Matchup analysis
Before kickoff our model projected Samford 30.7, VMI 16.9 at Seibert Stadium in Week 4. That is a solid edge: Samford wins about 82% of the time by our estimate, with a projected margin of 13.8 points and 47.6 combined points.
VMI is 0-4, scoring 10 and allowing 38 points per game (-28 per game). Samford is 0-3, scoring 15.7 and allowing 29.7 points per game (-14 per game).
College football is noisy: even a well-rated projection misses the final margin by about 14 points on average. Based on how real results have scattered around our numbers, the final margin should land somewhere between VMI by 9 and Samford by 36 about 80% of the time.
Samford gets about 2.1 points for playing at home. Even on a neutral field the ratings would still favour Samford by about 11.7. The game is on ESPN+.
Result: VMI 7, Samford 45. The model had the right winner; the margin was off by 24.2 points and the total by 4.4.
Market lines
Market lines · Source: The Odds API, ESPN, Action Network · Updated Oct 29, 9:25 AM UTC. Shown for information; not an input to our projections.
| Provider | Spread (open → now) | Total (open → now) | Moneyline (VMI / Samford) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consensus | Samford -18.5 → Samford -15.5 | 48.5 → 46.5 | +514 / -810 |
| DraftKings | Samford -18.5 → Samford -15.5 | 48.5 → 46.5 | +514 / -810 |
This game's lines: CollegeFootballData.com · read Oct 22, 6:37 PM UTC.
| Projection | Margin | Total | Samford win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our model | Samford -14 | 47.6 | 82% |
| Market consensus | Samford -15.5 | 46.5 | 85% |
| Blended projection | Samford -15.5 | 47.6 | 85% |
Blended projection = 0.16 x our margin + 0.84 x the market margin, weights fitted on past seasons (see methodology).
Model vs market
- Samford win probability
- model 82% · market (no-vig) 85% · difference -3 pts
- Margin
- model Samford -13.8 · market Samford -15.5 · difference -1.7 pts (Samford view)
- Total
- model 47.6 · market 46.5 · difference +1.1
Model margin is 1.7 pts more toward VMI than the market.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Original projection vs new formula
| Projection | Score | Win prob | Margin miss | Total miss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original projection | VMI 16.9, Samford 30.7 | Samford 82%right winner | 24.2 | 4.4 |
| New formula | VMI 15.8, Samford 32.1 | Samford 86%right winner | 21.7 | 4.1 |
Final: VMI 7, Samford 45. Original = the number we posted before kickoff. New formula (2026-10-21 matchup terms) = the current model re-run with only the games played before this one.
VMI vs Samford: stat comparison
2025 season numbers (this season's sample is still too small).
| Stat | VMI | Samford |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 15.9 | 14.6 |
| Points allowed per game | 37.6 | 37.9 |
| Yards per play | 5.16 | 4.76 |
| Yards per play allowed | 7.10 | 6.49 |
| Rushing yards per game | 116.3 | 93.5 |
| Net passing yards per game | 196.1 | 251.7 |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 224.3 | 176.9 |
| Net passing yards allowed per game | 265.6 | 281.5 |
| Turnovers per game | 0.75 | 1.91 |
| Takeaways per game | 0.67 | 1.18 |
| Sacks per game | 1.00 | 1.82 |
| Sacks allowed per game | 2.75 | 4.18 |
| Stat | VMI | Samford |
|---|---|---|
| EPA per play | -0.08 | -0.16 |
| EPA per play allowed | +0.17 | +0.02 |
| Success rate | 34.3% | 33.5% |
| Success rate allowed | 47.6% | 42.3% |
| Explosive play rate | 9.7% | 8.9% |
| Explosive plays allowed | 14.2% | 14.4% |
| Havoc rate | 10.0% | 11.2% |
| Havoc allowed | 14.1% | 15.3% |
| Points per scoring opportunity | 2.32 | 2.61 |
| Points per opportunity allowed | 4.13 | 4.13 |
| Average starting field position | opp 5 | opp 13 |
| Opponents' starting field position | opp 5 | opp 11 |
| Offensive plays per game (pace) | 60.6 | 72.5 |
| Stat | VMI | Samford |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing EPA per play | -0.10 | -0.17 |
| Passing EPA per play | -0.07 | -0.18 |
| Rushing EPA allowed | +0.08 | -0.01 |
| Passing EPA allowed | +0.29 | +0.05 |
| Rushing success rate | 31.8% | 24.4% |
| Passing success rate | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| Run stuff rate | 25.0% | 24.3% |
| Passing-down success rate | 26.7% | 24.2% |
| Passing-down success allowed | 35.7% | 29.2% |
| Third-down conversion rate | 29.3% | 31.4% |
| Third-down rate allowed | 46.4% | 37.8% |
| Red-zone touchdown rate | 47.8% | 44.4% |
| Red-zone TD rate allowed | 62.5% | 71.5% |
# = rank among 136 FBS teams. Efficiency numbers exclude garbage time. Per-play numbers of teams with a weak schedule are pulled toward their opponent-adjusted values (fully at one standard deviation below an average schedule). Source: play-by-play (cfbfastR / sportsdataverse), aggregated by us.
More: VMI schedule · Samford schedule · all Week 4 projections
Share this prediction
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
Free weekly projections email
One email a week in season: the closest projected games, the biggest mismatches and how the model graded out last week. Email address only — no spam, unsubscribe any time.