Friend and i are betting on the ending total scores of basketball game, he says odds are greater it will end with an even sum, i say the odds are equal. Who is right?
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$\begingroup$In theory @gev is correct, but I don't think it's a reasonable assumption that it's equally likely for either team to score odd vs even.
I analyzed every NCAA game since 2010 and got
Odd: 262 Even: 222
So 54% odd.
If I had to guess which is more probable I'd say odd. Suppose that team A scored X points. Then team B can score anything BUT X, meaning there's one less possibility to get an even sum.
$\endgroup$ 5 $\begingroup$- even + even = even
- odd + odd = even
- even + odd = odd
- odd + even = odd
Assuming both teams' chances are equal to score even and odd, the chances for sum are equal too. You are right.
$\endgroup$ $\begingroup$well, in a real situation I am not sure the probability may be actually computed.
If we say that the results of a basketball game are a couple of positive integers less than a fixed value (say, 1000) with the only constraint that they are different, consider the score $N$ of the winner. The loser may have scored with the same probability a value from 0 to $N-1$; if $N$ is even, the odds are even, but if $N$ is odd it is more probable that the sum is odd.
$\endgroup$ $\begingroup$even = even + even
even = odd + odd
i.e.: If both are similar (both are even or odd) then the answer is even.
But if both are different then the answer is odd.
odd = even + odd
odd = odd + even
$\endgroup$ 1 $\begingroup$When u are betting odd and even u have to bet in calculated steps.. Instead to bet on the total score odd or even,break into the 4 quarters using the backup betting system. With this u can earn up 45% of all your stake..
1 Quarter odd $1×1.90 2 Quarter odd $3×1.90 3 Quarter odd $9×1.90 4 Quarter odd $27×1.90..
U only up your stake if the previous bet is lost..
If u have the bankroll to supported this odd and even betting system u can never lost...hope this helps.
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