Anything can happen in sports. At least, there are no guarantees. It’s a key aspect to keep in mind for sports betting, because no matter how certain you think something will happen, there is always a chance of the unexpected. There are countless examples: the most recent Super Bowl, for instance, was played by two teams who were 60/1 and 80/1 at the start of the season. The majority of preseason favorites – Chiefs, Ravens, Lions – didn’t even make the postseason.
Yet, it is worth bearing in mind that there are no guarantees when you see adverts for of AI programs for sports betting and fantasy sports strategies, especially those that ‘guarantee’ profits. AI, as we shall point out, can be a useful tool for sports predictions, but there are some drawbacks. Below, we outline some thoughts on AI and sports predictions, looking at where it can help and what to be wary of:
AI is not an oracle
Let’s address the most important point first, which stresses what we mentioned earlier. AI is not some crystal ball that can pick up stuff that you or the statisticians working for sportsbooks have missed. Shocks happen to every sports team, athletes can have inexplicable bad games, and weird controversies happen in sports that simply cannot be predicted. Once again, it is something you should bear in mind.
Props bets and stats-related predictions suit AI better
AI can call the winners of specific games, but it is arguably better at analyzing and projecting player stats, which can be used for props betting or the statistics-based DraftKings Predict6 game. These types of predictions usually overlook the final result, but they are based on the data of player performances, and that can be somewhat easier to model. Consider a pitcher in baseball. It is easier to use data to model the number of strikeouts, walks, etc., than to model an entire game.
AI needs good data to make those predictions
AI, and by that we mean consumer-facing chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude, are not repositories of sports data. They have some access to the live web, but certainly not an open pass to access the professional sports data that is used by sportsbooks and experts. As such, you’ll need to feed the data to the AI, or consider using a specialized AI sports predictions application (do your research before paying any subscription).
AI is useful for pinpointing value
If you hold that no sporting event can be predicted with 100% accuracy, then consider the point of using AI. Arguably, it is the pinpoint value in the betting odds, or highlighting an undervalued selection in your fantasy sports team. Sportsbooks and statisticians who decide the odds will be careful about how they lay out those odds and prices, but there can be discrepancies, i.e., a market or player might be undervalued or overvalued. Given the right data, AI can be a handy analyzer of that information, showing where the market is ‘wrong’ compared to the odds.
We are only at the beginning
Right now, we are at the infancy of the AI sector. To hear it told, it is akin to the 1990s and the internet, thus there is a long way to go. Thus, there are likely to be innovations with AI and sports predictions that we have not yet encountered, going beyond asking LLMs to analyze data. For instance, there is the possibility that AI could make sports predictions by analyzing sports footage, seeing what the human eye can’t see. For now, though, tread carefully and bear in mind that AI is a tool, useful under the right conditions, but not an instant gateway to riches.
Article Disclaimer:
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. AI-generated analysis and predictive models cannot guarantee future outcomes and should not be considered financial or betting advice. Sports involve inherent uncertainty, and readers should make informed decisions while complying with applicable laws and practicing responsible gambling where permitted.
Frankie Wilde – is a content writer at various gambling sites. Also, he is a passionate traveler and a great cook. Frankie shares informative articles with the world.
