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How the simulators work, how a playoff format actually resolves, and the things a league table cannot explain on its own.

Two bar charts of the share of Formula 1 Grand Prix starters not classified each season: 43 to 49 percent from 1991 to 1996, falling to 9 percent in 2024 and 10 percent in 2025, then 18 percent in 2026 through the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. · Angel Aguilar

How Often F1 Cars Fail to Finish, Season by Season Since 1991

Nearly half of F1 starters were not classified in 1994; in 2024, 9.1%. The DNF rate by season since 1991, the least reliable teams, and 2026's rise to 18%.

Two bar charts of the average places gained or lost per classified finisher at the 22 circuits with at least 10 Formula 1 Grands Prix since 2000, from 3.8 at Sepang, Albert Park and Hockenheim to 2.7 at Yas Marina and Mexico City, with Monaco 11th at 3.2. · Angel Aguilar

F1 Overtaking by Circuit: Where the Grid Order Changes Most

Since 2000, F1 finishers at Sepang and Albert Park ended 3.8 places from their grid slot on average; at Mexico City, 2.7. Monaco, DRS and 2026, measured.

Two bar charts. Left: the younger UFC fighter won 57 percent of 8,522 fights, 52 percent with an age gap under two years, rising to 70 percent at 10 years or more. Right: 60 percent of knockouts, 57 percent of submissions and 55 percent of decisions. · Angel Aguilar

Younger Fighters Win 57 Percent of UFC Fights, 70 Percent With a 10-Year Edge

The younger fighter has won 57 percent of 8,522 UFC fights, and 70 percent with an age gap of 10 years or more. By age, weight class, method and champion.

Two bar charts. Left: southpaws won 53 percent of 2,445 UFC fights against orthodox opponents; switch fighters won 52 percent against orthodox and 55 percent against southpaws. Right: southpaws won 54 percent of knockouts and decisions and 50 percent of submissions. · Angel Aguilar

Southpaws Win 53 Percent of UFC Fights Against Orthodox Opponents

Southpaws have won 53 percent of 2,445 UFC fights against orthodox opponents. The edge by weight class, method and era, plus switch fighters and champions.

Two bar charts. Left: share of Heisman Trophy winners whose team won the national title, by era: 40 percent from 1935 to 1949, 8 percent from 1950 to 1997, 25 percent from 1998 to 2013 and 33 percent from 2014 to 2025. Right: the winner's team's final AP rank from 1936 to 2025: No. 1 18 times, No. 2 to 5 38 times, No. 6 to 10 10 times, No. 11 to 25 16 times, unranked 8 times. · Angel Aguilar

18 of 91 Heisman Trophy Winners Played for the National Champion

Only 18 of 91 Heisman Trophy winners played for that season's national champion, 4 of 12 in the playoff era. Every winner's position, class and team finish.

Bar charts of the share of men's golf majors won by first-time winners: 53 percent from 2000 to 2026, 67 percent at the U.S. Open, and between 40 and 63 percent in every decade since 1934. · Angel Aguilar

More Than Half of Golf's Majors Since 2000 Went to a First-Time Winner

Since 2000, first-time winners have taken 57 of 107 men's golf majors, 53 percent, and 18 of 27 U.S. Opens. Their ages, who won again and 2026's champions.

Two bar charts of the average age of Grand Slam singles champions by three-season period from 2000 to 2026. Men's champions averaged 23.7 in 2006-08, 32.3 in 2018-20 and 23.8 in 2024-26; women's champions averaged 21.7 in 2003-05, 29.3 in 2015-17 and 25.1 in 2024-26. · Angel Aguilar

Men Win Grand Slams at 27 on Average, Women at 25: Champions' Ages Since 2000

Men's Grand Slam champions since 2000 were 27.1 years old on average on the day of the final, women's 25.1. The youngest, oldest and first-time winners.

Bar charts of how far the Supporters' Shield winner went in the MLS Cup Playoffs from 1996 to 2025: 8 won MLS Cup, 1 lost the final, 10 went out among the last four, 9 among the last eight and 2 among the last 16. It won 15 of 18 playoff rounds through 2002 and 23 of 42 since. · Angel Aguilar

The Supporters' Shield Winner and MLS Cup: 8 Doubles in 30 Seasons

The Supporters' Shield winner has won MLS Cup 8 times in 30 seasons, and only 4 times since 2003. How every Shield winner's run ended, and the 2026 race.

