Davis Wade Forecast

2026 outlook / 2024 season / Week 1

vs

Eastern Kentucky

Sat, Aug 31, 2024. 5 p.m. CT. Davis Wade Stadium.

50,143 retrospective forecast, attendance held out
48,724 announced attendance
80% range
45,143 to 55,143
Miss
+1,419 Inside
Get-in price
none listed
Model
Schedule-only model

Why 50,143

Start from an average game in the training set, 52,257. Each variable then moves the number by its weight times how far this game sits from that average.

  • Opponent ranked in the AP Top 25Unranked -3,375
  • Opponent Elo rating660 +9,658
  • Opponent SP+ rating-43.0 -8,397

Adds up to 50,143. Schedule-only model, 80% range 45,143 to 55,143.

The inputs

VariableThis gameTraining averageWeightSeats moved
Opponent ranked in the AP Top 251 when the opponent was in that week's AP Top 25, otherwise 0. Unranked 41% of games ranked 8,249 -3,375
Opponent Elo ratingCollegeFootballData's Elo rating for the opponent entering the game. Before an opponent has played, last season's final Elo stands in. 660 1,515 -11.30 +9,658
Opponent SP+ ratingBill Connelly's SP+ rating for the opponent that season. Positive is better than average. -43.0 +1.9 187 -8,397

Weight is the change in forecast attendance for a one-unit change in the variable. Seats moved is that weight times this game's distance from the training average. How the weights were fitted.

Data notes