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 118
(1) Michigan vs. (6) Coastal Carolina
How Michigan Got Here: 20-7 win over (16) Temple, 58-23 win over (9) TCU, 37-10 win over (5) Mississippi State
How Coastal Carolina Got Here: 37-22 win over (11) Indiana, 24-13 win over (3) Auburn, 30-20 win over (2) Wisconsin
Coastal Carolina’s speed kept it alive in this one. The offense frequently was able to get down into the Wolverines’ red zone. But the red zone is what often separates contenders from pretenders.
The Chanticleers were simply unable to break through the Wolverine front. The leading rusher for the Chanticleers was running back Braydon Bennett, who ran for 51 yards on four carries.
Running back Shermari Jones and quarterback Grayson McCall combined for 61 yards rushing on 19 carries.
McCall was able to throw the ball well in this one. McCall finished 22-for-37 passing with 310 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara had a similar day, however. McNamara was 18-for-27 with 289 yards and three touchdowns.
The main difference in this game was being able to score in the red zone and run between the tackles. Michigan running back Hassan Haskins crossed the 100-yard threshold on a 12-yard, game-sealing touchdown. Haskins finished with 108 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
Michigan stayed ahead on the scoreboard by staying ahead of the chains. The Wolverines overpower the Chanticleers, 34-16.
In 100 simulations, Michigan won 73 of them by an average margin of 35-25.7.
With Coastal Carolina’s elimination, the Sun Belt has lost its last member. That means the American Athletic Conference is the only Group of 5 conference that has a team remaining (No. 2 Cincinnati).
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (1) Oklahoma vs. (3) Arkansas
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Oklahoma vs. (3) Arkansas
Updated Bracket
Note: Texas A&M is listed as having beaten Oregon. That is corrected in future brackets.
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, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Coastal Carolina
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 1/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 1/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 2/10 (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: 3/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 0/10 (last remaining was No. 6 Coastal Carolina, eliminated Day 117)