Photo courtesy of 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 30
(4) Kentucky vs. (13) Navy
Kentucky kicker Matt Ruffolo went a perfect 4-for-4, all from 35 yards or farther. He earns player of the game honors for Kentucky.
Kentucky had a good game across the board, though.
Quarterback Will Levis was 19-for-29 passing with 250 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was the beneficiary of over half of Levis’ passing yards with 137 yards receiving.
Running back Kavosiey Smoke had 80 rushing yards and the touchdown that was a dagger late in the fourth quarter.
Navy’s leading rusher, Carlinos Acie, had 51 rushing yards a touchdown. But four Midshipmen had at least 30 rushing yards.
Quarterback Tai Lavatai was one. He also added 65 passing yards with a 87.5% completion percentage.
It was a pretty standard win where Kentucky was in control of from the beginning. Wildcats win, 26-7.
In 100 simulations, Kentucky won 90 times, by an average margin of 31.9-11.7.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (5) Houston vs. (12) Florida Atlantic
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (4) Nebraska 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
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 8/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 6/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 8/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 9/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 11/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 6/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)