{"id":79133,"date":"2019-01-30T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2019\/01\/feature_predicting_super_bowl_liii_with_super_smash_bros_ultimate"},"modified":"2019-01-30T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T19:00:00","slug":"feature-predicting-super-bowl-liii-with-super-smash-bros-ultimate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2019\/01\/30\/feature-predicting-super-bowl-liii-with-super-smash-bros-ultimate\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: Predicting Super Bowl LIII with Super Smash. Bros Ultimate"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><a href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/dac10133b3e0d\/large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/dac10133b3e0d\/small.jpg\" class=\"media_thumbnail\"><\/a><\/div>\n<p><figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"No love lost between all-time great Tom Brady (Mario) and freak-of-science Aaron Donald (Mewtwo)\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/dac10133b3e0d\/no-love-lost-between-all-time-great-tom-brady-mario-and-freak-of-science-aaron-donald-mewtwo.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/dac10133b3e0d\/no-love-lost-between-all-time-great-tom-brady-mario-and-freak-of-science-aaron-donald-mewtwo.900x.jpg\" alt=\"No love lost between all-time great Tom Brady (Mario) and freak-of-science Aaron Donald (Mewtwo)\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">No love lost between all-time great Tom Brady (Mario) and freak-of-science Aaron Donald (Mewtwo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>Super Bowl LIII is upon us all! This Sunday, the New England Patriots square off against the LA Rams for NFL supremacy. (As a Seahawks fan, <em>barf<\/em>.) It\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess who will take it all, but in the meantime, we can read the digital tea leaves with video game simulations. Ain\u2019t the future grand?<\/p>\n<p>While, yes, EA Sports\u2019s <strong>Madden NFL<\/strong> franchise may be the conventional choice for calling the Super Bowl \u2013 <a class=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/ftw.usatoday.com\/2019\/01\/super-bowl-liii-madden-simulation\">predicting a 30-27 Rams win this year<\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s certainly not the only game in town capable of doing so. Plus, Madden has skipped Nintendo platforms for several years now, leaving everyone leading the Nintendo life out from all of the predictive football fun.<\/p>\n<p>With its plethora of characters, modes, and assorted whizbangs, we think we can get an equally accurate prediction using Nintendo\u2019s latest competitive powerhouse, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/super_smash_bros_ultimate\">Super Smash Bros. Ultimate<\/a><\/strong>. To prove it, we hit the lab to develop a predictive framework for the single biggest sporting event of February 2019 \u2013 adapting the rules, rosters, and match-ups one can expect to see this Sunday in Atlanta.<\/p>\n<p>Read on to find out how we built it, the big trends and plays to watch for this Sunday, and a prediction of the real game\u2019s final score.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to <em>Super Smash Bros. Bowl I!<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Rosters<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Since no NFL players are in Smash (yet), we matched eight of the top players from both teams with the most appropriate Smash character to correspond with their skill set, characteristics, and physique. Here are your gladiators for the day.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Goff, you sly noodle\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/b1fb883cbb670\/goff-you-sly-noodle.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/b1fb883cbb670\/goff-you-sly-noodle.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Goff, you sly noodle\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Goff, you sly noodle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>LA Rams<\/strong><br \/><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Offense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Jared Goff as Luigi<\/strong> \u2013 These noodly men may not get the same recognition as their peers but can deliver the goods when it counts. The physical resemblance is uncanny, too: throw a black moustache and green hat on Goff and nobody would be the wiser.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Todd Gurley as Captain Falcon<\/strong> \u2013 Two powerhouses able to blast through any opposition with a fiery fury. You don\u2019t want to be on the other side when they\u2019re heating up.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brandin Cooks as Sonic<\/strong> \u2013 Gotta go fast! Cooks ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at the 2014 NFL Combine, proving himself as one of the speediest dudes on the field. Like Sonic, Cooks keeps chasing rings: he was on the 2017 Patriots squad that fell to the Philadelphia Eagles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Robert Woods as Pikachu<\/strong> \u2013 Electric playmakers that have shown remarkable consistency and versatility over their careers. Cover carefully or they&#8217;ll shock ya.