Photo courtesy of Kansas 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 17
(2) Baylor vs. (15) Kansas
Conference foes clashed in the first round in this matchup between the Bears and Jayhawks.
Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohannon didn’t throw for a ton of yards, 201, but he did put Baylor in a position to win. On top of those 201 yards, he also threw a couple touchdowns.
Baylor running back Abram Smith took his 17 carries and turned those into a touchdown and 148 rushing yards.
Kansas running back Devin Neal also had a decent day, with 82 yards on 17 carries.
Kansas was able to find the end zone once — on a 33-yard pass from Jason Bean to Jared Casey. That pass made up over one-third of Bean’s total passing yardage.
Baylor’s defense forced several three-and-outs, which it turned into points enough times. Bears win, 30-13.
In 100 simulations, Baylor won 87 by an average margin of 33.7-14.2.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (7) Texas Tech vs. (10) Central Michigan
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) NC State vs. (15) Duke
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 10/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 10/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 9/12 (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)
