March Madness Bracket 101

If you are an NCAA basketball fan and want to make some money during March Madness this year, stop looking for the next “Big Thing” in the tournament.  Stick with the basics.

Most people overanalyze all the brackets, the teams, and the possibilities, so they end up knowing too much info but don’t know what to do with it.

In this tournament I don’t gamble.  I make money, and these are my five tips for you to do the same:

1.  Avoid the Number 16 seeds in the first round. History has told us that not one of the Number 16 seeded teams have beaten a Number 1 team in the first round.  Try to pick several upsets in the first round, but don't pick any of the Number 16 seeds to advance.

2. Look for the upset early.  Keep in mind that at least one first or second seed has lost by the second round in 16 of the tournaments in the past 18 years.  Therefore, the upsets to choose are in the first and second round.  Once the Sweet Sixteen arrives, stop playing the Cinderella teams.

3. Since the tournament expanded from 53 to 64 teams in 1985, only three teams that finished the season ranked No. 1 have won the championship.  Expect Selection Sunday, but don’t get married with the Number 1 teams in the country too soon.

4. Not all Number 1s will make it to the Final Four.  Try to put only two top-seeded teams in the Final Four along with another high seed and perhaps a Cinderella team with experienced players. Your national champion pick doesn't have to be everyone's favorite team, but it helps if it is a high-profile team.

5.  Don’t waste your time.  Don't overreach for the next big story of March Madness;  in the past 12 years, 44 of the 48 Final Four teams were from elite conferences such as the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 or SEC.  Stick with what works.