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Printable March Madness 2021 Bracket: How to Make Picks for 2021 NCAA Tournament

Mar 14, 2021
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, left, speaks with guard Jalen Suggs during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Pacific in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, left, speaks with guard Jalen Suggs during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Pacific in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Hopefully you stocked up on plenty of printer ink.  

On Sunday, the selection committee unveiled the bracket for the 2021 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois and Michigan occupy the four No. 1 seeds, with the Bulldogs the top overall team in the tourney.

The action will get underway at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday with the First Four. The first round will follow on Friday.

Even by the standards of a traditional college basketball season, the 2020-21 campaign has been almost impossible to read. Traditional blue bloods like Kentucky and Duke have been a disaster, while Alabama is a Top 10 team and Loyola-Chicago occupies a spot in the Top 25.

Fans know to expect some tough blows when it comes to their bracket. Upsets happen and favorites bow out earlier than expected. Because of how difficult this year's tournament is to project, a higher number of brackets could wind up in the trashcan by the end of the first weekend.

              

Bracket

The full bracket is available at NCAA.com

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Tournament Tips

Don't Sleep on Michigan State

Penciling in at least one Big Ten team for the Elite Eight is probably a good idea. The conference has six teams (Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Purdue) in the top 13 on KenPom.com.

Michigan State, meanwhile, hasn't exactly been positively carrying the Big Ten banner. Following a 6-0 start, the Spartans dropped seven of their first nine conference games. 

To the extent peaking at the right time counts for anything, that appears to be happening for Tom Izzo's squad. Over its final six games of the regular season, it upset Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan.

In that victory over the Wolverines, Rocket Watts had a game-high 21 points, and Joey Hauser chipped in with 11 points off the bench. That's the kind of depth that make the Spartans a far more formidable team than the one that started so flatly in conference play.

Don't be surprised if Michigan State outperforms its No. 11 seed, but it will have to beat UCLA in the First Four to get a shot at sixth-seeded BYU.

           

Go Big on the Zags

This is pretty obvious, but you really have to take whatever sure things you can find in the 2021 tournament.

That Gonzaga's clash with Baylor in December got canceled looms even larger now since the Bulldogs and the Bears are the two best teams in the country. The Zags have a pretty strong case to be No. 1 having beaten Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa and Virginia.

Corey Kispert and Drew Timme are combining to score nearly 38 points per game, while Jalen Suggs is widely considered one of the top players in the 2021 NBA draft class. Suggs was excellent in the West Coast Conference championship, pouring in 23 points along with five rebounds and five assists.

Nobody has more balance than Gonzaga, and this is probably the strongest team in a program that has seen plenty of talent come through the doors.

Head coach Mark Few may finally be able to lift that elusive national championship.

             

Don't Go with Total Anarchy

Feel free to take some risks, but don't go overboard. At least one No. 1 seed has advanced to the Final Four in eight straight tournaments, and the eventual national champion was a No. 1 seed for three years running.

Everybody loves watching a UMBC upset Virginia in the first round or a semifinal run for Loyola-Chicago, but those are always the exceptions.

In general, resist the urge to embrace the chaos.

Selection Sunday 2021 Results: Printable NCAA Bracket, Seeds, Twitter Reaction

Mar 14, 2021
Illinois forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against Ohio State at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Illinois forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against Ohio State at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Let the Madness begin.

The field for the 2021 NCAA men's tournament was announced during Sunday's CBS broadcast, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Baylor Bears, Michigan Wolverines and Illinois Fighting Illini are the four No. 1 seeds.

A printable bracket can be found on NCAA.com.

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Here is a look at the 68-team field in its entirety:

As is always the case on every Selection Sunday, the field drew plenty of Twitter reaction:

https://twitter.com/nrarmour/status/1371228857941028865

The initial reaction here is that Illinois caught a rough break with this field.

All Illinois did was win the Big Ten tournament with a thrilling overtime victory over Ohio State and put together an incredible season in the country's best conference. And it was rewarded with arguably the most difficult bracket that will put it to the test as soon as the second round.