Stacked bar charts of the points won by the home team and the visitors in each of the 23 Ryder Cups from 1979 to 2025. The home team won 15, lost seven and tied one; the most recent, Europe's 15-13 win at Bethpage Black in 2025, was a road win. · Angel Aguilar

Home Teams Have Won 15 of the Last 23 Ryder Cups

Since 1979 the home team has won 15 of 23 Ryder Cups, lost seven and tied one. Every result, how the two-day leaders fared, the Sunday comebacks and 2027.

Two bar charts of the AP poll from 1968 to 2025. Seasons by times the No. 1 lost: none in 6, once in 27, twice in 12, three times in 7, four in 2, five in 3 and six in 1981. Seasons by teams ranked No. 1: one team in 2, two in 22, three in 16, four in 11, five in 4, six in 2 and seven in 1981. · Angel Aguilar

The AP No. 1 Lost 101 Times in 58 Seasons, and Every Loss Cost It the Top Spot

The AP No. 1 lost 101 times in 58 seasons from 1968 to 2025, about 1.7 a season, and never kept the spot after a loss. Upsets, reigns and 2026 so far.

Two bar charts of NHL goals per game: by decade, from 9.40 in 1917-20 and 4.69 in the 1920s to 7.67 in the 1980s and 6.13 in the 2020s, and for each of the last 15 seasons, from about 5.3 in the early 2010s to 6.16 in 2025-26. · Angel Aguilar

Six Goals a Game Again: Every NHL Season Since 1917-18, Counted

NHL games averaged 6.16 goals in 2025-26, a fifth straight season above six. Every season since 1917-18, from 10.06 to 2.92, counted from official NHL data.

Two bar charts of men's NCAA tournament bids by conference. In 2026 the SEC had 10 teams, the Big Ten 9, the ACC and Big 12 8 each, the Big East and WCC 3, the Atlantic 10 and MAC 2 and the other 23 conferences 1 each. From 2011 to 2026 the Big Ten had 108 bids, the Big 12 99, the SEC 95, the ACC 91 and the Big East 86. · Angel Aguilar

Six Conferences, 82 Percent of the At-Large Bids: March Madness Bids by Conference

Since 2011, six conferences have taken 445 of 546 March Madness at-large bids. Bids by conference every year, the SEC's record 14 and who wins with them.

Stacked bar charts of the clubs promoted to the Premier League in each season from 1995-96 to 2025-26, split into those that stayed up and those that were relegated; 49 of 92 stayed up, and all three went down in 1997-98, 2023-24 and 2024-25. · Angel Aguilar

Promoted to the Premier League: Just Over Half Stay Up

Since 1995-96, 49 of 92 clubs promoted to the Premier League stayed up: 53 percent. Champions fare best, play-off winners worst, and the points gap has widened.

Bar charts of how often the team with MLB's best regular-season record won and reached the World Series in each era from 1903 to 2025: 53 of 121 titles overall, 38 of 65 before 1969 and 8 of 31 since 1995. · Angel Aguilar

The Best Record in Baseball Now Wins the World Series About One Year in Four

The team with MLB's best record has won the World Series in 53 of 121 seasons, but only 8 of 31 since 1995. The history by era, 100-win teams and 2026.

Two bar charts of the share of sets decided by a tiebreak in men's Grand Slam singles from 2000 to 2026: 16.4 percent at the Australian Open, 14.0 at the French Open, 19.9 at Wimbledon and 16.3 at the US Open, 16.6 percent overall, and 15.8 percent in the 2000s against 19.4 in 2026. · Angel Aguilar

All Four Majors Now End a 6-All Final Set With a 10-Point Tiebreak

All four majors now play a 10-point tiebreak at 6-all in the final set. It has settled 91 of 524 men's fifth sets since 2022. The rules, the records and 2026.

Bar charts comparing Super Bowl losers and winners from the 1999 to 2024 seasons with what their records predicted: 54 percent of losers made the playoffs the next season against 56 percent expected, and 69 percent of winners against 53 percent; losers averaged 9.2 wins against 9.5 expected, winners 10.8 against 9.3. · Angel Aguilar

What Happens to Super Bowl Losers the Next Season

Of 26 Super Bowl losers since 1999, 14 made the playoffs the next season and one returned to the Super Bowl. Every team, a hangover test and the 2026 Patriots.

