The Microsoft Engine That Nailed The World Cup Is Predicting Every NFL Game — Here Are Its Picks For Week 17
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Microsoft Cortana had a lackluster Week 16, correctly predicting nine of 16 NFL games.
It's now 158-82 (65.8%) on the year.
Cortana is a Windows phone virtual assistant that's predicting every NFL game with an algorithm from Bing Predicts. Bing started predicting sports results at the World Cup — where it correctly picked 15 of the tournament's final 16 games.
The algorithm hasn't been as successful picking NFL games, but it's still going to finish the season with a respectable record. Nate Silver's ELO model is 165-75 (68.7%) through 16 weeks. Las Vegas betting favorites are 156-80-4 (65.8%). Cortana picks games straight up, not against the point spread.
In the final week of the regular season, the Bing Predicts algorithm can potentially crack 66% for the season and beat out the Vegas favorites straight up.
Here are Cortana's picks for Week 17 as of Tuesday afternoon. We'll update them throughout the week if they change (Vegas favorites in parentheses):
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens — </span>Ravens<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 77.8% chance (Ravens -9)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins — </span>Cowboys<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 70.2% chance (Cowboys -6.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans — </span>Colts<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 72.9% chance (Colts -7)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans — </span>Texans<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 78.9% chance (Texans -10)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs — </span>Chiefs<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 56.6% chance (Chiefs -2.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins — </span>Dolphins<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 68.8% chance (Dolphins -5.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings — </span>Vikings<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 65.8% chance (Vikings -6.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots — </span>Patriots<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 80% chance (Patriots -4.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants — </span>Giants<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 53.3% chance (Giants -3)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — </span>Saints<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 64.4% chance (Saints -4)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers — </span>Falcons<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 53.3% chance (Falcons -4)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers — </span>Packers<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 74.2% chance (Packers -7.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos — </span>Broncos<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 83% chance (Broncos -14.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers — </span>49ers<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 55% chance (49ers -4.5)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">St. Louis Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks — </span>Seahawks<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 80% chance (Seahawks -13)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — </span>Steelers<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> win, 64.4% chance (Steelers -3)</span></li>
</ul>
Cortana and Vegas agree on every game.
Here are Cortana's results this year:
<ul>
<li> Week 1 — 10-6</li>
<li> Week 2 — 9-7</li>
<li> Week 3 - 10-6</li>
<li> Week 4 — 5-8</li>
<li> Week 5 — 13-2</li>
<li> Week 6 — 11-4</li>
<li> Week 7 — 11-4</li>
<li> Week 8 — 10-5</li>
<li> Week 9 — 9-4</li>
<li> Week 10 — 9-4</li>
<li> Week 11 — 8-6</li>
<li> Week 12 — 11-4</li>
<li> Week 13 — 10-6</li>
<li> Week 14 — 10-6</li>
<li> Week 15 — 13-3</li>
<li> Week 16 — 9-7</li>
<li> Total — 158-82 </li>
</ul>
<b>See Also:</b>
<ul><li>NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where Every Team Stands Going Into Week 17</li><li>NFL QUARTERBACK POWER RANKINGS: Where All 32 Starters Stand Going Into Week 15</li><li>The 49 Most Mesmerizing Sports Photos Of 2014</li></ul></group><group id="EDC286A1-A54B-431F-B5A7-C2CB2BFD93EB" type="seoLabels"><seoLabels></seoLabels></