Learn how probability, math, and statistics can be used to help baseball, football and basketball teams improve, player and lineup selection as well as in game strategy.
What's included
1 video1 reading
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 2 minutes
All you will learn•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 1 minute
Suggested Textbooks (Not Required)•1 minute
Module 1
Module 2•6 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how to predict a team’s won loss record from the number of runs, points, or goals scored by a team and its opponents. Then we will introduce you to multiple regression and show how multiple regression is used to evaluate baseball hitters. Excel data tables, VLOOKUP, MATCH, and INDEX functions will be discussed.
What's included
11 videos22 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 90 minutes
1.1 Introduction•12 minutes
1.2 Pythagorean Theorem•13 minutes
1.3 Ten runs = One win•7 minutes
Homework Problems 1 and 2•4 minutes
1.4 Runs created•8 minutes
1.5 Runs Created Per Game•6 minutes
1.6 Multiple Regression 1•17 minutes
1.7 Multiple Regression 2•6 minutes
1.8 Linear Weights•6 minutes
1.9 On Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage•5 minutes
1.10 Barry Bonds Runs per Game•7 minutes
22 readings•Total 220 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel file•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel file•10 minutes
Excel file•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 3•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended reading•10 minutes
Homework Problems 4•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 64 minutes
Test Questions 1 and 2•4 minutes
Test Question 3•30 minutes
Test Question 4•30 minutes
Module 2
Module 3•6 hours to complete
Module details
You will concentrate on learning important Excel tools including Range Names, Tables, Conditional Formatting, PivotTables, and the family of COUNTIFS, SUMIFS, and AVERAGEIFS functions. You will concentrate on learning important Excel tools including Range Names, Tables, Conditional Formatting, PivotTables, and the family of COUNTIFS, SUMIFS, and AVERAGEIFS functions.
What's included
10 videos23 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 76 minutes
2.1 Excel Range Names•5 minutes
2.2 Excel Tables•5 minutes
2.3 Conditional Formatting: Top Bottom Rules•7 minutes
2.4 Conditional Formatting: Data Bars•8 minutes
2.5 Conditional Formatting: The Formula Option•12 minutes
2.6 COUNTIF and COUNTIFS functions•10 minutes
2.7 SUMIF and SUMIFS Functions•6 minutes
2.8 AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS Functions•6 minutes
2.9 PivotTables I•9 minutes
2.10 PivotTables II•9 minutes
23 readings•Total 230 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 5•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 6•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Test Question 5•30 minutes
Test Question 6•30 minutes
Module 3
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how Monte Carlo simulation works and how it can be used to evaluate a baseball team’s offense and the famous DEFLATEGATE controversy.
What's included
6 videos10 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 71 minutes
3.1 Monte Carlo Simulation I•16 minutes
3.2 Monte Carlo Simulation Part II•11 minutes
3.3 Monte Carlo Simulation Part III•9 minutes
3.4 Baseball Monte Carlo simulation•16 minutes
3.5 Resampling•12 minutes
3.6 Deflategate•8 minutes
10 readings•Total 100 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 8•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Test Question 7•30 minutes
Test Question 8•30 minutes
Module 4
Module 5•8 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how to evaluate baseball fielding, baseball pitchers, and evaluate in game baseball decision-making. The math behind WAR (Wins above Replacement) and Park Factors will also be discussed. Modern developments such as infield shifts and pitch framing will also be discussed.
What's included
13 videos27 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
13 videos•Total 88 minutes
4.1 Bunting and Expected Runs•6 minutes
4.2 Base Stealing•6 minutes
4.3 Range Factor•8 minutes
4.4 UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) and Fielding•13 minutes
You will learn basic concepts involving random variables (specifically the normal random variable, expected value, variance and standard deviation.) You will learn how regression can be used to analyze what makes NFL teams win and decode the NFL QB rating system. You will also learn that momentum and the “hot hand” is mostly a myth. Finally, you will use Excel text functions and the concept of Expected Points per play to analyze the effectiveness of a football team’s play calling.
What's included
11 videos23 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 117 minutes
5.1 Random Variables•8 minutes
5.2 The Normal Random Variable•21 minutes
5.3 Streakiness•10 minutes
5.4 What makes NFL teams win?•14 minutes
5.5 Deconstructing the NFL QB rating•7 minutes
5.6 Football States and Values•11 minutes
5.7 Football Decision Making•10 minutes
5.8 The Belichick Decision•10 minutes
5.9 Text functions and Analyzing NFL plays•13 minutes
5.10 Texans 1st and 10 Play Selection•8 minutes
5.11 STDEVIF and Too Many Field Goal Attempts•7 minutes
23 readings•Total 230 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 15•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 16•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 17•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 18•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 19•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Test Question 15•30 minutes
Test Question 16•30 minutes
Test Question 17•30 minutes
Test Question 18•30 minutes
Test Question 19•30 minutes
Module 6
Module 7•6 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how two-person zero sum game theory sheds light on football play selection and soccer penalty kick strategies. Our discussion of basketball begins with an analysis of NBA shooting, box score based player metrics, and the Four Factor concept which explains what makes basketball teams win.