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Defense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Aaron Donald as Mewtwo<\/strong> \u2013 Aaron Donald is a freak of nature that was born in a lab by people playing with a power they do not understand. Mewtwo is that but Pokemon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ndamukong Suh as Ganondorf<\/strong> \u2013 Dominant forces with a history of sportsmanship issues. Suh is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, which is sort of like Ganondorf getting sealed into the Sacred Realm. Someone will eventually team up with them again.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aqib Talib as Simon Belmont<\/strong> \u2013 These two share a love of zone defense and metal accessories. Yank their chains and <em>hoo-boy<\/em> are you in for trouble.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marcus Peters as Fox<\/strong> \u2013 As a complementary duo, Peters and Talib create massive headaches in the backfield for their opponents. Peters-as-Fox\u2019s speedy strikes and projectile defensive abilities let him go on the attack while Talib-as-Belmont corrals the offense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"&quot;It's-a me, Brady-o!&quot;\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/522e4bb2772ea\/its-a-me-brady-o.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/522e4bb2772ea\/its-a-me-brady-o.900x.jpg\" alt=\"&quot;It's-a me, Brady-o!&quot;\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">&#8220;It&#8217;s-a me, Brady-o!&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>New England Patriots<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Offense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tom Brady as Mario<\/strong> \u2013 One GOAT deserves another, and nobody has had as much success in their respective fields as these two.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Julian Edelman as Little Mac<\/strong> \u2013 Scrappy gym rats capable of delivering knock-out punches on unsuspecting opponents. If they don\u2019t get you with speed, they\u2019ll get you with cunning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>James White as Inkling<\/strong> \u2013 White and Inkling both have and are versatile weapons up close or at a distance, keeping their opponents wary and weary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rob Gronkowski as Incineroar<\/strong> \u2013 Two <em>literal<\/em> cartoon wrestlers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Defense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Stephen Gilmore as Marth<\/strong> \u2013 Gilmore earned two distinctions this year: one being named the best cornerback of the season by stat gurus Pro Football Focus, and the other being named a first-team All-Pro cornerback. He\u2019s practically defensive royalty, just like Marth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kyle Van Noy as King Dedede<\/strong> \u2013 Two big dudes who share a fondness for robes (educated guess) and that keep finding themselves in the thick of the fight, coming up with big plays when it counts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dont\u2019a Hightower as K. Rool<\/strong> \u2013 One is a pirate king, and the other is a former captain out to crush his opposition. Which is which? You decide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Devin McCourty as Villager<\/strong> \u2013 Villager is a huge pain in the butt for opponents to strategize around. Throw something their way and it&#8217;ll get yoinked it out of the air. Charge at them and they\u2019ll fire a freakin\u2019 <em>rocket at you<\/em>. Get in their face and that\u2019s a bowling ball crushing every bone in your foot. McCourty&#8217;s arsenal isn&#8217;t filled with <em>quite<\/em> these same weapons, but is equally pain-butt to scheme around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Nobody expects a WR to kick a field goal, but Edelman has a trick up his short sleeve.\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/349b1a073171c\/nobody-expects-a-wr-to-kick-a-field-goal-but-edelman-has-a-trick-up-his-short-sleeve.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/349b1a073171c\/nobody-expects-a-wr-to-kick-a-field-goal-but-edelman-has-a-trick-up-his-short-sleeve.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Nobody expects a WR to kick a field goal, but Edelman has a trick up his short sleeve.\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Nobody expects a WR to kick a field goal, but Edelman has a trick up his short sleeve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Rules<br \/><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>The full four quarters are simulated across two four-vs-four timed games of Smash (patch version 1.2.1). Each timed game is three minutes long and represents one \u201chalf\u201d of the real thing. The Patriots offense will face the Rams defense in one game, and vice versa for the other.<\/li>\n<li>Each team is represented by four of the top players from their offensive and defensive units. Each player is a level 9 CPU, with Spirits switched off.<\/li>\n<li>Big Battlefield is the arena of choice for being a clean, neutral landscape for eight-player competitive play.