Get Your Brackets Right, Get 'Em Tight

Just because I'm too busy to blog these days doesn't mean that you shouldn't be able to take advantage of the fact that for many years I was an absolute college basketball nerd/wonk and as such have amassed some data that might help you tweak your brackets for maximum probability that you might crush the office pool. Plus it gave me a chance to work in a Ying Yang Twinz/Bubba Sparxxx reference with the post title {brackets brackets brackets brackets brackets everywhere...}.

So here is my bracket wonk post from last year, updated to include the 2008 tournament. Enjoy and good luck...

This is a little extremely wonky, so some of you will be interested and some will not, but what the hell. As a former hard core college basketball junkie and wonk, I figured the best I can offer this year is to share some of this info with you, as it may help you tweak your bracket before you submit it.

Disclaimer 1: this data should never be used to fill out a bracket; your bracket should always be filled out first using whatever methodology you use. This data can be helpful in perhaps going back and tweaking a few picks here and there to ensure that what you picked falls with the normal range over time of what has actually occurred, so that you don't submit something whose odds of happening are minuscule, thus reducing your chances of taking your co-workers money.

Disclaimer 2: As you will see when we get into the numbers below, 2007 was quite an anomaly; what in horse racing handicapping might be referred to as a "throw away" race because its result was such an outlier compared to the rest of the data. Anyhow, it can be looked at two ways: (1) that it makes all the rest of the data null and void and shows that truly anything can happen, or (2) that it was an anomaly and that over time the trends of the rest of the historical data will largely hold true.

Now then...

FIRST ROUND

First Round Upsets

Year	15v2	14v3	13v4	12v5	11v6	10v7
2008	0	0	2	2	1	1
2007	0	0	0	0	2	0
2006	0	1	1	2	2	2
2005	0	1	1	1	1	1
2004	0	0	0	2	0	1
2003	0	0	1	1	1	2
2002	0	0	1	3	2	1
2001	1	0	2	2	2	2
2000	0	0	0	0	1	2
1999	0	1	1	2	0	4
1998	0	1	1	1	1	3
1997	1	1	0	1	0	2
1996	0	0	1	2	1	2
1995	0	2	1	1	1	1
1994	0	0	0	2	1	2
1993	1	0	1	1	1	0
1992	0	1	1	1	0	2
1991	1	1	1	1	2	2

Now look over your brackets and just compare the numbers that you have with this historical data. There is no need to adjust anything unless what you have is waaaaay out of range. I just try to make sure that I'm not way out of bounds. 2007 was very unusual in that it was only the 2nd time that all of the 2, 3, 4 and 5 seeds advanced to the 2nd round since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, so in 22 of the past 24 years there have been upsets over 5, 4, 3, and 2 seeds and we should expect them in any given year.

As most folks know, a 16 has never beaten a 1 seed. A 2 seed has only lost 4 times in the last 17 years, and never 2 in the same year, so for example if you have three different 2 seeds losing to 15 seeds, then you might want to adjust your picks and play the percentages. The 5/12 games get alot of publicity, but don't forget that a 13 seed beats a 4 seed more years than not, and the 11 seeds do pretty well against the 6 seeds. The 8v9 games are not listed because to me a 9 seed beating and 8 seed isn't really an upset. Again, just be sure that you are somewhere in the ballpark, or even on the edge or just a little out of bounds, but if you have all four 11 seeds beating the 6 seeds you may want to adjust. Hell it may happen this year, but if I was in an office pool I would want to maximize my percentages against the others and save the totally wacky-ass bullshit for talk at the sportsbar.

I typically compare my filled out bracket to these historical numbers to make sure that I am in/near the realm of what has happened on each matchup column.

SECOND ROUND

#1 Seed Losing In The Second Round

Year	Number
2008	0
2007	0
2006	0
2005	0
2004	2
2003	0
2002	0
2001	0
2000	2
1999	0
1998	1
1997	0
1996	1
1995	0
1994	0
1993	0
1992	1
1991	0

The recent conversion to the "pod" system has been especially kind to #1 seeds, as it has typically resulted in them playing in their home areas on quasi home courts rather than neutral courts, thus giving them an even bigger advantage over the underdog 8 or 9 seeds trying to upset them. All four 1 seeds get through to the 2nd weekend more often than not- in fact, they are on a 16 in a row streak in 2nd round games and have won 30 of the last 32 such encounters. So if you have all of your #1 seeds winning in round two then there is no need to worry. But if you have one, or even have the stones to pick two #1 seeds to lose to the winner of the 8v9 game then the data says you are not crazy but simply extremely bold, and to rock on with your bad self. If you have 3 or all 4 #1 seeds going out in the 2nd round, you may want to think about adjusting your picks.

