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 Four00/0 correct · 0 each
1st Round00/0 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

minimax-m2.5

Generated Mar 19, 4:07 AM · ready

1st Round2nd RoundSweet 16Elite 8Final FourChampionshipFinal FourElite 8Sweet 162nd Round1st Round
FORT WORTH 1
1UConn
16UTSA
UConn
—
UConn's dynasty and 1-seed dominance over 16 seed.
8Iowa State
9Syracuse
Iowa State
—
Iowa State's defensive efficiency frustrates Syracuse.
5Maryland
12Murray State
Maryland
—
Maryland's experience and 5-seed advantage over Murray State.
4North Carolina
13Western Illinois
North Carolina
—
UNC's talent and 4-seed should handle Western Illinois.
6Notre Dame
11Fairfield
Notre Dame
—
Notre Dame's guard trio overwhelms Fairfield.
3Ohio State
14Howard
Ohio State
—
OSU's offensive rating overwhelms Howard.
7Illinois
10Colorado
Illinois
—
Illinois's size inside gives them edge over Colorado.
2Vanderbilt
15High Point
Vanderbilt
—
Vanderbilt's SEC tournament momentum carries over.
1UConn
8Iowa State
UConn
—
UConn's championship DNA handles Iowa State.
5Maryland
4North Carolina
North Carolina
—
UNC's talent edges Maryland in regional clash.
6Notre Dame
3Ohio State
Ohio State
—
OSU's offense carries past Notre Dame.
7Illinois
2Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt
—
Vanderbilt's momentum edges Illinois.
1UConn
4North Carolina
UConn
—
UConn's defense and experience beat UNC.
3Ohio State
2Vanderbilt
Ohio State
—
Ohio State edges Vanderbilt in tight regional semifinal.
1UConn
3Ohio State
UConn
—
UConn's championship DNA carries them to Final Four.
FORT WORTH 3
1UCLA
16California Baptist
UCLA
—
UCLA's defensive versatility smothers California Baptist.
8Oklahoma State
9Princeton
Oklahoma State
—
OK State's physicality upsets Princeton.
5Ole Miss
12Gonzaga
Ole Miss
—
Ole Miss's SEC toughness handles Gonzaga.
4Minnesota
13Green Bay
Minnesota
—
Minnesota's size inside overwhelms Green Bay.
6Baylor
11Nebraska
Nebraska
—
Nebraska's rematch edge over Baylor in close game.
3Duke
14Col. of Charleston
Duke
—
Duke's 3-seed talent overwhelms Charleston.
7Texas Tech
10Villanova
Texas Tech
—
Texas Tech's defense frustrates Villanova.
2LSU
15Jacksonville
LSU
—
LSU's 2-seed and tournament DNA handle Jacksonville.
1UCLA
8Oklahoma State
UCLA
—
UCLA's defensive versatility overwhelms Oklahoma State.
5Ole Miss
4Minnesota
Minnesota
—
Minnesota's size edges Ole Miss.
11Nebraska
3Duke
Duke
—
Duke's talent carries past Nebraska.
7Texas Tech
2LSU
LSU
—
LSU's championship DNA edges Texas Tech.
1UCLA
4Minnesota
UCLA
—
UCLA's defense and rebounding beat Minnesota.
3Duke
2LSU
LSU
—
LSU's experience edges Duke in thriller.
1UCLA
2LSU
UCLA
—
UCLA reaches Final Four with win over LSU.
SACRAMENTO 2
1South Carolina
16Samford
South Carolina
—
South Carolina's depth and 1-seed status too much for Samford.
8Clemson
