Predicting the 2019 NCAA Tournament Bracket with college football teams

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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If the 2019 NCAA Tournament bracket was filled with the 2018 college football teams, the outcome would look much different. Let’s check it out.

It’s been a while since college football season has ended. Recently, we have been fulfilling our school spirit itches by cheering on our teams in the beginnings of March Madness in the conference tournaments.

Now that Selection Sunday has come and gone, we finally have a layout of all the possibilities and matchups we may see in the NCAA Tournament.

We took a moment to explore what kind of games we would see if, instead of basketball teams playing, we replaced the teams with their 2018 football team. Then we predicted the outcomes. While not every school has a college football team, the vast majority of them do. Let’s check it out.

Play-in games

(11) Belmont vs. (11) Temple

The Belmont Bruins do not have a football, so that makes this pick relatively easy. But frankly, Temple fielded a strong team in 2018. Temple finished with an 8-5 overall record, despite the coaching drama. Pick: Temple

(16) North Carolina Central vs. (16) North Dakota State

North Carolina Central is an FCS team that plays in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In 2018, they went 5-6 on the season. North Dakota State, on the other hand, won its seventh FCS National Championship in eight years. Pick: North Dakota State

(11) Arizona State vs. (11) St. John’s

This St. John’s is the one located in New York. Their mascot is the Red Storm. But, they have not had a football team since 2002. And therefore, the Sun Devils are the obvious choice. Pick: Arizona State

(11) Fairleigh Dickinson vs. (11) Prairie View A&M

Fairleigh Dickinson has a Florham campus which has a football team. This is not the same campus as the one that has produced a basketball team capable of competing in the NCAA Tournament. FDU-Florham is a Division III team with a record of 6-4. Prairie View A&M plays in the FCS. Easy choice. Pick: Prairie View A&M