRUE
5 Stade Rochelais vs. Stade Toulousain Dec 31 29 – 8 5.50 TRUE
6 Toulon vs. Stade Francais Dec 31 19 – 5 7.60 TRUE
7 Castres Olympique vs. USA Perpignan Jan 01 13 – 17 13.00 FALSE

 

Predictions for Round 12

Here are the predictions for Round 12. 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 Bordeaux Begles vs. Bayonne Jan 06 Bordeaux Begles 13.00
2 Montpellier vs. Toulon Jan 06 Montpellier 1.60
3 Racing 92 vs. Castres Olympique Jan 06 Racing 92 11.90
4 Section Paloise vs. Stade Rochelais Jan 06 Section Paloise 1.80
5 Stade Francais vs. Clermont Jan 06 Stade Francais 8.60
6 Stade Toulousain vs. Lyon Jan 06 Stade Toulousain 11.60
7 USA Perpignan vs. US Oyonnax Jan 06 USA Perpignan 9.90

 

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