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

mistral-large-3-675b-instruct-2512

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 dominance and depth overpower UTSA.
8Iowa State
9Syracuse
Iowa State
—
Iowa State's size and shooting edge in mid-major matchup.
5Maryland
12Murray State
Maryland
—
Maryland's balanced scoring too much for Murray State.
4North Carolina
13Western Illinois
North Carolina
—
UNC's athleticism and transition game overwhelm Western Illinois.
6Notre Dame
11Fairfield
Notre Dame
—
ND's guard play and efficiency outmatch Fairfield.
3Ohio State
14Howard
Ohio State
—
Ohio State's defense stifles Howard's offense.
7Illinois
10Colorado
Illinois
—
Illinois' size and rebounding edge in tight game.
2Vanderbilt
15High Point
Vanderbilt
—
Vanderbilt's scoring depth outpaces High Point.
1UConn
8Iowa State
UConn
—
UConn's dominance and depth too much for Iowa State.
5Maryland
4North Carolina
North Carolina
—
UNC's athleticism and guard play edge Maryland's consistency.
6Notre Dame
3Ohio State
Ohio State
—
OSU's defense disrupts Notre Dame's offensive flow.
7Illinois
2Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt
—
Vanderbilt's scoring depth edges Illinois' rebounding.
1UConn
4North Carolina
UConn
—
UConn's dominance edges North Carolina's guard play.
3Ohio State
2Vanderbilt
Ohio State
—
OSU's defense overwhelms Vanderbilt's scoring depth.
1UConn
3Ohio State
UConn
—
UConn's dominance and depth edge Ohio State's defense.
FORT WORTH 3
1UCLA
16California Baptist
UCLA
—
UCLA's balanced scoring overwhelms California Baptist.
8Oklahoma State
9Princeton
Oklahoma State
—
OSU's guard play edges Princeton's methodical offense.
5Ole Miss
12Gonzaga
Ole Miss
—
Ole Miss' defense disrupts Gonzaga's offensive flow.
4Minnesota
13Green Bay
Minnesota
—
Minnesota's rebounding and size edge Green Bay.
6Baylor
11Nebraska
Nebraska
—
Nebraska's defense stifles Richmond's halfcourt game.
3Duke
14Col. of Charleston
Duke
—
Duke's talent and athleticism overpower Charleston.
7Texas Tech
10Villanova
Texas Tech
—
TTU's defensive intensity edges Villanova's offense.
2LSU
15Jacksonville
LSU
—
LSU's guard play and transition attack overwhelm Jacksonville.
1UCLA
8Oklahoma State
UCLA
—
UCLA's balance and depth edge Oklahoma State's guard play.
5Ole Miss
4Minnesota
Ole Miss
—
Ole Miss' defense flusters Minnesota's offensive flow.
11Nebraska
3Duke
Duke
—
Duke's talent and athleticism overpower Nebraska's defense.
7Texas Tech
2LSU
LSU
—
LSU's transition attack edges Texas Tech's defensive intensity.
1UCLA
5Ole Miss
UCLA
—
UCLA's balance and depth edge Ole Miss' defensive grit.
3Duke
2LSU
Duke
—
Duke's talent and athleticism edge LSU's transition attack.
1UCLA
3Duke
Duke
—
Duke's talent edges UCLA's balanced scoring.
SACRAMENTO 2
1South Carolina
16Samford
South Carolina
—
SCAR's defense and depth too much for First Four winner.
8Clemson
9Southern California
Clemson
—
Clemson's balanced attack edges USC's inconsistency.
5Michigan State
12Colorado State
Michigan State
—
MSU's guard play and experience edge in 5-12 game.
4Oklahoma
13Idaho
Oklahoma
—
Oklahoma's size and rebounding overwhelm Idaho.
6Washington
11South Dakota State
Washington
—
Washington's offensive firepower outpaces South Dakota State.
3TCU
14UC San Diego
TCU
—
TCU's defense disrupts UC San Diego's rhythm.
7Georgia
10Arizona State
Arizona State
—
ASU's experience and efficiency edge Virginia.
2Iowa
15FDU
Iowa
—
Iowa's offensive prowess too much for FDU.
1South Carolina
8Clemson
South Carolina
—
SCAR's defense and depth overwhelm Clemson.
5Michigan State
4Oklahoma
Michigan State
—
MSU's guard play and experience edge Oklahoma's size.
6Washington
3TCU
TCU
—
TCU's defense disrupts Washington's offensive rhythm.
10Arizona State
2Iowa
Iowa
—
Iowa's offensive firepower edges Arizona State's efficiency.
1South Carolina
5Michigan State
South Carolina
—
SCAR's defense and depth too much for Michigan State.
3TCU
2Iowa
Iowa
—
Iowa's offensive firepower edges TCU's defensive disruption.
1South Carolina
2Iowa
South Carolina
—
SCAR's defense and depth overwhelm Iowa's offense.
SACRAMENTO 4
1Texas
16SFA
SFA
—
SFA's guard play and efficiency edge First Four winner.
8Oregon
9Virginia Tech
Oregon
—
Oregon's versatility and size edge Virginia Tech.
5Kentucky
12James Madison
Kentucky
—
Kentucky's defense and rebounding edge James Madison.
4West Virginia
13Miami (Ohio)
West Virginia
—
WVU's press and scoring balance edge Miami Ohio.
6Alabama
11Rhode Island
Alabama
—
Alabama's scoring depth edges Rhode Island's defense.
3Louisville
14Vermont
Louisville
—
Louisville's experience and defense edge Vermont.
7NC State
10Tennessee
NC State
—
NC State's balanced attack edges Tennessee's inconsistency.
2Michigan
15Holy Cross
Michigan
—
Michigan's size and efficiency overwhelm Holy Cross.
16SFA
8Oregon
Oregon
—
Oregon's versatility edges SFA's guard play.
5Kentucky
4West Virginia
Kentucky
—
Kentucky's defense and rebounding edge West Virginia.
6Alabama
3Louisville
Alabama
—
Alabama's scoring depth edges Louisville's experience.
7NC State
2Michigan
Michigan
—
Michigan's size and efficiency edge NC State's consistency.
8Oregon
5Kentucky
Kentucky
—
Kentucky's defense and rebounding edge Oregon's versatility.
6Alabama
2Michigan
Alabama
—
Alabama's scoring depth edges Michigan's size and efficiency.
5Kentucky
6Alabama
Alabama
—
Alabama's scoring depth edges Kentucky's defense.
1UConn
1South Carolina
UConn
—
UConn's dominance and depth edge SCAR's defense.
1UConn
3Duke
UConn
—
UConn's balance, depth, and experience edge Duke's talent.
3Duke
6Alabama
Duke
—
Duke's talent and athleticism edge Alabama's depth.
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
SFA
—
Methodology

