Photo courtesy of UCLA 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 33
(4) UCLA vs. (13) Troy
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson had an incredible performance.
He was 25-for-33 with 309 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. He also added 17 rushes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Zach Charbonnet tied Thompson-Robinson in rushing yards with 97. He added a couple rushing touchdowns himself.
Troy’s two leading rushers in BJ Smith and Kimani Vidal combined for just 60 yards on 19 attempts.
Trojans’ quarterback Gunnar Watson had a modest 185 yards on his 22 completions.
UCLA came out hot and Troy never really had a chance to keep pace. The Bruins get the win by a tally of 56-7.
After 100 simulations, Troy was able to win 14 times. UCLA won by an average margin of 32.7-17.9.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (5) Florida vs. (12) Eastern Michigan
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (4) Iowa vs. (13) Colorado State
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 8/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 12/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 7/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 7/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 9/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 11/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)