Photo credit: Tom Lynn/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
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 15
(2) Wisconsin vs. (15) Southern Mississippi
The running backs really dominated this one. When the quarterbacks combine to go 15-for-32 with 179 passing yards, and one interception, it’s going to take the running backs to deliver any points.
In this game, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi combined for 268 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Southern Mississippi running back Frank Gore Jr. did his best to keep the Golden Eagles afloat. Unfortunately for Gore, his 97 rushing yards on 16 carries was not enough to keep Southern Miss from being shutout victims.
In an ugly game dominated in the trenches, Wisconsin blanks Southern Mississippi, 27-0.
Possibly thanks to low-scoring offenses, Southern Mississippi was able to snag six of the 100 simulations. On average, the final score was 31.5-7.8.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (7) Oregon State vs. (10) Syracuse
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Texas A&M vs. (15) Ohio
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
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: 10/14 (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: 7/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)