The Fighting Illini very well may have to face in-state Loyola Chicago in the round of 32 assuming both teams advance. If that isn't the case, they may have to face ACC tournament champion Georgia Tech.

Loyola is No. 9 in the country in Ken Pomeroy's pace-adjusted rankings, meaning Illinois could be in trouble before the Sweet 16. A big-man showdown between Kofi Cockburn and Cameron Krutwig is as intriguing as an individual matchup can be so early in the tournament, and another trip to the Final Four is not out of the question for the Ramblers.

If the Big Ten tournament champions get past them, they might have to face Cade Cunningham and the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Sweet 16.

Cunningham is the No. 1 pick in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman and could propel his team to a Final Four run. He will put plenty of pressure on Illinois defenders such as Ayo Dosunmu and Trent Frazier.

If the Fighting Illini survive all of that, Houston or West Virginia could be waiting in the Elite Eight.

The Cougars are No. 6 in Pomeroy's rankings, and the Mountaineers lost by just five points to Gonzaga and took Baylor to overtime. West Virginia nearly beat two of the No. 1 seeds this season and may get a chance at a third in the Elite Eight.

Printable NCAA Tournament Bracket 2021: Where to Download Complete Bracket

Mar 14, 2021
Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert (24) carries the ball against Saint Mary's during the first half of an NCAA semifinal college basketball game at the West Coast Conference tournament Monday, March 8, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert (24) carries the ball against Saint Mary's during the first half of an NCAA semifinal college basketball game at the West Coast Conference tournament Monday, March 8, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us: the NCAA tournament. 

That's right, it's March Madness, when we all ignore our work a little too much, obsess over our brackets and suddenly become experts on mid-major point guards we hadn't heard of a few months ago. It's glorious.

And it's time to fill out those brackets. To help you, a full printable bracket can be found here.

Let's take a look at some of the favorites at this year's tournament to help you fill out those picks.

                 

Gonzaga

No team in men's college basketball has more talent than Gonzaga. It is 26-0, after all.

Jalen Suggs will likely be a top-five pick in this year's NBA draft, and Corey Kispert might be a lottery pick. Drew Timme is averaging a cool 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds. Joel Ayayi is Gonzaga's fourth option on offense and averages 11.8 points while shooting 39.7 percent from three. 

The Bulldogs have had talented teams in the past, but none have been this good. They are the clear favorites to win the title, which would be the first in school history. They may be the boring pick to win it all, but they're also the safe choice.

                   

Baylor

The Bears have the look of a team that can win it all come March.

Jared Butler, MaCio Teague and Davion Mitchell lead a guard-heavy offense, which always plays well in the NCAA tournament. They are efficient on both ends of the court (third in adjusted offense, 44th in adjusted defense, per KenPom.com).

Oh, and they are 7-2 in games against teams who were ranked at the time of the game, including a win over Illinois. 

These Bears are the real deal. 

               

Michigan

The Wolverines went a combined 3-2 against Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State and Illinois. They are top-10 in both adjusted offense and defense. They have excellent balance with at least six players averaging seven or more points per game. 

Michigan looked like a clear national championship contender before a tough final week of the regular season, when it lost two of three games. It was a rough stretch, but the good far outweighs the bad when it comes to these Wolverines. 

               

Illinois               

Illinois' last two wins of the regular season were on the road, against Michigan and Ohio State. It beat the Wolverines without its best player, Ayo Dosunmu. It has won 14 of its last 15, including wins over Iowa and Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament, and it stormed up the rankings to earn itself a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Don't sleep on the Fighting Illini. Outside of Gonzaga, no team in the nation is hotter than the Big Ten tournament champions. 

       

Other Teams to Watch

Oklahoma State features arguably the most talented player in the country, Cade Cunningham, who might be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. The Cowboys are capable of making some noise. 

Iowa brings Player of the Year favorite Luka Garza to the tournament, making the Hawkeyes a threat. 

Houston is seventh in adjusted offense and 16th in adjusted defense, led by talented junior guard Quentin Grimes.

