Photo courtesy of Florida 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 36
(5) Florida vs. (12) Eastern Michigan
If Eastern Michigan were to win, it knew it would need a great game from quarterback Ben Bryant and to force Florida to beat it with quarterback Emory Jones.
Jones was 16-for-31 with 208 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 35 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Bryant was 32-for-46 with 360 yards and two touchdowns.
Bryant’s favorite target in this one was unquestionably receiver Hassan Beydoun, who caught 13 passes for 140 yards.
What ultimately helped Florida overcome Bryant outplaying Jones was the running game.
Eastern Michigan’s leading rusher was running back Samson Evans, who ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Florida’s leading rushers were Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis. They each had stat lines of 58 yards on 10 carries.
Eastern Michigan was able to hang around, but a late Emory Jones rushing touchdown gave Florida all it needed. Florida wins, 31-24.
In 100 simulations, Florida won 96 of them by a wide margin of 42.4-17.1. The 31-24 game above was one of the closest simulations.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (4) UCLA
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (5) Kansas State vs. (12) Northwestern
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 8/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 12/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 6/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 7/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 7/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 11/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)