Thursday, December 28, 2017

2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl

On Friday the Hyundai Sun Bowl pits the Arizona State Sun Devils from the Pacific 12 Conference against the North Carolina State Wolfpack from the Atlantic Coast Conference.  So here is my analysis of the Hyundai Sun Bowl 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 gives the edge to the North Carolina State Wolfpack.  Below is a look at each of these two football programs during the 2017 regular season.

Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils finished the regular season at 6-6, while played against a "tougher" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that Arizona State's SOS was between one and two standard deviations lower than the "league's" average SOS.  For this season the Sun Devils' best victory was over #3 ranked Washington by a score of (13-7).  The Sun Devils' worst loss was to #98 ranked UCLA by a score of (37-44).  Arizona State has the #78 ranked team in total production with the #48 ranked offense and the #94 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.

North Carolina State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack finished the regular season at 8-4 while played against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that North Carolina State's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the "league's" average SOS.  This season the Wolfpack's best victory was over #10 ranked Louisville by a score of  (39-25).  North Carolina State's worst loss was to #64 ranked South Carolina by a score of (28-35).  North Carolina State has the #38 ranked team in total production with the #46 ranked offense and the #38 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.

2017 Bowl Games
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Cure Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Roca Baton Bowl
DXL Frisco Bowl
Bad Boy Mower Gasparilla Bowl
Bahamas Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Birmingham Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl 
Dollar General Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl 
Quick Lane Bowl
Cactus Bowl
Walk On's Independence Bowl
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Foster Farms Bowl
Academy Sports & Outdoor Texas Bowl 
Military Bowl 
Camping World Bowl
SDCCU Holiday Bowl 
Valero Alamo Bowl
Belk Bowl