Photo courtesy of Florida 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 53
(7) Florida State vs. (10) Missouri
Each team leaned on the running backs in this one.
Florida State running back Jashaun Corbin had 132 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts.
Missouri running back Tyler Badie had 108 rushing yards on 17 carries.
How much each team needed to rely on those running backs was largely dependent on quarterback output.
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was 15-for-29 with 202 yards, three touchdowns, but three interceptions.
Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak was 12-for-32 with 120 yards and a touchdown.
Florida State was more consistent, and consistency was the key to winning this one. Florida State wins, 38-17.
Just like that, we lose the second SEC team. The SEC was the last conference to lose their second team.
After 100 simulations, Florida State won 60 of them by an average margin of 29.4-23.9.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (2) Texas A&M
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (7) Oregon State vs. (10) Syracuse
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, Miami (OH), Indiana, Louisville, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, West Virginia, Central Michigan, Missouri
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 6/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 11/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 8/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 9/14 (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: 4/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 6/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 9/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 12/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)