The Microsoft Engine That Nailed The World Cup Is Predicting Every NFL Game - Here's Its Pick For The Super Bowl
The predicted final score: Patriots 24, Seahawks 23.
Cortana is a Windows Phone virtual assistant that uses a Bing Predicts algorithm to predict every NFL game. It picks games straight up, not against the point spread.
On the season it has a 178-88 (66.9%) record, which is nearly identical to that of the Las Vegas betting favorites. The Bing Predicts algorithm was beaten out by Nate Silver's ELO model, which went 184-82 (69.1%) this year
Cortana is 8-2 picking playoff games after correctly predicting both conference title games. While it's not as impressive as the 15-1 record it had in the World Cup knockout stages, it's still a strong finish.
Here's Cortana's Super Bowl pick. We'll update it throughout the week if it changes (Vegas favorite in parentheses):
- Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots - Patriots win, 51.5% chance (Patriots -1)
Cortana and Vegas agree, the Pats are favored.
Here are Cortana's results this year:
- Week 1 - 10-6
- Week 2 - 9-7
- Week 3 - 10-6
- Week 4 - 5-8
- Week 5 - 13-2
- Week 6 - 11-4
- Week 7 - 11-4
- Week 8 - 10-5
- Week 9 - 9-4
- Week 10 - 9-4
- Week 11 - 8-6
- Week 12 - 11-4
- Week 13 - 10-6
- Week 14 - 10-6
- Week 15 - 13-3
- Week 16 - 9-7
- Week 17 - 12-4
- Round One - 3-1
- Round Two - 3-1
- Conference championships - 2-0
- Total - 178-88