Yearly, No. 1 and No. 2 seeds within the NCAA males’s bracket get a lot of the championship picks amongst Bracket Problem Sport gamers. However typically one workforce takes up a lot consideration that there is a sizable hole among the many most-picked decisions. Different years, BCG customers unfold out the picks.
This is a take a look at essentially the most picked Bracket Problem Sport championship winners, going again to 2014. We additionally record the champion and its share — if that winner wasn’t the identical because the most-chosen champ.
2023
The preferred decide: Houston — 20.14 %
The champ: UConn — 2.08 %
Houston was the highest decide to win all of it, getting into the match tied for essentially the most wins of any workforce within the nation. But, the Cougars fell within the Candy 16 in a loss to No. 5 Miami.
The eventual champion UConn Huskies had the Eleventh-most brackets decide them to win the championship at 2.08 %.
2022
The preferred decide: Gonzaga — 30.26 %
The champ: Kansas — 7.87 %
Gonzaga was the highest decide for the second 12 months in a row, because the Bulldogs had been the No. 1 total seed once more. However Gonzaga fell within the Candy 16 in an upset loss to No. 4 Arkansas.
The eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks weren’t far down the record — at 7.87 %, KU was the third-most in style choice amongst BCG brackets. For reference, No. 1 Arizona was second at 13.76.
2021
The preferred decide: Gonzaga — 38.82 %
The champ: Baylor — 8.43 %
Gonzaga virtually grew to become the game’s first undefeated champion since Indiana in 1975-76. The Bulldogs entered the match unbeaten and reached the title sport earlier than falling to Baylor. These Bears had been the third-most in style decide — however you may see the hole between the 2 (and Illinois, the No. 2 favourite decide at 15.69 %)
2019
The preferred decide: Duke — 39.12 %
The champ: Virginia — 5.86 %
Duke seemingly had all of it. The Blue Devils received the ACC match title, had been 29-5, grabbed the No. 1 total seed — and had Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and others. Add that each one up and greater than 39 % of BCG gamers picked Duke to chop down the nets. The Blue Devils had shut calls with No. 9 UCF and No. 4 Virginia Tech earlier than falling to No. 2 Michigan State in an Elite Eight thriller.
Virginia, the ACC regular-season champ, went all the best way on solely 5.86 % of BCG brackets. However one 12 months after UVA misplaced to UMBC within the historic 16-over-1 shocker, the Cavaliers received their first nationwide title.
2018
The preferred decide (and champion): Villanova — 17.52 %
Virginia had the No. 1 total seed at 31-2, however De’Andre Hunter broke his wrist within the ACC match and needed to miss the NCAA match. The Cavaliers’ keep did not final, nevertheless, with No. 16 UMBC’s monumental upset leaving 16.46 % of customers with out their champion within the match after the primary spherical.
However Virginia wasn’t even the most well-liked decide. That may be Villanova. The Wildcats, one other No. 1 seed, dominated their opponents that 12 months, successful all six NCAA match video games by double digits.
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2017
The preferred decide (and champion): North Carolina — 14.55 %
UNC was each the most well-liked decide and the eventual 2017 champion, however there was not a lot of a niche between the Tar Heels and different favourite BCG title picks. This is how bunched up it was on the prime, together with what can be North Carolina’s ultimate opponent (Gonzaga):
- North Carolina: 14.55 %
- Kansas: 12.44 %
- Villanova: 12.26 %
- Duke: 11.69 %
- UCLA: 11.14 %
- Gonzaga: 9.99 %
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2016
The preferred decide: Kansas — 24.87 %
The champ: Villanova — 2.36 %
Champion Villanova took down the most well-liked BCG decide, Kansas, within the Elite Eight. The Jayhawks claimed the No. 1 total seed, however they weren’t the runaway favourite selection — Michigan State got here in second. Nevertheless, the No. 2 Spartans misplaced to No. 15 Center Tennessee, disappointing almost 22 % of BCG gamers who had Tom Izzo and Michigan State successful all of it.
2015
The preferred decide: Kentucky — 46.57 %
The champ: Duke — 10.54 %
With the undefeated Wildcats within the area, was there any doubt about their recognition right here?
Kentucky began the season ranked No. 1 and by no means fell out of the highest spot, selecting up the No. 1 total seed and going into March Insanity 34-0. 4 wins adopted, however Wisconsin upset UK within the Remaining 4.
That Wisconsin workforce virtually matched Duke on the ground and when it got here to BCG picks — 10.69 % of customers selected the Badgers to win all of it in comparison with Duke’s 10.54 %. However Duke received the title sport 68-63 for Mike Krzyzewski’s fifth title.
2014
The preferred decide: Florida — 26.04 %
The champ: UConn — 0.23 %
This is the largest shock of all of them, no less than going again to 2014.
The Huskies had been solely a No. 7 seed and 26-8 after they took the courtroom to face No. 10 Saint Joseph’s to start their match run. UConn received that one in OT earlier than defeating No. 2 Villanova, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Michigan State, No. 1 Florida and No. 8 Kentucky to win for the second time in 4 years. UConn was the No. 22 hottest champion decide in 2014.
Florida was the clear No. 1 decide in 2014, as Michigan State (13.30) was the one different BCG champion decide for greater than 10 % of gamers. Of the Gators’ three losses that season, two got here to UConn.