Few teams play better defense than Loyola Chicago, which finished the season ranked first in defensive efficiency. If you are looking for a fun sleeper to make a Final Four run, that's an intriguing play. 

Both the Big 12 and Big Ten were stacked this year. Don't be shocked if teams such as Ohio State, Purdue, Kansas, West Virginia, Texas or Texas Tech make a run. Those schools are all battle-tested after a tough conference slate. 

March Madness 2021: 68-Team NCAA Tournament Field Revealed on Selection Sunday

Mar 14, 2021
Gonzaga players celebrate after defeating BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference men's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Gonzaga players celebrate after defeating BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference men's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

The stage is set for the 2021 NCAA men's basketball tournament after the selection committee rolled out the bracket for the Big Dance on Sunday.

Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois and Michigan grabbed the four No. 1 seeds, with the Bulldogs considered the best team overall.  

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Here's how each region looks:

     

West

  • No. 1 Gonzaga No. 16 Norfolk State/Appalachian State
  • No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Missouri
  • No. 5 Creighton vs. No. 12 UC Santa Barbara
  • No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Ohio
  • No. 6. USC vs. No. 11 Wichita State/Drake
  • No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 14 Eastern Washington
  • No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 VCU
  • No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Grand Canyon

           

South

  • No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Hartford
  • No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Wisconsin
  • No. 5 Villanova vs. No. 12 Winthrop
  • No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 North Texas 
  • No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Utah State
  • No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 14 Colgate
  • No. 7 Florida vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech
  • No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Oral Roberts

           

Midwest

  • No. 1 Illinois vs. No. 16 Drexel
  • No. 8 Loyola Chicago vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech
  • No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Oregon State
  • No. 4 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 Liberty
  • No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 Syracuse
  • No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 14 Morehead State
  • No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 10 Rutgers
  • No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Cleveland State

            

East

  • No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's/Texas Southern
  • No. 8 LSU vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure
  • No. 5 Colorado vs. No. 12 Georgetown
  • No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 13 UNC Greensboro
  • No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Michigan State/UCLA
  • No. 3 Texas vs. No. 14 Abilene Christian
  • No. 7 Connecticut vs. No. 10 Maryland
  • No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Iona

        

Standby Teams

  • Louisville
  • Colorado State
  • Saint Louis
  • Mississippi

           

As the lone unbeaten team in Division I, Gonzaga will naturally be favored by many to reach its second Final Four.

The Bulldogs are coming off an 88-78 victory over BYU in the West Coast Conference final in which they outscored the Cougars 47-25 in the second half. Jalen Suggs took over late, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Head coach Mark Few has had plenty of talented players come through Spokane, Washington, but Suggs was the highest-ranked recruit in program history, per 247Sports' composite rankings. The freshman guard could be the singular talent who helps the Zags lift their first national title.

Baylor lost out on the opportunity to measure up against Gonzaga on the court after their December encounter was canceled following a pair of positive COVID-19 tests.

The Bears have sat No. 2 in the Associated Press poll for nearly the entirety of the season. Suffering a defeat to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament may help Scott Drew's squad refocus for the NCAA tourney.

Baylor leads the country in three-point percentage (41.8) and is tied for eighth with 10.1 made threes per game. If the Bears are firing on all cylinders, they can bury opponents under a barrage of long-range jumpers. That aforementioned defeat to Oklahoma State was a prime example of how that strategy can backfire, however, as the team shot 6-of-28 from the perimeter.

Despite falling to Texas in the conference championship, the Cowboys will likely be a trendy pick in large part because of Cade Cunningham.

The 6'8" guard is averaging 20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists, living up to the billing as a top prospect in the 2021 NBA draft class. While OSU isn't a one-man show, Cunningham's performance will likely dictate whether the Cowboys are celebrating their first Final Four trip since 2004.

Loyola Chicago was a darling of the 2018 NCAA tournament, when the 11th-seeded Ramblers advanced to the national semifinals. They won't really be playing the role of underdogs this season after compiling a 24-4 record.

Thanks to playing the 162nd-toughest schedule, though, getting a read on Loyola Chicago is tricky. The team lost its only game against a ranked opponent, falling 77-63 to Wisconsin on Dec. 15.

