Photo courtesy of Ole Miss 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 20
(3) Ole Miss vs. (14) Georgia Southern
This was a rare game where the quarterbacks were each team’s leading rusher.
Ole Miss’ Matt Corral was 18-for-29 with 184 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and one interception. He added 114 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Georgia Southern’s Justin Tomlin was 11-for-32 passing with 99 yards and an interception. He also had 12 rushing yards on three carries.
The credit goes to Ole Miss’ defense. To hold a team like Georgia Southern to 99 passing yards and its leading rusher to only 12 total yards, the Eagles never really had a chance.
Thanks largely to Corral and the Rebels’ defense, Ole Miss wins, 27-0.
In 100 simulations, Georgia Southern only squeaked out one single win and lost by an average margin of 45.9-7.6.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (6) Virginia vs. (11) Georgia Tech
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (3) Michigan vs. (14) UTEP
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 10/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 10/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 9/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 10/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 12/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 6/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)