Photo courtesy of Iowa 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 11
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana-Monroe’s offense really struggled to put anything together in this game.
Quarterback Chandler Rogers was 14-for-26 with 126 passing yards. Running back Andrew Henry led the Warhawks with just 28 rushing yards on nine carries. Iowa State’s defense was just too stifling for Louisiana-Monroe to do anything.
Iowa State’s offense, on the other hand, took care of business. Despite this never being a close game, there should be some questions regarding the Cyclones’ inability to get into the end zone. They had to settle for four field goals.
Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for two touchdowns and finished with 351 passing yards, but those were the only touchdowns for the Cyclones. NFL Draft prospect Breece Hall ran for 134 yards, but never found paydirt.
Despite finishing some drives poorly, Iowa State rolls through this one, 26-0.
After 100 simulations, Iowa State won all of them by a margin of 45.4-11.6. It took simulating 127 total times before the Warhawks found a win. After 217, it had won four, so at least it turned it around a little bit eventually.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (7) Liberty vs. (10) California
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Cincinnati vs. (15) Texas State
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 10/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 10/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 12/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 10/12 (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: 9/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)