💤 SLEEPER PICKS to Win March Madness 🏀

Is March Madness the best sporting event of the year?

Fans and bettors alike want the first day of the NCAA Tournament to be called a national holiday.

We still have about 48 hours before that, but we’ll enjoy some preliminary action in Dayton, Ohio, with the First Four of both the men’s and women’s tourneys.

While we’ll have First Four betting tips at our CBB picks page, let’s focus on the big picture. Get rolling on your office pool — we swear we’re not just picking by colors and mascots — and your bets. 

📋 BACK OFFICE BUZZ: THE RUNDOWN 3/19/24

• Get Your Brackets!

• Need Stats to Know? One Word: KenPom

• Our Main Pick to Win the Whole Darn Thing

• Navigate the Regional Chaos

🖨️ Print Your Brackets

​⬇️ Download our Men’s and Women’s March Madness brackets.

🔍 Find All Our March Madness Men’s Tourney Tips

🔗 Bookmark our full men’s March Madness Betting Guide.

⚠️ Remember the KenPom Rule

Ken Pomeroy’s game-changing analytics have helped bettors and bracket pundits with their uncanny ability to distill how good teams really are in a 351-school Division I.

KenPom stats have played a heavy hand in determining who cuts down the final nets of the season:

🧠 START YOUR MARCH MADNESS PICKS

Final Four & National Champion Picks

Our featured March Madness expert Adam Kramer is pivoting off the popular favorites:

Why Tennessee Will Defeat Baylor for the NCAA Tournament Championship

As we saw last season, the bracket rarely goes as planned. And after an upset-filled conference championship weekend, expect that theme to continue into the tournament.

Tennessee knows plenty about that upset-filled chaos. The Vols were upended early in the SEC Tournament although they ripped off a slew of quality wins down the home stretch of the regular season. Playing in the manageable Midwest, look for Tennessee to get right. 

Conversely, Baylor is positioned to get past North Carolina and Arizona in the West. The Bears navigated the brutal Big 12, showcasing plenty of promise along the way. The Bears will conquer that region before taking down UConn.

It’s not the final many are predicting although it’s the one we’re settling on. 

Tennessee will emphatically conquer college basketball.

• Check back Tuesday afternoon for our full March Madness bracket predictions.

🔮 Region Predictions

Get to know the favorites, busts, and best picks for all four 16-team sub-brackets:

East Region

No. 1: UConn (No. 1 overall)

Sure, the Huskies remain in prime position to repeat as CBB national champions, but they were not treated cordially by the selection committee by heading what might be the toughest quarter of the bracket.

If you’re looking to bet an alternate powerhouse in this surprisingly tough draw, our Will Schwartz advises you to look toward the south:

“If you want to get ahead of the hedging on that UConn bet or would simply like to shake things up, bet on Auburn to win the East. The fourth-seeded Tigers are actually the fourth-best team in the country, per KenPom rankings and field goal percentage differential, and sit fifth by NET rankings. Auburn has the misfortune of UConn standing in their path to the Elite Eight – but could have the Huskies on upset alert.” 

• Read our full East Region preview.

South Region

No. 1: Houston

The Cougars remain one of the most frequently bet teams to win the tournament. But we’re focusing on one of the best Cinderella candidates.

(12) James Madison

The Dukes — with a remarkable 31-3 record — have emerged as a worthwhile underdog in bracket pools after their strong season, including an upset over Michigan State and a dominant performance in the Sun Belt tournament. 

Since February, they've maintained an unbeaten streak, showcasing a high-powered offense that surpassed 80 points in seven of their last eight games. Ranked in the top 60 in offensive metrics by KenPom, they’ll legitimately challenge Wisconsin, which struggled in the Big Ten's regular season. 

Following their continuous success and scoring ability, a win could set up a historic clash with fourth-seeded Duke.

• Check how far JMU can go in our South Region preview.

Midwest Region

No. 1: Purdue

Despite losing to the 16th seed Fairleigh Dickinson last year, Purdue charged its way back to a No. 1 seed in 2023-24. But should you trust Zach Edey’s Boilermakers to reach the Final Four?

This team “has a good draw and knows how to win on the road, going 8-3 in that split this year.” The mystery school is also 6-4 against nationally ranked opponents and carries more profitable odds with a near equally strong advanced metrics profile as Purdue’s.”

• Find out about our Midwest best bet in our Midwest Region preview.

West Region

No. 1: North Carolina

Ani Sridhar contends that the most controversial selection for top seed in this Madness might take a back seat to a more strongly regarded second fiddle:

Arizona to Win West Region (+190) • DraftKings Sportsbook

The Wildcats have NCAA Tournament demons from last year when they fell to the No. 15 Princeton Tigers in the first round. The addition of ex-UNC guard Caleb Love has brought veteran point-guard play and a strong interior presence. 

The Wildcats also run an eight-man rotation, so their starters are not fatigued at the end of the game. This team is poised to make a deep run this year. 

• See the Cinderella to back in our West Region preview.

Stay tuned for more March Madness tips leading up to the Thursday tipoff, including:

•  ⛹️‍♀️ Women’s Tourney Predictions

• 💻 March Madness Simulator

• 👠 Top 5 Cinderellas

• ✅ Game-By-Game Predictions