Home Featured The 128 Team Playoff, Day 44: North Carolina vs. Rutgers

The 128 Team Playoff, Day 44: North Carolina vs. Rutgers

by CJ Olson

Photo credit: Jeffrey A. Camarati/North Carolina 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 45

(6) North Carolina vs. (11) Rutgers

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell had quite the dynamic day.

On the ground, Howell led all rushers with 95 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

He also threw for 295 yards and an interception on 21-for-33 passing.

Receiver Josh Downs was Howell’s favorite target, accounting for 127 yards receiving on nine receptions.

For Rutgers, quarterback Noah Vedral had a pretty good game. He was 19-for-30 with 248 passing yards and a touchdown.

Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, running back Isaih Pacheco was only able to muster up 38 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

Despite North Carolina not having a great day, Howell was able to will it to a victory. North Carolina beats Rutgers, 27-13.

In 100 simulations, North Carolina won 79 of them by an average margin of 29.6-17.5.

Winner’s Next Matchup: (3) Wake Forest

Tomorrow’s Matchup: (6) SMU vs. (11) Miami University

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, Arizona, Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, Ball State, Minnesota, Navy, Nebraska, Buffalo, Troy, Colorado State, North Texas, Eastern Michigan, Northwestern, Northern Illinois, Florida Atlantic, Stanford, Tulane, Colorado, Wyoming, Middle Tennessee, Rutgers

REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:

American: 7/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)

ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)

Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)

Big Ten: 10/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)

Conference USA: 4/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)

Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)

MAC: 6/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)

Mountain West: 6/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)

Pac-12: 9/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)

SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)

Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)

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