On Saturday, December 16 the AutoNation Cure Bowl pits the Georgia State Panthers from the Sun Belt Conference against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers out of Conference USA. The analysis below is based on the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model. The model uses data provided at www.cfbstats.com.
Prediction
Given the overall productivity of the two programs, the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model would give the edge to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Below is a look at each of these two football programs during the 2017 regular season.
Georgia State Panthers
The Panthers finished the regular season at 6-5 while playing against
an "easier" strength
of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning
that Georgia State's SOS was between one and two standard deviations greater than the
"league's" SOS. The Panther's best victory was over #99 ranked
South Alabama by a score of (21-13); yes the other five victories were against teams that were in the bottom 30 of the Football Subdivision! Georgia State's
worst loss was to FCS Tennessee State at the beginning of the season by a score of
(10-17). Georgia State had the #97 ranked
team in total production with the #123
ranked offense and the #45 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Hilltoppers finished the regular season at 6-6 while also playing against
an "easier" strength
of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning
that Western Kentucky's SOS was between one and two standard deviations greater than the
"league's" SOS. The Hilltoppers best victory was over #65 ranked Middle Tennessee State by a score of (41-38); like their opponent, the other five victories were all against teams ranked #100 or higher. Western Kentucky's worst loss was to #125 ranked Illinois by a score of
(7-20). Western Kentucky had the #77 ranked
team in total production with the #81
ranked offense and the #57 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
2017 Bowl Games
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl