March Madness Bracket Contests

Proceed to the content

"}” data-sheets-userformat=”{"2":14979,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":16316664},"10":2,"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":1907741},"15":"Arial","16":11}”>

Intro to March Madness brackets

A March Madness bracket contest involves participants selecting winners for each potential matchup from the initial round up to the National Championship Game, totaling 63 games. After brackets are submitted, participants hope that the teams they chose win and their predictions prove accurate. The contest’s winner is decided based on the specific scoring system used. There are a growing number of variations on the traditional March Madness bracket challenge, and we will explore some of these different formats later in this article.

If you have previously participated in bracket challenges, perhaps via a sports website with your friends or family, or through someone managing paper copies and the group’s score, you’ll soon have various options. Numerous legal Arizona sportsbooks are set to offer both free and paid bracket contests.

You will have the chance to place bets on the entire bracket or individual games throughout the tournament via some of the most popular sportsbooks in the United States.

Betting on a bracket has its advantages, such as the unpredictability and vast number of potential outcomes. Anyone who has ever taken part in a bracket challenge knows that luck plays a significant role, irrespective of whether you actively follow or wager on college basketball. To increase your chances of winning, numerous bracket contests permit participants to complete more than one bracket.

One of the benefits of participating in a bracket contest is that it keeps all participants engaged in almost every game throughout the NCAA Tournament, particularly in the initial stages. The knock-out structure of March Madness naturally leads to gripping confrontations in a life-or-death situation in every game. The frequent occurrence of upsets is a defining feature of March Madness’ allure.

We should also discuss the potential drawbacks. The scoring system and the number of competitors could potentially ruin your bracket if your champion or even a Final Four team gets defeated in the early rounds. Furthermore, handicapping becomes almost impossible in the later rounds, as there’s no certainty about any participant. Another complexity of the bracket contest is that it doesn’t allow participants to modify their brackets in case a key player from a team they predicted to make a significant NCAA Tournament run gets injured.

Free March Madness bracket contests

Prominent and respected sportsbook brands in the United States, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM, plan to provide their users with complimentary March Madness bracket contests for cash rewards. Apart from the conventional March Madness bracket competitions mentioned earlier, these sportsbooks also present their own contests for participants to bag prizes.

DraftKings’ online sportsbook has provided unique contests for its platform users, such as the $1 million DraftKings Survivor Pool. In this competition, participants select a team to win every day during the NCAA Tournament. If the chosen team triumphs, the participant advances to the next day’s round. However, if the team is defeated, the participant is out of the competition. The same team cannot be chosen multiple times, so if a participant exhausts their team choices, they are also disqualified. The competition’s victor is the last participant remaining.

The BetMGM betting site provides a $2 million perfect bracket challenge where you stand to win $2 million if you manage to record a perfect bracket in their contest. However, the odds of anyone filling out a perfect bracket are incredibly slim. Therefore, last year, BetMGM awarded $100,000 to the person who made the most accurate predictions in the NCAA Tournament games.

Expect sportsbooks in the United States to increasingly innovate their March Madness bet offerings as they compete for new users, offering more attractive formats in the coming years.

How to enter March Madness bracket contests

If you’re interested in participating in an NCAA March Madness bracket contest, the procedure is quite straightforward. Firstly, select a contest that suits your requirements. It’s essential to conduct thorough research on the various options available. While all legal operators adhere to the same state rules, the choice largely depends on individual preference.

Many gamblers establish sportsbook accounts on various sites to secure the most favorable odds. This also provides them with numerous contest options.

After selecting your preferred sportsbook, proceed to download its app, which is probably compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Click on the registration or sign up option and provide your personal details such as name, address, email, phone number, Social Security number, and driver’s license number.

Once you’ve agreed to all the terms and conditions, you’re free to fund your account and start searching for bets you want to place or March Madness bracket contests you wish to join. Now, let the excitement and entertainment commence.

How do March Madness brackets pay out?

Reading the rules and regulations for every bracket contest you participate in is crucial, particularly if there’s an entry fee. The scoring systems for March Madness contests can vary across sportsbooks, but one system seems to be more prevalent. The number of points you get for accurately predicting games in each round of the NCAA Tournament is listed below.

• Round 1: 1 point
• Round 2: 2 points
• Sweet 16 Round 3: 4 points
• Elite Eight Round 4: 8 points
• Final Four, Round 5: 16 points
• Championship Round 6: 32 points

Many operators employ this points system, but there can be variations. For instance, certain scoring systems might provide greater incentives for choosing upsets. Others might assign different point values for each round compared to the system previously outlined. Before participating in the contests, it’s essential to review the March Madness bracket rules. If you have any queries about your sports betting experience, don’t hesitate to contact customer support.

Three March Madness bracket picking pro-tips

Having covered some of the fundamentals of March Madness bracket contests, let’s prepare you for the upcoming NCAA Tournament by offering some tips on completing your bracket.

