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If you are handicapping horse races, there are many different metrics out there you can use to try and evaluate the contenders and make predictions about the future.  Beyer Speed Figures are some of the most powerful and comprehensive statistics out there.  They provide you with a measure of how fast a horse can run based on its historical performance.

Handicapping is all about making accurate, reliable sports predictions.  But part of the thrill of sports like football is that we cannot always predict what is going to happen.  Sometimes, in fact, the exact opposite of what we expect is what unfolds on the field.  A clear favourite is matched against a total underdog that nobody thinks has a snowball’s chance in hell at winning … and the underdog emerges victorious.  It’s what we call a shocking upset, and if you had your money on the favourite, it can shock you too.

There are numerous factors which impact the outcomes of football matches, but one which is often overlooked is the location of a tournament game.  Where a game like the European Championship or World Cup is held can give an edge to one team and take it away from another.  Sometimes it may strengthen a team which is already strong, or it may actually lend an edge to the underdog.  When you are handicapping a game, you need to think how the tournament location is going to come into play.

Here are a few considerations:

If you are not already familiar with a futures bet or outright bet, it is a type of wager you make far in advance of an event.  Often it means predicting the outcome of a season at the start of the season or before the season even begins.  For example, an NFL bet would entail guessing who will win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season. An a UEFA Champions League bet would be on who will lift the precious trophy.