Photo courtesy of Utah 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 77
(2) Utah vs. (7) Washington State
How Utah Got Here: 59-17 win over (15) Arkansas State
How Washington State Got Here: 20-17 win over (10) Western Michigan
Over the last two days, we mentioned that the quarterbacks for the winning teams had good games.
We don’t want to sound like a broken record, so let’s change how we phrase it…
Utah quarterback Cam Rising played like a man possessed. That’s different enough.
Rising finished with game-highs in both passing and rushing yards. He was 20-for-32 with 272 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and three interceptions.
He also added 175 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries.
Every snap, it felt like he was about to break off for a huge play against the Cougars’ defense.
Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura was 19-for-35 with 254 yards. He also threw three interceptions, but only threw two touchdowns.
Behind Rising’s eight touchdowns, Utah wins this one convincingly. 70-31, Utes.
In 100 simulations, Utah won 80 by an average margin of 32.3-20.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (3) Wake Forest vs. (6) North Carolina
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Pittsburgh vs. (7) Fresno State
Fair warning, the quarterback play was stellar in that one, too.
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, San Diego State, California, UCF, Washington State
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 4/11 (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: 2/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 5/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 10/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)