I've been reading a lot of posts recently regarding system plays primarily as they relate to totals betting. More often than not the poster indicates that the data is a work in progress. "Back tested for this season only" or doesn't factor in "this or that". This is usually followed up with an open request for a link to a site that may have the relevant data.
I was thinking that the covers contest collects data on each members plays and if a group of players used that data collectively they could have a huge database of back tested results.
For example if you wanted to know the O/U results over the past three seasons for "X", lets say games involving early starts or two teams with above avg shooting percentage, or games involving two goalies with widely disparaging save %, couldn't this be easily tracked using the contest data? Rather than jumping all over the "www" to find this info?
If a group of players set the parameters and assigned each player specific criteria to track using the league contest picks, you would have a valuable cache of info at your disposal.
Your chances of winning the contest would be out the window but your chances of winning actual cash would increase. I've noticed some of the serious players don't even bother with the contest side of things, so wouldn't matter either way.
I've been on this site for a few yrs now and wish I had used the contests for tracking something beside my betting pattern. It is useful in that regard, but could be used more effectively in a crowd sourcing scenario. (The contest doesn't reflect my actual wagers, but does reflect my tendencies re: dogs, favs, home, road and so on.)
Does this make sense to anyone or is this another 420 induced brain fart?
Just a thought, good luck today and as always LETS GO BRUINS!