Photo credit: Tom Lynn/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
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 111
(2) Wisconsin vs. (6) Coastal Carolina
How Wisconsin Got Here: 27-0 win over (15) Southern Mississippi, 45-13 win over (7) Oregon State
How Coastal Carolina Got Here: 37-22 win over (11) Indiana, 24-13 win over (3) Auburn
Coastal Carolina only won 20 of 100 simulations last week vs. Auburn, but it won the one that counted.
Could the Chanticleers get lucky for a second straight week?
Quarterback Grayson McCall sure did what he could to help manufacture another huge upset.
McCall finished 22-for-30 with 269 yards and three touchdowns. He added 48 rushing yards on seven attempts.
On the other sideline, quarterback Graham Mertz struggled for the Badgers. Mertz finished 12-for-23 with 150 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.
Running back Chez Mellusi did what he could to make up for Mertz’s shortcomings on the field, finishing with 124 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Ultimately, being down 24-6 at halftime was a bit too much for a Wisconsin team that did look like it might threaten a comeback.
Coastal Carolina has the magic it needs — at least one more time. The Chanticleers win, 30-20.
In 100 simulations, Coastal Carolina once again did not win a majority. Wisconsin won 61 of them by an average margin of 29.2-26.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (1) Michigan
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Texas A&M vs. (11) Georgia 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, San Diego State, California, UCF, Washington State, Pittsburgh, Oregon State, Florida State, Baylor, NC State, Louisiana, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Auburn, SMU, Wake Forest, Miami, Western Kentucky, Purdue, Arizona State, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kent State, Kansas State, UCLA, Appalachian State
ROUND 3
Iowa, Florida, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Houston, Boise State, Oklahoma State, BYU, Iowa State, LSU, North Carolina, Fresno State, Wisconsin
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 2/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 2/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 3/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma)
Big Ten: 3/14 (highest remaining: 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 6 Western Kentucky, eliminated Day 89)
Independents: 1/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 13 Kent State, eliminated Day 94)
Mountain West: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 7 Fresno State, eliminated Day 109)
Pac-12: 2/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 4/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 2/10 (highest remaining: 6. Coastal Carolina)