9Southern California
Southern California
—
USC'sJuju Watkins provides offensive explosion vs Clemson.
5Michigan State
12Colorado State
Michigan State
—
Michigan State's experience edges Colorado State in opener.
4Oklahoma
13Idaho
Oklahoma
—
Oklahoma's 4-seed dominance handles Idaho.
6Washington
11South Dakota State
South Dakota State
—
SDSU's tournament experience upsets Washington.
3TCU
14UC San Diego
TCU
—
TCU's 3-seed talent overwhelms UC San Diego.
7Georgia
10Arizona State
Arizona State
—
Arizona State's guard play edges Georgia in tight game.
2Iowa
15FDU
Iowa
—
Iowa's 2-seed and offensive firepower crush FDU.
1South Carolina
9Southern California
South Carolina
—
South Carolina's depth overwhelms USC.
5Michigan State
4Oklahoma
Oklahoma
—
Oklahoma edges Michigan State in close game.
11South Dakota State
3TCU
TCU
—
TCU's tournament experience edges SDSU.
10Arizona State
2Iowa
Iowa
—
Iowa's offense overwhelms Arizona State.
1South Carolina
4Oklahoma
South Carolina
—
South Carolina's defense edges Oklahoma.
3TCU
2Iowa
Iowa
—
Iowa's high-powered offense beats TCU.
1South Carolina
2Iowa
South Carolina
—
South Carolina reaches Final Four with win over Iowa.
SACRAMENTO 4
1Texas
16Missouri State
Texas
—
Texas's 1-seed and home-state crowd handle Missouri State.
8Oregon
9Virginia Tech
Oregon
—
Oregon's guard play edges Virginia Tech in high-scoring game.
5Kentucky
12James Madison
Kentucky
—
Kentucky's experience handles James Madison.
4West Virginia
13Miami (Ohio)
West Virginia
—
WVU's physical defense overwhelms Miami (Ohio).
6Alabama
11Rhode Island
Alabama
—
Alabama's offensive talent edges Rhode Island.
3Louisville
14Vermont
Louisville
—
Louisville's 3-seed experience handles Vermont.
7NC State
10Tennessee
NC State
—
NC State's tournament DNA edges Tennessee.
2Michigan
15Holy Cross
Michigan
—
Michigan's 2-seed talent overwhelms Holy Cross.
1Texas
8Oregon
Texas
—
Texas's 1-seed dominates Oregon.
5Kentucky
4West Virginia
West Virginia
—
WVU's physicality edges Kentucky.
6Alabama
3Louisville
Louisville
—
Louisville's experience beats Alabama.
7NC State
2Michigan
Michigan
—
Michigan's 2-seed talent handles NC State.
1Texas
4West Virginia
Texas
—
Texas dominates West Virginia to reach regional final.
3Louisville
2Michigan
Michigan
—
Michigan edges Louisville in defensive battle.
1Texas
2Michigan
Texas
—
Texas reaches Final Four with win over Michigan.
1UConn
1South Carolina
UConn
—
UConn's championship DNA edges South Carolina.
1UConn
1UCLA
UConn
—
UConn's dynasty and tournament experience win title over UCLA.
1UCLA
1Texas
UCLA
—
UCLA's defense gives them edge over Texas.
UConn
First Four
Sacramento 2 10
10Virginia
10Arizona State
Arizona State
—
Sacramento 2 16
16Southern U.
16Samford
Samford
—
Fort Worth 3 11
11Nebraska
11Richmond
Nebraska
—
Sacramento 4 16
16Missouri State
16SFA
Missouri State
—
Methodology