• If you’re taking part in a group with more than a few people, choosing only the higher seeds is unlikely to make you a winner. Every year in the NCAA Tournament, there are bound to be upsets. If you correctly predict these, not only will you feel brilliant, but you’ll also put yourself ahead of the rest.
• Check out the point spreads in the first round: Initially, pay attention to the predictions made by the oddsmakers about a specific matchup. The NCAA Tournament participants are primarily chosen based on their regular-season performance, not necessarily their current form. For instance, you might see a No. 11 seed that is only a two-point underdog against the No. 6 seed. This is where a calculated gamble could lead to predicting upsets correctly. This could indicate a well-prepared and tough No. 11 seed.
• Choose a top-tier team to claim the victory: Although early round upsets can be thrilling, it’s highly improbable that the tournament’s underdog will make it to the Final Four, not to mention the national title. Stick with the superior teams to secure the championship.

Three rookie March Madness bracket mistakes

Now, let’s examine some pitfalls to avoid with brackets.

• Be cautious about choosing too many upsets: As previously discussed, it’s crucial to carefully select the lower-seeded teams. There’s a delicate balance between choosing too many underdogs and not choosing enough. Generally, teams are given higher seeds for a reason. They are likely to have the upper hand more often than not.
• Avoid choosing a No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed: Only once in NCAA Tournament history has a No. 16 seed team defeated the top seed of the region. This historic upset occurred when the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, triumphed over Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. It was a shock to the sports world because it was unprecedented, and it has not happened since. Therefore, it’s not wise to rely on such rare feats in your yearly strategy.
• Avoid making bets based on emotion: Maintaining objectivity is crucial when selecting teams, whether it’s your favorite team or their rival, especially if you’re aiming to win a bracket. If you genuinely believe your team possesses the skills to advance far in the NCAA Tournament, feel free to support them. However, if they lack the necessary talent, it’s more sensible to predict an early departure for your favorite team.

Second-chance brackets

Sportsbooks attempt to keep as many participants as possible engaged in the NCAA Tournament – even those who may not have had much success in the first weekend – by offering second-chance brackets.

These typically become available once the first and second rounds are completed, when there are less games to select from. This often implies that the prizes may not be as large. DraftKings Sportsbook has presented the Irish Spring 2nd Chance Bracket Contest, beginning with the Sweet 16 and continuing through to the title game. Sportsbooks are consistently seeking additional ways to engage their users, particularly as competition in the industry intensifies.

2022 March Madness schedule and location

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the last two NCAA Tournaments, but it’s anticipated that March Madness will be back to normal in 2022. The First Four is set to occur in Dayton, Ohio, on March 15-16, followed by the first and second round games on March 17-18 and March 19-20, respectively. The games will be held in various cities including Buffalo, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Worth, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Greenville, South Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and San Diego, California.

The Sweet 16 will take place on March 24-25, followed by the Elite Eight on March 26-27. These events will be held in San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Final Four will take place on April 2, followed by the National Championship on April 4, both in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Betting on single games during March Madness

Should you have an interest in placing bets on individual games throughout the NCAA Tournament, you’ll find that sportsbooks provide a wide array of odds covering key categories such as the moneyline, point spread, and total for each game.

March Madness brackets FAQs

When are March Madness brackets due?

Ensure you review the rules of your contest for precise details, as many bracket challenges necessitate the completion of all brackets before the start of the opening round.

How are March Madness brackets scored?

You should verify this with your sportsbook, but the conventional scoring system typically appears as follows:

• Round 1: 1 point
• Round 2: 2 points
• Sweet 16 Round 3: 4 points
• Elite Eight Round 4: 8 points
• Final Four, Round 5: 16 points
• Championship Round 6: 32 points

Is there a maximum number of brackets I can enter?

A limit on the number of brackets allowed for entry in a contest is likely to be set. In the case of participants wishing to submit more than one entry, operators will establish their own regulations.

How many possible outcomes are there for March Madness brackets?

If we assume each team in all 63 NCAA Tournament games has a 50 percent chance of winning, the possible outcomes would amount to 9,223,372,036,854,775,808, also known as 9.2 quintillion.

What are the odds for a perfect bracket?

As previously indicated, predicting a flawless bracket has a 1 in 9.2 quintillion chance. However, DePaul University math professor Jeff Bergen states that with some basketball knowledge and common sense, these odds can be reduced to one in 128 billion. This is largely because the outcomes of the games are not simple 50/50 chances. According to FiveThirtyEight’s website, a savvy college basketball bettor can even decrease these odds to one in two billion. Yet, it remains an exceedingly challenging and improbable feat.

What percentage of brackets are busted after the first round?

Estimating an accurate percentage can be challenging, but if the bracket becomes totally unsuccessful after the first round, it may imply that the individual who completed it wasn’t genuinely engaged in the competition. This individual might have selected several 15th and 16th seeds to progress, or they might have been unfortunate victims of some of the NCAA Tournament’s first round’s most significant upsets.