The annual NCAA tournament is just around the corner, drawing millions of fans into the exhilarating world of bracket predictions. As participants rush to finalize their selections before the opening games commence on Thursday morning, Yahoo Sports has provided an insightful snapshot of current trends among enthusiasts filling out their men’s and women’s brackets.
Who Will Dominate This Year's March Madness?
With the clock ticking down, anticipation for the NCAA championship grows stronger by the day. Fans across the country are meticulously crafting their picks, hoping to predict which teams will rise above the rest.National Champions on the Horizon: Duke Leads the Men's Race
Despite concerns over Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury, Duke stands tall as the frontrunner for the men’s national championship according to Yahoo users. An impressive 30% of these users foresee the Blue Devils lifting the trophy this season, with over half predicting their presence in the championship game. Two-thirds confidently place them in the Final Four. Duke's dominance in the ACC this year was nothing short of extraordinary. They cruised through the conference with minimal resistance, losing only once while clinching both regular-season and conference titles. Even Flagg's unexpected absence in the final two ACC tournament games due to a twisted ankle hasn't dampened spirits. His anticipated return for Friday's first-round game bolsters optimism among supporters.Florida emerges as the second most popular choice, having earned a No. 1 seed following their SEC tournament victory. Around 20.5% of users back the Gators for the title, with nearly 59% expecting them to secure a spot in the Final Four. Auburn, seeded No. 1 overall, garners about 11% support for winning it all, while Houston rounds off the top contenders with almost 9%.Beyond these front-runners, interest dwindles significantly. Only seven other schools receive more than one percent of national championship votes. Notably, UConn, recent back-to-back champions, captures roughly 2.5% of Final Four hopes.Cinderella Stories: Who Could Surprise Us?
Among potential upsets, Drake commands notable attention, with about 41% believing they'll progress past the first round—a strong showing for a team often labeled as a Cinderella contender. Saint Mary’s also enjoys robust backing in the initial stages, securing nearly 58% support in the first round. Although Gaels’ favor diminishes thereafter, Bulldogs like Drake maintain a respectable 12% likelihood of advancing beyond the opening weekend.Women's Championship: South Carolina Aims for Back-to-Back Titles
On the women’s side, clarity prevails but lacks the decisiveness seen in men’s brackets. South Carolina leads the charge with nearly 29% predicting their repeat as national champions. Their commanding performance against Texas in the SEC finals solidifies their status, although they narrowly missed securing the top overall seed.A significant 56% anticipate South Carolina reaching the championship game, with close to 72% placing them firmly in the Final Four. Following closely, UConn, seeded No. 2, attracts approximately 18% of championship aspirations—marking their bid for a title after nearly a decade. However, less than half (about 44%) see them advancing to the Final Four.UCLA and USC emerge next in popularity regarding championship prospects. Roughly 16% favor UCLA cutting down the nets, while slightly more than 11% lean toward JuJu Watkins and the Trojans. UCLA boasts a strong 65% chance of making the Final Four, trailing only South Carolina in this category. Meanwhile, Texas, another No. 1 seed, secures about 5% of championship forecasts.Underdog Appeal: Can Iowa or Harvard Make Waves?
In the realm of underdog tales, Iowa garners substantial interest, making it to the Sweet 16 in over 32% of brackets. Transitioning from the Caitlin Clark era, which saw consecutive championship appearances, the Hawkeyes remain a fascinating watch despite fewer than 1.5% envisioning them repeating such feats. Harvard, frequently highlighted by experts as a dark horse, fails to capture fan imagination, with merely 22% seeing them survive the first round.As deadlines approach for submitting men’s brackets before Thursday's kickoff and women’s entries prior to Friday's action, strategies vary widely. While some invest deeply in analysis, others opt for automated fills at Yahoo Sports using categories ranging from top seeds and crowd favorites to intellectually stimulating or purely entertaining choices. Given the unpredictable nature of tournaments, occasionally randomness proves advantageous.READ MORE