Photo courtesy of Arizona State 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 41
(5) Arizona State vs. (12) Tulane
Of Tulane’s 10 losses in 2021, five were by one possession. At times, it seemed like Tulane was cursed to losing games it shouldn’t… Anyways, that’s what those in the writing business call foreshadowing.
Arizona State’s entire offense in this one ran through running back Rachaad White.
He set a career-high for receiving with 93 yards on five receptions and caught a touchdown. He also ran for 78 yards and a rushing touchdown on 22 carries.
Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt was 17-for-27 with 251 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.
Running back Tyjae Spears was like a 5-foot-10 stick of dynamite who ran for 91 yards on 10 carries for the Green Wave.
Down 17-16 with four seconds remaining, kicker Merek Glover was already 2-for-4 on field goals when Tulane sent him out there to try to win it. After Glover missed his first two, freshman Bobby Noel came in to kick a chip shot right before halftime.
Glover connected on a couple midrange field goals on Tulane’s next two drives.
Unfortunately for Tulane, it was not in the cards for the Green Wave. Glover doinked the would-be game-winning field goal off the right upright to end this game.
Much like the 2021 Green Wave were plagued with close and confounding defeats, Tulane would go on to lose this one, 17-16. Arizona State survives and advances.
In the post game press conference, reporters wanted to know if head coach Herm Edwards was disappointed to have won so sloppily in a game that Arizona State probably shouldn’t have.
“You play to win the game, right?” replied Coach Edwards with a smirk.
In the closest matchup thus far, it’s fitting that in our 100 simulations, each team won 50 of them.
Arizona State had the higher average score, though, 23.8-22.1.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (4) Tennessee
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (5) BYU vs. (12) Colorado
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 7/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 11/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 5/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 6/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 7/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 10/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)