The Game said:
PS: The SDQL text: p:streak<=5 means that the team did not win their last five games.
Thank you Dr. M but still a little confused. So we do invert the "greater/less than" sign (as in the example above)? If so, then do we still need to use the negative sign to indicate a losing streak?
Thank you.
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I apologize for not being more clear. The negative sign always indicates losing streaks. There is no general rule for "inverting the greater than/less than sign." It just depends what you want to do.
So,
streak <= -3
returns all the games in which the team lost at least their last three games. That is, their streak is less than or equal to minus three. These include, -3, -4, -5, -6 et cetera. The greater than and equal signs in the SDQL are mathematical and refer directly to the number line. That is, minus four is less than (to the left of on a number line) minus three.
Similar confusion can occur with the lines. To indicate a seven-plus point favorite in the SDQL, you use:
line <= -7
That is, the line is less than or equal to minus seven. This includes -7 and all lines that are less than (to the left of on the number line) minus 7. For example, -7.5, -8, -8.5 et cetera. It is easy to see where the confusion comes from because the handicapper says, "favored by a TD or MORE," whereas the value of the line is "minus 7 or LESS."
Here are a few more examples.
streak = 3 will return all the games in which the team is on exactly a three game winning streak.
streak = -3 will return all the games in which the team is on exactly a three game losing streak.
streak <= -3 will return all the games in which the team lost at least their last three games.
streak >= 3 will return all the games in which the team won at least their last three games.
streak <= 3 will return all the games in which the team did not win at least their last three games. That is, they are not on a three-plus game winning streak. The result of their last three games could be LLL, WLL, WWL, LWL, LLW, WLW or LWW.
Here are some trends from the 2012 KillerSports.com Annual involving streaks:
The Falcons are 10-0 ATS (+11.8 ppg) since 2002 on the road when their opponent is on a 2+ game losing streak.
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team=Falcons and A and o:streak<=-2 and season>=2002
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The Lions are 9-0 ATS (+14.2 ppg) since 1989 at home when they won and covered each of their last three games.
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team=Lions and H and streak>=3 and ats streak>=3 and season>=1989
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The Colts are 0-8 ATS (-11.6 ppg) since 1994 as a road dog when facing a team off at least two losses.
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team=Colts and AD and o:streak<=-2 and season>=1994
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The Redskins are 0-19 ATS (-11.1 ppg) since 2000 when hosting a team with fewer wins on the season, as long as they are not on a two-plus game losing streak.
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team=Redskins and H and wins>o:wins and streak>-2 and season>=2000
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Dr M.