Photo courtesy of Texas Tech 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 52
(7) Texas Tech vs. (10) Central Michigan
Talk about an offensive explosion for the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech quarterback Henry Colombi was 26-for-38 with 348 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Leading rusher Tahj Brooks had 120 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Between those two performances, Central Michigan never really stood a chance.
Quarterback Daniel Richardson was 18-for-31 with 252 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. That’s a decent game amongst the 104 performances that we’ve looked at thus far.
But when the opponent throws for 348 yards and six touchdowns, a decent game can only take a team so far.
Texas Tech could not be slowed down. It wins this one, 58-14.
In 100 simulations, Texas Tech won 83 games by an average margin of 36-20.2.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (2) Baylor
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (7) Florida State vs. (10) Missouri
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
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: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)