#2 Seed Losing In The Second Round

Year	Number
2008	2
2007	1
2006	2
2005	2
2004	2
2003	2
2002	1
2001	2
2000	3
1999	3
1998	1
1997	2
1996	0
1995	0
1994	1
1993	2
1992	1
1991	1

On the other hand, you can clearly see that the #2 seeds fare much worse than the #1 seeds in round two. I won't get into why I think this is so, but you may want to think about having a 2 seed eat it in the second round, as all four haven't made it through to the Sweet Sixteen in 13 years, and that has only happened twice in the past 18 years. There's more on this below, but I tend to pick either what I perceive to be the weakest 2 seed to get upset here, or the one that I think has the worst potential matchup here.

THE SWEET SIXTEEN

Seeds Below 5 In the Sweet 16

Year	Number	Seeds
2008	4	7, 10, 12, 12
2007	2	6, 7
2006	5	6,7,7,11,13
2005	6	6,6,6,7,10,12
2004	5	6,7,8,9,10
2003	4	6,7,10,12
2002	5	6,8,10,11,12
2001	6	5,6,7,10,11,12
2000	8	6,6,6,7,8,8,10,10
1999	7	6,6,10,10,10,12,13
1998	5	6,6,8,10,13
1997	6	6,6,6,10,10,14
1996	3	6,8,12
1995	3	6,6,6
1994	4	6,9,10,12
1993	5	6,6,7,7,12
1992	5	6,6,7,9,12
1991	3	10,11,12

Look at your brackets and count up the number of seeds below #5 seeds that you have in the Sweet Sixteen. 2007 was extremely chalky with top seeds advancing, and only 2 seeds below 5 made it to the 2nd weekend. In 17 of the last 18 years this number has been between 3 and 8, so ideally you would want to be in this range, but if you have 2 or 9 then I wouldn't worry too much. I also have listed the breakdown of the seeds that advanced each year in addition to the number of teams that made it this far.

The main trend to notice in this set of data is how well the 6 seeds do, as well as the winner of the 7v10 game {more on that in the next section though}. Historically 6 seeds have had success in the 2nd round against the winner of the 3v14 game, which by and large boils down to the fact that 6 seeds often upset 3 seeds in the 2nd round. In fact, every single year since 1991 at least one 6 seed makes it to the Sweet Sixteen, and often more than one do- the vast majority of their 2nd round wins come over 3 seeds. If I didn't have any 6 seeds in the Sweet Sixteen I would strongly consider going back and picking at least one of them to make it to the second weekend. The trick, of course, is picking the right one...

Bottom line at this point you don't want your bracket to be too chalky {you have all the top seeds advancing}, nor do you want it to be such an upset-o-rama that it is way outside the norm.

Double Digit Seeds In The Sweet 16

Year	Number	Seeds
2008	3	10, 12, 12
2007	0	n/a
2006	2	11, 13
2005	2	10,12
2004	1	10
2003	2	10,12
2002	3	10,11,12
2001	3	10,11,12
2000	2	10,10
1999	5	10,10,10,12,13
1998	2	10,13
1997	3	10,10,14
1996	1	12
1995	0	n/a
1994	2	10,12
1993	1	12
1992	1	12
1991	3	10,11,12

Look again at your Sweet 16: do you have any double digit seeds {10 seed or lower} in there? Again, 2007 was an anomaly but even including it, in 16 of the last 18 years at least 1 double digit seed has made it to the 2nd weekend.

Notice the trend here of how well the 10 seeds are represented. What does this mean? It means that if a 10 seed beats a 7 seed and matches up with a 2 seed in the 2nd round, that 2 seed should be on upset alert, because in 11 of the last 18 years at least one such 10 seed has beaten a 2 seed and gone through to the Sweet 16. For all the hype that the 12 seeds get in beating the 5 seed in the first round {the media always point out the the "classic 12 over 5 upset"}, the 10 seeds do even better than the 12 seeds in the 2nd round. Also, if you look back up at the data set before this one, and look at all of the 7 and 10 seeds, that tells you that the winner of the 7v10 game has a great shot of getting past the 2 seed and onto the Sweet Sixteen. I always pick what I think the weakest 2 seed is to lose {or if I think a 7/10 winner is especially strong, or if a 2 seed is a team that I hate and really would love to see go out}.

