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Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 5:00 pm
by SMUstangs22
People/media keep talking undefeated season. So basic theoretical statistics. If we have a constant 95 percent chance to win a single game (probably much less)... our chances of reaching 25 games in a row would be 27.7 percent.
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 5:04 pm
by LA_Mustang

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Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 5:20 pm
by SMUstangs22
Touche
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 5:57 pm
by Digetydog
SMUstangs22 wrote:People/media keep talking undefeated season. So basic theoretical statistics. If we have a constant 95 percent chance to win a single game (probably much less)... our chances of reaching 25 games in a row would be 27.7 percent.
That is not correct:
1) the chance to win any individual game is nowhere near constant. Indeed, in some games, it might be closer to 50%; and
2) the math assumes that each game is independent. As we get closure to an undefeated record, I suspect that each win would have a strong impact on the next game (Pressure on SMU ⬆️, SMU confidence ⬆️, other team's desire to win ⬆️)
All in, I would guesstimate the chance of winning out < 10%.
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:01 pm
by PonyFan32
Lol. The original poster posed a hypothetical and admitted it wasn't exact but thanks for poking holes in that theory.
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:02 pm
by sadderbudweiser
So you're telling me we've got a chance.
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:04 pm
by SMUstangs22
Digetydog wrote:SMUstangs22 wrote:People/media keep talking undefeated season. So basic theoretical statistics. If we have a constant 95 percent chance to win a single game (probably much less)... our chances of reaching 25 games in a row would be 27.7 percent.
That is not correct:
1) the chance to win any individual game is nowhere near constant. Indeed, in some games, it might be closer to 50%; and
2) the math assumes that each game is independent. As we get closure to an undefeated record, I suspect that each win would have a strong impact on the next game (Pressure on SMU ⬆️, SMU confidence ⬆️, other team's desire to win ⬆️)
All in, I would guesstimate the chance of winning out < 10%.
I was just posting general conjecture aiming at putting a few very speculative and padded numbers to show how difficult it is to go undefeated. That is why I chose 95%. As in 19/20 chance regardless of opponent
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:06 pm
by SMUstangs22
sadderbudweiser wrote:So you're telling me we've got a chance.
Haha one of the best posts I have seen in a while
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:01 pm
by Digetydog
SMUstangs22 wrote:Digetydog wrote:SMUstangs22 wrote:People/media keep talking undefeated season. So basic theoretical statistics. If we have a constant 95 percent chance to win a single game (probably much less)... our chances of reaching 25 games in a row would be 27.7 percent.
That is not correct:
1) the chance to win any individual game is nowhere near constant. Indeed, in some games, it might be closer to 50%; and
2) the math assumes that each game is independent. As we get closure to an undefeated record, I suspect that each win would have a strong impact on the next game (Pressure on SMU ⬆️, SMU confidence ⬆️, other team's desire to win ⬆️)
All in, I would guesstimate the chance of winning out < 10%.
I was just posting general conjecture aiming at putting a few very speculative and padded numbers to show how difficult it is to go undefeated. That is why I chose 95%. As in 19/20 chance regardless of opponent
Since I rarely know the right answer in stats, I had to show off my "vast" knowledge of the subject.

Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:02 pm
by SMUstangs22
I would LOVE for our team to prove me wrong. 1 closer.
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:05 pm
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
SMUstangs22 wrote:Touche
That isn't how you spell it.
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 7:23 pm
by stl.pony
#revengetour
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 11:03 pm
by Alaric
DanFreibergerForHeisman wrote:SMUstangs22 wrote:Touche
That isn't how you spell it.
[deleted]?
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:28 pm
by Grant Carter
RPI forecast updates their projection for the chances of finishing with various records every day. I believe they get the chances of winning each game from sagarin.
As of today they show it at 4.1% chance for SMU to go undefeated. That is the simple result of multiplying the chances for every game in the game by game section.
http://www.rpiforecast.com/teams/SMU.html
Re: Sobering statistics
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:31 pm
by SMUstangs22
Grant Carter wrote:RPI forecast updates their projection for the chances of finishing with various records every day. I believe they get the chances of winning each game from sagarin.
As of today they show it at 4.1% chance for SMU to go undefeated. That is the simple result of multiplying the chances for every game in the game by game section.
http://www.rpiforecast.com/teams/SMU.html
I figured one of the RPI sites would do this. Also knew 95% was way to high for the average considering the Kenpom win predictability percentages that have been posted