Printable March Madness 2018 Bracket: How to Make Picks for 2018 NCAA Tournament

The 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament field is set, leaving the next couple of days to analyze the matchups and pick the teams that will help you win your March Madness pool.

This has been one of the most unpredictable seasons for college basketball in some time. Virginia has been the best team all year, earning the No. 1 overall seed with a 31-2 record. But the Cavaliers are also fighting their recent history with just one Elite Eight appearance in the past four seasons. 

Other notable contenders like Villanova, Duke and Michigan State have shown some vulnerability down the stretch. Villanova was the only one in that trio to win its conference tournament, with Duke and Michigan State failing to reach the ACC and Big Ten tournament final, respectively.

Big Ten tournament champion Michigan hasn't played since March 4, so rust could be a factor in the first weekend. 

There are so many things to consider while thinking about your bracket, so let's dive into some of the strategies worth following before turning in your final picks. You can find a printable bracket here. 

Beware the Team on a Hot Streak

Steven Ryan/Getty Images

There is a common misconception about Power Five teams riding the momentum from a conference tournament to success in the NCAA tournament. 

One of the most recent examples is the 2011 Connecticut Huskies, who won 11 straight games in the Big East and NCAA tournament after going 21-9 in the regular season. 

But how many people are aware that only one program has won their conference tournament and NCAA tournament since the Huskies' run?

It was the 2012-13 Louisville Cardinals, who are no longer recognized as national champions by the NCAA.

As previously mentioned, a team like Michigan will likely get a lot of love in bracket predictions thanks to wins over Ohio State, Michigan State and Purdue since Feb. 18. 

Adjustments Are Everything

Lance King/Getty Images

Momentum in the NCAA tournament does exist, but it only lasts until the next commercial break. 

The most successful teams in the NCAA tournament are those capable of making adjustments before those shifts in momentum occur. 

One great example of a team that has already proved it can adjust to correct a flaw is Duke. The Blue Devils look mediocre on defense statistically, entering the tournament 102nd in the nation with 69.6 points allowed per game. 

ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf did note Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski recently made one significant change with his defense:

"In recent weeks, (Krzyzewski's) squad switched to a zone and commenced a late burst that culminated with a win over a North Carolina team that Duke outscored 49-29 in the second half on Saturday. Wow. The last time Krzyzewski made a similar transition to zone with a talented roster that has struggled on defense (10th in the ACC in adjusted defensive efficiency during league play, according to KenPom.com), he won a national title with the 2014-15 team."

It's not going out on a limb to expect Duke will succeed in the NCAA tournament, just as there is no money to be made in betting on Alabama in college football. 

But it speaks to Krzyzewski understanding the talent on his team, what they are capable of doing and putting them in position to maximize their potential on both ends of the court. 

Yes, There Will Be Upsets

Rich Barnes/Getty Images

Finding an underdog that will make a deep run is what makes all the difference for anyone trying to win their tournament pool. 

At least one team seeded No. 7 or higher has reached the Elite Eight in each of the previous seven years.

Some of them are major programs that don't exactly qualify as a true Cinderella (No. 8 Kentucky in 2014, No. 7 Michigan State in 2015), but there are true underdogs like VCU (2011) and South Carolina (2017) that emerge from the shadows. 

A major-conference team like North Carolina State has the makings of a sleeper team. The Wolfpack have six wins over the RPI top 50, including Duke, Arizona, Clemson and North Carolina. 

Rhode Island limped to the finish line in the regular season with a 3-3 mark before reaching the A-10 tournament final, losing to Davidson, but it went 25-7 overall while facing the third-toughest non-conference strength of schedule. 

The NCAA tournament's magic comes in the first two weekends when at least one unexpected team captivates the nation by coming from nowhere. It's going to happen again this season, so study up on this year's sleeper teams before making any final decision on who the darlings of 2018 will be.