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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Blake Schuster

We asked ChatGPT to predict the outcomes of college bowl games and things got weird

The second ChatGPT went viral, the obvious question for bettors was how to best use this to beat the sportsbook.

The answer is also pretty obvious: It can’t. At least not yet.

Among the listed limitations of the truly impressive artificial intelligence app are three that any bettor thinking of using it should be weary of:

  1. May occasionally generate incorrect information
  2. May occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content
  3. Limited knowledge of world and events after 2021

Any one of those would be bad enough. All three are a recipe for disaster….right? Maybe we should just find out anyways. And while we’re at it, let’s ask the bot some of bowl season’s biggest questions.

Surely nothing can go wrong!

Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas (-3)

Prompt: Write a game story about Kansas playing Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. Both teams are 6-6 this year. Kansas is playing its first bowl game since 2009. Arkansas is favored by three points. Include a final score.

ChatGPT Response:

The Liberty Bowl was an exciting matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Both teams were 6-6 this year and were looking to end their seasons on a high note. Arkansas was favored by three points, but Kansas was determined to prove their worth on the field.

The first half was a back and forth battle, with both teams struggling to find a foothold on offense. The Jayhawks managed to put up a couple of field goals, but the Razorbacks responded with a touchdown late in the second quarter. Going into halftime, the score was 6-7 in favor of Arkansas.

In the second half, Kansas came out with renewed energy and took control of the game. Their defense stifled the Razorback offense, while their own offense started clicking. They scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and added another one in the fourth to take a commanding lead.

As the clock ticked down, Arkansas tried to mount a comeback, but it was too little too late. The Jayhawks held on for a hard-fought 26-17 victory, their first bowl game win since 2009. The Kansas players and fans celebrated the win, while the Arkansas team was left to wonder what could have been.

The AI Picks: Kansas (-3), Kansas ML, Under 69

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: Oregon (-13) vs. North Carolina

Prompt: Write a game story about Oregon playing North Carolina in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl. Both teams won nine games this year. Oregon is favored by 13 points but UNC quarterback Drake Maye has Heisman potential. Include a final score.

ChatGPT Response:

The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl was a highly anticipated matchup between the Oregon Ducks and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams had impressive seasons, winning nine games each and earning their spot in the bowl game.

Oregon was favored by 13 points, but UNC quarterback Drake Maye had the potential to be a game-changer with his Heisman-worthy performance. The Ducks knew they had to contain Maye and stop his passing game if they wanted to come out on top.

The first half of the game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to score. Oregon’s defense managed to keep Maye in check, but the Tar Heels’ defense also held strong and kept the Ducks’ offense from gaining any ground.

As the second half began, it looked like the game was going to be a low-scoring affair. However, Oregon’s offense finally found its rhythm and began to move the ball down the field. They scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 14-0 lead.

UNC tried to mount a comeback, but Maye was unable to break through the Ducks’ defense. Oregon’s offense continued to put up points, and they ended up winning the game 35-17.

The Ducks’ defense proved to be the key to their victory, as they were able to contain Maye and shut down the Tar Heels’ offense. Oregon’s offense also stepped up in the second half, scoring five touchdowns to secure their win.

The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl was a thrilling matchup between two talented teams, and in the end, it was the Oregon Ducks who came out on top with a final score of 35-17.

The AI Picks: Oregon (-13), Oregon ML, Under 72

TaxAct Texas Bowl: Ole Miss (-3.5) vs. Texas Tech

Prompt: Write a game story about Ole Miss playing Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Ole Miss is favored by 3.5 points. The game is played in Houston. Include a final score and a quote from Lane Kiffin.

ChatGPT Response:

The Ole Miss Rebels arrived in Houston with high expectations, as they were favored by 3.5 points over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Both teams had solid seasons, but the Rebels seemed to have the upper hand, with a potent offense led by quarterback Matt Corral and a defense that had improved significantly over the course of the year.

The game got off to a slow start, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm on offense. The Red Raiders managed to take an early lead with a field goal, but the Rebels quickly responded with a touchdown drive of their own. From there, the two teams traded blows, with neither side able to gain a significant advantage.

As the game entered the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 21-21. Both teams had opportunities to take the lead, but were unable to capitalize. With just seconds remaining on the clock, the Rebels faced a critical fourth down near midfield. Corral dropped back to pass and launched a deep ball down the sideline, where it was caught by wide receiver Dontario Drummond for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Rebels took a 28-21 lead with just seconds remaining.

The Red Raiders attempted a comeback, but time ran out before they could score. The final score was Ole Miss 28, Texas Tech 21.

After the game, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin praised his team for their resilience and determination. “We knew this was going to be a tough game, and we had to fight for every yard and every point,” Kiffin said. “I’m proud of the way our guys battled and found a way to come out on top. This is a great win for our program and our fans.”

