Photo courtesy of Louisiana 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 50
(6) Louisiana vs. (11) East Carolina
Louisiana running back Emani Bailey had three rushes of at least 15 yards. He finished with 70 rushing yards on just eight carries.
Quarterback Levi Lewis was 25-for-37 with 274 yards and two touchdowns. This included three 40-yard completions.
East Carolina quarterback Holton Ahlers was 16-for-28 with 182 yards and a touchdown. Running back Keaton Mitchell had 107 rushing yards on 17 carries.
The big difference here was which team could be more explosive. With Bailey and Lewis’ chunk plays, Louisiana was set up to score some touchdowns.
East Carolina just never hit the big play it needed to win this one.
Louisiana wins this one, 30-7.
In 100 simulations, Louisiana only won 54 of them by an average score of 25.8-23.4.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (3) Penn State
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (7) West Virginia vs. (10) Memphis
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 (OH), Indiana, Louisville, Georgia Tech, East Carolina
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 6/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 11/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 9/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 9/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 4/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 4/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 5/12 (highest remaining: 9. Toledo)
Mountain West: 6/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 9/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 13/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia, 1. Alabama)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)