yeah, i get it...no, this is year two for us (not everyone else; just us). the thing that got my motor running was last year we were told it was random drawing of seeds (1's first, then 2's, etc.) to fill the brackets, and then this year was told it was that way again, but then later told after the brackets were posted it's the same bracket from last year.
the confusion came with the fact that we were misinformed from the beginning. if the brackets and seeding structure is the same from year to year, then like you said, sometimes it works favorably, and other times not so favorably.
I can assure you the brackets were not manipulated to screw the Spartans. Don't know how long you have been in the INFC (I am assuming at least 4 years) but every year something similar happens in at least one of the grades. Yeah it sucks for Bixby but sometimes the bracket falls good for a club or team and sometimes falls bad. Been on both sides.