Photo courtesy of Texas A&M 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 112
(2) Texas A&M vs. (11) Georgia State
How Texas A&M Got Here: 40-10 win over (15) Ohio, 31-13 win over (7) Florida State
How Georgia State Got Here: 30-17 win over (6) Louisville, 30-10 win over (3) Michigan State
The last two days have seen No. 6 Coastal Carolina and No. 7 Fresno State compete, but No. 11 Georgia State is one of two remaining double-digit seeds. No. 10 Memphis is the other. As far as our Cinderellas go, Georgia State is the biggest Cinderella of the bunch.
Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada did not do too well in this one. Calzada was 16-for-29 with 186 yards and a touchdown. Calzada did score a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak right before halftime.
Thankfully for the Aggies, Georgia State quarterback Darren Grainger also struggled throwing the ball. Grainger finished 10-for-20 with 169 yards and an interception.
Aggies running back Isaiah Spiller ran for 93 yards on 14 attempts.
Panthers running back Tucker Gregg led all rushers with 113 yards on 16 carries.
Unfortunately for Georgia State, all six red zone possessions led to field goals.
In total, 10 field goals were kicked between the two teams.
Texas A&M found the end zone just enough to ensure the clock struck midnight on the tournament’s biggest Cinderella remaining. The Aggies win, 26-18.
In 100 simulations, Texas A&M won 85 of them by an average margin of 30.6-13.4.
Georgia State’s loss leaves the Sun Belt with just Coastal Carolina, who’s already gotten past its third round opponent.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (4) Oregon
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (6) Virginia vs. (7) Texas Tech
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, Georgia State
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: 1/10 (highest remaining: 6. Coastal Carolina)
