Science

Who Will Win Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns? A.I. Predicts

Maybe Cleveland will escape the bottom someday, just like Jacksonville.

Getty Images / Sam Greenwood

The Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars have been two of the worst teams in the NFL for the past several seasons. But while the Browns are right on schedule for another top draft pick as they sit at 0-9, the Jacksonville Jaguars are a frankly shocking 6-3 and atop the AFC South. A hive mind of about 30 NFL fans predicts the Jaguars will win Sunday.

Because it’s always amazing to do so, let’s recap what the Jaguars have already accomplished. At 6-3, they have already exceeded in nine games their full season win totals for every year since 2011. For three of those recent seasons, the Jaguars’ six wins actually doubles or even triples up their entire win total. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns have shown signs of life here and there, but internal strife and just a general lack of talent has them looking as lost as ever.

Subscribe to the Inverse newsletter. Trust us, we’re from the future.

From their last meeting in 2014.

Getty Images / Sam Greenwood

To predict the result of this and other games, Unanimous A.I. used what’s known as swarm intelligence to forecast the week’s slate. About 30 NFL fans worked together as a hive mind to make picks. As you can see in the animation below, each participant controlled a little golden magnet and used it to drag the puck toward the answer they thought was the most likely outcome. As the users saw the puck move toward a particular outcome, it triggers a psychological response. They readjust their decision-making, building toward a consensus. Here’s Unanimous A.I. founder Louis Rosenberg explaining swarm intelligence at a recent TEDx Talk.

Unanimous A.I. has made some scarily accurate predictions in the past using swarm intelligence, as our previous article explains. For instance, the swarm went a perfect 7-0 in its most recommended picks for a recent English Premier League slate.

Unanimous A.I.

The hive mind predicts Jacksonville will win with high confidence, with 82 percent brainpower behind the pick.

Unanimous A.I.

The hive mind was split between a couple options for the margin of victory, ultimately opting for 10 to 12 points with 70 percent brainpower. The Vegas line currently favors Jacksonville by 7.5 points.

The game kicks off 1 p.m. Eastern Sunday on CBS.

Related Tags