Article ID: | iaor20106740 |
Volume: | 61 |
Issue: | 10 |
Start Page Number: | 1530 |
End Page Number: | 1539 |
Publication Date: | Oct 2010 |
Journal: | Journal of the Operational Research Society |
Authors: | Suzuki A K, Salasar L E B, Leite J G, Louzada-Neto F |
Keywords: | football |
In this paper we propose a Bayesian methodology for predicting match outcomes. The methodology is illustrated on the 2006 Soccer World Cup. As prior information, we make use of the specialists’ opinions and the FIFA ratings. The method is applied to calculate the win, draw and loss probabilities at each match and also to simulate the whole competition in order to estimate classification probabilities in group stage and winning tournament chances for each team. The prediction capability of the proposed methodology is determined by the DeFinetti measure and by the percentage of correct forecasts.