Prediction Market Same-Game Combo Strategies

For those unfamiliar with this terminology, a same-game combo is the equivalent of a same-game parlay in a traditional sportsbook. A same-game combo allows prediction market participants to combine multiple results from the same sporting event into one trade. Instead of predicting one outcome, users are able to combine multiple outcomes from the same event into a single trade.

For example, if a user likes several outcomes in a baseball game, such as, which team will win, whether it will be a high-scoring game, and a starting pitcher to record over a certain number of strikeouts, those can all be combined into one play. 

When it comes to same-game combos, there are generally two types offered on prediction market platforms. Users can either make a correlated combo or a non-correlated combo.

A correlated combo is when the user makes a same-game combo based on how they think the game will unfold. If the player predicts a certain team will win, that the game will go over the total, and that the quarterback will throw over a certain number of yards, those are correlated. Essentially, in this scenario, the user is calling a specific game script.

In a non-correlated combo, the user may predict which team will win, but also for a player on the opposing team to score. That is called a non-correlated combo because there isn’t an obvious relationship between the two predicted results.

Once the user identifies their combo, there are a number of strategies to examine prior to finalizing the picks.

In a correlated-combo, players should start with their main prediction, such as liking a certain team to win. From there, they should add additional outcomes that support the main prediction. For example, if you expect a particular team to win and that they will score over a certain number of points, you may also want to target the quarterback to have a big day.

Alternatively, in a less-related outcomes play, users are combining outcomes that have no strong relationship to each other. This has its advantages in that users are not reliant on the game to follow a specific script. However, the disadvantage is that there is no strong relationship between the picks.

Finally, users may find that keeping same-game combos limited is beneficial. The more outcomes that are added to a same-game combo, the harder it becomes to win. Just because a user feels a game will follow a certain script does not mean that adding more and more outcomes will actually provide a winning combo. The more outcomes that are added, the more likely the combo is to end in a loss due to the higher number of predictions that need to be correct.

Same-game combos allow users to combine multiple predictions into one play, but having an understanding of how those predictions relate to one another can be just as important as finding individual outcomes that a user likes. Whether you are choosing to build your same-game combo around a specific correlation, combining less-related outcomes, or keeping the number of selections in that combo limited, users should understand what each outcome can add to the final combo before it is played. It is useful for users to remember that having a strong individual prediction does not necessarily mean they have a strong same-game combo.