NCAA Brackets 2013: Safest Steps En Route to Dominating Your Office Pool

Every March the competition on the basketball court spills over into the office, where millions celebrate the arrival of spring by filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket in hopes of dominating their office pool.

The best part about brackets: You don't have to know a whole lot about college basketball. Sure, it certainly helps if you're a die-hard hoops fan, but in the end there will developments, surprises and upsets that no one saw coming.

So, pick up a pen and a bracket (print one here) and let's get started. 

Here, we'll run down the safest steps to follow if you want to dominate your office pool this March.

Always Consider Location

Who's playing where? 

Make sure you take into account where the second- and third-round matchups are being played this year. Louisville in playing in Lexington, Ky. and Michigan is playing in Auburn Hills, Mich., so clearly those two teams will be receiving much more support from the crowd.

No, that doesn't mean they can't be upset by a double-digit seed, but it makes a shocking result that much more unlikely.

That said, a team like No. 3 Marquette, which will play No. 14 Davidson in Lexington, is a better upset pick considering the Wildcats have won 17 in a row, shooting 80 percent from the foul line and will actually be playing slightly closer to home in that game.

Be sure to take into account where the regional semifinals and finals will be played as well.

Don't Sweat Cinderella, Look Ahead

Don't worry about trying to pick the perfect upset or upsets in each region, because the odds are that your beloved underdog will lose in the next round or sometime down the road. Instead, focus on the team you like in each region and send them through to the Final Four.

Picking a few second-round upsets isn't going to win you your office pool, but nailing all four Final Four teams and the eventual champion will.

If your Final Four team or eventual champion goes out in the first weekend, then your bracket is busted, and that's why they call it March Madness. 

But don't sweat the second-round clashes pitting teams together that you don't anticipate making deep runs. If you're chasing the perfect bracket you'll be running forever.

Stick to the Favorites

While the NCAA Tournament is known for being the most unpredictable three weeks in sports, you're better off riding the top seeds to glory this March.

There may have been tons of upsets and plenty of parity in college basketball during the regular season, but the odds of a lower-seeded team reeling off six wins in a row against the toughest teams in America aren't good.

If you look back at past tournaments you'll find that two seeds have appeared in the Final Four more than any other: No. 1 and No. 2. 

A No. 1 seed has won the tournament 10 out of the last 14 years, and a No. 4 seed or lower hasn't won at all since Arizona in 1997. So while the underdog may be a popular pick this time of year, don't outsmart yourself, stick to the favorites.

Be sure to stay updated throughout March Madness using Bleacher Report's live 2013 NCAA Tournament bracket. And remember to download and print out your own bracket.

Follow all the exciting NCAA Tournament action with March Madness Live.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.