Can A Video Game Predict The Winner Of The Super Bowl?

Video game maker EA Sports has used its popular Madden title to accurately predict six of the last seven Super Bowls. Who did the game pick this year?

The company ran their simulation using a copy of the latest in the series, Madden NFL 11, that included up-to-the-minute statistics and data like player performance and injuries, and the game predicted a 24-20 Pittsburgh victory. With the exception of the Giants' victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the game has correctly picked the Super Bowl winner since 2004, so Packers fans who kowtow to technology have cause for concern.

Those looking to make a wager on the game would be wise to take the under on overall points scored though as the game has shown a tendancy to overestimate the final score margins.

Here's a list of the last seven Super Bowl simulations EA Sports has run:

Super Bowl XXXVIII

Madden sim: Patriots 23, Panthers 20

Actual score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29

Super Bowl XXXIX

Madden sim: Patriots 47, Eagles 31

Actual score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21

Super Bowl XL

Madden sim: Steelers 24, Seahawks 19

Actual score: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10

Super Bowl XLI

Madden sim: Colts 38, Bears 27

Actual score: Colts 29, Bears 17

Super Bowl XLII

Madden sim: Patriots 20, Giants 10

Actual score: Giants 17, Patriots 14

Super Bowl XLIII

Madden sim: Steelers 28, Cardinals 24

Actual score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23

Super Bowl XLIV

Madden sim: Saints 35, Colts 31

Actual score: Saints 31, Colts 17

Whether or not the game's prognosticating skills are accurate again will have to wait until Sunday, but supporters of the losing team will take solace in knowing they can always press the reset button on their Playstations and rewrite history in their living rooms.