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Perfect NCAA Tournament Bracket Picks: Small Pools (2024 March Madness)

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Call me fortunate because we finally have a bracket! It’s that time of the year again and at last, we can fill out brackets and let our hopes soar, only to see them dashed almost immediately.

BettingPros will provide ample coverage throughout the week, including creating the perfect bracket for pools of all sizes — small, medium, and large. Whether you’re competing in a public contest with millions at stake, among family and friends, or within your office, I’ve got you covered on filling out your bracket, regardless of the tournament’s scale.

This article focuses on tips for small tournament pools — those with friends, in your office, or any group below 25 participants. The fundamental strategy for these pools is simplicity. While you might miss out on some upsets and Cinderella stories, aim for a bracket with a high floor. With countless ways to fill out a bracket, even going with the favorites (or “chalk”) would likely result in a unique entry. And make sure to check out our 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Optimizer to take down your pools!

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Here are some tips:

Select UConn, Houston, or Purdue as your potential champions: These three teams stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field. They have consistently held high rankings throughout the year and lead in various statistical categories. Over the last 26 seasons, 24 champions have started the tournament with a top-20 offense and a top-40 defense on Selection Sunday according to KenPom. This year’s teams include:

  • UConn (1, 11)
  • Houston (17, 2)
  • Purdue (4, 21)
  • Auburn (10, 4)
  • Arizona (8, 12)
  • Duke (7, 26)
  • Creighton (12, 24)

The champion will likely emerge from this list. Given the advantageous draw for the aforementioned one-seeds, it’s prudent to stick with UConn, Houston, or Purdue.

  1. Conduct thorough research: While this may seem like an obvious strategy, there has never been a better time for researching college basketball matchups. Websites such as KenPom, Haslametrics, EvanMiya, and Bart Torvik provide comprehensive information, rankings, and insights into the sport. Each platform offers unique stats, analytics, and trends that can inform your decision-making process. Doing your own research allows you to take a differentiated approach to filling out your bracket. If you simply Google “best bracket” and follow suit, chances are you’ll end up with a common approach as your peers.
  2. Embrace some upsets but keep it simple: Upsets are almost a guarantee in the first round, particularly in the matchups between 11-6 and 12-5 seeds. Feel free to pick a few upsets here and there, but in the grand scheme of things, they often serve as tie-breakers. While it’s thrilling to cheer for Cinderella teams during the tournament, only a few double-digit seeds typically make it to the Sweet 16. Predicting these teams accurately is challenging, so it’s best to keep your selections straightforward. While chalky brackets might lack excitement, they often prove successful in the end as the cream rises to the top and chalk tends to win brackets.

If you’re truly inexperienced, I have a bracket template that you can copy and paste into your pool. While it leans towards the favorites, it’s straightforward and should provide a solid foundation for winning your bracket pool.

Check out all of our 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket & Betting Coverage >>

More 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Pool Strategy & Picks

Below we provide strategy, advice, and picks to create the optimal NCAA Tournament bracket. And be sure to use our FREE bracket optimizer to build a winning men’s NCAA tournament bracket and take down your contest!

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