Around the sports: Crowd accuracy climbs above season levels

Football gives the crowd a lift

La Liga led football result accuracy at 47%, against a season average of 24%. Serie A followed at 43% compared with 26%, while the Championship reached 39% against 25%. Those are the sort of comparisons worth bringing up when your mates question your football knowledge.

League One delivered 38% against 19%, and MLS reached 35% against 7%. The improvement was not just about picking the right result, either. Championship exact scores landed at 10% against a season average of 6%, while MLS managed 7% against 1%.

There was a catch in the Champions League: result accuracy slipped to 29% from a season benchmark of 32%, and exact scores came in at 3% against 6%. Not every competition joined the party.

Confidence rewarded on court and ice

The strongest successful backing in the pack belonged to Atlanta Hawks. Their 113-110 win over Oklahoma City Thunder rewarded 81% crowd backing. A good result to have on your side, even if the scoreline left little room for comfort.

Washington Capitals also justified the confidence, beating Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 with 76% backing. Across the NHL, crowd result accuracy reached 58% against a season average of 51%. The NBA was above its own benchmark too, finishing at 52% compared with 50%.

The results that spoiled the bragging

The NFL supplied the sharpest reality check. Washington Commanders drew 27-27 with New York Giants, an outcome backed by 0% of the crowd. That leaves no room for an honest told-you-so.

In the Primeira Liga, Gil Vicente FC won at Moreirense FC, with the result finishing 0-1 and only 6% backing the away victory.

The most divided fixture offered a different headache. 1. FC Union Berlin had 35% backing, the draw had 35%, and SV 07 Elversberg had 30%. Union Berlin won 1-0. Plenty of disagreement, but a clear result.

Elsewhere, the margins went the other way

Rugby did not match its season standards this week. Gallagher Premiership result accuracy was 46% against 52%, while Top 14 finished at 51% against 52%.

The NFL came in at 50% compared with its season average of 51%. MLB also recorded 50%, against 52%, with crowd calls covering 9 of its 11 finished games. Alongside the gains elsewhere, those figures made this a mixed sporting week rather than a licence for unlimited bragging.