New Study Says Connecticut Is Better Than Most States at Predicting Sports

According to TradeHandle, Connecticut residents are surprisingly good at predicting the outcome of sporting events. Apparently, we know a thing or two about picking winners.

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The prediction market website recently surveyed 2,500 Americans and asked them to forecast the outcomes of several major sports events, including the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup, Major League Baseball standings, the U.S. Men's National Team's opening World Cup match, and even whether soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would hit a certain number of Instagram followers.

When all the results were tallied, Connecticut finished seventh in the nation, with residents correctly predicting 51% of the outcomes. That's well above the national average of 45% and puts the Nutmeg State in the top 10 for sports forecasting. Tennessee claimed the top spot with 55% accuracy, followed by North Carolina, while Alabama and New York tied for third.

The study also explored whether people would actually want to know their own future if they had the chance. Interestingly, 39% of Connecticut residents said they'd rather not know what's coming. Honestly, I kind of get it. Half the fun of life is being surprised... at least when it's a good surprise.

For those who would peek into the future, money topped the wish list. Connecticut respondents said the one thing they'd most like to know is how much money they'll earn over the course of their lifetime. That finished ahead of finding out whether family members will be happy or even how long they'll live.

TradeHandle also found that most Americans trust logic, statistics, and expert analysis over gut instinct when making predictions. That may explain why so many people spend hours studying stats before filling out a March Madness bracket... only to have it completely busted by lunchtime on the first day.

Still, finishing seventh isn't bad at all. Whether it's sports, brackets, or friendly bets with your buddies, Connecticut residents can officially say they're among the country's best at calling the shots.