Thursday, March 29, 2012

Xbox Playoffs, Part 2a

It's been a while since the first part of the Xbox Playoffs series.  That's why this is only part 2a, instead of a full part 2, because I'm still not done with the next round, but wanted to get something out there.

This time, I'm playing through the tournament suggested by Death to the BCS.  The 16 team format includes 11 conference champions and 5 wildcards.

Here's how the teams were seeded (as provided by the book):
1.) Auburn
2.) Oregon
3.) TCU
4.) Stanford
5.) Wisconsin
6.) Ohio State
7.) Oklahoma
8.) Arkansas
9.) Michigan State
10.) Boise State
11.) LSU
12.) Virginia Tech
13.) UCF
14.) UConn
15.) Miami (OH)
16.) FIU

All of the games were played on the Varsity setting, and the games were played at the home stadium of the higher ranked team.

Here's how round one played out:
FIU - 10 @ Auburn - 49 *
Miami (OH) - 7 @ Oregon - 28 *
UConn - 0 @ TCU - 28 *
UCF - 17 @ Stanford - 14 **
Virginia Tech - 14 @ Wisconsin - 17 **
LSU - 17 @ Ohio State - 14 ***
Boise State - 14 @ Oklahoma - 28 *
Michigan State - 12 @ Arkansas - 17 **

One asterisk for games I played as the winning team, two for the losing team, and three for games I can't remember.  (I took a two month break between rounds.)

The VT loss was especially painful, because it was one of those close losses.  It felt like a real life VT loss.  The Michigan State loss also stung, because I was so close, but couldn't get the team to perform in key moments.

Going into round 2, we were left with seeds 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, and 13.  Not bad with only two upsets.

Arkansas - 24 @ Auburn - 7 *
Oklahoma - 20 @ Oregon - 35 *
LSU - 31 @ TCU - 14 **
UCF - 0 @ Wisconsin - 49 *

The Arkansas game was a lot closer than the score lets on.  It was 3-7 at the half.  It was only by virtue of a couple of key stops and lucky breaks that I was able to regain the lead.  I don't think the computer knew how to program Cam Newton.  It was too easy to stop him.

I think TCU played about like they did in any other tournament I've set up.  When they get up against a good team, they can hang in for a while, but then fall apart.

The Wisconsin game was somewhat of a joke.  There was a stretch in the fourth quarter where UCF threw a pick-6, then fumbled the kickoff return, allowing Wisconsin to get another quick score, and then threw one of those one of those line of scrimmage bounced around picks that a DE was able to run in for a TD.

This sets up the semi-final round, which will be covered in part 2b.

(8) Arkansas @ (5) Wisconsin
(11) LSU @ (2) Oregon

So there is the danger of an all-SEC title game, and it won't even include the conference champion.

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