March Madness Brackets: Filling Them Out (Legally) and Picking the Winners

2 min readMar 29, 2024

It’s that time of year again! College basketball’s biggest event, the NCAA Tournament, is upon us, and with it comes the thrill (and potential heartbreak) of filling out your bracket. But before you start marking those chalk picks, let’s delve into the world of favorites, betting, and the legality of those office pools.

Who are the Favorites?

While upsets are a staple of March Madness, some teams always seem to rise to the top. Look for powerhouses from conferences like the Big 12, ACC, and SEC to be heavily favored. You can find most brackets with pre-tournament rankings to guide you. Check out CBS Sports’ March Madness Bracket:(https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/bracket/) for an example with rankings.

As of today, March 19, 2024, here are the top college favorites to win the NCAA Tournament based on a combination of factors like pre-season rankings, current performance, and betting odds:

Top contenders:

UConn Huskies: The defending champions and current #1 overall seed, the Huskies boast a strong offense and haven’t lost a game at home all season.
Houston Cougars: Another #1 seed with a balanced attack and a deep bench. While they lost their conference championship game, they remain a force to be reckoned with.
North Carolina Tar Heels: A perennial powerhouse, the Tar Heels are a #1 seed with a veteran team and a knack for clutch performances.

Other teams to watch:

Purdue Boilermakers: The #4 seed in UConn’s region, Purdue is a dangerous team with a high-scoring offense.
Iowa State Cyclones: The #2 seed in the West region, Iowa State has a strong defense and just beat Houston in the Big 12 Championship.
Tennessee Volunteers: A #3 seed with a talented roster, Tennessee could make a deep run in the South region.

And yes, the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky will make a great run, with a possible rematch with Tennessee in the Final!

Resources for Betting Odds:

It’s important to note that these are just a few of the top contenders. For the latest betting odds and a wider range of favorites, you can check out these resources:

Betting on Brackets

Feeling lucky? Betting on brackets can add some extra excitement to the tournament. However, there are some key things to know. First, for most people in the United States, gambling on brackets through unregulated online sites is illegal.

Filling Out Brackets Legally

Here’s the good news: there are plenty of legal ways to get your bracket fix.

Free Online Brackets: Many sports websites and news outlets offer free online brackets to fill out. These are a great way to compete with friends and family without risking any money. Check out options from CBS Sports, ESPN, or NCAA.com.

While researching favorites and stats can be helpful, don’t underestimate the power of a good hunch. After all, that’s what makes March Madness so much fun — anything can happen!