Saturday, December 30, 2017

2017 Outback Bowl

On Friday the Outback Bowl pits the Michigan Wolverines from the Big 10 Conference against the South Carolina Gamecocks from the Southeastern Conference.  So here is my analysis of the Outback 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 Michigan Wolverines.  Below is a look at each of these two football programs during the 2017 regular season.

Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines finished the regular season at 8-4, while playing against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that Michigan's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the "league's" average SOS.  For this season the Wolverines' best victory was over #44 ranked Purdue by a score of (28-10).  The Wolverines' worst loss was to in-state rival #59 ranked Michigan State by a score of (10-14).  Michigan has the #42 ranked team in total production with the #86 ranked offense and the #12 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.

South Carolina Gamecocks
The Trojans finished the regular season at 8-4, while playing against an "average" strength of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning that South Carolina's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the "league's" average SOS.  This season the Gamecocks' best victory was over #32 ranked Missouri by a score of  (31-13).  South Carolina's worst loss was to #100 ranked Kentucky by a score of (13-23).  South Carolina has the #64 ranked team in total production with the #105 ranked offense and the #22 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
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl 
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl