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.

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