The opening round of the 2014-15 computer simulated college football playoffs has been played, and there were a couple of really close games along with two games that were not all that close.
If you have not read our entry from December 8 explaining how and why we perform this computer simulation, read here:
https://piratings.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/2014-15-computer-simulated-playoffs/
In the first round, seeds 5-12 face off on the higher seeds’ home fields, while seeds 1-4 receive byes.
Here are the results of those four games.
#12 Kansas State at #5 Baylor
Final Score: Baylor 38 Kansas State 24
Stats
First Downs: BU 24, KS 19
Rushing: BU 34-188, KS 41-161
Passing: BU 372, KS 211
Passes: BU 25-38-1, KS 18-33-1
Play-Yds: BU 72-560, KS 74-372
After 1st qtr: Baylor 10-0
Half: Baylor 17-7
After 3rd qtr: Baylor 31-10
#11 Auburn at #6 Florida State
Final Score: Florida State 30 Auburn 28
Stats
First Downs: FS 23, AU 25
Rushing: FS: 29-106, AU 48-279
Passing: FS 402, AU 209
Passes: FS 34-46-2, AU 17-27-1
Play-Yds: FS 75-508, AU 75-488
After 1st qtr: Auburn 7-0
Half: Auburn 14-7
After 3rd qtr: Auburn 28-20
#10 Georgia at #7 Ole Miss
Final Score: Ole Miss 35 Georgia 31 2 ot
Stats
First Downs: OM 23, GA 20
Rushing: OM 34-152, GA 42-273
Passing: OM 236, GA 171
Passes: OM 21-37-1, GA 15-27-2
Play-Yds: OM 71-388, GA 69-444
After 1st qtr: Tied 7-7
Half: Georgia 14-10
After 3rd qtr: Georgia 14-13
After 4th qtr: Tied 21-21
After 1st OT: Tied 28-28
#9 Michigan State at #8 Mississippi State
Final Score: Mississippi State 45 Michigan St. 17
Stats
First Downs: MSS 32, MCH 16
Rushing: MSS 49-265, MCH 25-69
Passing: MSS 217, MCH 221
Passes: MSS 19-32-0, MCH 24-43-2
Play-Yds: MSS 81-482, MCH 68-290
After 1st qtr: Mississippi St. 14-0
Half: Mississippi St. 21-3
After 3rd qtr: Mississippi St. 42-10
The Quarterfinals are now set and will be simulated Tuesday, December 16, 2014. Here are the pairings for the Elite 8.
#8 Mississippi State at #1 Alabama
#7 Ole Miss at #2 Oregon
#6 Florida State at #3 T C U
#5 Baylor at #4 Ohio State