Super Bowl XLIV has come and gone, and once again the EA Sports prediction has come true. This brings the grand total of accurate predictions up to six, with 2008 remaining as the only inaccurate game called by the company's Madden franchise simulation. As usual, however, the predicted score was much less accurate, and this year some unexpected plays by the New Orleans Saints took a major part in throwing off the simulation's idea of how the game would go down.
EA Sports predicted a high-scoring, nail-biting game through the first three quarters, ending at 24-21. In reality, the Colts took a modest 10-6 lead into halftime. It was after the half that the Saints found their momentum, starting with a risky onside kick that paid off with a touchdown. The Colts answered with their own touchdown in the quarter, which left the score narrowly in the Colts' favor at the end of the third quarter. Finally, EA Sports predicted two Saints touchdowns to the Colts one in the final quarter. While the Saints did earn the two TDs -- one accompanied by a contested two-point conversion and another due to an interception -- the Colts failed to put any points on the board. This led to a final score of 31-17, a far cry from EA Sports' much closer 35-31 prediction.

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