Today begins the most excellent time of the year as a sports fan. The unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament can get the blood pumping. It’s the closest thing to getting high when you are a sports fan without actually doing a drug. And for many of us, we fill out a bracket each year in hopes to win an office pool or to be that one person to get every prediction right to walk away with a cool one million dollars. But with that said, I realize each year that I fall into the same trap when filling out a bracket. And I want to share the 5 Things that You Are Doing Wrong When Filling Out Your Bracket.
Up first, stop trying to pick that upset. Unless you have a direct line to Doc Brown and get your hands on the DeLorean, chances are it’s not going to happen. Upsets are hard to predict in general, but it seems to be more difficult when it comes to the NCAA tournament. Each year, I always incorporate a Cinderella team to go to the Final Four, and each year my bracket is busted within six games. And for the people who were right about UMBC beating Virginia last year, as impressive as a moment as that was, it was not worth selling your soul.
This one pains me, but your favorite team probably will not win. Technically, they have a 1-68 chance of being National Champions, but the odds are not in your favor. And each year, I look at my team and think this is the year to win it all. And by the elite 8, I am downing my fourth beer and feeding my sorrow hot wings. Filling out two brackets is not the worst idea. Make one of the brackets based on your team winning, and the other with you who think will take it all. No one has to know if you have 73 brackets, as long as one of your brackets is decent, you have a chance.
Analysts are full of shit. I am not going to sugar coat this one. Each year during the selection show, I hear one of the people behind the desks say that this team has a chance to take teams to upset city. And then the tourney starts, and they are dead wrong. The team being hyped gets decimated by 25 points, and you look like a fool for picking that team. Honestly, you have a better chance just randomly putting two teams on a dartboard.
Power Conferences are not the end all be all, but chances are more than likely the Final Four will feature four powerhouses. I am not sure when the last time the Final Four didn’t have one of the major basketball powers be a part of the weekend. But if you bet against the power conferences in all four regions, you will be once bitten, twice shy.
And finally, your bracket is going to lose. Look not everyone can be their wife’s aunt and fill out a fantastic bracket. Your bracket is going to be destroyed possibly after day one, and know that you are not the only one. So, the best option is just watching the magic happen and get over your shortcomings in guessing the outcomes.
But one thing we are doing right, enjoying the tournament. The NCAA Tournament is a fan’s wet dream. The upsets, the moments, the wondering if Barkley is intoxicated, it’s a magical time of the year that I do not want to miss.
