Preseason Prediction Accuracy (2007-2016)

See "notes" following the table for more information on its contents.

Magazine	Rank	Total Score	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007
Phil Steele	1	1,366	148	131	134½	119	137	148	125½	140	135½	147½
Athlon	2	1,386	137	133	151	138	134	154	119	144	141	135
GamePlan	3	1,392	149	133	147	130	147	147	121	132	141	145
CPA Rankings	4	1,402	151	135	143	129	142	157	130	137½	136½	141
USA Today	5	1,417	144	145½	137	142½	161½	158	108	142	136	142
Lindy's	6	1,427	148	141	145	132	139	151	115	151	168	137
The Sporting News	7	1,483	147	153	151	148	141	174	125	150	154	140

This page shows the accuracy of preseason magazines' conference predictions for the ten-year span 2007-2016 ("the last ten years" going into the 2017 season). In order to qualify for either table, a magazine must have been published for every year used in that table.

There is also a "2014-2016 (last three years)" table, a "2012-2016 (last five years)" table, and a "1993-2016 (all-time)" table.

Tables with more years have the advantage of having a larger sample of data: a single unusually lucky or unlucky year has less impact on the standings. However, tables with fewer years have the advantage of including more magazines: several of the magazines available today were not published if one goes back far enough.

Notes:

Lower scores are "better." The lower the score, the closer the magazine's predictions were to the actual results.
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See the notes file for further information on the scoring process.