NCAA bracket cheat sheet: Everything you need to win – Detroit Free Press

An estimated 70 million brackets will be filled out this week for the 68-team NCAA tournament, according to the American Gaming Association.

That’s what you’re up against. So you need to find a way for your bracket to rise to the top.

Thankfully, we’re here to help.

We’ve compiled a cheat sheet of links for you to follow, including a bracket to print, a team-by-team breakdown and analysis courtesy of USA Today Sports, potential Cinderellas, potential busts and more. Everything you need is right on this page.

Let’s get started, shall we?

First things first: Print that bracket! (PDF)

While we’re at this stage, feel free to join our $1 million Michigan.com bracket challenge online. You’ll get to face your favorite Free Press personalities and other fans in the state of Michigan!

Enter the bracket challenge here.

Step 1: Region-by-region breakdown

Breaking down all 68 teams in the NCAA tournament, from Kentucky to Manhattan:

• Midwest region: Can anyone stop Kentucky from reaching the Final Four?

• East region: Virginia should be on upset watch with Michigan State at No. 7.

• West region: Don’t be shocked to see another Wisconsin-Arizona showdown.

• South region: Duke’s the top seed here, but you can’t count out Gonzaga.

Step 2: Get your facts straight

• Bracket fact sheet: USA Today Sports’ Reid Cherner has compiled some quick tips to help you get an edge in your office pool — maybe. For example, did you know that USA Today’s regular season No. 1 team has only won the title four times since 1993?

• Instant takeaways: To no surprise, Kentucky’s the No. 1 overall team. But what else can we gather from the field of 68?

• Inside the match-ups: USA Today Sports goes through the whole field, match-up by match-up, complete with visuals and everything.

• Can anyone beat Kentucky?: A video breakdown of the field. Who’s got the best shot at knocking off the unbeaten Wildcats?

Step 3: Sleepers and busts

Feeling ambitious? You should. There are shocking upsets in the NCAA tournament every year. They call it March Madness for a reason!

• Cinderellas in the making: USA Today Sports’ Steve Berkowitz identifies four teams that could make surprising runs in the NCAA tournament. Who will be the next George Mason? Or Florida Gulf Coast?

• Double-digit seeds to watch: The Big Lead’s Jason McIntyre spies on a few double-digit seeded teams who could make some noise this month — and which high-seeded teams are ripe to be knocked off.

Step 4: Expert predictions

Don’t have time to do your own research and number-crunching? See what our college basketball experts are predicting instead.

• Free Press picks: Our esteemed sports writers make their fearless Final Four and national champion picks.

• USA Today Sports picks: Check out the early brackets for writers Shelby Mast, Nicole Auerbach, Scott Gleeson and Eric Prisbell.

• Nancy Armour: The USA Today Sports columnist explains why Kentucky will win it all.

Contact Brian Manzullo at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @BrianManzullo.

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