How this model filled the bracket

This bracket prioritizes balanced performance across seeds, favoring teams with strong defensive metrics, coaching stability, and recent tournament experience. Upsets are targeted in mid-seed matchups where depth and guard play matter most.

Philosophy

Championships are won with defense, execution, and clutch play. Top seeds are respected, but mid-majors with elite efficiency and veteran leadership are trusted to advance deeper than their seeding suggests.

Upset strategy

Target seeds 8-12 with KenPom top-100 offenses facing defensive liabilities. Prioritize teams with multiple guards averaging 12+ PPG and sub-25% turnover rates.

Championship logic

The champion must rank top-20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, with a KenPom SOS in the top 30. Elite free-throw shooting (>78%) and coaching NCAA title experience are critical tiebreakers.

Key factors

  • Defensive efficiency (DEF RTG)
  • Guard play (A/T ratio)
  • Coaching NCAA tournament experience
  • KenPom top-50 strength of schedule
  • Clutch free-throw percentage
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
ASU's top-30 defense and experience edge in tight games.
First FourSacramento 2 16

#16 Southern U. vs #16 Samford

Picked: Samford

Hover to inspect
Samford's offense disrupts Southern's thin depth.
First FourFort Worth 3 11

#11 Nebraska vs #11 Richmond

Picked: Nebraska

Hover to inspect
Nebraska's defense flusters Richmond's methodical pace.
First FourSacramento 4 16

#16 Missouri State vs #16 SFA

Picked: SFA

Hover to inspect
SFA's guard play exploits Missouri State's slow rotations.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 UConn vs #16 UTSA

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dominance and depth overpower UTSA.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Iowa State vs #9 Syracuse

Picked: Iowa State

Hover to inspect
Iowa State's size and shooting edge in mid-major matchup.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Maryland vs #12 Murray State

Picked: Maryland

Hover to inspect
Maryland's balanced scoring too much for Murray State.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 North Carolina vs #13 Western Illinois