<\/li>\n<li>A KO counts as a touchdown plus successful PAT, so good for seven points.<\/li>\n<li>A Fall takes a KO off the board.<\/li>\n<li>Teams must have a net-positive KO score for those teeders to count. There is no penalty for a net-negative KO score other than deep, deep shame.<\/li>\n<li>Special Flags will appear periodically and represent successful field-goal kicks, awarding the team three points. Any side of the ball can bop one through the uprights.<\/li>\n<li>The opposing team is awarded two points in the event of a self-destruct \u2014 that\u2019s called a safety, baby!<\/li>\n<li>Aside from Special Flags, the only other item eligible to appear is the soccer ball. It\u2019s a football! What\u2019s football without footballs?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Don't mess with James White\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/63a6deb30e9bd\/dont-mess-with-james-white.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/63a6deb30e9bd\/dont-mess-with-james-white.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Don't mess with James White\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Don&#8217;t mess with James White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Prediction<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The New England Patriots triumph 33-9 over the LA Rams.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>(barf)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Keep an eye out for these trends to emerge and big plays to unfold on Super Bowl Sunday:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Trick plays!<\/strong> Burned by the \u201cPhilly Special\u201d last year, look for Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his football galaxy brain to draw up a miracle play that exploits a little-known or archaic NFL rule. In our simulation, one play design sent wide-receiver Edelman off to his own side of the field to boot a field goal through his own team\u2019s uprights, stunning onlookers but good for three points. Don\u2019t be surprised if it turns out to be a legal move \u2014 you heard it here first.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Defensive dominance!<\/strong> Both teams are arriving with stout defensive units sure to give the opposing quarterback heartburn all night, be it through trouble up front or strong coverage of receivers. Expect Brady and Goff to feel the pressure, in many cases <em>*checks notes*<\/em> throwing fireballs at nobody in particular.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hilarious QB sacks!<\/strong> Watch for Suh jumping in with the Up-B out of nowhere to dominate a frazzled Brady limping along at 169% damage, sending the New England great off to the big lobster roll in the sky.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Heartbreaking turnovers!<\/strong> We\u2019ve got good money on Suh nearly running away with a field goal toward the end of the half that\u2019s then blocked by Gronkowski, who recovers and kicks it through the uprights for three. Again, you heard it here first.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Halftime show shenanigans!<\/strong> The planned performance by Maroon 5 and Travis Scott will make way for a special performance by the Squid Sisters that is both electric <em>and<\/em> brave.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intense focus!<\/strong> Nobody will be interested in the soccer ball.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Match-up breakdowns<br \/><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"New England's offense (red team) takes on the LA Rams defense (yellow team)\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/7bc5455adcc68\/new-englands-offense-red-team-takes-on-the-la-rams-defense-yellow-team.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/7bc5455adcc68\/new-englands-offense-red-team-takes-on-the-la-rams-defense-yellow-team.900x.jpg\" alt=\"New England's offense (red team) takes on the LA Rams defense (yellow team)\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">New England&#8217;s offense (red team) takes on the LA Rams defense (yellow team)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Patriots offense vs. Rams defense<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Rams jump into an early lead as Gronkowski and White fall to Earth in a beautiful double-doink from Aaron Donald. Ultimately, the lead doesn\u2019t hold for long, as the Rams struggle to contain New England\u2019s passing game throughout and fail to capitalize on their own advances.<\/p>\n<p>On the Patriots side, Julian Edelman torches everyone but Suh, racking up four KOs and a field goal against two falls. Gronkowski dishes the most damage of anyone on the field \u2014 laying the groundwork for Brady and Edelman to do their work but ultimately finishes with a muted score sheet of one KO and a field goal himself against two falls. Brady doesn\u2019t have his most impressive game with low damage dished throughout, but does his job by pulling in two KOs against one fall. James White\u2019s run game is stuffed, with no KOs and one fall to his name, but provides a bump to New England\u2019s score sheet with a field goal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"In your face, Gronk\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/9f0a6f6357c74\/in-your-face-gronk.