A beginner’s guide to filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket

A Beginner’s Guide to March Madness

It’s that exhilarating time of year again—days grow longer, the sun shines brighter, and around 80 million people obsessively follow their NCAA brackets over three intense weekends.

For newcomers, diving into this frenzy can feel overwhelming, especially without a background in college basketball. What’s meant to be a fun experience can quickly turn into a confusing maze of teams, rounds, and numbers, making it feel more like homework than entertainment. You’re here for the excitement, not to embark on a career in bracketology (yes, that’s a real job). With that in mind, we’re here to walk you through the basics, answering all the questions a first-time participant might have. Seasoned pros, this one’s not for you—but don’t worry, we’ve got advanced strategies to help you dominate your bracket pool.

Understanding the Tournament

The NCAA tournament features 64 teams, divided into four “regions.” These regions aren’t based on geography but rather where the games are played. Each region contains 16 teams ranked from 1 to 16, with matchups set according to rankings—No. 1 faces No. 16, No. 2 takes on No. 15, and so forth. The tournament follows a single-elimination format, meaning one loss and a team is out. Eventually, four regional winners emerge, forming the “Final Four.” From there, two teams battle it out in the semifinals, and the winners face off in the championship game to determine the national champion.

What’s the Deal with 68 Teams?

Good question. You may hear about 68 teams instead of 64 because of the “First Four.” Before the main tournament begins, eight teams compete for the final four spots in the bracket. This mini play-in tournament determines which teams round out the field of 64. The winners advance, while the losers are eliminated before the real madness even begins.

Should I Care About the First Four?

Not necessarily. Some bracket pools include these games, while others don’t. If you missed making picks for them, don’t sweat it. Historically, First Four teams rarely make deep runs, but there have been surprises—like VCU reaching the Final Four in 2011 and UCLA doing the same in 2021.

How Do I Fill Out My Bracket?

The general rule is simple: Higher-seeded teams (No. 1 seeds being the best) have a greater chance of winning. Across 63 tournament games, higher seeds win about 70% of the time. This trend is especially strong for top-three seeds. In fact, 34 of the last 39 champions were seeded No. 3 or higher, with 25 of them being No. 1 seeds (like last year, when No. 1 UConn defeated No. 1 Purdue in the final).

Can I Just Pick the Higher Seed Every Time?

You could, and this strategy—called “picking chalk”—ensures you won’t finish last. However, upsets happen every year. On average, lower-seeded teams pull off about 12 upsets per tournament, most often when teams are ranked closely. Even larger upsets, where a team overcomes a five-spot ranking gap, occur about eight times per tournament. To win your bracket pool, you need to pick the right upsets.

How Do I Predict Upsets?

It’s tricky, and don’t be discouraged if you guess wrong. While top seeds usually advance, upsets are common in the first two rounds. However, betting against No. 1, 2, or 3 seeds early on is risky. No. 1 seeds have only lost to No. 16 seeds twice in history, and No. 2 seeds have lost to No. 15 seeds just 11 times out of 156 matchups.

When selecting an upset, the closer the seeds, the better your chances. A No. 10 beating a No. 7 is far more likely than a No. 14 defeating a No. 3. If you take a gamble on a big upset and it fails, you’ll miss out on potential points from that team in later rounds.

Can I Get Every Pick Right?

Nope. No one ever has, and it’s unlikely anyone ever will.

What If I’m Stuck Between Two Teams?

If you’re torn and rankings don’t help, pick a fun deciding factor. Maybe choose based on mascot strength (Spartans vs. Coyotes?) or which school’s city sounds like a better place to live. A personal favorite? Go with the player who has the longest name. The goal is to have fun!

When Does the Tournament Start?

The action kicks off on Thursday, March 20, with half the teams playing their first-round games that day and the rest on Friday. Winners from Thursday advance to the second round on Saturday, while Friday’s winners play on Sunday.

By the end of the first weekend, two rounds will be complete, cutting the field from 64 teams to 16—known as the “Sweet 16.” This opening weekend is the most exciting part of March Madness, featuring non-stop basketball from morning to night, where your bracket could soar or shatter in real time.

The Sweet 16 starts on Thursday, March 27, followed by the Elite Eight over the weekend. By the next Saturday, only four teams remain—the Final Four. They compete on Saturday, with the championship game taking place on Monday, April 7.

Do I Need to Watch Every Game?

Not at all. The early rounds are thrilling, especially with a group, but watch as much or as little as you’d like. By the Sweet 16, you’ll have a sense of whether your bracket is still competitive. At that point, it’s more fun to follow games where your picks still have a chance. Who knows? You might even discover a favorite player, simply because they saved your bracket from disaster.

Any Final Advice?

Try not to fill out too many brackets. If you spread your picks across multiple entries, a win in one bracket might mean a loss in another, leaving you frustrated. The ideal number? Two—one chosen with logic, the other with gut instinct. That way, you’re happy either way.

And if you make a lot of correct picks? Don’t be shy—bragging rights are part of the fun! After all, the best part of filling out a bracket is talking about it, especially when things are going your way.