On Saturday the Taxslayer Bowl pits the Louisville Cardinals from the Atlantic Coast Conference against
the Mississippi State Bulldogs from the Southeastern Conference. So here is
my
analysis of the Taxslayer 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 Louisville Cardinals. Below is a look at each of these two football programs during the 2017 regular season.
Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals 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 Louisville's SOS was plus or minus one standard deviation of the
"league's" average SOS. For this season the Cardinals'
best victory was
over #44
ranked Purdue by a score of (35-28). The Cardinals' worst
loss
was
to #57
ranked Boston College by a score of
(42-45). Louisville has the #10 ranked
team in total production with the #6
ranked offense and the #68 ranked defense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs finished the regular season at 8-4, while playing against
a "tougher" strength
of schedule (SOS) as compared to the "league" average SOS, meaning
that Mississippi State's SOS was between one and two standard deviations lower than the
"league's" average SOS. This season the Bulldogs' best victory was
over
#17 ranked LSU by a score of (37-7). Mississippi State's
worst loss was to in-state rival
#79 ranked Mississippi by a
score of
(28-31). Mississippi State has the #25 ranked
team in total production with the #47
ranked offense and the #15 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
Goodyear Cotton Bowl