Photo credit: Grace Bradley/Kentucky 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 94
(4) Kentucky vs. (5) Houston
How Kentucky Got Here: 26-7 win over (13) Navy
How Houston Got Here: 23-14 win over (12) Florida Atlantic
This was a really well-rounded offensive performance for both teams.
The teams’ leading receivers combined for 309 yards and 54% of the game’s receiving yards.
Kentucky’s leading receiver was Josh Ali, who finished with 139 receiving yards on four receptions.
Houston’s leading receiver was Nathaniel Dell, who finished with 170 receiving yards on 11 receptions.
Ali and Dell were exactly where their quarterbacks needed them to be when it mattered most.
Houston quarterback Clayton Tune was 24-for-37 passing with 291 yards and a touchdown.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was 18-for-23 with 284 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Houston running back Alton McCaskill had 93 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. had 100 yards on 21 carries.
Ultimately it was the late Levis interception that set up McCaskill for a 12-yard go-ahead touchdown. Houston wins a close one, 30-23.
In 100 simulations, Kentucky won 65 by an average margin of 28.9-22.1.
With Kentucky’s loss, the SEC is now down to 50% of its teams remaining. Only the Big 12 has more than 50% of teams remaining.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (1) Oklahoma
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (5) Mississippi State vs. (13) Kent State
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
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: 7/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 4/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)
