By: Helayna Desrochers

Every year, as March approaches, people start making their brackets and watching every last game they can. The tournament is very unpredictable and can change at any moment. Any team can win or lose at any moment, and their bracket depends on it. Betting and bracket contests can make the month more fun. Last year (2025), there were 24.4 million brackets made in the ESPN men’s tournament with prizes up to $125,000. This can bring friends and family together with a little friendly competition. A mix of luck and strategy can decide whether you are rich or poor this March. 

Many people participate in betting and brackets for the thrill of unpredictability. Lower-ranked teams can beat the top teams because one game, one play, one point could decide it all. One game can collapse a bracket instantly, which is what makes every game so important and thrilling to watch. 

There are many different strategies and ways people make their brackets like Woodland’s librarian Jodie D’Alexander who’s a very avid March Madness watcher states she picks her teams based on a few things. 

“My favorite teams, the records for teams this season, and I always think about potential upsets and bracket breakers,” said D’Alexander, proving that there is no single ‘right’ way to predict the madness in March. 

 Because of luck and unpredictability, anybody can participate and join a bracket challenge even if they know nothing about basketball, which makes it fun for anyone involved. 

On Thursdays, D’Alexander gets together with friends after work and has three games going on at once. It builds friendships and gives people a way to hang out and have fun watching games together. Teachers even have a bracket here at Woodland! The winner gets major bragging rights and the satisfaction of watching everyone else’s brackets get totally busted while they hold the top spot on the leaderboard. 

At the end of the day, March Madness is about way more than just basketball; it’s about the hype of the unpredictability and the fun of competing with your friends and family. Whether you’re an expert like D’Alexander or you’re just picking teams based on their colors, the chaos of a busted bracket brings everyone together.