Photo courtesy of Michigan 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 6
(1) Michigan vs. (16) Temple
The pass defenses for both Michigan and Temple were out in full display.
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara only had 180 passing yards and an interception on 15-for-30 passing. Temple quarterback D’Wan Mathis did not fare much better. He finished with 106 passing yards on 18-for-26 passing.
For both teams, it was the running backs that made the difference. Temple running backs Edward Saydee and Tayvon Ruley combined for 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts.
Michigan running back Hassan Haskins had 213 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Haskins’ performance would ultimately prove to be the difference in this contest.
Michigan wins a low-scoring, “grind it out” game against the Owls, 20-7.
After running 100 simulations, Michigan won 99 of them by a margin of 39.5-7.5. So, this was about what could be expected out of Temple’s offense, but our simulation had a down day for the Wolverines’ offense.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (8) Army vs. (9) TCU
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Oklahoma vs. (16) New Mexico
Updated Bracket
Teams Lost, In Order:
PLAY-IN
Massachusetts, Connecticut
ROUND 1
Akron, New Mexico State, Florida International, Temple
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: 13/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 11/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 12/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 12/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 14/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 10/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)