How To Pick a Winning March Madness Bracket

As soon as the tournament teams are announced, read sports sites and blogs to get the lay of the land. Look for information on programs’ late-season injuries, winning and losing streaks, and post-season playing history, which may indicate how a team approaches high-pressure elimination games.

Take seeding, or a team’s rank, into account but don’t be a slave to it; there are often upsets, most notably in the no. 5 – no.12 match-ups in the first round. Use your bracket’s point system to maximize your gains, as some award more points based on the winning team’s initial seeding.

Pay attention to teams’ rebounding statistics, which indicate a team’s ability to judge shot quality and capitalize on opponents’ mistakes with second-chance points and fast breaks.

Study teams’ offensive stats; free throws and three-point shooting can be important factors in closing games and overcoming deficits quickly, while assists can indicate the ability to create opportunities and adjust to opponents’ defensive weaknesses, as well as the capacity to work well as a team.

Focus on teams that can play both a zone and a man-to-man defense, and therefore adapt easily to the variety of teams they might face during the tournament.

Try to find out the picks other people in your pool are making and deviate when reasonable; choosing an unpopular team might seem daunting, but if they win, so will you. Remember: no risk, no reward.

When in doubt, go with your gut. And most importantly, root from your heart – the tournament is more fun that way!