Sports bettors usually avoid NCAA tournament brackets as a legitimate money making system. They may engage in betting brackets for fun, but they understand that it’s next to impossible to make cash by betting on the brackets. For those who want to play the brackets, here are a few ideas that you can use in wagering.
Why It’s So Difficult To Win
Think of playing the NCAA brackets as one big parlay. Although you can still win money if you lose some games, it is virtually impossible to go deep into the tournament. If you enter into a bracket contest, do so realizing that you are probably going to lose any cash that you invest.
Round One: Pick Two True Upsets
In round one, you’ll have a tough time picking the games in which the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th seeds play. Also those that offer the 1st through 4th seeds usually feature one or two upsets. The other games often offer a total of about 8 upsets. That means that in the 32 first round games, ten matchups will feature a lower seed beating a higher seed.
Seven and Eights in Round Two
You may have a seven or eight seed in round two. Look for one of each of these to go onto the next round. The 7th seed will either play a 2nd or 15th seed and the 8th will play a 1st or a 16th. Try to choose the rest as logically as you can.
Don’t Choose All Top Seeds
As you make your way through the brackets, do not always choose the top seeds. It helps to know something about each team, but wagering on brackets is a lot like playing bingo. At times, feel free to pick you lucky number, birthday, or street address.
Final Four and Championship
Well, at this point you are either partially right, totally wrong, or, if somehow you were graced when picking your teams, perfectly right. Whatever the case may be, make a logical choice out of the remaining teams. Even then, be prepared to lose.
Luck Be With You
It takes a lot of luck to win cash by playing brackets. Between the tie breaker for the final, which is often getting the totals for the championship correct or the final score right, and the unpredictability of trying to pick winners in a one-game elimination tournament, this type of wager is more akin to keno than sports betting.
Don’t take it too seriously, get ready to lose whatever money you have invested, and if you really do want to make some cash, wager on individual games. If you are betting on March Madness, make sure that you take the time to handicap each game properly. This is a very challenging tournament for any serious sports bettor.