Photo courtesy of USC 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 60
(8) USC vs. (9) Boston College
This game featured just 32 total points and two total touchdowns.
It was a “grind-it-out” game, and the Trojans had the horses necessary to go the distance.
USC quarterback Kedon Slovis was 27-for-37 with 265 yards. Slovis also added a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
But, for USC, it was the running backs who really clinched this one.
The battery of Vavae Malepeai and Keaontay Ingram combined for 135 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
While those numbers might not jump off the page, 67 of those yards came over the last two drives. It would culminate in a dagger of a touchdown from Malepeai to make it a two-score game.
USC’s defense also had itself a day. The USC defense held Boston College to 240 total yards and nine points.
Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec produced the lion’s share of those yards, with 157 passing yards.
USC did what Boston College couldn’t — score a touchdown. USC wins, 23-9.
In 100 simulations, USC won 76 of them by an average margin of 33.3-21.7.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (1) Oklahoma State
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (8) Nevada vs. (9) Marshall
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 5/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 9/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 8/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 9/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 3/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 3/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 2/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 5/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 9/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 12/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)