Updated for March Madness 2026

Stop guessing.
Start exploiting edge.

43 AI-generated brackets across 8 markets. Built with KenPom efficiency data, 50,000 Monte Carlo simulations, and live ESPN ownership data to find where the public is wrong — and where your money should go.

43
Optimized Brackets
8
Markets Covered
50K
Monte Carlo Sims
1.96x
Best Edge Found
Michigan +1.63x edge // 14.4% public, 23.5% model
Illinois +1.96x edge // 4.8% public, 9.4% model
Florida +1.32x edge // 7.6% public, 10.0% model
Iowa State +1.42x edge // 3.2% public, 4.5% model
Houston 0.45x FADE // over-picked by public
UConn 0.14x FADE // brand bias inflates ownership
Michigan +1.63x edge // 14.4% public, 23.5% model
Illinois +1.96x edge // 4.8% public, 9.4% model
Florida +1.32x edge // 7.6% public, 10.0% model
Iowa State +1.42x edge // 3.2% public, 4.5% model
Houston 0.45x FADE // over-picked by public
UConn 0.14x FADE // brand bias inflates ownership

Your bracket isn't competing against the teams. It's competing against 20 million other brackets.

Picking winners is necessary but not sufficient. To win a bracket pool, you need to pick the right winners — the ones nobody else is picking.

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Brand bias is real

ESPN data shows Duke and Arizona receive 45% of all champion picks despite having ~50% combined model probability. Names like UConn get 3.5% of picks with only 0.5% model probability. The public picks logos, not data.

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Not all pools are equal

A free ESPN pool with 20M entries has a completely different optimal strategy than a $20 DraftKings pool with 10K sharp players. One size does not fit all.

One bracket isn't enough

The expected champion wins ~30% of the time. Even the best single bracket has a tiny win probability. Multi-entry portfolio theory across markets maximizes your overall expected value.

How we find edge the public can't see

A four-layer quantitative pipeline that goes far beyond "pick the higher seed."

Efficiency Model

Every team rated by KenPom Adjusted Efficiency Margin — points per 100 possessions vs. average D1 team. Fed into a logistic win probability model calibrated to historical tournament results.

Monte Carlo Engine

50,000 full tournament simulations. Every game resolved probabilistically. Output: advancement probability for every team at every round, from R64 to champion.

Live Ownership Scrape

Real-time public pick percentages scraped from ESPN's People's Bracket for all 32 first-round games and all advancement rounds. This is your edge source — where the crowd is wrong.

Market-Specific Optimization

Each of the 8 markets gets a custom bracket optimized for its field size, sharpness level, scoring system, and prize structure. Chalk for small office pools. Contrarian bombs for Kalshi's $1B prize.

Where the public is getting it wrong

Model probability vs. ESPN public pick percentage. Edge > 1.0x means the team is undervalued. Below 1.0x means overpicked.

Champion Pick Seed Model Prob ESPN Public Edge Ratio Signal
Duke1 32.6%25.0% 1.30x VALUE
Michigan1 23.5%14.4% 1.63x HIGH VALUE
Illinois3 9.4%4.8% 1.96x BEST EDGE
Florida1 10.0%7.6% 1.32x VALUE
Arizona1 15.2%19.8% 0.77x OVERVALUED
Houston2 2.7%5.9% 0.45x FADE
UConn2 0.5%3.5% 0.14x HARD FADE

Everything you need to fill every bracket

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43 Complete Bracket Sheets

Every pick, every round, every game for each entry. Organized by market with champion highlighted. Just open the PDF and copy into your bracket app.

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8 Markets Covered

ESPN, Yahoo, DraftKings (free + paid), bet365, Kalshi, and two office pool sizes. Each market gets a uniquely optimized strategy.

Champion Portfolio Allocation

Diversified champion picks across entries using Kelly-like allocation. Duke, Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, and Iowa State weighted by edge and market.

Upset Aggression Variance

Entries range from conservative chalk to aggressive contrarian. This portfolio effect means you're never fully exposed to one scenario.

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Full Methodology Breakdown

Transparent model documentation. See exactly how the logistic model works, what the Monte Carlo simulations found, and where the ownership data comes from.

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Key Upset Alerts

Every first-round upset flagged with model probability. Know exactly where to pick the underdog and why the public is sleeping on it.

One PDF. Forty-three edges.

Less than the cost of a single paid DraftKings entry — and it covers all of them.

2026 Bracket Pack
$19
One-time purchase. Instant PDF download.
43 AI-optimized brackets across 8 markets
Every pick, every round — just copy into your app
Champion portfolio allocation with Kelly-criterion weighting
Live ESPN ownership data as of bracket lock
Full methodology and edge analysis
Market-specific strategy notes and upset alerts
Printable format — works on phone and desktop
Get Instant Access →

Delivered as a PDF. No subscription, no upsell.

Questions

Does this guarantee I'll win my bracket pool?
No. March Madness is inherently unpredictable — that's the whole point. What this does is shift the odds in your favor over time. By picking teams the model says are undervalued relative to public ownership, you're making +EV bets. Across 43 entries and 8 markets, the math is on your side even if any single bracket busts.
What data sources power the model?
KenPom Adjusted Efficiency Margin for team ratings, BetMGM futures odds for market calibration, and live ESPN People's Bracket data for public ownership percentages across all rounds. The Monte Carlo simulation runs 50,000 full tournament iterations.
How do I actually use the PDF?
Open it on your phone or print it out. Each page is one bracket entry labeled with the market (ESPN, Yahoo, etc.) and entry number. Open the corresponding bracket app and copy the picks game by game. The champion, Final Four, and every round are clearly labeled. Takes about 3-5 minutes per bracket.
Do I need all 43 brackets?
No. If you only play ESPN, use the 25 ESPN entries. If you only play one office pool, grab that page. The PDF is organized by market so you can use as much or as little as fits your situation. That said, the edge is maximized across the full portfolio.
When will the data be updated for the actual bracket?
The model is refreshed with the official bracket within hours of Selection Sunday. Ownership data is scraped again Monday/Tuesday as millions of brackets flood in. If you buy before Selection Sunday, you'll receive the updated version automatically.

Brackets lock Thursday.

Don't spend hours agonizing over picks. Let the model do the work.

Get BracketEdge AI — $19 →