First thing I did was just look at their records. Plain and simple. Who's winning more games? It's not everything, but it's a start. I jotted down their wins and losses, and any notes about close games or big blowouts.
Digging a Little Deeper
Then I thought, okay, records can be deceiving. Who have they played? I started looking at their schedules. Are they playing tough opponents? Are they winning against good teams, or just beating up on weaker ones? That's where it gets tricky, because you gotta kind of know which teams are actually good this year, and that changes all the time!
- Ch.sdecked out their opponents' records.
- Looked for common opponents to compare.
Next up: stats. I'm no stats wizard, but I figured some basic stuff couldn't hurt. I looked at things like:
- Points scored per game.
- Points allowed per game.
- Rushing yards... you know, the basics!
- Maybe a few stats like that.
I tried to compare the two teams side-by-side. Army was running the ball a ton, which is what I expect. UL Monroe was a bit different team.
Feeling the Intangibles
This is where it gets even less scientific. I tried to get a feel for the "intangibles." You know, things like:
- Momentum: Is a team on a winning streak? Are they coming off a big, emotional win?
- Injuries: Are key players hurt? That can make a HUGE difference.
- Home vs. Away: Some teams just play better at home.
I read some articles, maybe browsed some fan forums (but took those with a big grain of salt!). I was just trying to see if there was anything I was missing, any buzz about the game.
Making My (Probably Wrong) Prediction
After all that, I had to, you know, actually make a prediction. It felt like a shot in the dark, honestly. But based on Army running, and what the team did on the ground. I made the decision, which I think that they will have a ground attach all day long. I decided to put my prediction with Army
So, that's my process. It's messy, it's probably flawed, but it's a work in progress. I'll keep tweaking it, keep learning, and hopefully, keep getting better at this whole prediction thing. Maybe next time I'll actually get it right!