KenPom.com ranks the Ramblers 49th in adjusted offense and first in adjusted defense. They are holding opposing teams to 55.5 points and 40.7 percent shooting. Loyola Chicago won't be sneaking up on anybody, and it figures to be a nightmare to play against in the tournament.

The First Four games are scheduled for Thursday, and the first round proper will tip off Friday. All roads lead to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Final Four on April 3 and the championship game April 5.

Report: Duke, Kansas, Virginia Cleared for NCAA Tournament Despite COVID Issues

Mar 14, 2021
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski watches the action during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski watches the action during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The Duke, Virginia and Kansas men's basketball teams were all forced to withdraw from their conference tournaments because of positive COVID-19 tests, but all three will be eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament, according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.

The NCAA selection committee gave teams until 11 p.m. ET on Saturday to withdraw from consideration, but no teams said they couldn't meet the required protocols.

Teams are only required to have five healthy players to compete in postseason play.

Duke withdrew from the ACC tournament after canceling its quarterfinal game against Florida State. In the school's statement, athletic director Kevin White initially said the decision "will end our 2020-21 season."

At 13-11, the Blue Devils are unlikely to earn an at-large bid but will still at least be considered.

Kansas and Virginia have a much stronger chance of earning a spot in the tournament field after impressive regular seasons. According to Bracket Matrix, Kansas is projected to be a No. 3 seed while Virginia would be a No. 4.

There has been significant concern for the Jayhawks, who already held two players out of the Big 12 tournament as a result of COVID-19 protocols and had a new positive test after facing Oklahoma. Head coach Bill Self still remained confident his team would be able to compete for a national championship.

"We have followed the daily testing and additional protocols that have been set up for us, unfortunately we caught a bad break at the wrong time," Self said in a statement. "I look forward to preparing my team in probably a unique way for next week's NCAA tournament."

These teams will still be required to clear protocols but should at least be in the field of 68.

The last four teams that don't make the NCAA tournament field will serve as alternates in case one team is forced to withdraw.

Bracketology 2021: Latest Expert Predictions for Top Four Seeds

Mar 14, 2021
Illinois' Andre Curbelo, left, Ayo Dosunmu, center and Kofi Cockburn (21) hug as they leave the court following an 82-71 win over Iowa in an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Illinois' Andre Curbelo, left, Ayo Dosunmu, center and Kofi Cockburn (21) hug as they leave the court following an 82-71 win over Iowa in an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Baylor and Michigan have been two of the best men's college basketball teams in the country this season. However, neither could win its conference tournament. The Bears fell to Oklahoma State in the semifinals of the Big 12 tourney, while the Wolverines lost to Ohio State in the semis of the Big Ten tourney.

Many NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket projections had Baylor and Michigan as No. 1 seeds for March Madness. And that hasn't appeared to change despite both falling short during Championship Week. But it will be up to the selection committee to decide where these teams will be placed in the bracket, which will be revealed Sunday evening.

March Madness is right around the corner, and four teams will soon find out that their potential paths to the national championship will begin as No. 1 seeds. Bleacher Report has all your college hoops needs covered as the start of the tournament continues to get closer:

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With only five conference tournament championship games remaining, here's what the bracketology experts are predicting for the No. 1 seeds for this year's NCAA tournament. 

                           

Expert Predictions for No. 1 Seeds

ESPN's Joe Lunardi: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Michigan

CBS Sports' Jerry Palm: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Michigan

Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Michigan

It appears that the experts are still high on Baylor and Michigan, even though each program fell two wins short of winning its conference tournament. However, the teams proved their worth throughout the regular season.

Baylor has lost only two games this season, and both were against quality opponents (Kansas and Oklahoma State). The Bears are 22-2 and won the Big 12 regular-season conference championship for the first time in program history.

Considering Baylor remained a No. 1 seed in bracket projections after losing in the Big 12 tourney semifinals on Friday, it appears to be locked in—Lunardi, for one, believes it is, as he shared that opinion during his final bracketology update late Saturday night.