Bar chart of how often NHL teams win a best-of-seven playoff series after trailing: 32 percent after losing Game 1, 14 percent from 0-2, 9 percent from 1-3 and 2 percent from 0-3, in 802 series from 1919 to 2026. · Angel Aguilar

Down 3-1 in the NHL Playoffs: 32 Comebacks in 362 Series

NHL teams have come back from 3-1 down in 32 of 362 best-of-seven series, 9 percent, and from 3-0 four times. Every comeback, the odds by score and Game 7s.

Bar chart of NBA playoff odds by record after 20 games, 26 full seasons from 1996-97 to 2025-26: 100% at 16-4 or better, 98% at 14-6 or 15-5, 89% at 13-7, 77% at 12-8, 63% at 11-9, 54% at 10-10, 51% at 9-11, 28% at 8-12, 19% at 7-13, 6% at 5-15 or 6-14 and 2% at 4-16 or worse. · Angel Aguilar

The First 20 Games Explain About 70 Percent of an NBA Team's Final Record

An NBA team's 20-game record explains about 70 percent of the spread in final records. Since 1996-97, 69 of 332 teams under .500 by then made the playoffs.

Two bar charts of every NBA MVP from 1955-56 to 2025-26. How far the MVP's team went: won the title 24 times, lost in the Finals 9, in the conference finals 20, in the second round 11, in the first round 6, missed the playoffs once. Its regular-season rank: best record 44 times, second 14. · Angel Aguilar

The NBA MVP Wins the Championship About One Season in Three

The NBA MVP's team won the championship in 24 of 71 seasons since 1955-56, and in 6 of the last 27. Every MVP, their team's record and how it finished.

Bar chart of WNBA points per team per game in every regular season from 1997 to 2026: between 65.7 and 70.3 from 1997 to 2005, between 75.1 and 83.1 from 2006 to 2025, and a record 87.1 in 2026. · Angel Aguilar

WNBA Scoring Reached a Record 87.1 Points a Game in 2026

WNBA teams averaged a record 87.1 points per game in 2026, up from 81.7 in 2025 and 65.7 in 2001. Points, threes, free throws and pace for every season.

Bar charts of NFL regular-season games from 1999 to 2025: the share decided by each margin from 1 to 14 points, led by 3 points at 15.0 percent and 7 at 9.1 percent, and the 14 most common final scores, led by 23-20. · Angel Aguilar

Half of NFL Games Are Decided by One Score, and 3 Points Is the Most Common Margin

From 1999 to 2025, 50.6 percent of NFL regular-season games were decided by one score. Three points is the most common margin, and 23-20 the top final score.

Bar chart of the 60 teams that won a First Four game in the men's NCAA tournament from 2011 to 2026: 14 won a first-round game, 6 reached the Sweet 16, 2 reached the Final Four and none played for the title. · Angel Aguilar

Two Final Fours in 60 Tries: How Far First Four Teams Go in March Madness

Since 2011, 14 of 60 First Four winners also won a first-round game and two, VCU and UCLA, reached the Final Four. Records by round, 11 vs 16 seeds and 2027.

Bar chart of the share of World Series won by the team holding each series lead from 1903 to 2025: 63 percent after winning Game 1, 82 percent up 2-0, 100 percent up 3-0 and 88 percent up 3-1. · Angel Aguilar

Winning Game 1 Has Led to a World Series Title 76 Times in 120

The Game 1 winner has won the World Series 76 times in 120, or 63 percent, since 1903. What 2-0, 3-1 and 3-2 leads are worth, plus sweeps and Game 7 records.

Bar chart of how the WNBA MVP's team finished from 1997 to 2025: won the title 12 times, lost in the Finals twice, lost in the semifinals or conference finals 8 times, lost in the first round 6 times and missed the playoffs once, in 2003. · Angel Aguilar

Every WNBA MVP Since 1997, and How Often Their Team Won the Title

The WNBA MVP's team has won the title in 12 of 29 seasons since 1997. Every MVP with their team's record and playoff finish, repeat winners and MVPs by team.

Bar charts of the share of World Series titles and pennants won by MLB wild cards under each playoff format from 1995 to 2025: 8 of 31 titles and 16 of 62 pennants. · Angel Aguilar

Eight Wild Cards Have Won the World Series, About What a Coin Flip Would Give Them

Eight wild card teams have won the World Series since 1995, 8 of 31, almost exactly what a coin-flip bracket predicts. The list and the 2026 wild cards.

