Who are most people picking to win the NCAA Tournament?

March Madness Bracket Predictions

As fans dive into filling out their brackets for the NCAA Tournament, certain powerhouse programs consistently dominate the conversation. Deciding who will cut down the nets in April is never easy, but looking at the most common picks offers a fascinating glimpse into fan sentiment and expert expectations.

At the very top of the list, Arizona emerges as the clear favorite among bracket participants, appearing on a massive 60.0% of projected Final Four ballots. Close behind is Florida, chosen by 41.6% of fans, followed closely by Houston at 36.2%. These traditional powerhouses attract the bulk of the attention thanks to their stellar regular-season performances and reliable tournament pedigrees.

Further down the list, programs like Iowa State (19.0%), Purdue (15.9%), and UConn (13.8%) capture a solid share of dark-horse and regional winner support. Meanwhile, squads such as Illinois (10.4%) and Gonzaga (9.5%) round out the most frequent selections for the penultimate weekend of college basketball.

While statistical favorites and heavy hitters always command the highest percentage of picks, the unpredictable nature of March Madness means that lower-seeded surprises are bound to shake up brackets nationwide before everything is said and done.