The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament returns for another year of buzzer-beaters, upsets, Cinderella stories, and so much more. Of course, March Madness also means gambling and NCAA Tournament bracket pools at the best College Basketball betting sites.
Millions of Americans will once again fill out March Madness brackets in anticipation of one of the year’s most exciting sporting events. The burgeoning sports betting industry means more Americans will have money on the festivities than ever before. Other, more casual fans may opt for the cheaper thrills that come with participating in a bracket pool with coworkers, friends, or family.
In all, 68 teams will enter the competition with the same dream of lifting that coveted National Championship trophy. Meanwhile, millions of Americans will dutifully make their bracket picks with the ever-elusive goal of achieving perfection.
No perfect bracket has ever been filled out. Maybe, just maybe, yours will become the first this year. You don’t have to be a diehard college basketball fan to fill out a bracket. All you need is some luck. And, perhaps, a funny team name for your bracket.
Where can you find a bracket? Look no further!
2023 Printable March Madness Bracket
While some providers now give you the ability to fill out your bracket entirely online, there is something to be said about doing your bracket the old-fashioned way by hand. So, we’ve done you the courtesy of providing you with a free, printable, and blank March Madness bracket in anticipation of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Odds-On Favorites
Arguably the most fun aspect of March Madness is the unpredictability. Obviously, upsets are a major part of what makes the NCAA Tournament such a popular event every year. A few teams will enter the Big Dance as betting favorites to win it all, but we don’t always see the No. 1 overall team advance through the tourney unscathed.
The field is a wide-open one heading into the 2023 NCAA Tournament, as well. The following teams are listed among the betting favorites to win it all at Bovada:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Houston Cougars | +500 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +700 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | +800 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | +1000 |
| UCLA Bruins | +1200 |
| Texas Longhorns | +1400 |
| Arizona Wildcats | +1600 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | +1600 |
Houston Cougars (+500)
Despite struggling in the AAC Championship and failing to clinch the No. 1 overall seed, the Houston Cougars are favored to win the national title.
Houston was without the AAC Player of the Year and leading scorer, Marcus Sasser. The senior guard slipped on the floor against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the conference semifinals and did not return to the court.
Sasser is the catalyst for the Cougars on the offensive side. He is averaging 17.1 points per game on 43.9% shooting from the floor. Houston stepped up in his absence against the Bearcats for a 69-48 victory.
Although, it was abundantly clear that Houston needed him against the No. 2 seeded Tigers. With Houston the odds-on favorite to win the national title, oddsmakers must feel confident in Sasser returning.
If Sasser is healthy, then we agree with their odds as the favorite. The Cougars do not have the toughest road in the Midwest Region. There is a clear path for them to run the tables in the Midwest.
After finishing with an impressive record of 31-3, expect Houston to return home with a ticket to the Final Four.
ALABAMA WINS THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP 🐘
The Crimson Tide secure their 2nd conference tournament title in the last 3 years with a victory over Texas A&M! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/jjMYISjthZ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 12, 2023
Alabama Crimson Tide (+700)
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament4. They are, however, not favored to win the national title in April.
Alabama is the second favorite to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at +700. Look for that number to creep up as the public backs the No. 1 overall seed.
These odds might not be around too long. Bet on Alabama sooner rather than later if you like the Crimson Tide to win it all.
Alabama was impressive against the Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC Championship. They blew out the No. 2 seed in the SEC for an 82-63 win.
If Brandon Miller isn’t pulled off the court for legal matters, Alabama will be in good shape. Miller was linked to a deadly shooting in Tuscaloosa in January, but has not been charged.
Miller is averaging 19.5 points per game on 45.9% shooting. The 6’9” freshman has collected 8.2 rebounds per game and 2 assets per game. He is the centerpiece of a talented squad.
After being awarded the top seed, the 29-5 Crimson Tide are going to be a popular pick to win the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Kansas Jayhawks (+800)
The defending NCAA champs have the third-best odds to win the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks are routinely one of the most bet-on teams in March.
However, Kansas backers were left frustrated after a big loss in the Big 12 Championship. Texas pulled away from the Jayhawks in a 20-point, 76-56 final.
Jalen Wilson led all scorers with 24 points, but he received little help from his teammates. Kansas dropped to 27-7 with the loss in the Big 12 Championship.
They had a pedestrian record of 13-5 in the conference this season, but it was against tough competition. Someone other than Wilson will have to step up in March, though. He notched 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.
The Jayhawks were not as consistent as they were last season. If the team disappears around Wilson as we saw on Saturday, Kansas will face an early upset. Gradey Dick must contribute alongside Wilson, which there is a strong likelihood of happening.
This is a wide-open tournament in 2023, but there is probably better value on the board. Nevertheless, it is dangerous to count out Bill Self and the Jayhawks in March.
🌟 One of the most-dominating seasons in Big Ten history. @zach_edey is your PLAYER OF THE YEAR! pic.twitter.com/C8ZVI1TiQc
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 7, 2023
Purdue Boilermakers (+1000)
The Big Ten champions were awarded the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament following a thrilling win over the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Penn State was a late 3-pointer away from spurring a huge upset as the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten. It was a valiant effort from the Nittany Lions, but Purdue was able to hold on for a 67-65 win.
The Boilermakers finished the season with a record of 29-5 and a conference championship. Zach Edey poured in 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win over Penn State.
Everything ran around Edey this season. When he exited the game in the second half against Penn State, the Nittany Lions nearly pulled off an improbable double-digit comeback.
The same could be said for most of their games this season. The 7’4” native of Toronto averaged 22.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. His points around the rim led to a field goal percentage of 60.2%.
Are the Boilermakers too one-dimensional, though? If a team can contain Edey or get him into foul trouble, Purdue will find it tough to reach the Final Four.
Stopping Edey is a large task, but Purdue needs Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith to heat up from the perimeter. Edey will not be able to do it all alone.
How to Fill in Your Bracket
There is more than one way to skin a cat. I’m not sure where that gruesome phrase originated, but the same mantra applies to how to fill out a March Madness bracket.
If you’re filling out your tournament bracket by hand, we recommend doing so in pencil.
You’re likely going to hem-and-haw over a few of the matchups along the way, so having the ability to erase is crucial. It’s also worth noting the games become more valuable as the tournament progresses.
One unconventional path to take is to pick your national champion before filling out the rest of your bracket. Working backwards is a different-yet-intuitive way to help you chart your course. Keeping track of seeding is also important. Obviously, teams with higher seeds tend to be more talented and better suited to make deep runs into the tournament.
This certainly isn’t the be-all, end-all method to picking games, but, generally speaking, the cream tends to rise to the top. Every so often, we’ll see a Cinderella-like run to the Final Four, but those don’t happen with much regularity.
NCAA March Madness Bracket Schedule
The 2023 NCAA Tournament is inching closer to tip-off. The NCAA Tournament opens with the First Four matchups on Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15. There are two tournament opening games on Tuesday, and then two more matchups on Wednesday to complete the field of 64 teams.
The First Round will be played in various cities throughout the country on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. On Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19, the Second Round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament is scheduled.
Following a short break, the Sweet Sixteen is set for Thursday, March 23, and Friday, March 24. Immediately following the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight will be played on Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26.
On Saturday, April 1, the Final Four teams will converge in Houston at NRG Stadium. The last two teams standing will meet at the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship on Monday, April 3.
