The computer models that pick NFL games have made their picks for Week 15

pulse

December 13, 2018 10:45 PM

Two models, Elo and Cortana, predict who will win games during Week 15 of the NFL season.

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Elo and Cortana have made their picks for Week 15.

Week 15 of the NFL season is here, and Cortana is back to make picks in a head-to-head showdown with Elo.

We looked at two popular systems used to pick NFL games: Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant, and Elo, the modeling system used by Nate Silver's data-journalism site, FiveThirtyEight.

In both cases, the computers are picking outright winners and not against the spread. Each gives a likelihood that a team will win, however, which in theory could help measure the strength of certain lines.

Cortana is off to a strong start this season, correctly picking 66% of the games, including a 9-7 record in Week 14. Elo has nailed 60% overall.

Here are the picks for Week 15, with each team's percent chance of winning in parentheses. Point spreads are for reference, via Vegas Insider as of Thursday morning.

"Thursday Night Football"

"Thursday Night Football" BusinessInsider

CHIEFS

Saturday

Saturday BusinessInsider

TEXANS
BRONCOS

Sunday-afternoon games — early window

The case for the Colts: Andrew Luck BusinessInsider

VIKINGS
BENGALS
RAVENS
COWBOYS
COLTS
LIONS
BILLS
BEARS
TITANS
JAGUARS
FALCONS

Sunday-afternoon games — late window

Sunday-afternoon games — late window BusinessInsider

SEAHAWKS
STEELERS
PATRIOTS

"Sunday Night Football"

Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown on an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs BusinessInsider