Luck’s had a tough run lately.

All the rabbit’s feet and four-leaf clovers in the land cannot compete against Next Gen Stats or NBA Advanced Statistics and Analytics.

The NBA has 280 different data points it uses to determine various statistics for its teams and players. The NFL uses 100 separate categories to break down player stats on its website and 49 to analyze its teams.

Nothing is left to chance in the world of big-time college and pro sports.

The concept of “luck” in sports has gone the way of Sunday afternoon double-headers, 50-cent bleacher seats, and the Boston Breakers.

“Luck” is a four-letter word in the world of legalized sports betting. While many believe their losing wagers were doomed by the fates, we have since learned they are all the result of a specific action, or non-action, play, or mistake, call, or non-call made during the game.

Still, few are deeper true believers in “luck” than sports fans and athletes. And it’s understandable. We begin watching and playing long before we’re capable of fully understanding what we’re watching and playing.

From birth, we’re taught to blow out the candles on our birthday cake to have a wish granted. We’re told to avoid sidewalk cracks, duck from black cats, keep horseshoes upright, and hide on Friday the 13th.

This brings us to Saturday. It is “The Luckiest Day Of The Year” according to the astrological calendar. The planets are lined up precisely. That is day when Jupiter passes closest to the sun. Jupiter is tied to the principles of good fortune and luck. The exact moment of that event is called “cazimi” by astrologists. It occurs is 2:36 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

This is a fixed event. Meaning that – unlike this year’s solar eclipse – this happens at the same time everywhere. Check your local listings.

If you’re inclined toward making life-altering decisions, getting married, scheduling a job interview, buying a lottery ticket, or placing a bet with your favorite legal sports book, that may be the ideal time to do so.

Timothy Regan and his partner, Leanne Marrama, run Pentagram Shoppe in Salem. Regan is a Witch High Priest and Occultist. He offers astrology readings and is well-versed in all matters of “magick.”

“At that moment, Jupiter will move into the exact center of the sun at 28 degrees and 18 minutes. It heightens the power of Jupiter, which is the planet of expansion and growth and abundance and happiness and optimism. So it’s a very, very, what we call an astrology: ‘an auspicious time’,” Regan told me and bookies.com.

The 149th Preakness Stakes goes to post at 6:50 p.m. Saturday. Thankfully it doesn’t start at 2:36 p.m. or all nine horses might win.

Jupiter carries a lot of weight in astrology. Its namesake was the Chief Roman God and the counterpart to Zeus in Greek mythology. Saturday, the biggest force for good fortune on the astrological calendar is at its most powerful of any time during the lunar year.

Add it up – and you get “The Luckiest Day of the Year.”

“And what’s really good about it is not only is Jupiter cazimi, but Venus, which is the planet of luxury, is also conjunct the Sun and Jupiter,” Regan said. “And they’re all in Taurus, and Venus rules over Taurus. So talk about luxury luck and growth and abundance all kind of together in the second of Taurus at the same time. So it’s a very lucky day.”

For several years, Regan did an annual Patriots schedule reading for a group of fans who visited his Salem shoppe from upstate New York. They credited Regan for their gambling winnings, he said. He’s done countless readings for notable athletes but doesn’t advise and tell.

Astrology pre-dates analytics by about 4975 years. Western astrology has its roots Mesopotamia and developed its current form in Hellenistic Greece.

“There’s data and science baked into it,” Regan said. “We have 5000 years’ worth of records of people using astrology. It’s not just a spiritual thing. Astrology is the mother of astronomy. Astronomy wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for astrology.”

In addition to good luck, Jupiter reigns over higher learning and spirituality. Regan sees astrology as offering us a map, not a pre-determined course.

The wisdom of Jupiter serves as a sobering counterbalance against any urge to spend $10,000 on Powerball tickets or drain your 401k account to back the under on the Patriots win total this season.

Even Jupiter knows, there’s no such thing as a sure thing.

Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos on X) can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com.