Correlation in sports betting refers to the relationship between two or more bets where the outcome of one bet is likely to affect the outcome of another. Understanding correlations can be crucial for bettors, particularly when creating parlays (multiple bets combined into one wager).

Types of Correlation:

1. Positive Correlation:

   • In a positive correlation, if one bet wins, the chances of another bet winning increase. For example:

     • Example: If you bet that a quarterback will throw for over 300 yards and also bet that the total points in the game will go over 50, these bets are positively correlated. If the quarterback has a big game, it's likely that the total points will also be high.

       
       

2. Negative Correlation:

   • In a negative correlation, if one bet wins, the chances of another bet winning decrease. For example:

     • Example: If you bet on one team to win by a large margin and also bet on the opposing team's quarterback to throw for a lot of yards, these bets are negatively correlated. A blowout win often means the losing team's offense struggles, making it less likely for the quarterback to hit a high yardage total.