How this model filled the bracket

Conservative chalk-heavy approach prioritizing top seeds with calculated upset picks in specific first-round matchups where 10-12 seeds have historically performed well.

Philosophy

Balance seed strength (especially blue-blood programs) with variance reduction. Favor proven tournament teams (UConn, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas) while identifying undervalued mid-major at-large teams with upset potential.

Upset strategy

Target 12-over-5 upsets historically and 10-over-7 in First Four. Look for underdogs with experienced guards and size mismatches. Specifically target Oklahoma State over Princeton, and Colorado State over Michigan State.

Championship logic

South Carolina wins as the most complete team withPaige Bueckers (if healthy) or Iowa's dynamic offense carries them. UCLA's defensive versatility gives them edge if they survive the region. Texas has favorable path to final four.

Key factors

  • Blue-blood program tournament DNA (UConn, SC, LSU, Duke)
  • Matchup-specific upset potential (10-12 seeds vs vulnerable 5-6 seeds)
  • Recent momentum and injury status
  • Coaching experience in March
  • Regional location advantages
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.

First FourSacramento 2 10

#10 Virginia vs #10 Arizona State

Picked: Arizona State

Hover to inspect
Arizona State has more tournament experience and better guard play.
First FourSacramento 2 16

#16 Southern U. vs #16 Samford

Picked: Samford

Hover to inspect
Samford's offensive pace gives them edge in First Four.
First FourFort Worth 3 11

#11 Nebraska vs #11 Richmond

Picked: Nebraska

Hover to inspect
Nebraska's size and experience overcome Richmond's guard play.
First FourSacramento 4 16

#16 Missouri State vs #16 SFA

Picked: Missouri State

Hover to inspect
Missouri State's tournament DNA edges SFA's first appearance.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 UConn vs #16 UTSA

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dynasty and 1-seed dominance over 16 seed.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Iowa State vs #9 Syracuse

Picked: Iowa State

Hover to inspect
Iowa State's defensive efficiency frustrates Syracuse.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Maryland vs #12 Murray State

Picked: Maryland

Hover to inspect
Maryland's experience and 5-seed advantage over Murray State.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 North Carolina vs #13 Western Illinois

Picked: North Carolina

Hover to inspect
UNC's talent and 4-seed should handle Western Illinois.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Notre Dame vs #11 Fairfield

Picked: Notre Dame

Hover to inspect
Notre Dame's guard trio overwhelms Fairfield.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 Ohio State vs #14 Howard

Picked: Ohio State

Hover to inspect
OSU's offensive rating overwhelms Howard.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 Illinois vs #10 Colorado

Picked: Illinois

Hover to inspect
Illinois's size inside gives them edge over Colorado.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 Vanderbilt vs #15 High Point

Picked: Vanderbilt

Hover to inspect
Vanderbilt's SEC tournament momentum carries over.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 South Carolina vs #16 Samford

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
South Carolina's depth and 1-seed status too much for Samford.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Clemson vs #9 Southern California

Picked: Southern California

Hover to inspect
USC'sJuju Watkins provides offensive explosion vs Clemson.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Michigan State vs #12 Colorado State

Picked: Michigan State

Hover to inspect
Michigan State's experience edges Colorado State in opener.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 Oklahoma vs #13 Idaho

Picked: Oklahoma

Hover to inspect
Oklahoma's 4-seed dominance handles Idaho.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Washington vs #11 South Dakota State

Picked: South Dakota State

Hover to inspect
SDSU's tournament experience upsets Washington.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 TCU vs #14 UC San Diego

Picked: TCU

Hover to inspect
TCU's 3-seed talent overwhelms UC San Diego.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 Georgia vs #10 Arizona State

Picked: Arizona State

Hover to inspect
Arizona State's guard play edges Georgia in tight game.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 Iowa vs #15 FDU

Picked: Iowa

Hover to inspect
Iowa's 2-seed and offensive firepower crush FDU.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 UCLA vs #16 California Baptist

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's defensive versatility smothers California Baptist.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Oklahoma State vs #9 Princeton

Picked: Oklahoma State

Hover to inspect
OK State's physicality upsets Princeton.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Ole Miss vs #12 Gonzaga

Picked: Ole Miss

Hover to inspect
Ole Miss's SEC toughness handles Gonzaga.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 Minnesota vs #13 Green Bay

Picked: Minnesota

Hover to inspect
Minnesota's size inside overwhelms Green Bay.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Baylor vs #11 Nebraska

Picked: Nebraska

Hover to inspect
Nebraska's rematch edge over Baylor in close game.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 Duke vs #14 Col. of Charleston

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's 3-seed talent overwhelms Charleston.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 Texas Tech vs #10 Villanova

Picked: Texas Tech

Hover to inspect
Texas Tech's defense frustrates Villanova.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 LSU vs #15 Jacksonville

Picked: LSU

Hover to inspect
LSU's 2-seed and tournament DNA handle Jacksonville.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 Texas vs #16 Missouri State

Picked: Texas

Hover to inspect
Texas's 1-seed and home-state crowd handle Missouri State.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Oregon vs #9 Virginia Tech

Picked: Oregon

Hover to inspect
Oregon's guard play edges Virginia Tech in high-scoring game.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Kentucky vs #12 James Madison

Picked: Kentucky

Hover to inspect
Kentucky's experience handles James Madison.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 West Virginia vs #13 Miami (Ohio)

Picked: West Virginia

Hover to inspect
WVU's physical defense overwhelms Miami (Ohio).
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Alabama vs #11 Rhode Island

