Regression analysis
Regression analysis is a type of statistical technique used to determine the important factors that affect the outcome of the event. In the case of sports betting this is usually done with multivariate linear regression. Because sports events are very complicated and there are many factors it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to be able to accurately identify each variable that affects the outcome of the game. Also, regression analysis assigns a "weight" to each factors that identifies how much it affects the outcome of the event. Regression analysis has become so sophisticated that some gamblers actually perform it as a full-time job. For example, Advanced Football Analytics ran a multivariate linear regression on the outcomes of American football games. The results determined that the most important aspect to winning the game was passing efficiency.