FanPost

Another 2013 Illinois Simulation

Jonathan Daniel

Well it was Friday night, and I really had nothing better to do. Unless you count re-watching Sharknado as something better to do. I figured, why not, I'll run a season simulation on my shiny new copy of NCAA 14 too. Not trying to steal any of Tom's thunder, just adding to what he already published about the EA Sports simulation and how realistic/unrealistic it truly is. And actually, I was surprised by how uncannily similar my simulation results were to Tom's. Below are the standings for both the Leaders and Legends divisions. Illini fans, be happy:

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The only glaring difference between this simulation and the one Tom ran is that Penn State has a winning record here, but were only 5-7 in Tom's. Purdue is in the basement with Indiana, as both tied for last place in the Leaders division. Ohio State was ranked #1 for most of the season, and Wisconsin and Illinois tied for second. Both Tom's simulation and mine predict that Illinois will go 8-4. Here is the Legends division:

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For some reason, my simulation didn't seem to like Michigan as much as Tom's did. They end up finishing only 7-5, though in the last week of the season they lost to Ohio State on a last second field goal, so they very easily could have been 8-4. Iowa again feels the love from EA Sports, and finishes 9-3. Seriously, what's up with this? Northwestern finishes 7-5, unlike Tom's simulation where they went only 3-9. Minnesota is at the bottom looking up in my simulation as well.

My simulation results are pretty similar to Tom's; oddly similar, actually. But here's where it gets uncannily similar.

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Illinois faces 6-6 Iowa State in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston. Both our simulations predict the same record, bowl appearance, and bowl win for Illinois. It is going to be a good year for the Fighting Illini, folks. Guess what the final score of the bowl game was? 50-21. The final score of Tom's bowl game? 52-21.

And in case you're wondering, Ohio State beat Michigan State in the B1G championship game, and Boise State beat USC in the national championship game.

So if nothing else, my simulation is merely confirmation of what Tom's already told us; Illinois will go 8-4 and visit Iowa State in the Car Care Bowl on December 28th, 2013. So buy your tickets now before they're all sold out.

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