Following the intense opening day of the NCAA Tournament, fewer than 1% of brackets remained perfect after Thursday's 16-game slate. This data reflects the challenging reality for fans attempting the daunting task of correctly predicting every game in March Madness. Several outlets reported on the state of brackets, highlighting how difficult it is to maintain a flawless record through the early rounds of the tournament.
According to ESPN's bracket tracker, 25,802 perfect brackets were still in play out of over 24 million filled out on its platform after the conclusion of the day's last game, where Texas Tech triumphed over UNC-Wilmington. This statistic emphasizes the high level of unpredictability inherent in the tournament, as hopeful fans filled out millions of brackets in hopes of clinching victory in office pools or online contests.
The NCAA reported that a mere 0.0938% of more than 34 million brackets across various services remained perfect as of the end of the first day's action. CBS Sports echoed these findings, noting that 0.09% of their brackets were still unblemished, demonstrating that the vast majority of participants had already seen their predictions disrupted days into the tournament.
Yahoo Sports also chimed in with statistics, revealing that 99.9% of its brackets were deemed inaccurate after the surprising upset of 11th-seeded Drake, which defeated 6th-seeded Missouri. This game was one of several that contributed significantly to the downfall of brackets across platforms.
The day was particularly devastating for many participants, as ESPN reported that around 6.6 million brackets had been rendered “busted” when No. 12 seed McNeese State achieved an upset victory against No. 5 seed Clemson, finishing the nail-biting contest with a score of 69-67. This game alone led to a significant number of busted brackets, showcasing the unpredictable nature of tournament play.
Creighton added to the chaos by playing the first game of the day and turning into ESPN’s top bracket buster. Their dominant performance resulted in an 89-75 victory over Louisville, causing over 13 million ESPN brackets to be marked as incorrect due to participants favoring Louisville. The ripple effect of these results highlights just how perilous it can be to predict outcomes in the NCAA Tournament.
On an even more unusual note, ESPN reported that there were 30 brackets where every pick was incorrect—a feat that is almost unfathomable, even for contestants intentionally trying to select only losing teams. This statistic mirrors the unpredictability that characterizes March Madness and reflects the high stakes involved in bracket predictions.
The excitement and tension surrounding the NCAA Tournament are palpably felt across the nation, as fans engage in heated competition and eagerly track the fate of their brackets. The early upsets and shocking results make this tournament a dramatic spectacle, continually reminding fans of the unpredictable and thrilling nature of college basketball.
As the tournament progresses, fans will hold their breaths with each game, hoping that their predictions will stand the test of time and that their brackets will either continue on the road to perfection or provide them with joy and excitement come tournament time.
