ESPN’s FPI Rankings Love Kliff Kingsbury’s Beard
After Texas Tech's convincing win over Oklahoma State, ESPN's computers are showing them some love.
The FPI, or Football Power Index, is a measure of team strength that's meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.
So, with that in mind, where is the Big 12 in the FPI?
Oklahoma leads the pack at number 7. They're undefeated after beating Army in overtime, and are projected to finish 10-2 based on the simulations.
The next Big 12 team, and therefore the second best team in the conference according to incredibly accurate and unbiased computer projections that probably have never failed? Texas Tech, at number 17 in the FPI.
That's right, the AI is buying into the undefeated beard on Kliff Kingsbury. And according to the head coach, the beard isn't going anywhere:
"It's not going anywhere, I don't really like the look," Kingsbury said in his postgame presser after Texas Tech's win over OSU. "But, I'm a team player so, we'll keep it going." Bearded Kingsbury and the Red Raiders are projected to win 8.5 games in 2018.
Texas Tech, the second best team in the Big 12, will have the opportunity to prove it when they play West Virginia, who is ranked 18th in the FPI, this Saturday at 11 am. Will Grier and the Mountaineers are undefeated, but have wins over a weak Tennessee team, Youngstown State and Kansas State.
The rest of the Big 12 stacks out with Oklahoma State at 20th, Texas at 22nd and TCU at 29th. Then there is a massive gap before Iowa State at 47th.
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