Photo courtesy of Michigan 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 70
(1) Michigan vs. (9) TCU
How Michigan Got Here: 20-7 win over (16) Temple
How TCU Got Here: 20-16 win over (8) Army
The big difference in this game were the respective run defenses.
TCU running back Emari Demercado led the Horned Frogs in rushing yards. He had 44 yards on six carries.
Zach Evans also added 38 yards and two touchdowns on six carries of his own.
Michigan’s running backs, on the other hand, were able to pick up yardage at will.
Running back Hassan Haskins had 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 26 attempts.
Blake Corum also added 99 yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts.
Quarterback Cade McNamara was 15-for-23 passing with 335 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
That performance was in contrast to TCU quarterback Max Duggan’s, who went 13-for-26 with 159 yards and two interceptions.
TCU was able to put 23 points, but the Michigan offense scored on all but two drives. Michigan wins, 58-23.
In 100 simulations, though, Michigan won 70 by an average margin of 31.4-24.
TCU’s loss makes the Big 12 the last conference to lose three members. This pushes the SEC into the lead of percent of teams remaining at 71.4%.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (5) Mississippi State vs. (13) Kent State
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Oklahoma vs. (8) UAB
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
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: 3/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 2/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 1/12 (highest remaining: 13. Kent State)
Mountain West: 3/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 8/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 10/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)