Photo courtesy of Dale Sparks/All Pro Photography
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 51
(7) West Virginia vs. (10) Memphis
We’ve hit day 50, and we’re almost done with the first round!
This one was West Virginia’s to lose.
West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege was 22-for-35 with 323 yards and two touchdowns.
Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan was 22-for-39 with 317 yards and two touchdowns.
Memphis ran for a total of 51 yards, with leading rusher Brandon Thomas accounting for 35 of those on nine carries.
West Virginia ran for a total of 167 yards, with leading rushers Garrett Greene and Leddie Brown combining for 120 yards on 21 carries.
Even the leading receivers had similar games.
Memphis’ Calvin Austin III led all receivers with six receptions, 178 yards, and two touchdowns.
West Virginia receiver Sean Ryan had four receptions, 148 yards, and two touchdowns.
With the lone difference being the running game, West Virginia was able to wear down Memphis and win this game, right?
Oh — we forgot to mention that Doege threw five interceptions.
That would be the difference. Doege threw a whopping three interceptions in the red zone, and another two that left Memphis with the ball in the Mountaineers’ red zone.
Turnovers crush the Mountaineers, helping pave the way for a 27-20 Memphis victory.
In 100 simulations, West Virginia won 65 of them by an average margin of 28.2-23.9.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (2) NC State
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (7) Texas Tech vs. (10) Central Michigan
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
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: 5/12 (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)