Two bar charts of men's NCAA champions by preseason AP rank. Of the 64 champions since 1961-62, 14 started No. 1, 25 started second to fifth, 13 sixth to 10th, five from 11th to 25th and seven unranked. Of the last 16, since 2010, none started No. 1. · Angel Aguilar

The AP Preseason No. 1 Has Won 14 of 64 NCAA Titles, and None Since 2009

The AP preseason No. 1 has won the men's NCAA title 14 times in 64 tournaments since 1961-62, none since 2009. Where every champion started in the poll.

Two bar charts of how often the Formula 1 championship leader won the title from 1991 to 2025. Left: from 60 percent after the first race to 74 percent at halfway and 89 percent at 80 and 90 percent of the season. Right: from 80 percent with six races left to 89 percent before the final race. · Angel Aguilar

F1 Title Comebacks: How Often the Championship Leader Holds On

Räikkönen won the 2007 F1 title from a deficit worth 85% of the points left, the biggest comeback since 1991. How often the leader wins, and Antonelli's lead.

Two bar charts of College Football Playoff teams by losses at selection. Four-team playoff, 2014 to 2023: 40 percent unbeaten, 60 percent one loss, none with two or three. 12-team playoff, 2024 and 2025: 8 percent unbeaten, 42 percent one loss, 42 percent two losses, 8 percent three losses. · Angel Aguilar

The Playoff Has Taken Three-Loss Teams Twice, Both Since It Grew to 12

All 40 teams in the four-team College Football Playoff had one loss or none. In the 12-team era, 12 of 24 had two or three. Every team's record since 2014.

Two bar charts. Left: the longer-reach UFC fighter won 52 percent of 6,628 fights, 50 percent with a gap of one or two inches, rising to 60 percent with seven inches or more. Right: 54 percent of knockouts, 56 percent of submissions and 49 percent of decisions. · Angel Aguilar

The Longer Reach Wins 52 Percent of UFC Fights, and Big Gaps Win More

The longer-reach fighter has won 52 percent of 6,628 UFC fights, and 60 percent with a gap of 7 inches or more. By weight class, method, height and champion.

Two bar charts of men's majors from 2000 to 2026: the average winning score was 10.9 under par at the Masters, 10.9 under at the PGA Championship, 4.6 under at the U.S. Open and 11.0 under at The Open, and the average cut line was 5.7 over at the U.S. Open against 3.9 over for all majors. · Angel Aguilar

A Major Takes About 9 Under Par to Win, Unless It Is the U.S. Open

Men's majors since 2000 were won at 9.3 under par on average and the U.S. Open at 4.6 under. Every winning score, the cut line and playoffs, 2000 to 2026.

Two bar charts of how often men came back from two sets down at the Grand Slams from 2000 to 2026: 6.4 percent at the Australian Open, 6.5 at the French Open, 5.4 at Wimbledon and 6.2 at the US Open, 6.1 percent overall, and 6.0 percent in the 2000s against 6.7 since 2020. · Angel Aguilar

Down Two Sets to Love at a Major, Men Win 6 Percent of the Time

Since 2000, men who lost the first two sets of a Grand Slam match came back to win 522 of 8,494, or 6.1 percent. By major, round and era, and who does it most.

Two bar charts of how many of the 16 NHL teams in a playoff position on US Thanksgiving made the playoffs each season: between 11 and 14 every year from 2005-06 to 2025-26, 221 of 288 in all. · Angel Aguilar

The NHL Thanksgiving Rule, Counted: 221 of 288 Made the Playoffs

Since 2005-06, 221 of 288 NHL teams in a playoff spot on US Thanksgiving made the playoffs, 77 percent. How far back is too far, and the biggest comebacks.

Bar charts of the points total of the Premier League champion in every season from 1995-96 to 2025-26, from 75 by Manchester United in 1996-97 to 100 by Manchester City in 2017-18; 11 of the 31 champions reached 90. · Angel Aguilar

How Many Points Does It Take to Win the Premier League?

Premier League champions have averaged 87.5 points since 1995-96, from 75 to 100. How often 90 was needed, the top-four line and the 2026-27 title odds.