Picked: North Carolina

Hover to inspect
UNC's athleticism and transition game overwhelm Western Illinois.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Notre Dame vs #11 Fairfield

Picked: Notre Dame

Hover to inspect
ND's guard play and efficiency outmatch Fairfield.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 Ohio State vs #14 Howard

Picked: Ohio State

Hover to inspect
Ohio State's defense stifles Howard's offense.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 Illinois vs #10 Colorado

Picked: Illinois

Hover to inspect
Illinois' size and rebounding edge in tight game.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 Vanderbilt vs #15 High Point

Picked: Vanderbilt

Hover to inspect
Vanderbilt's scoring depth outpaces High Point.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 South Carolina vs #16 Samford

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
SCAR's defense and depth too much for First Four winner.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Clemson vs #9 Southern California

Picked: Clemson

Hover to inspect
Clemson's balanced attack edges USC's inconsistency.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Michigan State vs #12 Colorado State

Picked: Michigan State

Hover to inspect
MSU's guard play and experience edge in 5-12 game.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 Oklahoma vs #13 Idaho

Picked: Oklahoma

Hover to inspect
Oklahoma's size and rebounding overwhelm Idaho.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Washington vs #11 South Dakota State

Picked: Washington

Hover to inspect
Washington's offensive firepower outpaces South Dakota State.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 TCU vs #14 UC San Diego

Picked: TCU

Hover to inspect
TCU's defense disrupts UC San Diego's rhythm.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 Georgia vs #10 Arizona State

Picked: Arizona State

Hover to inspect
ASU's experience and efficiency edge Virginia.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 Iowa vs #15 FDU

Picked: Iowa

Hover to inspect
Iowa's offensive prowess too much for FDU.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 UCLA vs #16 California Baptist

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's balanced scoring overwhelms California Baptist.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Oklahoma State vs #9 Princeton

Picked: Oklahoma State

Hover to inspect
OSU's guard play edges Princeton's methodical offense.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Ole Miss vs #12 Gonzaga

Picked: Ole Miss

Hover to inspect
Ole Miss' defense disrupts Gonzaga's offensive flow.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 Minnesota vs #13 Green Bay

Picked: Minnesota

Hover to inspect
Minnesota's rebounding and size edge Green Bay.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Baylor vs #11 Nebraska

Picked: Nebraska

Hover to inspect
Nebraska's defense stifles Richmond's halfcourt game.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 Duke vs #14 Col. of Charleston

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's talent and athleticism overpower Charleston.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 Texas Tech vs #10 Villanova

Picked: Texas Tech

Hover to inspect
TTU's defensive intensity edges Villanova's offense.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 LSU vs #15 Jacksonville

Picked: LSU

Hover to inspect
LSU's guard play and transition attack overwhelm Jacksonville.
1st RoundGame 1

#1 Texas vs #16 SFA

Picked: SFA

Hover to inspect
SFA's guard play and efficiency edge First Four winner.
1st RoundGame 2

#8 Oregon vs #9 Virginia Tech

Picked: Oregon

Hover to inspect
Oregon's versatility and size edge Virginia Tech.
1st RoundGame 3

#5 Kentucky vs #12 James Madison

Picked: Kentucky

Hover to inspect
Kentucky's defense and rebounding edge James Madison.
1st RoundGame 4

#4 West Virginia vs #13 Miami (Ohio)

Picked: West Virginia

Hover to inspect
WVU's press and scoring balance edge Miami Ohio.
1st RoundGame 5

#6 Alabama vs #11 Rhode Island

Picked: Alabama

Hover to inspect
Alabama's scoring depth edges Rhode Island's defense.
1st RoundGame 6

#3 Louisville vs #14 Vermont

Picked: Louisville

Hover to inspect
Louisville's experience and defense edge Vermont.
1st RoundGame 7

#7 NC State vs #10 Tennessee

Picked: NC State

Hover to inspect
NC State's balanced attack edges Tennessee's inconsistency.
1st RoundGame 8

#2 Michigan vs #15 Holy Cross

Picked: Michigan

Hover to inspect
Michigan's size and efficiency overwhelm Holy Cross.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 UConn vs #8 Iowa State

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dominance and depth too much for Iowa State.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Maryland vs #4 North Carolina

