WinPicks Reference Manual
Section 9.1. Finding Trends Manually using Team History
The team history window allows you to set four different parameters (TEAM, AFTER, OPPONENT and WHEN). Each parameter is represented by an “index card”. When you select the “file tab” of one of the “index cards”, you can modify the parameter and customize TEAM HISTORY so that it only includes the games that you are interested in.
Whenever you change a parameter, the text at the top of the team history window is modified so that it describes which games are now being included in the team history. For example, PBA users could customize TEAM HISTORY so that the heading looks like this:
Denver Nuggets, After Losing ATS 3 or More Games, vs. Conference Opponents, When Playing on Thursday
As you can see from this heading, the number of trends you can look for is almost limitless. The four parameters you can modify are explained below:
Team
The TEAM parameter allows you to select the team(s) that you wish to include in the team history. You may select one of the following 3 options:
A Team - This is the most commonly selected option. After selecting this option, you are required to select a team from the menu (teams are listed alphabetically). PFA users may select any NFL team, PBA users may select any NBA team, and CFA and CBA users may select any Division 1A college team.
A Conference - After selecting this option, you are required to select a conference or division from the menu (listed alphabetically). PFA users may select any NFL division or conference, PBA users may select any NBA division or conference, and CFA and CBA users may select any Division 1A division or conference.
All Teams - When you select this option, you select all of the teams tracked by WinPicks. For example, PFA users select all NFL teams, PBA users select all NBA teams, and CFA and CBA users select all Division 1A college teams.
After
This parameter is extremely powerful. It allows you to limit the team history to games that took place after a specified condition. There are four different selectable categories. Since each category has 2 possible choices, or you deselect both choices to ignore the category completely, as shown in Figure 9.10. Every possible combination can use the number of games that you select, up to a maximum of 10 games.
Figure 9.10 - Selecting the After Conditions (PBA)
The four categories are:
Winning & Losing - Winning only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a win. You can select the number of games (from 1 or more to 10 or more). For example, if you select “3 or more games” the team history only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after having won 3 or more consecutive games. Losing works the same way, except that it only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a loss.
Winning ATS & Losing ATS - Winning ATS only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a game where they covered the point spread. You can select the number of games (from 1 or more to 10 or more). For example, if you select “3 or more games” the team history only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after covering the spread in 3 or more consecutive games. Losing ATS works the same way, except that it only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after failing to cover the point spread.
On the Road & At Home - On the Road only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a road game. You can select the number of games (from 1 or more to 10 or more). For example, if you select “3 or more games” the team history only includes- games where the selected team(s) was playing after having been on the road for 3 or more consecutive games. At Home works the same way, but only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a home game.
Over & Under - Over only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a game where the combined point total went “over” the totals line. You can select any number of games (from 1 or more to 10 or more). For example, if you select “3 or more games” the team history only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after having gone “over” the projected total in 3 or more consecutive games. Under works the same way, except that it only includes games where the selected team(s) was playing after a game where the combined point total was “under” the totals line.
You are allowed to customize the team history further by using the Days Rest feature. There are 3 Days Rest options that you can choose from:
Doesn’t Matter - Doesn’t Matter is the default setting. It includes all games.
Less Than & More Than - These two settings allow you to include games where the selected team was playing after “less than” or “more than” a specific amount of rest. You can set the amount of rest to an interval of from 1 to 20 days. This feature is especially useful when looking for NBA trends.
Opponent
The Opponent setting lets you limit the team history to games where the selected team(s) was playing against a selected opponent or group of opponents. All members of the WinPicks family allow you to select from any one of the following 10 Opponent options:
Any Opponent - Includes all games against all opponents.
Regular Season Opponents - Includes all games except for postseason games. WinPicks does not track preseason games.
Post-Season Opponents - Includes postseason games only.
Division Opponents - Includes all games against teams in the same division.
Conference Opponents - Includes all games against teams in the same conference.
Non-Conference Opponents - Includes all games against teams in other conferences.
Home Opponents - Includes all games played at home.
Away Opponents - Includes all games played on the road.
vs. Specific Team - Includes all games against a specific team that you select.
vs. Specific Conference - Includes all games against a specific conference or division that you select.
Exact Line Value - Includes all games when the line was set to the specified value. For example, selecting 7 will show all games when the line was set to 7 points.
Pro Football Analyst (PFA) also allows you to see how a team has performed in specific types of stadiums. This option is not available in the other versions of WinPicks. There are 3 stadium types you may select from:
Dome
Open Natural Surface
Open Artificial Surface
When
The When setting allows you to limit the team history to games where the selected team(s) was playing at a specific time as shown in Figure 9.11.
Figure 9.11 - Selecting the When Conditions (PFA)
All members of the WinPicks family allow you to select from any one of the following When options:
From - Allows you to pick a starting date and end date. The default settings use the first date in the database as the start date, and the current date as the end date.
Current Database Only - Only includes games from the current database. For example, if a 3-game rolling average is in use, the team history only includes the 3 most recent games played by the selected team(s).
Month - Includes games from the selected month.
Season - Includes games from the selected season.
Day of Week - Includes games from the selected day of week. This feature’s most common application is finding trends relating to Monday Night NFL games. However, it is also quite valuable when handicapping NBA games, since many teams follow strong day of week trends.
Early Season or Late Season - This option allows you to only include games early in the season or late in the season, using a day number that you specify. For example, if you select "Early Season" and set the day setting to 50, the team history will be limited to games played before the season was 50 days old.
After all team history parameters have been set:
Click the OK button to view the team history
Click the CANCEL button to quit
Click the RESET button to reset all parameters
More Information about Querying the Database with Team History
TEAM HISTORY is extremely powerful and quite easy to use. It allows you to query the database and locate just about any imaginable trend. To give you a better idea of its power, here are a few sample questions you can answer in seconds using TEAM HISTORY (use RESET to reset the parameters before beginning a new query):
How often do NFL home dogs cover on Monday night?
You can answer this question with PFA. Use TEAM to select All Teams. Use WHEN to set Day of Week to Monday. To find the answer, look at the ATS record for home dogs.
How often do away dogs win in dome stadiums?
Another question for PFA. Use TEAM to select All Teams. Use OPPONENT to set Stadiums to "Dome".
To find the answer, look at the SUR record for away dogs.
How often do the Chicago Bulls cover after two or more losses?
A question for PBA. Use TEAM to select A Team and then select the Chicago Bulls. Use AFTER to select Losing, and then select “2 or More Games”. To find the answer, look at the ATS record for all games.
How well do college football teams do ATS after failing to cover in 5 or more consecutive games?
A question for CFA. Use TEAM to select All Teams. Use AFTER to set LOSING ATS to "5 or More Games". To find the answer, look at the ATS record for all games.
How well do college basketball teams do ATS when playing at home after losing 3 or more consecutive games during the first 30 days of the season?
A question for CBA. Use TEAM to select All Teams. Use AFTER to set "Losing" to 3 or more games. Use WHEN to set "Early Season" with a 30 day limit. To find the answer, look at the ATS record for home games.
How well do Big 10 basketball teams do against the spread when playing a home conference game during the month of January after three or more consecutive losses?
A question for CBA. Use TEAM to select the Big 10 Conference. Use AFTER to set "Losing" to 3 or more games. Use WHEN to set the month to January. To find the answer, look at the ATS record for home games.
How well does Notre Dame do in football against the spread after winning 5 or more consecutive games during the month of October?
A question for CFA. Use TEAM to select Note Dame. Use AFTER to set "Winning" to 5 or more games. Use WHEN to set the month to October. To find the answer, look at the ATS record for all games.
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