[This is a sponsored post, which you should read if you want a chance at $5,000,000. Incidentally, this is not to be confused with BSD's March Madness bracket contest, also hosted at Yahoo (join here, password is bigmac). You will most assuredly not win $5,000,000 for a perfect bracket in our contest. We may collectively sweep our couches for change and mail it to you, but that's it. Thanks to our friends at Yahoo.]
You like March Madness. You like money, and lots of it. Here's your chance to win $5,000,000 with Yahoo's Perfect Bracket. If that falls through, you'll still have a chance at $10,000 for having the Best Bracket. All you have to do is sign up at Yahoo, and start picking.
Practical advice, you say? How can we get you a little closer to the $5,000,000 Perfect Bracket prize? Here are some tips:
Definitely pick one of the #16 seeds. They're due. Sure, the #1 seeds are 108-0 all-time against the #16's, but this is totally the year that Kentucky loses to SW Wyoming PolyTech.
The Simpsons - Krusty Bets on The Generals (via canifailmore)
Okay, that's bad advice. Here's something a little more useful. Don't go upset crazy, but know that they'll likely happen -- and not just in those over-hyped #5 vs. #12 games. In only four instances since 1985 have the top four seeds in all four regions made it out of the first round. Last year, Morehead State was the upset in this category, as they beat Louisville 62-61.
Regarding Those Other Upsets. They occur approximately eight times per tournament. Ration your crazy accordingly -- although last year's Southwest region had a #1 (Kansas), #10 (Florida State), #11 (Richmond), and #12 (VCU) as the last teams standing. No predicting that.
Hate Eight. According to Nate Silver, not only is the #10 seed a better choice than the #8 seed (and the #9, of course, as the winner of the 8/9 game inevitably plays the #1 seed in the second around), so are the #11, #12, #13, #14, and maybe even the #15. That link is mathy, but accessible, and you must read it.
The takeaway from this sage advice? Be smart, but not too smart. Be weird, but not too weird. Feel free to apply this to all aspects of life, actually.
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