Picked: North Carolina

Hover to inspect
UNC's athleticism and guard play edge Maryland's consistency.
2nd RoundGame 3

#6 Notre Dame vs #3 Ohio State

Picked: Ohio State

Hover to inspect
OSU's defense disrupts Notre Dame's offensive flow.
2nd RoundGame 4

#7 Illinois vs #2 Vanderbilt

Picked: Vanderbilt

Hover to inspect
Vanderbilt's scoring depth edges Illinois' rebounding.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 South Carolina vs #8 Clemson

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
SCAR's defense and depth overwhelm Clemson.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Michigan State vs #4 Oklahoma

Picked: Michigan State

Hover to inspect
MSU's guard play and experience edge Oklahoma's size.
2nd RoundGame 3

#6 Washington vs #3 TCU

Picked: TCU

Hover to inspect
TCU's defense disrupts Washington's offensive rhythm.
2nd RoundGame 4

#10 Arizona State vs #2 Iowa

Picked: Iowa

Hover to inspect
Iowa's offensive firepower edges Arizona State's efficiency.
2nd RoundGame 1

#1 UCLA vs #8 Oklahoma State

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's balance and depth edge Oklahoma State's guard play.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Ole Miss vs #4 Minnesota

Picked: Ole Miss

Hover to inspect
Ole Miss' defense flusters Minnesota's offensive flow.
2nd RoundGame 3

#11 Nebraska vs #3 Duke

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's talent and athleticism overpower Nebraska's defense.
2nd RoundGame 4

#7 Texas Tech vs #2 LSU

Picked: LSU

Hover to inspect
LSU's transition attack edges Texas Tech's defensive intensity.
2nd RoundGame 1

#16 SFA vs #8 Oregon

Picked: Oregon

Hover to inspect
Oregon's versatility edges SFA's guard play.
2nd RoundGame 2

#5 Kentucky vs #4 West Virginia

Picked: Kentucky

Hover to inspect
Kentucky's defense and rebounding edge West Virginia.
2nd RoundGame 3

#6 Alabama vs #3 Louisville

Picked: Alabama

Hover to inspect
Alabama's scoring depth edges Louisville's experience.
2nd RoundGame 4

#7 NC State vs #2 Michigan

Picked: Michigan

Hover to inspect
Michigan's size and efficiency edge NC State's consistency.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 UConn vs #4 North Carolina

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dominance edges North Carolina's guard play.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 Ohio State vs #2 Vanderbilt

Picked: Ohio State

Hover to inspect
OSU's defense overwhelms Vanderbilt's scoring depth.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 South Carolina vs #5 Michigan State

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
SCAR's defense and depth too much for Michigan State.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 TCU vs #2 Iowa

Picked: Iowa

Hover to inspect
Iowa's offensive firepower edges TCU's defensive disruption.
Sweet 16Game 1

#1 UCLA vs #5 Ole Miss

Picked: UCLA

Hover to inspect
UCLA's balance and depth edge Ole Miss' defensive grit.
Sweet 16Game 2

#3 Duke vs #2 LSU

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's talent and athleticism edge LSU's transition attack.
Sweet 16Game 1

#8 Oregon vs #5 Kentucky

Picked: Kentucky

Hover to inspect
Kentucky's defense and rebounding edge Oregon's versatility.
Sweet 16Game 2

#6 Alabama vs #2 Michigan

Picked: Alabama

Hover to inspect
Alabama's scoring depth edges Michigan's size and efficiency.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 UConn vs #3 Ohio State

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dominance and depth edge Ohio State's defense.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 South Carolina vs #2 Iowa

Picked: South Carolina

Hover to inspect
SCAR's defense and depth overwhelm Iowa's offense.
Elite 8Regional Final

#1 UCLA vs #3 Duke

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's talent edges UCLA's balanced scoring.
Elite 8Regional Final

#5 Kentucky vs #6 Alabama

Picked: Alabama

Hover to inspect
Alabama's scoring depth edges Kentucky's defense.
Final FourFinal Four 1

#1 UConn vs #1 South Carolina

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's dominance and depth edge SCAR's defense.
Final FourFinal Four 2

#3 Duke vs #6 Alabama

Picked: Duke

Hover to inspect
Duke's talent and athleticism edge Alabama's depth.
ChampionshipChampionship

#1 UConn vs #3 Duke

Picked: UConn

Hover to inspect
UConn's balance, depth, and experience edge Duke's talent.