Bar chart of how often the higher seed has won in the WNBA playoffs since 2016: 52 of 70 matchups overall, 15 of 24 single-elimination games from 2016 to 2021, 15 of 16 best-of-three first-round series since 2022, 15 of 20 semifinals and 7 of 10 Finals. · Angel Aguilar

How the WNBA Playoffs Work, and How Often the Higher Seed Wins

WNBA playoff format explained: 8 teams, 3 rounds, a best-of-seven Finals. Since 2016 the higher seed has won 52 of 70 matchups and No. 1 seeds 6 of 10 titles.

Bar charts of how many NFL teams won their division a year after finishing last, each season from 2003 to 2025: two in seven seasons, one in 13, none in three. · Angel Aguilar

How Often NFL Teams Go From Last Place to a Division Title

Since 2002, 27 of the 184 NFL teams that finished last in their division won it the next season, about one in seven. Every case, and how often champions repeat.

Two bar charts of NBA regular-season win percentage, 2012-13 to 2025-26. By days of rest: 44.2% on the second night of a back-to-back, 51.1% after one day, 52.4% after two and 52.6% after three or more. Against a rested opponent: home teams 56.9% when rested and 49.8% on a back-to-back, road teams 43.1% and 37.9%. · Angel Aguilar

NBA Teams Win 44 Percent of the Time on the Second Night of a Back-to-Back

NBA teams on the second night of a back-to-back won 44.2 percent of games from 2012-13 to 2025-26, and only 49.8 percent at home against rested opponents.

Two bar charts. Left: where the winners of 518 Formula 1 Grands Prix from 2000 to 2026 started, 52 percent from pole, 24 percent from second and 2 percent from 11th or lower. Right: pole's win rate at the 16 circuits with at least 15 races, from 71 percent at Yas Marina to 32 percent at Silverstone. · Angel Aguilar

Pole Position in F1: How Often the Driver Starting First Wins

The driver on pole won 269 of 518 F1 Grands Prix from 2000 to Baku 2026, or 52%. Where winners start, the circuits where pole counts most, and 2026 so far.

Two bar charts. Left: the share of UFC champions who lost the belt in each title defense, 34 percent in the first (42 of 125), then between 22 and 34 percent in later ones. Right: first defenses lost by men (32 percent), women (40 percent), before 2014 (30 percent) and since (36 percent). · Angel Aguilar

One in Three New UFC Champions Loses the Belt in the First Defense

Of the 125 UFC champions who fought a first title defense since 1997, 42 lost it, 34 percent. Plus defenses per reign, the records and the 2026 champions.

Two bar charts of how often the 54-hole leader won a men's major from 2000 to 2026: 48 percent with a one-shot lead, all eight times with a lead of five or more, and 64 of 107 majors overall, from 54 percent at The Open to 67 percent at the Masters. · Angel Aguilar

A 54-Hole Lead in a Major Holds About Six Times in Ten

Since 2000 the 54-hole leader or a co-leader has won 64 of 107 men's majors, 60 percent. How the size of the lead changes that, the biggest comebacks and 2026.

Two bar charts of Grand Slam singles titles by the champion's seed from 2000 to 2026. The No. 1 seed won 43 of 107 men's titles, 40 percent, and 26 of 107 women's, 24 percent; unseeded players won 2 men's titles and 8 women's. · Angel Aguilar

The No. 1 Seed Wins 40 Percent of Men's Majors and 24 Percent of Women's

Since 2000 the No. 1 seed has won 43 of 107 men's Grand Slams and 26 of 107 women's. Every champion's seed, the unseeded winners and the four majors compared.

Two bar charts of how the playoff runs of the NHL's Presidents' Trophy winners ended: 6 of 19 won the Stanley Cup from 1985-86 to 2003-04, and 2 of 21 in the salary-cap era since 2005-06, when 8 lost in the second round. · Angel Aguilar

The Presidents' Trophy Curse, Counted: 8 Cups in 40 Seasons

Presidents' Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup 8 times in 40 seasons and none since 2013. Every winner since 1985-86, how its run ended and why it happens.

Bar chart of average MLB wins by run differential, 2000 to 2026: 52.8 for teams below -225, 80.8 for teams close to even and 105.6 for +225 or more. · Angel Aguilar

How Many Wins Is a Run Worth? Run Differential, Pythagoras and the 2026 Tigers

Across 780 MLB team-seasons since 2000, every 10.2 runs of differential added a win. How the Pythagorean record works, and why the 2026 Tigers fell 12.6 short.

