This blog is usually reserved for the NBA, not collegiate ball. But with March Madness upon us, I simply couldn't resist this.
So check out the ten tips that will help you win your NCAA tourney pools after the jump.
As an avid sports fan, there aren't many things that come close to winning your respective NCAA basketball tournament pool. Having the best bracket amongst your peers will not only earn you some serious bragging rights, but probably a few bucks on the side.
So to help you make your bracket a winner, here are ten tips you should follow in filling out that fateful piece of paper:
1. Do not send all four #1 seeds to the Final Four.
This is the top rule you should keep in mind while penciling-in your bracket.
Even though the four #1 seeds are ranked as the best squads in the nation, they almost never collectively end up as the last remaining teams. In fact, the four #1 seeds have all reached the Final Four only once in the tourney's history. (2008: Kansas, North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA)
2. Send at least one #1 seed to your Final Four.
I'm throwing this tip in because of the past and the present.
Let's start out with the past:
History dictates that at least one #1 seed will reach the Final Four. Since 1939, each #1 seed has missed the Final Four only two times. Syracuse, Kentucky, LSU, and DePaul missed in 1980 and Duke, Memphis, Villanova, and Connecticut in 2006.
And for the present:
These four #1 seeds each have a considerable chance at going very deep in this tournament. The Duke Blue Devils are the defending champions, the Pittsburgh Panthers are in a very weak region, and you cannot deny the talent and depth of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Kansas Jayhawks.
3. Be weary of throwing two #1 seeds in the Championship Game.
Only six times have two #1 seeds played each other in the tournament's final game:
1982: North Carolina and Georgetown
1993: North Carolina and Michigan
1999: Connecticut and Duke
2005: North Carolina and Illinois
2007: Florida and Ohio State
2008: Kansas and Memphis
4. Don't pick the top 16 teams as your Sweet 16.
Only once has all the 1,2, and 3 seeds reached the Sweet 16. This occurred in 2009 when North Carolina defeated Michigan State for the title.
5. Don't pick a #16 seed to upset a #1 seed.
Never has a #16 seed upset a #1 seed in the first round of the Big Dance. Since it's inception in 1985, #16 seeds are 0-104 against #1 seeds.
It's like pitting the varsity team against the freshman team in a high school. The varsity team will ruthlessly destroy the freshman since they are on a totally different talent level.
6. Can't decide between #8 or #9? Then flip a coin.
These matchups have proven to be almost even since the 64-team tournament began 26 years ago. #8 seeds are a combined 48-56 against #9 seeds in the first round.
7. Pick at least one #12 seed to upset a #5 seed.
Since 1985, all four #12 seeds have fallen in the first round only three times. (1988, 2000, 2007)
8. Don't be afraid to have an all-Big East Final Four.
The Big East Conference is sending an all-time record of 11 teams to the Big Dance. Although each team is not a definite championship threat, they are all tough and are all battle-tested.
A Final Four including Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Connecticut is certainly not out of the question. More legitimate options include Louisville and possibly St. John's.
9. Don't pick a #2 seed or lower to defeat three #1 seeds.
Only once has a non-#1 seed defeated three #1 seeds in the same tournament.
(#4 Arizona defeated Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky in 1997.)
10. If undecided on a close matchup, go with your gut.
Going with your initial pick always seems to prevail. If you have a gut-feeling on one team in a matchup, go for it.
If it doesn't pan out, don't worry. You only have a one in 147.57 quintillion chance of picking a perfect bracket. Unless it's very late in the tournament, losing one game won't kill your chances.
That being said, here is my Final Four:
#3 Syracuse
#1 Duke
#1 Kansas
#1 Pittsburgh
Championship Game: Duke defeats Kansas 76-71
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