What's included
7 videos16 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 69 minutes
6.1 Game Theory Part I•12 minutes
6.2 Game Theory Part II•9 minutes
6.3 Basketball Shot Selection•13 minutes
6.4 Effective Field Goal Percentage (EFG)•4 minutes
6.5 Hollinger Team Metrics•6 minutes
6.6 Four Factors•11 minutes
6.7 Basketball Box Score Models•14 minutes
16 readings•Total 160 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 20•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 21•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 22•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 23•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Test Question 20•30 minutes
Test Question 21•30 minutes
Test Question 22•30 minutes
Test Question 23•30 minutes
Module 7
Module 8•6 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn about advanced basketball concepts such as Adjusted plus minus, ESPN’s RPM, SportVu data, and NBA in game decision-making.
What's included
8 videos13 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 98 minutes
7.1 Extracting Lineup data and Computing raw + -•17 minutes
7.2 Computing Pairs Lineup Statistics•10 minutes
7.3 Adjusted + -•16 minutes
7.4 ESPM RPM (Real Plus Minus)•13 minutes
7.5 How Analytics Helped the Mavs beat the Heat•13 minutes
7.6 SportsVu data•13 minutes
7.7 In Game Basketball Decision-Making•13 minutes
7.8 Hack a Jordan (or Dwight)•4 minutes
13 readings•Total 130 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 24•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 25•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 26•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 27•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Test 24•30 minutes
Test 25•30 minutes
Test 26•30 minutes
Test 27•30 minutes
Module 8
Module 9•7 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how to use game results to rate sports teams and set point spreads. Simulation of the NCAA basketball tournament will aid you in filling out your 2016 bracket. Final 4 is in Houston!
What's included
7 videos18 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 88 minutes
8.1 Rating NFL teams•18 minutes
8.2 Computing Strength of Schedule•12 minutes
8.3 Rating NFL Offenses and Defenses•12 minutes
8.4 Multiplicative Rating Models for Soccer•17 minutes
8.5 Regularization•8 minutes
8.6 Simulating the NCAA Tournament•13 minutes
8.7 NCAA Props Bets•9 minutes
18 readings•Total 180 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 28•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 29•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 30•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 31•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 32•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Test 28•30 minutes
Test 29•30 minutes
Test 30•30 minutes
Test 31•30 minutes
Test 32•30 minutes
Module 9
Module 10•7 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how to rate NASCAR drivers and get an introduction to sports betting concepts such as the Money line, Props Bets, and evaluation of gambling betting systems.
What's included
10 videos19 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 97 minutes
9.1 Method of Maximum Likelihood•9 minutes
9.2 Rating Teams Based on Wins and Losses•9 minutes
9.3 Simulating the NFL Playoffs•5 minutes
9.4 Rating NASCAR Drivers•10 minutes
9.5 How Good are NFL Point Spreads•15 minutes
9.6 Relating the Money Line to Point Spreads•9 minutes
9.7 How Can you tell if a Betting System is Successful?•12 minutes
9.8 Props Bets I•11 minutes
9.9 Props Bet II•10 minutes
9.10 Props Bet III•5 minutes
19 readings•Total 190 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 33•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 34•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 35•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 36•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Test 33•30 minutes
Test 34•30 minutes
Test 35•30 minutes
Test 36•30 minutes
Module 10
Module 11•6 hours to complete
Module details
You will learn how Kelly Growth can optimize your sports betting, how regression to the mean explains the SI cover jinx and how to optimize a daily fantasy sports lineup. We close with a discussion of golf analytics.
What's included
7 videos14 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 73 minutes
10.1 Kelly Growth Part I•10 minutes
10.2 Kelly Growth Part II•5 minutes
10.3 Kelly Growth Part III•6 minutes
10.4 Regression to the Mean•15 minutes
10.5 Daily Fantasy Sports Part I•8 minutes
10.6 Daily Fantasy Sports Part II•18 minutes
10.7 Golf Analytics•10 minutes
14 readings•Total 140 minutes
Download Excel Files (Important!)•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 37•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Recommended Reading•10 minutes
Homework Problem 38•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 39•10 minutes
Excel Files•10 minutes
Homework Problem 40•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Test 37•30 minutes
Test 38•30 minutes
Test 39•30 minutes
Test 40•30 minutes
Final Exam
Module 12•1 hour to complete
Module details
Final exam has 10 questions. Please download and open Excel files before taking the exam. You will be referred to Excel files during the exam. Each question is wort 1 point. You need to answer 6 questions or more correctly to pass the exam.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Download Excel Files•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Final Exam•30 minutes
Instructor
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
Established in 1927, the University of Houston empowers students in their pursuit of learning, discovery, leadership and engagement. Located in a sprawling metropolis, our premier Tier One campus provides students with cutting edge programs including undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, distance and continuing education. Ranked among the best colleges in America, UH is home to award-winning faculty, innovative research centers, has one of the most diverse student populations in the nation, and alumni who have become international leaders.
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Learner reviews
4.5
97 reviews
5 stars
69.07%
4 stars
19.58%
3 stars
4.12%
2 stars
2.06%
1 star
5.15%
Showing 3 of 97
Z
ZH
4·
Reviewed on Jul 18, 2020
Great course for sport fans who want to learn about sports analytics. But need to have extensive knowledge on game rules and specific terms for MLB, NFL, NBA
P
PW
5·
Reviewed on May 31, 2020
Great class. Longer to complete than the estimates though.
H
HA
5·
Reviewed on Feb 5, 2017
Pretty good course where you learn how to analyse performance via various statistical analysis techniques. You also learn quite a bit in MS Excel.
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