Why Are You Filling Out So Many Brackets?

After a long, grueling NCAA basketball season—or any college sport, really—the climax offers a tantalizing treat: the bracket. Filling out a bracket is a time-honored tradition for millions of Americans.

With the bracket, sports fans become instant pundits. Our wealth of basketball knowledge and wisdom, acquired through a season's worth of watching, studying and second-guessing coaches, is put to the ultimate test as we predict the outcomes of dozens of games. We're filling out a bracket to prove that we know what we're talking about, to show off to our friends and family that all of those hours spent watching games and reading articles on ESPN.com have paid off. We may even win a little money doing it.

It's all about filling out a bracket.

Back when the NCAA Tournament was much smaller—back in 1985, when only 64 teams qualified—I did just that. Me and my buddies would gather, fill out brackets and make our picks. We'd each put $5 in the pot, and whoever had the most correct picks would win the money. It was simple, fun and exciting.

Of course, this was just a friendly competition with my friends. But the idea of a bracket has grown so much over the years. Today, there are dozens of online websites and apps that allow you to fill out a bracket and compete against thousands of other fans. Some offer cash prizes, while others merely offer bragging rights. But all of them tap into our competitive nature and desire to show that we're fans who know what we're talking about.

And this is where the bracket becomes something more than just a game. It's become a national obsession. The office pool. The family bracket. The group of friends who get together to make their picks. The random group of strangers who decide to start a bracket pool, just for the fun of it.

The bracket offers something for everyone. It's a way to stay engaged with the tournament, to connect with other fans, and to show off our knowledge of the game. It's also a way to have a little fun, win some money, and be part of the madness.

The bracket has become a phenomenon. It's a piece of Americana, a part of our sporting culture. It's something that brings us together, even if we're all rooting for different teams.

So, go ahead and fill out a bracket. Who knows, you might just win some money. But even if you don't, you'll be part of something bigger than yourself. You'll be part of the madness that is the NCAA Tournament.

• Do your research. The more you know about the teams in the tournament, the better your chances of making correct picks.
• Don’t be afraid to upset. Upsets are a big part of the tournament. Don’t be afraid to pick a lower seed to beat a higher seed, especially if you think the lower seed has a good chance of winning.
• Have fun. The bracket is supposed to be fun. Don’t take it too seriously. If you’re not having fun, then what’s the point?