March Madness is one of the most exciting times in sports. Just about everyone fills out a bracket based off of things like favorite teams, mascots, color, or even a coin flip. Some people like to fill brackets out for fun, but many people enter pools and hoping to win the big bucks.
So, it would be nice if there was some secret way to finish first, right? Well, maybe there is. Here are four tips that will help you win your bracket pool:
1. Do NOT pick Kentucky to win it all.
WHAT?! BLASPHEMY! Is Kentucky the best team in college basketball? Sure looks like it. So, know what that means? The majority of people are going to pick them! As I am writing this, 49.6-percent of brackets are picking Kentucky to win it all on ESPN.com.
The only way a person wins your bracket pool with Kentucky winning is if they have an amazing first two rounds (this is assuming Kentucky does in fact win it all). Even if you bleed blue and are fully convinced Kentucky is going to win, to win your pool, you will probably need to get creative.
A possible replacement winner: Villanova (Yes, I do go to Villanova, but this will be as unbiased as possible). Only 3-percent of ESPN brackets are picking Villanova to win it all, and only 28-percent even have them in the final four. This is a team with TWO losses in a very good Big East. The team is a one seed for a reason. They play good team basketball, and although they don’t have any stars, a different player is capable of scoring 20 every night. That’s hard to game plan for.
2. Remember what I said about Kentucky? Well, stay away from Duke as well.
While not as big a favorite as Kentucky, everyone always goes all in for Duke. 53.2-percent of ESPN brackets currently have Duke in the final four. Along with that, Kentucky-Duke is the most popular championship combination by wide margin. So, for the same reason for not picking Kentucky to win it all, stay away from Duke as well.
A possible replacement final four team: Iowa State. While I think Duke has one of the more favorable paths of the one seeds, the Elite 8 could pose some trouble for the Blue Devils. Iowa State is hot at the right time after winning the Big 12 tourney, and Duke is not one the better defensive teams in the country.
3. Keep in mind a team’s last 10 games.
There are a lot of numbers out there that supposedly determine how good a team is. But what may be most telling are the last 10 games. This plan isn’t perfect, but I think it is a good indicator of first round upsets or teams you should not have making far runs. You want to pick a team that is playing well and in a groove, not one that is struggling.
Higher seeded teams playing well: Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona
Higher seeded teams struggling: Utah, West Virginia, Louisville
4.Take a play-in winner to win a game.
No, not a 16 seed. Every year since the First Four started, one of the winners has won at least one game. Three of the four winners have made the Sweet 16. The trick is picking the right one. You can see who looks better in the First Four, who matches up best, or hey, why not check the last 10 games! Either way, you want to make sure you pick one of these 11 seeds in their first round game, and if you’re up for it, slot them into the Sweet 16.
Suggestion: Providence is the safer six seed with Kris Dunn running the show, so I would feel better with them moving on over Xavier, despite a run to the Big East Championship game.
There you have it: the secret to winning your bracket pool! Despite whether you are convinced it will Kentucky over Duke in the final, or you think Utah was a top 10 team this year, they have a run in them, you need to be strategic to win your bracket pool.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