Picked: Alabama

Hover to inspect
Alabama's offensive talent edges Rhode Island.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 Louisville vs #14 Vermont

Picked: Louisville

Hover to inspect
Louisville's 3-seed experience handles Vermont.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 NC State vs #10 Tennessee

Picked: NC State

Hover to inspect
NC State's tournament DNA edges Tennessee.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 Michigan vs #15 Holy Cross

Picked: Michigan

Hover to inspect
Michigan's 2-seed talent overwhelms Holy Cross.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 UConn vs #8 Iowa State

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's championship DNA handles Iowa State.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Maryland vs #4 North Carolina

Picked: North Carolina

Hover to inspect
UNC's talent edges Maryland in regional clash.
2nd RoundGame 3

#6 Notre Dame vs #3 Ohio State

Picked: Ohio State

Hover to inspect
OSU's offense carries past Notre Dame.
2nd RoundGame 4

#7 Illinois vs #2 Vanderbilt

Picked: Vanderbilt

Hover to inspect
Vanderbilt's momentum edges Illinois.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 South Carolina vs #9 Southern California

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
South Carolina's depth overwhelms USC.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Michigan State vs #4 Oklahoma

Picked: Oklahoma

Hover to inspect
Oklahoma edges Michigan State in close game.
2nd RoundGame 3

#11 South Dakota State vs #3 TCU

Picked: TCU

Hover to inspect
TCU's tournament experience edges SDSU.
2nd RoundGame 4

#10 Arizona State vs #2 Iowa

Picked: Iowa

Hover to inspect
Iowa's offense overwhelms Arizona State.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 UCLA vs #8 Oklahoma State

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's defensive versatility overwhelms Oklahoma State.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Ole Miss vs #4 Minnesota

Picked: Minnesota

Hover to inspect
Minnesota's size edges Ole Miss.
2nd RoundGame 3

#11 Nebraska vs #3 Duke

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's talent carries past Nebraska.
2nd RoundGame 4

#7 Texas Tech vs #2 LSU

Picked: LSU

Hover to inspect
LSU's championship DNA edges Texas Tech.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 Texas vs #8 Oregon

Picked: Texas

Hover to inspect
Texas's 1-seed dominates Oregon.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Kentucky vs #4 West Virginia

Picked: West Virginia

Hover to inspect
WVU's physicality edges Kentucky.
2nd RoundGame 3

#6 Alabama vs #3 Louisville

Picked: Louisville

Hover to inspect
Louisville's experience beats Alabama.
2nd RoundGame 4

#7 NC State vs #2 Michigan

Picked: Michigan

Hover to inspect
Michigan's 2-seed talent handles NC State.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 UConn vs #4 North Carolina

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's defense and experience beat UNC.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 Ohio State vs #2 Vanderbilt

Picked: Ohio State

Hover to inspect
Ohio State edges Vanderbilt in tight regional semifinal.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 South Carolina vs #4 Oklahoma

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
South Carolina's defense edges Oklahoma.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 TCU vs #2 Iowa

Picked: Iowa

Hover to inspect
Iowa's high-powered offense beats TCU.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 UCLA vs #4 Minnesota

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's defense and rebounding beat Minnesota.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 Duke vs #2 LSU

Picked: LSU

Hover to inspect
LSU's experience edges Duke in thriller.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 Texas vs #4 West Virginia

Picked: Texas

Hover to inspect
Texas dominates West Virginia to reach regional final.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 Louisville vs #2 Michigan

Picked: Michigan

Hover to inspect
Michigan edges Louisville in defensive battle.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 UConn vs #3 Ohio State

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's championship DNA carries them to Final Four.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 South Carolina vs #2 Iowa

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
South Carolina reaches Final Four with win over Iowa.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 UCLA vs #2 LSU

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA reaches Final Four with win over LSU.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 Texas vs #2 Michigan

Picked: Texas

Hover to inspect
Texas reaches Final Four with win over Michigan.
Final FourFinal Four 1

#1 UConn vs #1 South Carolina

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's championship DNA edges South Carolina.
Final FourFinal Four 2

#1 UCLA vs #1 Texas

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's defense gives them edge over Texas.
ChampionshipChampionship

#1 UConn vs #1 UCLA

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dynasty and tournament experience win title over UCLA.