Every March, college basketball takes center stage for a three-week whirlwind known as March Madness. This single-elimination tournament, culminating in the crowning of a national champion, transcends the sport itself, becoming a cultural phenomenon that captivates the nation. For basketball fans, it’s the best time of the year, with dozens of games being played each day in the early rounds.

At the heart of the frenzy lies the bracket – a grid where diehard fans and casual spectators predict the winner of each game, vying for bragging rights, office pool glory and if they’re lucky, a payout. But for someone who hasn’t watched college basketball or ever filled out a bracket before, the whole process can feel a bit overwhelming. Should you pick the #1 seeds to go all the way? How do you account for upsets? You’ll have to do a bit of research before you can shoot your shot. This guide is here to help you make sense of the madness.

Understanding the Tournament

Forget Cinderella stories – March Madness is practically built on them! Sure, teams might battle their way through conference championships to snag a coveted spot in the tournament. But there’s also a committee keeping a close eye on the season, ready to hand out “at-large” bids to teams that deserve a shot at glory.

Once the field is set, things get interesting. Each region – East, West, South and Midwest – gets its teams ranked 1 through 16, with the higher seeds usually considered the powerhouses. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. March Madness is famous for upsets, where lower-ranked teams pull off unexpected victories that leave everyone cheering (or groaning, depending on your bracket). It’s that unpredictable element that makes the whole thing so thrilling.

Defending champions UConn (31-3), Houston (30-4), North Carolina (27-7) and Purdue (29-4) are the number-one seeds this year, and will likely be chosen to make the Final Four in most brackets. Mere hours into Day 1 of the tourney, we got our first upset. No. 11 Duquesne, a small, private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh defeated No. 6 BYU 71-67.

According to ESPN, out of more than 22 million brackets submitted on their site, only 576,089 perfect brackets remain through the first handful of games. Losses by #8 Mississippi State and #6 BYU wrecked the most brackets, combining to destroy nearly 18.5 million perfect brackets.

Understanding college basketball odds can be a valuable tool if you plan on betting on the games. Reputable sportsbooks like FanDuel or DraftKings release point spreads, money lines and over/unders for each game. Keep in mind though, that while college basketball odds offer insights, upsets happen! Don’t rely solely on the numbers; consider factors like injuries, team momentum and recent performance. A team on a winning streak, even if an underdog, might be a smart pick.

Filling Out Your Bracket

Whether you plan on filling out a bracket online, or for your work’s competition, there are some strategies to keep in mind while making your selections.

• Seeding: While upsets happen all the time, higher seeds tend to win more often. Use them as your foundation, but don’t be afraid to sprinkle in some potential upsets based on your gut feeling or recent team performance.

  One of the most popular upsets is the 12 versus 5 matchup. But don’t just go and pick all four No. 12 seeds to win. According to ESPN, at least one No. 12 seed has defeated a No. 5 seed in 84% of tournaments.
  Likewise, it may be tempting to pick a 16-seed to upset a 1-seed, but these upsets are incredibly rare and considered monumental achievements. There have only been two instances where a 16-seed defeated a 1-seed in the history of March Madness (2018 when the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) defeated the Virginia Cavaliers and 2023 when the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights pulled off a stunning upset against the Purdue Boilermakers).

• Matchups: Look at how teams from different conferences might fare against each other. Will a high-scoring Big Ten team like Purdue overwhelm a more defensive-minded squad from the ACC like Virginia? Or maybe a scrappy mid-major known for giant killers can pull off a stunning upset. Knowing a team’s style is like having a secret weapon in your bracket-building arsenal. Most websites are treasure troves of stats, showing you how teams stack up against the big dogs (think Top 25 opponents). This intel is gold. See how a team performs under pressure against the best – it can be a major clue for who might advance in the tournament.
• Conferences: Pay attention to which conferences are historically strong. Teams from these conferences might have a slight edge, especially in the early rounds. The Big Ten, ACC and SEC are perennial powerhouses. According to the NCAA, since 1985, two conferences stand above all others: the ACC and Big East, with 10 and 8 championships, respectively. The next best conference in the Big Dance is the SEC with 6 titles, followed by the Big Ten with 3 and Pac-12 with 2. When in doubt, select a team to win it all from the ACC.

Beyond the Bracket

March Madness is more than just filling out a bracket – it’s a full-blown basketball bonanza! It’s about the electric atmosphere, the buzzer-beaters that leave you speechless, and the underdog teams (Go Duquesne!) defying the odds and making magic happen. Here’s how to dial up your March Madness experience:

• Watch the Games: Soak up the drama by catching the games live. The energy is contagious, and who knows, you might even learn some new tidbits about the teams you picked (bonus points for impressing your friends!).
• Join a Pool: Add some friendly competition (and maybe even some bragging rights) by joining a bracket pool with your crew. It’s a great way to bond over shared victories (and commiserate over those heartbreaking upsets).
• Follow the Experts: Sports analysts often make their picks public. While not foolproof, their insights can offer valuable perspectives, especially for newcomers. Many analysts make their brackets public so you can even base your picks on your favorite commentator.
• Embrace the Madness: The unpredictable nature of March Madness is what makes it so thrilling. Enjoy the wild swings, the Cinderella stories and the last-second heroics that make this tournament unforgettable.