- Same slate, same clock
- Games are selected prospectively, before they start. Shared-game comparisons require all models to have a valid forecast on the same game before kickoff.
- Frozen source evidence
- Every evaluated pick includes its game ID, market, line, book, offered price, source time, prediction time, exact model version and final outcome.
- One set of grading rules
- We distinguish outright predictions, spread/total selections and market-priced bets. Units and ROI require a prospectively recorded betting decision, stake convention, timely price and established settlement rule. Abstentions never become bets.
- Missing data stays missing
- No synthetic odds, postgame predictions, selective exclusions or retroactive edits. We disclose coverage, unresolved games and any model runs that failed verification.
- Confidence matters
- When probability forecasts exist, calibration and Brier score assess more than winner picking. A forecast identical to the market baseline has no incremental skill over that baseline. Different input times, books, tie handling or information sets must be disclosed before comparison.
- Production stays independent
- The Model Lab is a transparent research experiment. It does not change official Value Picks, production model forecasts or Grok's operating architecture.