Building a strong March Madness bracket starts with understanding team strengths beyond just rankings. Focus on evaluating conference performance, key player injuries, and how teams handle pressure in high-stakes games. Pay close attention to matchups where size, speed, or defensive intensity could shift the outcome. Joe Fortenbaugh emphasizes that not all 1-seeds are equal—some have deeper rosters or better tournament experience. He suggests identifying potential upsets by looking at under-the-radar teams with consistent performances late in the season.
Round one offers several compelling betting opportunities, especially when higher seeds face tough opponents from competitive conferences. Games involving strong defensive squads against high-scoring offenses can be unpredictable. Fortenbaugh recommends studying recent head-to-head results and how teams perform in similar situations. Avoid relying solely on seed lines; instead, consider momentum, coaching decisions, and statistical trends. A well-informed bracket balances risk with logic, using data and context to guide choices rather than gut feelings alone.