A predictive analytics framework for forecasting soccer match outcomes using machine learning models

Abstract

Predicting the outcome of a sports game is a favourite pastime for sports fans and researchers. The interest has intensified in recent years due to data availability, the development and successful implementation of machine learning algorithms, and the proliferation of internet gaming. This research focuses on developing a predictive analytics framework using machine learning or artificial intelligence models, as well as publicly available game results and weather data, to accurately predict outcomes of games in the English Premier League. Development efforts include experimentation using weather data and constructs such as fatigue and momentum. Ensemble techniques such as stacking or voting are also explored to improve the accuracy of basic machine learning models. The results are compared with those derived from the odds given by the major bookmakers to gauge the usefulness and potential applications in sports betting.