Photo credit: Mackenzie Miles/Georgia 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 115
(1) Georgia vs. (3) Penn State
How Georgia Got Here: 34-16 win over (16) Akron, 34-23 win over (9) Toledo, 33-13 win over (4) Iowa
How Penn State Got Here: 31-27 win over (14) UNLV, 31-17 win over (6) Louisiana, 47-10 win over (10) Memphis
We are on to the fourth round — otherwise known as the Sweet 16 for this tournament.
After a 310-yard performance yesterday, could Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson repeat that level of production against the 2021 national champions?
Not exactly. Dotson still finished with 97 yards and a touchdown, but it was by no means the type of performance the Nittany Lions needed.
Quarterback Sean Clifford finished 16-for-26 with 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Thankfully for Penn State, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett was worse.
Bennett finished 15-for-33 with 163 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The key difference here was the running back production.
Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh earned player of the game honors for his 122 yards on seven carries.
Unfortunately for Penn State, its leading rusher, Keyvone Lee, only ran for 31 yards on nine carries.
Georgia wins 27-20 in a nail-biter to advance to the Elite Eight.
In 100 simulations, Georgia won 86 of them by a margin of 29.9-15.2.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (1) Clemson vs. (3) Texas
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (8) Maryland vs. (7) Texas Tech
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, Houston, Boise State, Oklahoma State, BYU, Iowa State, LSU, North Carolina, Fresno State, Wisconsin, Georgia State, Virginia, Memphis
ROUND 4
Penn State
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 1/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 1/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 3/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma)
Big Ten: 2/14 (highest remaining: 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 6 Western Kentucky, eliminated Day 89)
Independents: 1/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 13 Kent State, eliminated Day 94)
Mountain West: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 7 Fresno State, eliminated Day 109)
Pac-12: 2/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 4/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 1/10 (highest remaining: 6. Coastal Carolina)