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 102
(1) Michigan vs. (5) Mississippi State
How Michigan Got Here: 20-7 win over (16) Temple, 58-23 win over (9) TCU
How Mississippi State Got Here: 41-15 win over (12) Northern Illinois, 49-23 win over (13) Kent State
Up to this point, the discourse around Mississippi State has been if a team could stop the air raid. Neither Northern Illinois nor Kent State could do it, but could Michigan?
It’s hard to say it’s necessarily stopping the air raid when quarterback Will Rogers threw for 288 yards and a touchdown on 34-for-55 passing. But, at the very least, it’s containing the air raid.
Downfield and red zone passing simply was not there for the Bulldogs, and the occasional run did not catch the Wolverine defense off guard. Running back Dillon Johnson totaled a paltry 31 yards on 10 carries.
On the other sideline, Michigan’s offense was pretty efficient and methodical in its approach.
Quarterback Cade McNamara was 17-for-24 with 269 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Hassan Haskins kept the offense on schedule with 117 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
Michigan limits the offensive capabilities of Mississippi State, effectively neutering the Bulldogs’ chances of advancing. The Wolverines win, 37-10.
In 100 simulations, Michigan won 66 of them by an average margin of 29.3-23.7.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (2) Wisconsin vs. (6) Coastal Carolina
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Oklahoma vs. (5) Houston
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, UAB, Marshall, USC, San Diego State, California, UCF, Washington State, Pittsburgh, Oregon State, Florida State, Baylor, NC State, Louisiana, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Auburn, SMU, Wake Forest, Miami, Western Kentucky, Purdue, Arizona State, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kent State, Kansas State, UCLA, Appalachian State
ROUND 3
Iowa, Florida, Ohio State, Mississippi State
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 3/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 3/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 5/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 4/14 (highest remaining: 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 6 Western Kentucky, eliminated Day 89)
Independents: 2/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 13 Kent State, eliminated Day 94)
Mountain West: 2/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 2/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 5/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 2/10 (highest remaining: 6. Coastal Carolina)