AI Bracket Challenge

Scoring

Round-by-round ESPN scoring

Each settled game shows its own point result inside the bracket. These totals roll up the same 10-20-40-80-160-320 scoring used by ESPN.

First Four02/4 correct · 0 each
1st Round10010/16 correct · 10 each
2nd Round00/0 correct · 20 each
Sweet 1600/0 correct · 40 each
Elite 800/0 correct · 80 each
Final Four00/0 correct · 160 each
Championship00/0 correct · 320 each
Bracket view

ESPN Chalk Baseline

Generated Mar 18, 4:11 PM · ready

1st Round2nd RoundSweet 16Elite 8Final FourChampionshipFinal FourElite 8Sweet 162nd Round1st Round
EAST
1Duke71
16Siena65
Duke
+10
8Ohio State64
9TCU66
TCU
0
5St. John's
12Northern Iowa
St. John's
4Kansas
13California Baptist
Kansas
6Louisville83
11South Florida79
Louisville
+10
3Michigan State92
14North Dakota State67
Michigan State
+10
7UCLA
10UCF
UCLA
2UConn
15Furman
UConn
1Duke
8Ohio State9 TCU
Duke
5St. John's
4Kansas
Kansas
6Louisville
3Michigan State
Michigan State
7UCLA
2UConn
UConn
1Duke
4Kansas
Duke
3Michigan State
2UConn
UConn
1Duke
2UConn
Duke
WEST
1Arizona
16Long Island
Arizona
8Villanova
9Utah State
Villanova
5Wisconsin82
12High Point83
High Point
0
4Arkansas97
13Hawaii78
Arkansas
+10
6BYU71
11NC State11 Texas79
Texas
0
3Gonzaga73
14Kennesaw State64
Gonzaga
+10
7Miami (FL)
10Missouri
Miami (FL)
2Purdue
15Queens (N.C.)
Purdue
1Arizona
8Villanova
Arizona
5Wisconsin12 High Point
4Arkansas
Arkansas
6BYU11 Texas
3Gonzaga
Gonzaga
7Miami (FL)
2Purdue
Purdue
1Arizona
4Arkansas
Arizona
3Gonzaga
2Purdue
Purdue
1Arizona
2Purdue
Arizona
SOUTH
1Florida
16Lehigh16 Prairie View A&M
Florida
8Clemson
9Iowa
Clemson
5Vanderbilt78
12McNeese68
Vanderbilt
+10
4Nebraska76
13Troy47
Nebraska
+10
6North Carolina78
11VCU82
VCU
0
3Illinois105
14Penn70
Illinois
+10
7Saint Mary's50
10Texas A&M63
Texas A&M
0
2Houston78
15Idaho47
Houston
+10
1Florida
8Clemson
Florida
5Vanderbilt
4Nebraska
Nebraska
6North Carolina11 VCU
3Illinois
Illinois
7Saint Mary's10 Texas A&M
2Houston
Houston
1Florida
4Nebraska
Florida
3Illinois
2Houston
Houston
1Florida
2Houston
Florida
MIDWEST
1Michigan101
16Howard80
Michigan
+10
8Georgia77
9Saint Louis102
Saint Louis
0
5Texas Tech
12Akron
Texas Tech
4Alabama
13Hofstra
Alabama
6Tennessee
11Miami (Ohio)
Tennessee
3Virginia
14Wright State
Virginia
7Kentucky
10Santa Clara
Kentucky
2Iowa State
15Tennessee State
Iowa State
1Michigan
8Georgia9 Saint Louis
Michigan
5Texas Tech
4Alabama
Alabama
6Tennessee
3Virginia
Virginia
7Kentucky
2Iowa State
Iowa State
1Michigan
4Alabama
Michigan
3Virginia
2Iowa State
Iowa State
1Michigan
2Iowa State
Michigan
1Duke
1Arizona
Arizona
1Arizona
1Florida
Arizona
1Florida
1Michigan
Florida
Arizona
First Four
West 11
11Texas68
11NC State66
Texas
0
South 16
16Prairie View A&M67
16Lehigh55
Prairie View A&M
0
Midwest 11
11Miami (Ohio)89
11SMU79
Miami (Ohio)
+0
Midwest 16
16UMBC83
16Howard86
Howard
+0
Methodology

How this model filled the bracket

Baseline bracket that advances the higher seed in every matchup.

Philosophy

Minimize variance and benchmark every model against a seed-only strategy.

Upset strategy

None. Chalk never hunts for discretionary upsets.

Championship logic

The highest surviving seed keeps advancing until the bracket is complete.

Key factors

  • Higher seed wins every game
  • No qualitative adjustments
  • Consistent baseline for every round
Decision log

Hover each matchup to read the reasoning

Every entry below is compact by default. Mouse over or focus a note to open the full explanation.

Final FourFinal Four 1

#1 Duke vs #1 Arizona

Picked: Arizona

Hover to inspect
Advanced based on the model's bracket progression.
Final FourFinal Four 2

#1 Florida vs #1 Michigan

Picked: Florida

Hover to inspect
Advanced based on the model's bracket progression.
ChampionshipChampionship

#1 Arizona vs #1 Florida

Picked: Arizona

Hover to inspect
Advanced based on the model's bracket progression.