The computers have correctly predicted 65% of the NFL games — here are their picks for Week 3

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September 21, 2017 6:51 PM

Two models predict who will win the games in Week 3 of the NFL.

The NFL season is back, and the computers are picking their winners for every game.

We took a look at two popular systems used to pick NFL games: Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant, and Elo, the modeling system used by Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight.

In both cases, the computers are picking outright winners and not against the spread. However, each gives a likelihood of a team's winning, which, in theory, could help measure the strength of certain lines.

After a rough Week 1 for Cortana, it bounced back in Week 2 — both models went 11-5, splitting the four games on which they disagreed. Overall, Elo has a two-game lead, going 21-10 through two weeks. Cortana is 19-12.

Here are the picks for Week 3, with each model's percent chance of winning in parentheses. Games in bold are where the two models disagree on who has the best chance to win. Point spreads are just for reference, via Vegas Insider as of Thursday morning.

Thursday

Sunday

Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans (-2.5) — SEAHAWKS (Elo 53%), TITANS (Cortana 53%)
Oakland Raiders (-3) at Washington Redskins — RAIDERS (Elo 51%), REDSKINS (Cortana 52%)

Monday

Dallas Cowboys (-3) at Arizona Cardinals — CARDINALS (Elo 55%), COWBOYS (Cortana 58%)

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