Welcome toMarch Madness . For the next month , college hoops will dominate the sport earth as the   2025 NCAA tournament takes center stagecoach . 68 teams will compete for a prospect to etch their names into history by winning the national title . If this is your first time watching the tourney , get quick to hear this Logos reiterate constantly : bracket .

occupy out a bracket is becoming a yearly tradition for many Americans . In a resume byThe Associated Press - NORC Center for Public Affairs Research , about one - tail of Americans fill out a men ’s bracket “ every year ” or “ some years . ” A portion of these Americans may not know anything about college basketball . That ’s OK . you could watch all the college basketball in the world , and it might not matter because ultimately , the wall bracket is a game of chance .

Below are some beginner bakshish and deception to come after when fill out your bracket .

How to read the bracket

The above word picture is the 2025 NCAA Division I Men ’s Basketball title bracket . Right now , there are 68 teams list on the square bracket . After theFirst Fourends on Wednesday night , the angle bracket will have 64 squad . The goal is to pick the winner of each plot .

There are four quadrants , or region . Each region has schools outrank from No . 1 to No . 16 . The goal for each schoolhouse is to win their region and get to the Final Four . The part winners on the left and correct will act each other , with the winners strike to the championship . The winner of that game will be the national champion .

allow ’s bet at the West Region ’s first biz ( bottom left on the bracket ): No . 1 Florida ( 30 - 4 ) vs. No . 16 Norfolk State ( 24 - 10 ) . “ No . 1 ” is the seminal fluid , and “ 30 - 4 ” is the team ’s record . No . 1 is the higher seed , so that ’s Florida . you may pick either Florida or Norfolk State to win . However , No . 1 ejaculate rarely lose to No . 16 seeds . No . 1 come are 154 - 2 all - time against No . 16 . The most recent worried victory occur in 2023 when No . 16 Fairleigh Dickinson get the better of No . 1 Purdue .

You ’ll note in some area that there are two squad listed in a matchup . No . 6 . Ole Miss will bring No . 11 San Diego St./No . 11 North Carolina in the South Region . San Diego St. and North Carolina will toy in the First Four . The winner of that secret plan will face No . 6 Ole Miss. You do not have to pick the victor of San Diego State and North Carolina . However , you may pick that winner to vanquish Ole Miss if that ’s your decision .

Where can I complete my bracket?

Be honest 🤣

Fill out as many as you resolve now ➡ ️https://t.co / aa9P9fLwqP#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com / eYx7bP7KVL

& mdash ; NCAA March Madness ( @MarchMadnessMBB)March 17 , 2025

NCAA.comhas a printable and interactive bracket . There are various tournament challenges you could participate for gratis . TheNCAA Men ’s Bracket Challenge , ESPN Tournament Challenge , andCBS Sports Bracket Challengeare some of the more popular internet contests . The wonderful prizes range from award money to next trip-up to the Final Four . The meekness deadline for most pools is before the first biz at 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday , March 20 .

Tips for filling out a bracket

Here's how each high seed has fared in the Round of 64 in late years 🥊 # MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/ZGsQd5ssLj

The objective for every puddle or contest you enter is near the same : pick the achiever for every plot . However , the grading can alter for each competition , so please scan the formula before signing up . by and large speak , players accumulate points in every round for each succeeder . However , more points are normally award for pluck winner in later rounds . In other Scripture , the closer a game is to the interior championship , the more full point usable to win . Knowing this , picking the right paladin and having as many team as possible in the later rounds can be the difference between winning and losing .

What makesMarch Madnessunique from other tournament are the upsets , especially in the first two rounds . An overturn happens when a higher seminal fluid vote out a lower seed . For model , a popular broken pick will be a No . 11 source over a No . 6 cum . Perthe NCAA , a No . 11 seed has defeated a No . 6 seed 61 time ( 39.1 % ) since 1985 . Therefore , pick at least one No . 11 seed to defeat a No . 6 ejaculate is a proficient move . Most upsets come in the first round of drinks — 8.5 per tourney since 1985 .

Do n’t get addicted to picking upsets . The favorites are favored for a reasonableness . The lowest seed to ever make it to theFinal Fouris No . 11 . No . 12 - No . 16 have never made it to the Final Four , so while it would be cool to have the bracket with a No . 13 in the championship , it ’s never happened .

How to watch the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

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Here are the dates for every turn of the NCAA Tournament :

Men ’s March Madness coverage can be establish onCBS , TNT , TBS , andtruTV . Every plot can be stream in theMarch Madness Liveapp using a TV provider . TNT , TBS , and truTV games can be streamed with , while CBS games can be find on .