Photo courtesy of Wake Forest 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 24
(3) Wake Forest vs. (14) South Florida
There were three turnovers in this game — all interceptions thrown by Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman.
Despite those three interceptions, Hartman still had a pretty game. He finished 32-for-44 for 457 passing yards, and five touchdowns.
Receiver Jaquarii Roberson was the beneficiary of a bunch of Hartman’s yards — 189 to be exact. Roberson also added a pair of receiving touchdowns.
Even though South Florida was able to force three turnovers, it struggled to turn those turnovers into points.
Quarterback Timmy McClain only went 10-for-20 with 127 yards. Leading rusher Brian Battie only had 45 rushing yards on five carries.
Wake Forest struggled to protect the ball, but it did enough to win by a score of 48-6.
In 100 simulations, Wake Forest won 76 by a 35.7-21.8 margin.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (6) North Carolina vs. (11) Rutgers
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (3) University of Miami vs. (14) Arizona
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, UNLV, Georgia Southern, UTEP, South Alabama, San Jose State, South Florida
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 9/11 (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: 8/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 9/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 9/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 12/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 6/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)