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Microsoft Cortana had one of its best weeks of the year in Week 15, correctly picking 13 of 16 NFL games.

It is now 149-75 (66.5%) on the season.

Cortana is a Windows Phone virtual assistant that uses a Bing Predicts algorithm to pick a winner in every NFL game. The algorithm takes into account things like advanced stats and home-field advantage. There's also a public-perception component that uses Facebook data.

Cortana's 13-3 record made Week 15 its best week since Week 5, when it went 13-2. It picks games straight up, not against the point spread. Las Vegas betting favorites went 12-4 in Week 15, as did Nate Silver's ELO model.

On the season, ELO has predicted 69.6% correct, while Vegas favorites are right around Cortana at 65.6%.

The Bing Predicts algorithm that nailed the World Cup correctly predicted 15 of the tournament's last 16 games. We'll see if Week 15 is the beginning of another closing hot streak.



Here are Cortana's picks for Week 16 as of Wednesday morning. We'll update them throughout the week if they change (Vegas favorites in parentheses):

Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints – Saints win, 72.9% chance (Saints -6)

Read more: Microsoft Cortana NFL Picks, Week 16 - Business Insider

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