Photo courtesy of NC State athletics
Introduction
We’ve created a 130-team bracket using ESPN’s FPI as our ranking system.
“But, anyone can create a bracket, how will the games be simulated?” Great question; NCAA Game Sim was used.
For each game on the bracket, the matchup was simulated once and every day a write-up will be done.
For the matchup, player statistics will be simulated and included in the write-ups.
Finally, thanks to the NCAA Game Sim premium membership, we’ll show the results of doing 100 simulations all at once. This is to see if a given result was more towards the expected side or if a given result was more towards the upset or luckier side.
All of the results have been simulated and tabulated, so at the time of writing the introduction, the results are already in.
This is designed to be fun, so please enjoy.
From Georgia to Massachusetts, here’s the 130-team bracket:
Match 18
(2) NC State vs. (15) Duke
Conference foes meet in back-to-back days, as the Wolfpack’s offense overwhelmed the Blue Devil defense.
NC State had two receivers go over the 100-yard mark, with Porter Rooks and Emeka Emezie combining for eight receptions, 251 yards, and four receiving touchdowns.
NC State quarterback Devin Leary threw for five touchdowns and 365 yards.
Leading rusher Zonovan Knight accounted for 92 rushing yards and one of three rushing touchdowns.
Duke’s Gunnar Holmberg struggled to keep the offense on the field, going 14-for-31 with 149 yards and an interception.
At the end of the day, Duke was not able to put up any points. NC State wins, 52-0.
In 100 simulations, NC State won 88 of them by an average margin of 35.1-15.7.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (7) West Virginia vs. (10) Memphis
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (3) Penn State vs. (14) UNLV
Updated Bracket
Teams Lost, In Order:
PLAY-IN
Massachusetts, Connecticut
ROUND 1
Akron, New Mexico State, Florida International, Temple, New Mexico, Bowling Green, Rice, Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Southern Mississippi, Ohio, Kansas, Duke
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 10/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 10/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 9/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 11/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 12/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 7/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)