Super Bowl Prediction: Ravens vs. 49ers, Says 'ESPN Computer'
We'll admit it: We've seen the stories and we've seen the projections over the years, but we've never quite fully understood what it is we're seeing.
What, really, is the "ESPN Computer model''? What really is "the Football Power Index''?
All we really know is that the "ESPN Computer'' is making its new pick for the Super Bowl, and it (they?) say the San Francisco 49ers will meet the Baltimore Ravens in the Big Game to end the 2023 NFL season.
Sounds great! How did we arrive here?
One thing worth noting: It appears the computer has changed up its mind, and its picks, throughout the 2023 NFL regular season. And so as we are heading into Week 15, it has changed its mind once again.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the 49ers are going to win it all ... as the computer model is giving the 49ers a 33.2 percent chance to win the Super Bowl.
That leaves the Ravens with what some machine tells us is a 16.0 percent chance of winning the game.
For what is is worth, the NFC's Dallas Cowboys have the next-best chance, at 13.8 percent, followed by the AFC's Kansas City Chiefs at 10.9 percent.
Meaning no disrespect to the projections (which you can see here), but here's how we judge the top three or so teams: It's called "the standings.''
Guess which three teams are the logical "three best,'' based on that traditional measure? You guessed it: It's three teams leading the divisions with 10-3 records.
The 49ers. And the Ravens. And then the Cowboys.
