Newswise — The term "March Madness" was coined by high school coach Henry V. Porter in a 1939 essay about the Illinois High School Association basketball tournament.
The term used to describe the "Road to the Final Four" carries new meaning as 38 million people are expected to enter their NCAA basketball tournament picks in various pools. The economic impact of the six-round, single-elimination tournament looks to be enormous.
"On the average, NCAA tournament bracket players submit 1.5 tournament sheets and spend $24 during the two-week event," said Kim Beason, professor of exercise science at the University of Mississippi and a fantasy sports researcher. "While most office pools range from $5 to $10 dollars, bracket pools in Las Vegas fetch up to $25,000 per entry."
Beason, who presents his latest Fantasy Sports Trade Association research findings Thursday (March 18) at the organization's annual convention in Las Vegas, offers some general tips on filling out your NCAA tournament bracket:- A No.16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed.- Flip a coin between No. 8 and No. 9 seeds. - No. 12 seeds routinely upset No. 5 seeds.- The Final Four teams seeds added together have never been higher than 12.- Play more than one bracket to cover options.- Compare individual picks to expert selections.- Get an upper hand in selecting second and third round upsets. - Use common sense. "There are thousands of tips when selecting winners and losers in the NCAA tournament," Beason said. "The chance levels in pick 'em style games, such as the NCAA bracket, are high. It's basically a frivolous fling."
Although some skill is involved in selecting tournament winners, Beason admits its more of a game of chance due to last-second, buzzer-beating baskets.
"The main thing to remember is everyone has a chance of winning," Beason said, "but those who follow basketball and study will have some greater degree of success."
According to his 2003 FSTA study, the number of fantasy players participating in college athletics rose 6 percent over the previous year, and the NCAA represents the second-fastest growing level of participation among fantasy players. Despite the increase, Beason maintains that participation in the NCAA tournament bracket is a social leisure activity that builds comradery.
"Participation in the NCAA tournament is growing, even inside the workplace," he said. "E-mail is a common carrier of NCAA tournament information among friends, competitors and colleagues, and 55 percent of those playing the tournament bracket check the status of their picks online while at work."
For more stories from the University of Mississippi, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/newsdesk.
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