Photo credit: Tony Walsh/Georgia 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 123
(1) Georgia vs. (3) Texas
How Georgia Got Here: 34-16 win over (16) Akron, 34-23 win over (9) Toledo, 33-13 win over (4) Iowa, 27-20 win over (3) Penn State
How Texas Got Here: 44-13 win over (14) Old Dominion, 38-31 win over (6) Western Kentucky, 36-17 win over (2) Iowa State, 30-14 win over (1) Clemson
Georgia is at its best when Stetson Bennett can work underneath and over the middle, especially to tight end Brock Bowers, and the running backs can keep the Bulldog offense ahead of schedule.
Unfortunately for Texas, the Longhorn defense was not able to throw Georgia off of its game, because the Bulldog offense was efficient.
Bennett finished 22-for-29 passing with 236 yards and two touchdowns. That efficient performance is in stark contrast to Texas quarterback Casey Thompson, who was 18-for-30 with 177 yards and an interception.
On the ground, Bijan Robinson struggled for Texas. Robinson finished with 51 yards on 14 carries. The leading rusher for the Longhorns was actually Roschon Johnson, who had a nice game — 69 yards on seven carries.
Through the air, Xavier Worthy did what he could to keep the Longhorns in this, but his 92 yards on nine catches was not nearly enough. Bowers led the Bulldogs with a team-high 68 receiving yards.
By a not-so-narrow margin of 37-9, Georgia has punched a ticket to the Final Four. The Longhorns go out, not with a bang — but with a whimper.
In 100 simulations, Georgia won 89 by an average margin of 35.7-19.7.
With Texas’ loss, the Big 12’s title hopes land squarely on the shoulders of Oklahoma. The Sooners will face fellow No. 1 seed Michigan in the final game of this round.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (2) Utah vs. (4) Oregon
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (4) Tennessee vs. (8) Maryland
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, Virginia, Memphis
ROUND 4
Penn State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Clemson
ROUND 5
Texas
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 0/11 (last remaining was No. 2 Cincinnati, eliminated Day 120)
ACC: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 1 Clemson, eliminated Day 121)
Big 12: 1/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma)
Big Ten: 2/14 (highest remaining: 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 6 Western Kentucky, eliminated Day 89)
Independents: 0/7 (last remaining was No. 1 Notre Dame, eliminated Day 119)
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: 2/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 0/10 (last remaining was No. 6 Coastal Carolina, eliminated Day 117)
