Software

The current issue of Wired Magazine (January 2002, p. 117) has an article
about software written by Mike Orkin, a statistics professor at Cal State
Hayward.  The program, called the Optimizer, mines pro
football data for trends and patterns.  As evidence of the success of
the software, Orkin is currently one of two finalists in the $10k,
winner-take-all, Stardust Invitational Handicapping Contest at the
Stardust Casino in Las Vegas.

There is also a version of the Optimizer for the NBA.
More information about the software is at www.snoopdata.com.