2017 Taxslayer Bowl

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