In seven-game series over the past 30 years, the team that won Game 6 to tie the series also won Game 7 13 out of 16 times.
This trend evens out as you go back to 1955 (15-14 since then), but Game 6 teams are on an incredible run since the 1970s.
Here's the seven-game series, with Game 6 & 7 results:
2002 World Series
-- Angels win Games 6 & 7
2001 World Series
-- D'Backs win Games 6 & 7
1997 World Series
-- Tribe & Marlins split Games 6 & 7
1996 NLCS
-- Braves win Games 6 & 7
1991 World Series
-- Twins win Games 6 & 7
1991 NLCS
-- Braves win Games 6 & 7
1988 NLCS
-- Dodgers & Mets split Games 6 & 7
1987 World Series
-- Twins win Games 6 & 7
1987 NLCS
-- Giants win Games 6 & 7
1986 World Series
-- Mets win Games 6 & 7
1986 ALCS
-- Red Sox win Games 6 & 7
1985 World Series
-- Royals win Games 6 & 7
1982 World Series
-- Cards win Games 6 & 7
1979 World Series
-- Pirates win Games 6 & 7
1975 World Series
-- Reds & Red Sox split Games 6 & 7
1973 World Series
-- A's win Games 6 & 7
This is where the big split began -- 1973. From 1973 and up, for whatever reason, Game 7s have gone to the team that won Game 6 to tie the series at 3-3. From 1955 to 1972, it was skewed the other way. And I guess you could say til 1975 it was skewed the other way, because 1973 & 1975 this trend was 1-1. But since the Pirates comeback in the 1979 World Series, the Game 6 winner goes on to win Game 7 almost exclusively.
There is no reason for the Cubs to be a 2/1 favorite in this game. The statistics show dating back to 1955 that it's a 50/50 proposition for either team to win this game, and since 1979 the Game 6 winner takes the series at about 85%.
Extrapolating further, in best-of-five series, the team that won Game 4 to tie the series is 10-7 in Game 5. And they are on a 7-1 run since the early '80s.
This trend evens out as you go back to 1955 (15-14 since then), but Game 6 teams are on an incredible run since the 1970s.
Here's the seven-game series, with Game 6 & 7 results:
2002 World Series
-- Angels win Games 6 & 7
2001 World Series
-- D'Backs win Games 6 & 7
1997 World Series
-- Tribe & Marlins split Games 6 & 7
1996 NLCS
-- Braves win Games 6 & 7
1991 World Series
-- Twins win Games 6 & 7
1991 NLCS
-- Braves win Games 6 & 7
1988 NLCS
-- Dodgers & Mets split Games 6 & 7
1987 World Series
-- Twins win Games 6 & 7
1987 NLCS
-- Giants win Games 6 & 7
1986 World Series
-- Mets win Games 6 & 7
1986 ALCS
-- Red Sox win Games 6 & 7
1985 World Series
-- Royals win Games 6 & 7
1982 World Series
-- Cards win Games 6 & 7
1979 World Series
-- Pirates win Games 6 & 7
1975 World Series
-- Reds & Red Sox split Games 6 & 7
1973 World Series
-- A's win Games 6 & 7
This is where the big split began -- 1973. From 1973 and up, for whatever reason, Game 7s have gone to the team that won Game 6 to tie the series at 3-3. From 1955 to 1972, it was skewed the other way. And I guess you could say til 1975 it was skewed the other way, because 1973 & 1975 this trend was 1-1. But since the Pirates comeback in the 1979 World Series, the Game 6 winner goes on to win Game 7 almost exclusively.
There is no reason for the Cubs to be a 2/1 favorite in this game. The statistics show dating back to 1955 that it's a 50/50 proposition for either team to win this game, and since 1979 the Game 6 winner takes the series at about 85%.
Extrapolating further, in best-of-five series, the team that won Game 4 to tie the series is 10-7 in Game 5. And they are on a 7-1 run since the early '80s.