By Tim Graham
AccuScore is my favorite sports forecaster. Its system is analytical and thorough, formulating predictions through computer simulations. AccuScore runs the data 10,000 times and comes up with a percentage likelihood that something may take place.
AccuScore has been previewing the divisions and has a favorable prospectus for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.
The Bills averaged 8.3 victories in AccuScore's simulations, won the AFC East 8.7 percent of the time and made the playoffs 31.2 percent of the time.
The playoff percentage might not sound all that wonderful, but it's the sixth-highest in the conference; six teams make the postseason.
Close behind the Bills were the New York Jets at 8.1 wins, a 7.4 percent likelihood of winning the division and a 28.2 percent likelihood of getting into the tournament.
As you could imagine, the New England Patriots were the clear favorites. They averaged 11.3 victories, won the division in 79.5 percent of the simulations and went to the playoffs in 91.8 percent.
AccuScore's computers had the Miami Dolphins at the bottom, but not too far behind the Bills. The Dolphins averaged 7.4 wins. But that nine-tenths of a victory makes a big difference when it comes to the Dolphins' likelihood of winning the AFC East (4.4 percent) or going to the playoffs (18.2 percent).
