Science

Who Will Win Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers? A.I. Predicts

What do the Packers want here?

Getty Images / Adam Bettcher

The Minnesota Vikings are chasing the number one overall seed in the NFC. The Green Bay Packers have nothing left to play for, but they might want some vengeance. A hive mind of about 30 NFL fans predicts the Vikings will win.

The Vikings have the unprecedented opportunity to secure home-field advantage through the Super Bowl, as Minnesota is hosting the game this year. But they will have to catch the Philadelphia Eagles to do that, and that means winning both of their final two games. The Packers were officially eliminated from playoff contention after their loss last week to the Carolina Panthers, leading the team to shut down quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the season after his first game back from injury. The Packers might still be more than determined than usual to steal the victory here, considering it was against the Vikings that Rodgers suffered the injury that derailed Green Bay’s season.

From their game earlier this season.

Getty Images / Hannah Foslien

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 with high confidence that the Vikings will win. It’s pick made with 81 percent confidence.

Unanimous A.I.

The swarm further says the margin of victory will be seven to nine points. The pick was made with 83 percent brainpower. The Vegas line has Minnesota by nine.

The game kicks off 8:30 p.m. Eastern Saturday on NBC.

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