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How to Make A March Madness Bracket: Scoring & How To Fill Out
Filling out a March Madness bracket is all about strategy, luck, and embracing the chaos of the tournament. Whether you’re aiming for a perfect bracket (good luck with that) or just trying to win your office pool, here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Get a Bracket
You can find official brackets online as soon as Selection Sunday rolls around. Popular sources include:
- The NCAA’s official website
- Sports networks like ESPN and CBS Sports, plus Dimers’ printable tournament bracket predictions
- Bracket contests from sportsbooks and fantasy platforms
Step 2: Understand the Format
- The bracket consists of 68 teams (though most contests start with the 64-team field after the First Four).
- Teams are seeded 1-16 in four regions. Higher seeds are favored, but upsets happen every year.
- The tournament is single-elimination—one loss and you’re out.
Step 3: Pick Your Winners
Each round, select the team you think will win every matchup until you’ve chosen a national champion. Some key strategies:
- Go chalk: Picking No. 1 and No. 2 seeds to go deep is usually a safe bet.
- Embrace upsets: A No. 12 seed almost always beats a No. 5 at some point. Find those Cinderella teams.
- Balance risk and reward: Don’t go overboard with upsets, but don’t play it too safe either.
Step 4: Submit Before the Deadline
Brackets must be finalized before the first round of NCAA Tournament action tips off (usually Thursday at noon ET).
Want a Competitive Edge?
Most people rely on gut instincts, but smarter players look at advanced data and predictions to make their picks. If you're serious about building a winning bracket, check out our expert March Madness betting insights.
Our top betting sites for March Madness this year
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