How to Create Your Own March Madness Bracket

Every March, the NCAA men's basketball season culminates in a highly publicized basketball tournament, in which the top college basketball teams in the nation compete for the national championship. Making and following a bracket and trying to predict the winners of each tournament game has become a popular activity among March Madness fans.

Instructions

  1. Make a March Madness Bracket

    • 1

      Watch the Selection Sunday show to learn which teams have made it into the NCAA tournament. Selection Sunday takes place the Sunday before the tournament begins, typically the first Sunday in March.

    • 2

      Print out a bracket. Once the teams to play in the NCAA tournament have been announced, a starter bracket becomes available on ESPN.com. This bracket will already have the first round games, which are announced on Selection Sunday, filled in. The rest of the spots on the bracket will be blank.

    • 3

      Decide which teams you think will win each first-round tournament game, and record your selections on your bracket.

    • 4

      Based on your first round game picks, determine which team will win each second-round game and record these selections on your bracket.

    • 5

      Repeat step four for each round of the tournament, through to the championship game.

    • 6

      Select a championship winner, and determine what the point spread will be between the two teams in the championship game. Your bracket is now complete. All blank spaces should be filled in with your winner choices for each round of games.