Editor’s Note: Matt Corral and Dontario Drummond no longer play for Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin would also never give a quote this tame after a big win. 

The AI Picks: Ole Miss (-3.5), Ole Miss ML, Under 69.5

Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas (-5.5) vs. Washington

Prompt: Write a game story about Texas playing Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Longhorns are favored by 5.5 points. Include a final score and answer the question ‘is Texas is back?’

ChatGPT Response:

The Valero Alamo Bowl kicked off with a bang as the Texas Longhorns faced off against the Washington Huskies. The Longhorns were favored by 5.5 points, but the Huskies were not going down without a fight.

The first half was a back and forth battle, with both teams trading touchdowns and field goals. The Longhorns took the lead early on, but the Huskies kept it close with their strong running game.

As the second half began, it seemed like the Huskies might have a shot at the upset. They scored a touchdown to take the lead, but the Longhorns responded with a touchdown of their own to tie the game.

The fourth quarter was a nail-biter, with both teams trying to pull ahead. The Longhorns finally broke through with a field goal to take the lead, and they held on to it until the final whistle.

When it was all said and done, the final score was Texas 30, Washington 27. The Longhorns had pulled off the win, and the question on everyone’s mind was “is Texas back?”

Many would argue that the Longhorns have been back for a while now, but this win over the Huskies definitely solidified their status as a top team in the nation. Whether or not they will continue to dominate in the future remains to be seen, but for now, Texas is back and ready to take on all challengers.

The AI Picks: Washington (+5.5), Texas ML, Under 67.5

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Maryland (-1.5) vs. NC State

Prompt: Write a game story about Maryland playing NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Terps are favored by 1.5 points. Include a final score and provide a quote about how the winning coach felt when given a Mayo bath.

ChatGPT Response:

The Maryland Terrapins and NC State Wolfpack faced off in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, with the Terps favored by 1.5 points. From the opening kickoff, it was a back and forth battle between the two teams. NC State took an early lead, but Maryland was able to tie it up with a touchdown in the second quarter.

In the second half, both teams continued to fight for the lead. Maryland took the lead with a touchdown in the third quarter, but NC State quickly answered with a touchdown of their own. The fourth quarter was a tense and exciting finish, with both teams exchanging touchdowns and field goals.

In the end, it was Maryland who came out on top, winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl with a final score of 38-35. The Terps’ coach, Mike Locksley, was overjoyed with the victory and couldn’t hide his excitement when he was given the traditional Mayo bath by his players.

“This is an incredible feeling,” Locksley said. “To come out on top against a tough NC State team is an amazing accomplishment for our team. I’m so proud of these players and everything they’ve accomplished this season. And, to be honest, the Mayo bath is just the icing on the cake.”

The AI Picks: Maryland (-1.5), Maryland ML, Over 47.5

College Football Playoffs: Georgia vs. Ohio State/Michigan vs. TCU

Prompt: Write a game story about the 2022 College Football Playoffs. The winner of Georgia-Ohio State will play the winner of Michigan-TCU. Include the final score for all three games.

ChatGPT Response:

The 2022 College Football Playoffs were shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive in recent memory. In the first matchup, Georgia faced off against Ohio State in a highly anticipated showdown between two top-ranked teams.

From the opening whistle, both teams came out firing on all cylinders, but it was Ohio State who managed to take an early lead thanks to a strong rushing attack led by star running back J.T. Barrett. Georgia fought back, however, and managed to tie the game up at halftime thanks to a clutch performance from quarterback Jake Fromm.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading blows and making big plays. In the end, it was Ohio State who came out on top, winning 35-28 thanks to a late touchdown pass from Barrett to receiver Parris Campbell.

In the other matchup, Michigan faced off against TCU in a matchup of two up-and-coming teams looking to make a splash in the playoffs. The game was a defensive battle from start to finish, with both teams putting up a valiant effort but struggling to put points on the board.

In the end, it was Michigan who managed to edge out a victory, winning 17-14 on a late field goal from kicker Quinn Nordin.

With their victories, Ohio State and Michigan advanced to the College Football Playoffs Championship game, where they faced off in a showdown for the ages.

Both teams came out strong, with Ohio State taking an early lead thanks to another strong performance from Barrett. Michigan fought back, however, and managed to tie the game up at halftime thanks to a touchdown pass from quarterback Shea Patterson to receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading blows and making big plays. In the end, it was Ohio State who came out on top, winning 28-24 thanks to a late touchdown run from Barrett.

The final score of the 2022 College Football Playoffs was Ohio State 28, Michigan 24. It was a thrilling end to an exciting season of college football, and fans around the country couldn’t wait to see what the next season had in store.

Editor’s Note: None of the players mentioned are still in college. Not a single one. 
The AI Pick: Ohio State (+350)
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