Printable NCAA Tournament Bracket: Trends to Know Before Making Your Picks

There is no right way to fill out your bracket. 

Believe me, I would know. You name it, I've tried it. Using advanced statistics, watching game tape, picking the most ferocious mascots, picking the most cuddly mascots, picking the most cuddly cheerleaders, wishing upon a shooting star, asking a genie.

I always just end up with a crumpled up bracket—or a more modern version of a crumpled up bracket, a laptop tossed through the window. 

This year, with the unpredictability that has reigned supreme throughout the season, things will likely be no different. 

However, while paying close attention to strong trends won't completely hand you the right picks, it will set you up for success. Let's take a look at some of the most prominent ones that you should know. 

Note: Be sure to click here to download a printable NCAA bracket. You can also follow along with a live, updated bracket here. 

Don't You Dare Pick a No. 16 Seed

I don't care how ironic you think you're being. It's not funny, and since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, No. 16 seeds are a whopping 0-112 against No. 1 seeds.

Don't Let All of Your No. 2 Seeds Get Out of the First Weekend

Kyle O'Quinn, C.J. McCollum, Norfolk State and Lehigh proved last year how vulnerable No. 2 seeds can be, and while two No. 15 seeds may not win again this year, there will be mayhem at the bottom of at least one region.

In the past 16 years, all four No. 2 seeds have reached the Sweet 16 just once. 

Is 4 vs. 13 the New 5 vs. 12?

Many look to the No. 12 spot for their go-to upset pick, but in the last five tournaments, at least one No. 13 seed has advanced to the Round of 32. 

Not Quite

Still, though, at least one No. 12 seed has knocked off a No. 5 seed in 22 of the last 24 tournaments. That is still the No. 1 place you must go when trying to impress your friends with an upset pick. 

It doesn't stop there, though. In 19 of the 27 tournaments, No. 12 seeds have gone one step further and reached the Sweet 16.

Final Four Picks

Don't pick all No. 1 seeds. Since 1979, only one tournament has seen all four top seeds advance to the Final Four. 

However, at least one has made it in 27 of those 34 years, so don't ignore all of the top teams completely. 

Also, while George Mason, VCU and Butler have given us scintillating Cinderella runs lately, a team ranked below No. 6 has reached the Final Four just five times in the past 26 tournaments. 

It's not completely out of the question, but don't out-of-your-mind crazy when picking out your last four teams. Something safe in the ballpark of No. 1, No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 would suffice, although any of those can be tweaked slightly in either direction. 

Make your picks for the 2013 NCAA tournament here with the Bracket Challenge Game

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