The brackets have been released and it is time for March Madness to get started. The tournament technically starts on Tuesday, but the real action begins Thursday, March 17^th and continues through Monday, April 4th. It should be a great tournament as there are no real dominant teams this year. Filling out a bracket can make the tournament even more fun, especially when you put money on it. Here are some tips for creating a successful bracket.

Limit Picking Upsets

We all like to see upsets in the tournament. When George Mason, Butler, and Wichita State each made final fours they were some of the best tournaments. It is highly unlikely though teams seeded higher than four making a final four. It is best to pick higher seeds to make the final four. This will allow you to pick up the key points later in the bracket to help secure your win for the pool.

Don’t Have Bias

Although your favorite team may be Florida, it may not be the best idea to pick them going all the way. You have to be honest with yourself with how far you think they will go. If they are the 8 seed going up against the 1 seed Michigan State it may be best to pick against them. It is tough to pick against your favorite team, but it will pay off in the end when you end up doing better in your bracket.

Location Doesn’t Mean Much

Just because North Carolina gets to play their regional in the South does not necessarily mean they will go to the final four. It is all about matchups. Plenty of teams from the east coast have traveled out to the west coast and made the final four. Do not get too caught up in where a team is playing their games. This is one of the biggest moment of their lives and where they are playing will not have much of an impact on whether a team will advance.

If these simple tips are followed it should help greatly with your bracket. You will do better in your pool and may end up making some money in the end.