Here are five tips looking at all regular season data dating back to 2002 to help you win your office or family bracket. Keep in mind a 9 seed defeating an 8 seed is not considered an upset. Good luck with the March Madness!
1. Want to pick a team with a seed of 10 or higher? Keep these stats in mind: Of teams with a 10 or higher seed, only three teams have won four games in the tournament and only five teams have ever won three games. Of these teams, no team was higher than a 12 seed.
2. For teams in weaker conferences (conference RPI greater than 10), it is more difficult to tell how well they will play against stronger teams. To get a better sense of their strength as a team, look at the out of conference games that they play at the beginning of the season. Even if they lose, if it’s a close game or they limit the number of points scored by the other teams, that may indicate that they are a potential cinderella team.
3. Seed Stats: 76 percent of upsets are by 10, 11, or 12 seeds (27 percent by 12 seeds alone)
4. One-third of lower-ranked teams who win in the first round are ranked within the top 30 offensively — 55 percent were ranked within the top 50.
5. Stats of winning teams – in the past 14 years, every national champion except one was a 1, 2, 3 seed. The exception was Connecticut, a 7 seed. Every winner has been within the top eight best-or-strongest conferences. Every winner has been ranked within the top 25.
Content from, 5 Bracket Tips
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