Photo courtesy of Oklahoma 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 7
(1) Oklahoma vs. (16) New Mexico
So far, none of the 16-seeds have had much luck offensively to muster up more than seven points against the 1-seeds.
That would hold true in this game as well.
New Mexico quarterback Terry Wilson did have a good completion percentage of 71.4% — 10-for-14. The unfortunate news for the Lobos is that Wilson only was able to throw for 78 yards.
Compare that to Caleb Williams’ performance of 19-for-29 for 308 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, and we can guess how this one ended up.
New Mexico was also never able to get it going on the ground either. Its leading rusher was Aaron Dumas, who put up 49 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks added 170 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
New Mexico’s offense was simply unable to keep up with the offensive onslaught of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma would go on to win 52-7 in a game that was never really a contest.
In 100 simulations, Oklahoma won 98 of them by an average score of 41.3-5.5.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (8) UAB vs. (9) South Carolina
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Notre Dame vs. (16) Bowling Green
Updated Bracket
Teams Lost, In Order:
PLAY-IN
Massachusetts, Connecticut
ROUND 1
Akron, New Mexico State, Florida International, Temple, New Mexico
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: 13/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 11/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 11/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 12/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 10/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)