Bar chart of the first-season winning percentage of all 13 WNBA expansion teams since 1998, from the 1998 Detroit Shock at 17-13 to the 1998 Washington Mystics at 3-27; only the 2025 Golden State Valkyries, 23-21, made the playoffs. · Angel Aguilar

How Every WNBA Expansion Team Fared in Its First Season

Only 1 of 13 WNBA expansion teams since 1998 made the playoffs in year one; together they went 148-304. Every first season ranked, with Toronto and Portland.

Two bar charts. Of the 164 No. 1 seeds in the men's NCAA tournament from 1985 to 2026, 85 percent reached the Sweet 16, 41 percent the Final Four and 16 percent won the title; No. 1 seeds have won 27 of the 41 championships. · Angel Aguilar

No. 1 Seeds Have Won 27 of 41 Tournaments: How Every Seed Fares in March Madness

A No. 1 seed has won 27 of the 41 men's NCAA tournaments since 1985. Every seed's record, the 12 vs 5 upset rate, both 16-over-1 wins and the 76-team change.

Two bar charts. Left: how the NBA's best regular-season record fared from 1979-80 to 2025-26: won the title 21 times, lost in the Finals 3, in the conference finals 15, in the second round 5 and in the first round 3. Right: where the champion ranked: best record 21 times, second 10, third 8. · Angel Aguilar

The NBA's Best Regular-Season Team Wins the Title Less Than Half the Time

The team with the NBA's best record won the title in 21 of 47 seasons since 1979-80, and 9 of 27 since 2000. The upsets, the lead that matters and the Knicks.

Two bar charts from the AP poll, 1950 to 2025. Of 76 national champions, 11 started No. 1 in the preseason poll, 13 started No. 2 and 6 were unranked. Of 76 preseason No. 1s, 11 finished first and 15 finished below 10th. · Angel Aguilar

The AP Preseason No. 1 Has Won the Title 11 Times in 76 Seasons

The AP preseason No. 1 has won the national title in 11 of 76 seasons since 1950, and once in the playoff era. Every season, and Ohio State's 2026 start.

Bar charts of the share of NFL regular-season games that went to overtime in each season from 2002 to 2025, from 9.8 percent in 2002 to 3.5 percent in 2019, with the number of overtime games and ties for each season. · Angel Aguilar

How NFL Overtime Works, and How Often It Ends in a Tie

Both teams now get the ball in NFL overtime. From 2002 to 2025, 6.0 percent of regular-season games went to overtime and 15 of 6,223 ended tied: 1 in 415.

Two bar charts. Left: how often the Premier League leader on Christmas Day won the title, by lead, from none of 5 leaders level or one point clear to 5 of 6 leaders six or more clear. Right: how often teams went down by place at Christmas, from 27 of 31 bottom clubs to 7 of 31 in 16th. · Angel Aguilar

Does the Team Top of the Premier League at Christmas Win the Title?

The Premier League leader on Christmas Day won the title in 16 of 31 seasons since 1995-96. How big a lead is safe, and how often the bottom club goes down.

Bar charts of how often NFL teams made the playoffs from 2002 to 2025 by their record after three and four games: 2 of 112 teams that started 0-3, none of 68 that started 0-4, and 73 percent of 3-0 teams. · Angel Aguilar

Can an 0-3 Team Still Make the NFL Playoffs? History, and Houston

Since 2002, 2 of 112 NFL teams that started 0-3 made the playoffs, both of them Houston. The Texans are 0-3 again: their 2026 odds and every other start.

Bar chart of the points total of the 18th-placed Premier League team in every season from 1995-96 to 2025-26, from 42 by West Ham in 2002-03 to 25 by Leicester in 2024-25; the average is 34.7. · Angel Aguilar

How Many Points Does It Take to Stay Up in the Premier League?

Over 31 Premier League seasons the 18th-placed team averaged 34.7 points, and 40 was enough in 28 of them. Plus the 2026-27 safety line and relegation odds.

Two bar charts of each team's chance to reach the 2026 NBA Cup knockout rounds. Oklahoma City leads the West at 77% and Detroit the East; the Thunder win the Cup in 24% of simulations. · Angel Aguilar

The 2026 NBA Cup, Group by Group: Who Gets to Indianapolis

Oklahoma City wins the 2026 NBA Cup in 24% of 100,000 simulations. Group-by-group odds for all 30 teams, the schedule, and why 3-1 is often not enough.

