Photo courtesy of Boise State 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 93
(5) Boise State vs. (13) Hawaii
How Boise State Got Here: 30-14 win over (12) Stanford
How Hawaii Got Here: 33-13 win over (4) Minnesota
Hawaii is tied with Kent State as the lowest ranked team remaining. But will that last?
Unfortunately for the Rainbow Warriors, this is the end of the line.
Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro was 22-for-40 with 235 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Running back Dedrick Parson had 58 rushing yards on 11 carries.
That type of production just didn’t cut it against an offense like Boise State’s.
Quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 19-for-31 with 277 yards and two touchdowns.
His favorite target was receiver Khalil Shakir, who wrecked havoc all game. Shakir finished with 130 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
Boise State kept up an output that Hawaii simply could not match. The Broncos win, 27-14.
In 100 simulations, Boise State only won 58 of them by an average margin of 26.6-24.6.
These were the last two representatives from the Mountain West. Boise State is now all that remains.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (1) Notre Dame
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (4) Kentucky vs. (5) Houston
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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 3/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 3/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 6/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 6/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 6 Western Kentucky, eliminated Day 89)
Independents: 2/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 1/12 (highest remaining: 13. Kent State)
Mountain West: 1/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 3/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 4/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)