It’s the most wonderful time of the year. March Madness has arrived, and though the NCAA tournament is on a different schedule, entirely in one state, and in danger of dropping teams for health reasons, there’s still nothing like it.
The Gophers are sitting out (again), but that doesn’t mean you have to join them, and below is a guide to help you cut through the chaff and dominate your bracket pool. Of note, this analysis is predicated on playing the long game; a 12-5 upset pick might be thrilling, but unless that twelve-seed has legs, it ultimately won’t have much of an impact. There are Cinderella teams ready to make noise in every region, however, plus teams to avoid, teams to try your luck with, and storylines to follow if you want to enjoy the games without filling out a bracket.