Two bar charts of where Kimi Antonelli clinches the 2026 F1 title in simulations after Baku. With the full calendar São Paulo leads at 36%; without Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Austin leads at 44%. · Angel Aguilar

Where Antonelli Wins the 2026 Title, and Why the Calendar Matters

After Baku, Antonelli wins the 2026 F1 title in 99.3% of 200,000 simulations. São Paulo is the likeliest place to seal it, unless Qatar and Abu Dhabi are cut.

Bar chart of 2026 World Series odds with the bracket set: Milwaukee Brewers 23 percent and Los Angeles Dodgers 22 percent lead the National League; Tampa Bay Rays 11 percent and New York Yankees 9 percent lead the American League. · Angel Aguilar

Does the Bye Help in the MLB Playoffs? What Four Octobers Say

Teams with an MLB playoff bye won 9 of 16 Division Series from 2022 to 2025, as many as their strength predicted. Plus 2026 World Series odds for all 12.

Bar chart of projected 2026-27 points for all 32 NHL teams. East: Tampa Bay Lightning 112, Carolina Hurricanes 111, Buffalo Sabres 108. West: Colorado Avalanche 125, Dallas Stars 111, Minnesota Wild 105. Vancouver Canucks last on 66. · Angel Aguilar

The 2026-27 NHL Season, Predicted Before Opening Night

Projected points and playoff odds for all 32 NHL teams from 10,000 simulated 84-game seasons. Colorado leads on 125; the East's last wild card needs 99.

Bar chart of goals per game in sixteen leagues in 2025-26, from the Bundesliga on 3.24 down to Serie A on 2.43. · Angel Aguilar

Goals, Draws and How Close a League Finishes

The Bundesliga produced 3.24 goals a game last season and Serie A 2.43, a third fewer. Sixteen leagues counted from their final tables, goals, draws and all.

Two bar charts of the 2025-26 NHL top eight per conference recounted at two points a win, with the Capitals and the Sharks highlighted as teams that would have qualified and did not. · Angel Aguilar

The Point You Get for Losing, and Who It Saved

The NHL gives a point for losing in overtime. It handed out 326 of them last season, and taking them away changes who made the playoffs in both conferences.

Two bar charts of Formula 1 title margins from 2021 to 2025. Drivers: 26, 146, 290, 63 and 2 points. Constructors: 41, 205, 451, 14 and 364 points. · Angel Aguilar

The F1 Championship in Points: Margins, Leads and a Two-Point Year

How F1 points work, what five championships were won by, and the year the champion spent most of the season behind: Norris beat Verstappen by two in 2025.

Bar chart of the wins of the last team into the playoffs in each conference from 2021 to 2025, with four seasons highlighted where the first team out finished with exactly the same record. · Angel Aguilar

The NFL's Tiebreakers, and the Four Races They Settled

Head-to-head, division record, common games, strength of victory: the order that separates tied teams, and the four times in five years it took the last seat.

Bar chart of how UFC fights end across 987 bouts: 45.6 percent go to the judges, 30.2 percent finish in round one, 15.3 percent in round two, 8.2 percent in round three. · Angel Aguilar

Nearly a Thousand UFC Fights, Counted Round by Round

Almost half of all UFC fights go to the judges, and three in ten are over inside the opening round. We counted 987 of them across 89 cards, one by one.

Two bar charts of points per game needed for promotion in four European second tiers. Automatic promotion: Championship 1.98, Serie B 1.92, Ligue 2 1.89, LaLiga 2 1.83. Last play-off place: Ligue 2 1.65, LaLiga 2 1.61, Championship 1.59, Serie B 1.36. · Angel Aguilar

Going Up: What Promotion Costs in Europe's Second Tiers

Ninety-one points in the Championship, 73 in Serie B, 77 in LaLiga 2, 70 in Ligue 2. Six seasons counted, and the gap between going up and the play-offs.

Bar chart of the MLS playoff line: points of the ninth-placed team, the last one in, and the tenth, the first one out, in both conferences from 2023 to 2025. The line ranges from 40 to 53 points. · Angel Aguilar

How the MLS Playoffs Work, and What It Takes to Get In

Eighteen of thirty teams qualify, the Wild Card is one game and the line has sat around 43 points. The MLS playoff format, and what it costs to reach it.

