5 Traps To Avoid When Filling Out Your March Madness Bracket

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March Madness has arrived, signaling the need to complete your college basketball predictions, as you seek helpful tips for filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket.

Each person has their own concept of a successful strategy when it comes to conquering the 68-team field.

When completing your bracket, it’s common to overanalyze and overcomplicate. To prevent this, here are five tips to avoid making the same mistakes.

1. Be wary of high March Madness seeds

Choosing the top seeds to effortlessly dominate their regions may seem tempting, but it is not a wise strategy.

It is well known that March brings about unexpected outcomes, and it is risky to assume that all the No. 1 seeds will navigate through the challenging NCAA Tournament unscathed.

In 2008, a unique occurrence took place in the Final Four: all four teams were comprised of the top four seeds. Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, and North Carolina successfully navigated through the initial four rounds to achieve this remarkable feat.

In the last 10 NCAA Tournaments, there have been just 13 instances where No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four. While it is acceptable to favor a top seed and predict their success, it is advisable to exercise caution and not become overly enthusiastic about all of them.

Additionally, if you are not completely convinced about the Bulldogs, it would be wise to explore an alternative option for strategic purposes, as Gonzaga is highly expected to be the favored team to win.

2. Don’t be too loyal to your state, or your heart

While March generally brings good news for the state of Michigan, it’s important not to let your fan loyalty cloud your judgment when completing your bracket.

The Wolverines from Michigan have rightfully earned their No. 1 seed in the East Region, though there is undoubtedly a significant concern that stands out for them.

Isaiah Livers is currently sidelined with an indefinite absence due to a stress fracture in his foot. While Michigan has not completely ruled out his participation in the entire tournament, it would come as a surprise if he were to make a comeback.

In the Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday, the team greatly felt the senior forward’s absence as he typically contributes an average of 13.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. This was evident in their narrow 68-67 loss to Ohio State.

Michigan will encounter a significantly more challenging journey to reach the Final Four without the presence of one of their key scorers and esteemed senior leaders.

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For Michigan State, the possibility of another journey to the Final Four appears increasingly unlikely.

In 2011, VCU, a First Four team, managed to achieve an impressive feat by progressing through the tournament. However, Michigan State has not displayed the necessary consistency throughout the year to instill confidence that they can secure five consecutive victories against tournament-worthy opponents. Throughout Big Ten play, the Spartans have been unable to exceed a three-game winning streak.

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3. Don’t look at NCAA Tournament games in a vacuum

When talking about tips for filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket, keep in mind that this event is highly unpredictable. However, it is crucial to have confidence in your chosen winners while filling out the regions.

Remember, the key to winning your bracket pool is not the opening round. It’s all about accurately predicting the Elite Eight and Final Four teams, and ideally, the eventual champion.

In every region, identify the team that instills the highest level of confidence in you and plot out their journey. This approach allows for the possibility of selecting upsets in the remaining March Madness games.

Overthinking is inevitable if you choose to analyze each game separately and dissect styles.

Analyze trends, consider momentum, and evaluate schedules.

While it’s impossible to anticipate a streak of success, it is possible to foresee teams that have faced tough challenges and possess the resilience to overcome any obstacle in the upcoming weeks.

4. Have reasons for picking bracket upsets

While it can be enjoyable to choose upsets, it is not necessarily a guarantee for significant long-term success in your bracket pool.

Limiting your risk can be a viable strategy when choosing an upset.

Direct your attention to the teams that evoke strong emotions within you, and select your upsets accordingly to align with those sentiments.

Take, for instance, your strong conviction towards West Virginia, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region. You firmly believe that the Mountaineers will dominate the first weekend and progress further.

It might be worth considering the upset on the other side of their weekend matchup. If WVU wins their opener, they will potentially face the winner of No. 6 San Diego State and No. 11 Syracuse. Choosing Syracuse as the underdog is a safe bet with minimal risk.

Why not take a contrarian stance and go against the popular opinion that neither team will surpass WVU?

5. Don’t be afraid of finding a Cinderella

Understanding that a team has the potential to make a Cinderella run is not the defining characteristic of effective NCAA Tournament bracket tips. However, the key tip is this: If you possess a strong intuition regarding a double-digit seed’s ability to make an impact, trust your instincts and select them.

Flirting with a Cinderella can truly make a difference in a bracket race, completely changing the outcome in your favor.

As stated in a previous article, it is quite common for the Nos. 11 and 12 seeds to cause upsets in March Madness.

ESPN reports that, on average, approximately 9.97 out of the top 16 seeded teams advance to the Sweet 16 in every tournament.

Out of the 35 NCAA Tournaments held since 1985, a double-digit seed has managed to reach the Sweet 16 in 33 of them. Additionally, in 23 of those tournaments, the Sweet 16 has seen the presence of at least two double-digit seeds.

Winthrop, a No. 12 seed in the South Region, is one of the potential Cinderella teams this year.

The Eagles, with a remarkable 23-1 record this season, are set to take on Villanova, who are seeded fifth. Villanova has encountered a slump, losing three out of their last four games, and to make matters worse, they will be missing their star guard Collin Gillespie due to a knee injury.

If you’re not convinced about Winthrop, seek out a double-digit seed that you have faith in and take a chance on them. It could potentially result in a significant amount of money if your bracket goes well.

Wishing you the best of luck!

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