Photo courtesy of Clemson 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 74
(1) Clemson vs. (9) San Diego State
How Clemson Got Here: 10-6 win over (16) Vanderbilt
How San Diego State Got Here: 23-21 win over (8) UTSA
Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross was everywhere quarterback DJ Uiagalelei needed him to be.
Ross finished with seven receptions, 169 yards, and a touchdown.
Uiagalelei also did enough to help the Clemson offense be explosive, even if it wasn’t his most efficient game.
He finished 18-for-32 passing with 304 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He was also Clemson’s leading rusher, finishing with 44 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Running back Will Shipley added 42 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
San Diego State, on the other hand, was neither explosive nor efficient.
Quarterback Lucas Johnson was 17-for-26 with 165 yards and an interception.
Running back Greg Bell averaged just three yards per carry, going for 57 yards on 19 carries.
Clemson bounces back after struggling mightily against Vanderbilt. The Tigers take this one easily, 34-9.
In 100 simulations, it looks like Clemson got a little lucky with the result of the single game simulation. Clemson only won 60 of the 100 simulations by an average margin of 20.7-16.3.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (4) Purdue vs. (5) BYU
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Iowa State vs. (10) California
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 University, Indiana, Louisville, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, West Virginia, Central Michigan, Missouri, Syracuse, Tulsa, Western Michigan, Utah State, Liberty, UTSA, Boston College, Nevada, South Carolina, Army, Washington, Air Force, Virginia Tech
ROUND 2
Toledo, Alabama, Illinois, TCU, UAB, Marshall, USC, San Diego State
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 5/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 7/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 1/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 2/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 1/12 (highest remaining: 13. Kent State)
Mountain West: 2/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 7/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 10/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)