Bar chart: the median record of the last team into the playoffs, as a share of a perfect season. NHL 57.9 percent, NBA top six 56.7, NFL 54.4, MLB 53.4, NBA play-in 48.2. · Angel Aguilar

The Playoff Line: How Many Wins It Actually Takes

Nine wins in the NFL, 46 in the NBA, 95 points in the NHL, 87 in MLB: we counted the last team into the playoffs, and the best team left out, season by season.

Bar chart: share of decided games won by the home team, one season per league. Premier League 58.7%, NBA 55.5%, NFL 53.9%, WNBA 53.8%, MLB 52.8%, NHL 52.2%. · Angel Aguilar

Home Advantage, Measured in Six Leagues

Everyone says home advantage is real; almost nobody says how big. We counted a full season of games in six leagues to put a number on it, sport by sport.

Bar chart: projected wins for all 30 NBA teams in 2026-27 from last season's point differential. East: Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics 58, New York Knicks 54. West: Oklahoma City Thunder 64, San Antonio Spurs 59, Houston Rockets 53. · Angel Aguilar

The 2026-27 NBA Season, Predicted Before Opening Night

Projected wins for all 30 NBA teams from last season's point differential, the summer moves the model can't see, and how to simulate 2026-27 yourself.

Vertize Sports: UFC, every event and its full fight card. · Angel Aguilar

Everything UFC on Vertize Sports

Every UFC event of the year with its complete fight card, the main event on top, winners marked and what comes next.

Vertize Sports: Golf, live leaderboard and tour schedule. · Angel Aguilar

Everything golf on Vertize Sports

The tournament leaderboard through the weekend and the full tour schedule, across the PGA Tour, the LPGA and the DP World Tour.

Vertize Sports: Motorsport, F1 calendar and championship standings. · Angel Aguilar

Everything motorsport on Vertize Sports

The Formula 1 calendar race by race and the championship standings for drivers and constructors, alongside NASCAR and IndyCar.

Vertize Sports: Tennis, ATP and WTA scores and draws. · Angel Aguilar

Everything tennis on Vertize Sports

ATP and WTA scores through the tournament, with the draw laid out round by round so you can see who is left and who they meet next.

Vertize Sports: College Basketball, the Top 25 schedule and the polls. · Angel Aguilar

Everything college basketball on Vertize Sports

The college basketball schedule night by night and the AP Top 25 as it moves through the season.

Vertize Sports: College Football, the FBS schedule and the AP Top 25. · Angel Aguilar

Everything college football on Vertize Sports

The FBS schedule week by week and the AP Top 25 as it moves, with every week on its own page.

Vertize Sports: WNBA, schedule and season simulator. · Angel Aguilar

Everything WNBA on Vertize Sports

The full WNBA regular season schedule, plus a simulator that takes the real standings and lets you play out the rest of the year game by game.

Vertize Sports: NHL, schedule and standings simulator. · Angel Aguilar

Everything NHL on Vertize Sports

The full NHL regular season schedule night by night, plus a simulator that starts from the real standings and plays out the rest of the year.

Vertize Sports: MLB, full schedule and season simulator. · Angel Aguilar

Everything MLB on Vertize Sports

All 2,430 games of the MLB regular season, month by month, plus a simulator that starts from the real standings and plays out whatever is left.

Vertize Sports: NBA, schedule and standings simulator. · Angel Aguilar

Everything NBA on Vertize Sports

The full NBA schedule night by night, plus a simulator that starts from the real standings and plays out the rest of the season, conference by conference.

Vertize Sports: NFL, full schedule and season simulator. · Angel Aguilar

Everything NFL on Vertize Sports

The full NFL schedule week by week, plus a simulator that takes the real standings and lets you play out the rest of the season game by game.

Vertize Sports: Soccer, fixtures, tables and the simulator. · Angel Aguilar

Everything soccer on Vertize Sports

Twenty soccer competitions on Vertize Sports: full season fixtures, live league tables, and a simulator that lets you play out every match still to come.

Vertize Sports: Vertize Sports, how the simulators and live scores work. · Angel Aguilar

Welcome to Vertize Sports

A guide to Vertize Sports: live scores and tables across twelve sports, plus season simulators that let you play out the rest of the year yourself, for free.