Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh 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 14
(2) Pittsburgh vs. (15) Charlotte
Sometimes, you can look at a player’s stat line and know how the game went.
If you looked at either quarterback Kenny Pickett’s stat line or wide receiver Jordan Addison’s stat line, you’d know exactly how this game went.
Kenny Pickett was 39-for-46 with 579 passing yards and eight passing touchdowns. Jordan Addison hauled in 15 receptions for 273 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
Charlotte never stood a chance. Quarterback Chris Reynolds did what he could, going 21-for-34 with 244 yards, a passing touchdown, and two interceptions.
But as far as this specific simulation was concerned, it was all Panthers.
Pitt absolutely trounced Charlotte in this one, 65-10.
Not every simulation was like that, however. In 100 simulations, Charlotte did find a way to win 10 of them. The average margin of these 100 games was 42.5-19.1.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (7) Fresno State vs. (10) Tulsa
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Wisconsin vs. (15) Southern Mississippi
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 10/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 10/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 11/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 10/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 11/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 12/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 7/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)
