20 Tips to Help You Fill Out a Winning NCAA March Madness Bracket

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

There’s 24 hours until the field of 68 teams is narrowed down to 64 and the opening tip-off of the second round of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament begins.

You have until Noon on Thursday to get your brackets filled out and submitted.

Here’s 25 Steps to Making Sure Your Bracket is a Winner:

1. You have to pick a #12 seed to upset a #5 seed. There’s no two ways about it. The only #5 team that is a clear winner is Northern Iowa.

Hint: Pick #12 Wofford to upset #5 Arkansas.

2. Absolutely go with one winner of the first four games.

Best bet? #11 BYU to advance to round of 64 and beat #6 Xavier in the first round.

3. Bet AGAINST at least one #2 team.

There’s no team hotter right than #2 Arizona in the West Region so stay away from them. Look to #15 New Mexico State in the Midwest Region or #15 North Dakota State in the South Region for a HUGE upset.

4. Wichita State is going to win. A LOT.

Just write Wichita State right now in your Sweet Sixteen. You’re welcome.

5. Don’t get caught up in the #8 versus #9 games.

All the #8 Seed Teams are winning in the first round this year (Purdue, Oregon, North Carolina State, and San Diego State.)

6. Remember Kevin Ware? Bet the house on #14 Georgia State over #3 Baylor.

Ware was on the 2013 Louisville Cardinal National Championship team. He broke his leg during the Final Four. Ron Hunter, head coach of Georgia State, tore his achilles celebrating their Sun Conference Tournament championship on Sunday. It's a feel good story.

7. No one should want to play Michigan State.

Michigan State lost the Big 10 Championship to Wisconsin thanks in large part to a no-call by the refs. The Spartans were gassed in OT and couldn’t keep up with the Badgers, but should’ve have won the title in regulation.

8. If you’re picking the four hottest teams right now to be in the Final Four, then your final four looks like this:

# 1 Kentucky Wildcats
# 2 Arizona Wildcats
# 5 Northern Iowa
# 3 Iowa State

9. Whatever you do, don’t pick St. John’s.

St. John’s Center Chris Obekpa was suspended for “violating team rules.” Either way, St. John’s loses their leading shot blocker.

10. UCLA Could Win in Round 1 Out of Spite.

No one is giving any love to UCLA making the tourney. And rightfully so. UCLA did NOTHING (but beat Utah and Oregon) to get here. But they’ve been hearing that they don’t belong since Sunday. And you know what they say, Don’t Poke the Bruin.

11. Oklahoma is a #3 seed and NOBODY is talking about them.

Literally, no one. So either the Sooners are upset by Albany (could absolutely happen), or they turn it on and they’re part of that Sweet Sixteen game that’s on the earliest that no one watches.

12. Bet the House on Notre Dame in First Round.

First game of second (ahem, first) round is #3 Notre Dame Versus #14 Northeastern University. If your game is scheduled first, that means the favorite is going to win hands down. Vegas wants people to make money right away, and then spend it.

13. Have Kentucky in your Final Four.

Write them in now. Just do it. It’s happening. It’s up to you if you want them to advance.

14. Here are four teams that are currently under the radar, but will advance - guaranteed.

#6 Providence College - they play a tough schedule all year, and nearly defeated Villanova in the Big East Championship.
#7 VCU - They will crush Ohio State. VCU is too physical and athletic (redundant?) for the Buckeyes to handle.
#6 Butler - It seems like Texas is always invited to these things, but takes off before the band starts. Butler at least gets a buzz going.
#8 NC State - They’re always here. They’ll always win at least one.

15. Look out for North Florida.

If North Florida advances to the round of 64, it will square off against Duke. CBS interviewed the North Florida squad on Sunday and they seem like a confident bunch.

16. The Last Game on Thursday Night Wins.

Remember how we said the first game on Thursday is a guaranteed win. Well, same thing goes for the last game on Thursday. They wont air upsets that late. Pick #4 Georgetown over #13 Eastern Washington.

17. Upsets on Thursday and Friday - These four predictions are squarely based on Lunch time and Prime-time. We have two #2 seeds gone in the first round. Yes, it’s a reach.

Thursday: First Upset - #14 Georgia State over #3 Baylor

Last Upset - #12 Wofford over #5 Arkansas

Friday: First Upset - #15 New Mexico State over #2 Kansas

Last Upste - #15 North Dakota State over #2 Gonzaga

18. The Best Games in the First Round -

Thursday: #12 SF Austin vs #5 Utah

Friday: #15 Belmont vs #2 Virginia

19. Everyone Loves Laettner.

This is going to sound ridiculous (and it is), but everyone is talking about the 30 for 30 ESPN did on Christian Laettner. Duke is a sexy pick right now and you shouldn’t count them out. On paper, they have a cake walk to the Sweet Sixteen. But Duke being Duke, it could easily come crumbling down around them early.

20. Can anyone beat Kentucky?

No. Period. Ok, maybe Arizona in the Final Four. Or Villanova or Duke. But really? There’s not much of a chance of them losing.