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/9f0a6f6357c74\/in-your-face-gronk.900x.jpg\" alt=\"In your face, Gronk\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">In your face, Gronk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Rams D manages to take White largely out of the equation but are frustrated elsewhere throughout. Their early lead is squandered by failing to consistently cash in on the massive amounts of damage they inflict on their opponents. Suh\u2019s field goal fumble is recovered by Gronkowski towards the end of the half to erase any hope of the Rams putting themselves on the board, finding themselves with a net-negative KO score and no field goals at the close.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>PATRIOTS: Net +1 KO (7 points); 3 field goals (3 x 3 points) = 16 points<\/li>\n<li>RAMS: Net -1 KO (0 points); 0 field goals (0 x 3 points) = 0 points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"LA's offense, led by Jared Goff (Luigi), takes on a stout New England defense\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/4fdd618d7fab6\/las-offense-led-by-jared-goff-luigi-takes-on-a-stout-new-england-defense.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/4fdd618d7fab6\/las-offense-led-by-jared-goff-luigi-takes-on-a-stout-new-england-defense.900x.jpg\" alt=\"LA's offense, led by Jared Goff (Luigi), takes on a stout New England defense\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">LA&#8217;s offense, led by Jared Goff (Luigi), takes on a stout New England defense<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Rams offense vs. Patriots defense<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Finding themselves in a rather large hole after failing to do much of anything to stop Brady and his boys, the Rams turn to Goff, Gurley, Cooks, and Woods to do what they\u2019ve done all season: get them points. Unfortunately for the Rams, things don\u2019t quite go as planned \u2014 their red zone troubles continue to be a bugaboo for them on the biggest stage of them all.<\/p>\n<p>New England puts in a beastly performance on defense, completely dominating up front and ripping Goff\u2019s heart out (figuratively) as they put up net-two KOs and boot in a field goal. Meanwhile, McCourty and Van Noy feast on LA, putting up three KOs each against a combined three Falls between them. Hightower breaks even and scores no touchdowns but does thwack in a field goal to add three.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Pokemon Yee-owch\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/10e0a3125dd60\/pokemon-yee-owch.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/10e0a3125dd60\/pokemon-yee-owch.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Pokemon Yee-owch\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Pokemon Yee-owch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Gurley fixes whatever woes he\u2019s had in the postseason this year for a monster four KOs and a field goal against two Falls. What should be a breezy 17 points pulled in by Gurley is undone by the Patriots suffocating the rest of the offense. Goff spends most of his time running for his life, suffering one Fall each at the hands of McCourty, Van Noy, and Gilmore. He puts up one KO and a field goal to lessen the damage, but those three Falls wipe a lot of points off the board. Woods is made a complete non-factor \u2014 in fact, a drag on the team \u2014 as the electric receiver is kept off the board with two Falls against zero KOs. Cooks fares little better, with his one KO neutralized by McCourty knocking him off for a Fall. His field goal stands, though, adding three to the floundering Rams\u2019s total.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>RAMS OFFENSE: Net 0 KO + 3 field goals (3 x 3 points) = 9 points<\/li>\n<li>PATRIOTS DEFENSE: Net 2 KOs (2 x 7 points) + 1 field goal (3 points) = 17 points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>FINAL: Patriots 33 &#8211; Rams 9<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Football. Football?\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/4cf7cc5394813\/football-football.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/4cf7cc5394813\/football-football.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Football. Football?\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Football. Football?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Science! What a beautiful thing. How close do you think Smash Ultimate will get to predicting the real deal? Sound off in the comments below!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No love lost between all-time great Tom Brady (Mario) and freak-of-science Aaron Donald (Mewtwo) Super Bowl LIII is upon us all! This Sunday, the New England Patriots square off against the LA Rams for NFL supremacy. (As a Seahawks fan, barf.) It\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess who will take it all, but in the meantime, we can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79133\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}