Data Democratization: How Sports Fans Can Now Access Pro-Level Analytics

The idea of following games and betting on sporting events has captivated the public’s imagination for centuries. From Ancient Egypt to the Romans and so on, virtually every culture in human history has enjoyed betting on races and games.

The trend for easy-to-access analytics means that everyone can now access high-quality data to make better decisions. Yet, in the past, fans had to rely solely on what they could see. Can you imagine what a chariot racing fan would have given to get access to a spreadsheet telling them everything about the riders and the conditions? So, how can we find and best use this valuable information?

The Different Types of Data

We need to start by understanding what type of sports data we can now get our hands on. The sort of data that pro scouts and franchises have access to was previously out of the reach of everyday fans, so it might seem confusing, but things become a lot clearer once you change your mindset and realize that you’re looking for different things now.

Rather than just looking at results, the pros can look at metrics like shot quality in basketball, route participation in football, and expected goals in soccer. These numbers give us a deeper look at how players and teams are performing. These are the details that franchises want to know about before offering a contract to a new player or extending an existing contract. 

The use of big data in sports is still growing, as we can see by looking at the NFL’s Big Data Bowl. This is an annual sports analytics contest that invites analysts to provide innovative ideas. To date, it’s led to dozens of participants being hired in sports data roles, while improving the way that data is used. In other sports, the race is on to get hold of the best metrics and ways to use them.

How Fans Can Now Use the Same Data

The top-level data used to be something that fans only heard about when a commentator or head coach mentioned an interesting statistic. While the pros are probably still going to have privileged access to the most detailed information, we can also expect some key data to keep filtering down to the regular user, meaning that we can get used to seeing insights that help us to understand games better. 

This makes watching games more enjoyable and can also help bettors to place their wagers, taking all the relevant facts into account and increing their chances of success. Tashe rise of online gambling with sports betting has allowed fans to access games and events from all over the planet.

By using the highest-quality data, they can place bets with more confidence, based on all of the relevant information. For example, if you’re looking forward to an NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s easy to be swayed by your feelings for each team and their star players when placing a wager. However, the sportsbooks now offer more than simple moneyline bets. You can also look for wagers such as totals and props that can be more satisfying if you base them on the right data. 

As online sporting betting grows, we’re seeing more games and markets added. This means that there are going to be more ways of betting, increasing our reliance on having access to the right data. Those bettors who know where to find the best data and how to use it will have a clear advantage over others who continue to gamble purely on instinct and personal preferences.   

Where to Find Sports Data

Let’s take the example of basketball, since the official NBA site is packed with stats like steals, turnovers, and three pointers made. The advanced stats page then lets us filter on data like EFG% and DREB% that give us a closer look at player performance.  

These numbers can be used to place specific bets like total (under/over). You’ll be able to weigh up factors such as how well one team shuts down the perimeter to stop threes, compared to how reliant their rival is on scoring threes.  Sites like NBAstuffer and CraftedNBA let you fill in the blanks by searching for the exact data you need. 

The same applies in other sports too, with sites that are dedicated to compiling the more recent data and letting fans see it. The use of big data has changed sports in many ways, but too many people are still unaware of how easy it is to use these statistics as a way of enjoying watching and betting on their favorite sports. With the numbers to back you up, you have a better understanding of the game and, often, enhanced engagement too.