TOP 5 TIPS FOR FILLING OUT YOUR BRACKET

1) Work backwards
First-round games are worth one point.
Final Four^® games are worth 16 points (!) each. Those can make or break your bracket, so start with them, and then worry about the opening round.

2) Don't go chalk
The 1 seeds are the most likely team to make it to the Final Four, but that doesn't mean you should pick all of them to make it. That's only happened one time in the history of the tournament. So throw some upsets in there.

3) Pick between 10 and 16 upsets
The modern tournament has been around for 35 years. In 27 of those tournaments, there have been between 10 and 16 upsets. In all 35 years, there has been an average of about 12.7 upsets. So don't be shy.

4) Don't pick a 16 seed
No 1 seed is safe after UMBC, right?
Wrong. It's a huge risk to get rid of a 1 seed in the first round. Historically, no team has a better chance to make it to the Final Four or win the championship. Don't jeopardize your bracket for the shot to get one opening-round game right.

5) Do pick dogs over cats
OK, this one may not be the best picking strategy, but if you want to pick based on mascot showdowns, dogs really are your best friend. They boast a 37-28 record.