Printable NCAA Bracket 2015: Tips for Filling out Your Own Bracket

It's time for March Madness, baby. It's time for Cinderella teams, game-winning shots at the buzzer, heroes emerging and the most exciting opening weekend in sports. It's time for busted brackets, major upsets and a whole lot of fun.

Below, you'll find a printable bracket along with my tips for ensuring your bracket is locked and loaded. Enjoy the madness, folks.

All Your Bracket Essentials

• Download the Printable Bracket
• Play the Free Bracket Challenge 

Bracket

Tips

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The No. 1 tip you absolutely, positively must remember is this—KenPom.com is your friend. If you aren't sure why, Vegas Insider explains:

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Eleven of the last 12 college basketball national champions have finished above, what we’ll call, the “Kenpom Line.” The Kenpom Line refers to teams that finish in both the top 18 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency and top 21 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings. Each of the last 12 champions have all ranked in the top 21 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rating (including seven that finished in the top 10) and 11 of those 12 also finished in the top 18 in offensive efficiency. Last year’s UConn Huskies were the lone outlier to win the championship (finished 39th in offensive efficiency).

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When picking your champion—or even your Final Four selections—keep the above in mind. 

Of course, this probably wasn't the year to get cute with your championship pick anyway, since Kentucky have been so dominant. Maybe Duke or Wisconsin can give them a run for their money, though neither squad plays great defense. Maybe Villanova can give them a run for their money, but the Wildcats lack size down low. Maybe Gonzaga can can give them a run for their money, but...Nah, it won't be Gonzaga. 

That's the thing about playing the bracket—you don't want to get too cute. Sure, you might have identified a sleeper you think will advance far in the tournament, so feel free to have them win a few games. But if you have yourself convinced that multiple low seeds will reach the Elite Eight, well, you might be right, but the odds that you've picked the correct ones are pretty low. 

The early rounds are where you can take chances with upsets. Once you hit the Sweet 16, however, go with the more talented team on paper. Sure, a Kemba Walker can turn the entire tournament upside down, but more often than not the cream rises to the top after the first weekend. 

Another thing to be cautious of is teams that haven't been tested against top competition consistently. I'm still looking at you, Gonzaga. Yes, the Bulldogs have a lot of talent. No, they haven't been regularly tested against better teams. 

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Never, ever sleep on coaches with tournament pedigrees. Always assume that teams like Duke, Louisville or Michigan State, to name a few, will advance at least a round further than you expect. There is something to be said for coaches who have guided their teams deep into the tournament on a number of occasions.

Also regard teams with a lot of important veteran players highly. In the age of the one-and-done star, teams with talented juniors and seniors who have tournament experience are generally a tough out. Sometimes, it's as simple as the moment being too big for certain players and old hat for others. Veterans are very valuable come March.

Those are just a few tips that have aided me over the years. Ultimately, we are all hoping one thing, and one thing only, is on our side: Lady Luck.

Without her, you aren't winning your bracket. And if you pick any team other than Kentucky to win this tournament, well, you almost assuredly  aren't winning it.