ELITE EIGHT

Seeds Below #3 In Elite Eight

Year	Number	Seeds
2008	1	10
2007	0	n/a
2006	2	4, 11
2005	4	4, 5, 6, 7
2004	2	7, 8
2003	1	7
2002	3	5, 10, 12
2001	2	6, 11
2000	5	5, 6, 7, 8, 8
1999	3	4, 6, 10
1998	1	8
1997	2	6, 10
1996	2	4, 5
1995	2	4, 4
1994	1	9
1993	1	7
1992	3	4, 6, 6
1991	2	4, 10

Many beginners get to this point and have all #1 and #2 seeds. This is starting to sound like a broken record, but 2007 was an anomaly as it was the only time in the last 18 years that no team below a 3 seed made the Elite 8. Check your bracket for the number of teams seeded 4 or below in your final eight. You probably should have at least one, and if the data is an accurate predictor, not more than 5. Personally, I would be comfortable with between 1-3.

FINAL FOUR

Seeds Below #2 In Final Four

Year	Number	Seeds
2008	0	n/a
2007	0	n/a
2006	3	3, 4, 11
2005	2	4, 5
2004	1	3
2003	2	3, 3
2002	1	5
2001	1	3
2000	3	5, 5, 8
1999	1	4
1998	2	3, 3
1997	1	4
1996	2	4, 5
1995	1	4
1994	1	3
1993	0	n/a
1992	2	4, 6
1991	1	3

The last two years were rare, but it's too early to decide if this is a new trend or a blip in the traditional data, which shows that in 15 of the last 18 years at least one of the Final Four participants has been lower than a 2 seed. Also in 3 of the last 6 years at least 2 of the spots have gone to 3 seeds or lower. I would just make sure that you didn't have all four slots being 3 seeds or worse.

The Seeds Of The Final Four Participants

Year	Seeds	Sum of Seed #s
2008	1, 1, 1, 1	4
2007	1, 1, 2, 2	6
2006	2, 3, 4, 11	20
2005	1, 1, 4, 5	11
2004	1, 2, 2, 3	8
2003	1, 2, 3, 3	9
2002	1, 1, 2, 5	9
2001	1, 1, 2, 3	7
2000	1, 1, 5, 8	15
1999	1, 1, 1, 4	7
1998	1, 2, 3, 3	9
1997	1, 1, 1, 4	7
1996	1, 1, 4, 5	11
1995	1, 2, 2, 4	9
1994	1, 2, 2, 3	8
1993	1, 1, 1, 2	5
1992	1, 2, 4, 6	13
1991	1, 1, 2, 3	7

Last year I wrote: "If you have all four of the #1 seeds in your Final Four, then you are brave, for it has never happened."

Well, now it's happened. On the other hand, 2006 was the first time ever that none of the #1 seeds made it, so you never know.

I have seen the final four seeds wonked thusly: add up the seed #s of your final four members. In 15 of the last 18 years the number would be between 6 and 13, with wacky year 2000 having a high number of 15 and 2006's wackiness being an extreme outlier with at total of 20.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Seeds Of The Championship Game Participants

Year	Seeds
2008	1, 1
2007	1, 1
2006	2, 3
2005	1, 1
2004	2, 3
2003	2, 3
2002	1, 5
2001	1, 2
2000	1, 5
1999	1, 1
1998	2, 3
1997	1, 4
1996	1, 4
1995	1, 2
1994	1, 2
1993	1, 1
1992	1, 6
1991	2, 3

Basically, the data says that you should have at least one #1 or #2 seed in the title game. If you have a 4 seed against a 6 seed here, then I applaud you for your moxie but the numbers say you won't win your office pool. In fact, then numbers say anything 3 v 3 or lower will not happen even though that sounds pretty feasible.

Seed Of The NCAA Champion

Year	Seed
2008	1
2007	1
2006	3
2005	1
2004	2
2003	3
2002	1
2001	1
2000	1
1999	1
1998	2
1997	4
1996	1
1995	1
1994	1
1993	1
1992	1
1991	2

The outlier here is one of my favorite teams ever, the 1997 Arizona Wildcats, who amazingly beat three different #1 seeds en route to their championship, making them the only team to ever accomplish that feat and establishing a record that can only be equaled but never surpassed. Every other year the champion has been a 1, 2, or 3 seed, with a 1 seed winning it all in 12 of the last 18 years.

So there it is, by the numbers. Again, I am not saying to fill out your brackets to meet these requirements, but to fill out your brackets and then cross check them against this data, which should not be viewed as requirements but as a guideline or baseline or whatever you like.

I like this information because I find that it helps to know basically the number of upsets that likely will happen in each round. The trick, of course, is choosing where to pick your upsets and where to have the favorites advance. That, my friends, is what separates the office pool contributors from the office pool collectors.

Happy Brackets and best of luck. Unless you have Dook winning the national title that is - then I hope that you fail miserably.