Photo courtesy of Oklahoma 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 73
(1) Oklahoma State vs. (8) USC
How Oklahoma State Got Here: 44-27 win over (16) Rice
How USC Got Here: 23-9 win over (9) Boston College
This was not Spencer Sanders’ sharpest game.
The Oklahoma State quarterback was 15-for-27 with 148 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
He was also the Cowboys’ leading rusher with 45 yards on 15 attempts.
USC’s ability to force Oklahoma State to throw the ball helped it stick around.
USC quarterback Kedon Slovis was 23-for-37 with 207 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Devin Barlow had 58 yards rushing on just six attempts.
Neither team could run the ball with much efficiency.
Despite the worse quarterback and running back performance, Oklahoma State found a way to pull this one out. Oklahoma State wins, 26-23.
In 100 simulations, Oklahoma State won a minority of them — 44. USC won by an average margin of 26-25.5.
This is the second time in a row where the No. 1 seed won less than half of the 100 simulations but pulled out the single-game simulation.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (4) Tennessee vs. (5) Arizona State
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Clemson vs. (9) San Diego 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, 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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 5/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 7/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 1/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 2/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 1/12 (highest remaining: 13. Kent State)
Mountain West: 3/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 7/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 10/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)