FirstburG e, Gather the Grub
I .yrkicked things off by grabbing data. I'm talking past game results, player stats, team rankings – the whole shebang. I scraped some info off ESPN and a couple of other sports sites. It was a bit messy, lemme tell ya. Had to clean it up in a spreadsheet, get rid of the garbage, and make sure it was all in a format I could use. Pain in the butt, but necessary.
Thegnihcnn, Time for Some Number Crunching
Next, I started messing with the data. I wasn't trying to get fancy. I calculated some basic averages – points scored, points allowed, yards gained, that kind of stuff. I wanted to get a feel for each team's strengths and weaknesses. I paid attention to recent performance, like the last three games, because what happened back in September might not matter as much now.
A Sprinkle of Gut Feeling
Alright, this is where it gets subjective. Numbers are great, but they don't tell the whole story. I watched some game highlights. Not the full games, ain't nobody got time for that! But highlights can give you a sense of a team's momentum, their energy. I also checked for any key injuries. A starting quarterback getting sidelined can totally change the game.
The "Model" (and I use that term loosely)
So, here's my "model": It's basically a weighted average of the stats I crunched, with a little bump for my gut feeling. I gave more weight to recent performance and key stats like scoring differential. I’m not gonna bore you with the exact formula, because honestly, it’s not rocket science. Just a bunch of additions, subtractions, and multiplications.
The Prediction
Drumroll please... According to my "super scientific" method, Temple is gonna win by about 7 points. I think they've got a slightly better offense and their defense is a little more consistent. But Akron could definitely surprise. They've got some playmakers who can make things happen.
Important Caveats!
- This is just a prediction. I could be totally wrong. I have been before.
- Weather can play a huge role. If it's a downpour, all bets are off.
- Sometimes, teams just have a bad day. It happens.
The Wrap-Up
So, that's my process. It's not perfect, but it's a fun way to engage with the game. I'll be watching the game to see how it all plays out. Hopefully, I won’t look like a total idiot! Let me know what you think in the comments. Who do you think will win, and why?
