Get Ready for March Madness! Here's How to Fill Out Those Brackets
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College basketball fans are gearing up for the most exhilarating event of the year: March Madness! The NCAA men's basketball tournament offers excitement at every turn—and at the heart of the frenzy lies the bracket challenge, where fans compete to predict the outcome of each game and ultimately crown a champion. Brackets are a blank canvas waiting to be filled with predictions, both of matchups between favored teams and inevitably, a few upsets. That's what makes it so thrilling!
But for those who are joining the madness for the first time, filling out a bracket can be pretty daunting. After all, there's 68 teams vying for glory and so many combinations to consider. That's why we've put together this guide on how to fill out a March Madness bracket! We've got everything you need to navigate the tournament challenge— including a printable bracket template so you can record your picks and easily track every twist and turn.
Of course, you can go with your heart, but you can also take a more strategic approach to the challenge! Either way, we'll walk you through the process of completing your bracket, from understanding seeding to identifying potential Cinderella stories. Plus, tips and tricks to maximize your chances of success. So, print your brackets, grab your pens, and get ready to cheer on your chosen teams!
How the March Madness Bracket Is Made
Before diving into the chaos, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the basics of the tournament. The NCAA men's tournament consists of 68 teams divided into four regions, each seeded from 1 to 16. Teams are selected, seeded, and announced on Selection Sunday which takes place on March 17. Teams will then compete in an elimination format where the winner of each game will advance to the next round, leading up to the national championship.
As for play, the tournament kicks off with the First Four. This refers to the play-in games that take place before March Madness begins in earnest. These rounds consist of two games between the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers and two games between the four lowest-ranked, at-large bids to determine the last four teams to qualify for the main 64-team bracket. During the first two full days of play, that field of 64 teams will whittle down to 32. Over the next two days, the competition is trimmed to the Sweet 16. During the second week of the tournament, teams will compete for a spot in the Elite Eight then the Final Four. In the final week of the tournament, the surviving teams will battle it out for the crown of college basketball.
How to Play the March Madness Bracket Challenge
Along with the excitement that comes from watching the action-packed games, even more fun comes from fans filling out bracket forms to guess the order of the 64 teams as they make their way through the tournament, culminating with the big winner.
The main idea behind the bracket challenge? Choosing your teams! Seeding is the biggest factor here as higher-seeded teams typically have an advantage over lower-seeded opponents and traditional powers will often rise to the top. That said, March Madness got its name for a reason! Dramatic upsets are a hallmark of the tournament, so don't be afraid to go with your gut and choose a potential Cinderella team. Striking a balance between high-risk, high-reward picks and safer selections is key to a successful bracket. You'll also want to pay attention to conferences. Teams from power conferences may have faced tougher competition through the season, but mid-major teams can often take the tournament by surprise.
If you really want to strategize, you can take some time to research each team's strengths and weaknesses, key players, coaching styles, and even check out recent performances. Even then, your bracket is likely to get busted! After all, the tournament is unpredictable by nature. According to NCAA, the odds of filling out a bracket with the winner of every game correctly picked is just 1 in 9.2 quintillion! Madness, right? If you're participating in a March Madness bracket pool, you can up those odds by filling out multiple brackets using different strategies and experimenting with different combinations of favorites and upsets.
But ultimately, once the ball is tipped, anything can happen! So, your best bet is to just enjoy the ride!
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