Science

Who Will Win Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers? A.I. Predicts

Aaron Rodgers is back.

Getty Images / Stacy Revere

The Green Bay Packers got just enough out of backup quarterback Brett Hundley to survive the injury to star Aaron Rodgers, but now possibly the best quarterback alive is back Sunday — and not a moment too soon, as the Packers face a tough Carolina Panthers team. A hive mind of about 30 NFL fans predicts the Panthers will win.

Making his first appearance since October 15, Rodgers should give Green Bay a much-needed jolt as they look to win their final three games and try to sneak into the playoffs at 10-6. It’s hard to imagine a much tougher first opponent back than Carolina, though, which looks to be peaking at the right time for the stretch run and has a real shot at taking the NFC South crown. Throw in the fact that Cam Newton and the Panthers offense matches up well against Green Bay’s lackluster defense, and Rodgers may have to instantly regain his world-best form for the Packers to get the win.

From their last game in 2015.

Getty Images / Streeter Lecka

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 an English Premier League slate earlier this season.

Unanimous A.I.

The hive mind predicts Carolina will win. It’s a low confidence pick with 84 percent brainpower.

Unanimous A.I.

The swarm predicts the Panthers will win by seven to nine points, with 79 percent brainpower behind it. The Vegas line has the Panthers by just 2.5 points.

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

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