Michigan has lost three of its past five games, but it won one game at the Big 10 tournament, taking down Maryland in the quarterfinals. The Wolverines couldn't beat Ohio State for a second time, though, and the Buckeyes advanced to the championship game, where they will take on Illinois on Sunday.

If Ohio State beats Illinois and wins the Big Ten tournament, would that be enough for the Buckeyes to earn a No. 1 seed? Lunardi doesn't believe so, as he tweeted that he has his No. 1 seeds locked in order no matter what happens Sunday.

It makes sense for Illinois to be a No. 1 seed, as the Fighting Illini have won 13 of their past 14 games, which includes victories over Rutgers and Iowa in the Big Ten tournament. They also own wins over both Michigan and Ohio State.

There appears to be a consensus that Gonzaga will be the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA tournament, which should come as no surprise. The Bulldogs are the only undefeated team in the country, winning their first 26 games. They notched some quality non-conference victories, rolled through West Coast Conference play and won the WCC tournament championship.

If Gonzaga ends the season undefeated, it would be the first team to win the national championship and go unbeaten since Indiana in 1975-76.

"We finally acknowledged this is a big deal," Bulldogs coach Mark Few said after the WCC tourney title game, per John Marshall of the Associated Press. "It puts us in some incredible company. It's a heck of an accomplishment."

While No. 1 seeds don't always win the national championship, they have done more often than not since the tournament expanded to a 64-team field in 1985. Since then, a top seed has won the national title in 22 of 35 tourneys, per Eric Vander Voort of NCAA.com.

With the expected No. 1 seeds likely to be confirmed Sunday, Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois and Michigan will have history on their side as they begin their runs to the national championship.

Selection Sunday 2021: Live Stream, TV Coverage for Bracket Announcement

Mar 13, 2021
Gonzaga players celebrate after defeating BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference men's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Gonzaga players celebrate after defeating BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference men's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

For most of the men's college basketball season, the March Madness conversation revolved around which teams could beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Baylor Bears. 

The Michigan Wolverines were added to that discussion in the last month, and the Illinois Fighting Illini should join the trio as the fourth No. 1 seed. 

On Sunday, we will find out the exact path the NCAA tournament favorites will have to navigate to reach the Final Four and National Championship. 

                             

Selection Sunday Info

Date: Sunday, March 14

Start Time: 6 p.m. ET 

TV: CBS

Live Stream: CBSSports.com and CBS Sports app

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Watch Selection Show Live

          

Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Illinois will not have to worry about where they are seeded on Selection Sunday. 

Each team is listed on the No. 1 seed line by ESPN's Joe Lunardi, and they have four of the best resumes in the sport. 

Gonzaga's aggressive nonconference scheduling approach earned it wins over the Kansas Jayhawks, West Virginia Mountaineers, Iowa Hawkeyes and Virginia Cavaliers. Mark Few's team added to those wins with a perfect run through the West Coast Conference, which means it does not have any flaws for the selection committee to point at. 

Gonzaga should be the No. 1 overall seed after Baylor lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12 tournament semifinal and Michigan fell to Illinois and the Michigan State Spartans in the last week.

Despite suffering two losses in the last three weeks, Baylor is a lock on the top seed line. The Bears won the Big 12 regular-season title with a 13-1 mark and picked up six Top 25 wins in the process. 

Michigan and Illinois topped the only league that could be viewed as more difficult than the Big 12. The Big Ten has four teams in the top 10 of the latest AP Top 25 and five ranked sides entering the conference tournament. 

The Wolverines' 14-3 Big Ten record includes three triumphs over Top 10 teams. Their only bad loss is to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, but they were a Top 25 side at the time. 

Illinois locked up the fourth top seed through a three-game run of wins over the Wisconsin Badgers, Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan. 

There is a chance Michigan and Illinois will face off for a second time on Sunday if they win their respective Big Ten tournament semifinals. 

Some of the teams that could unseat the top four seeds from tournament glory reside in their own conferences. The Big Ten and Big 12 are projected to have five No. 2 and No. 3 seeds entering Saturday. 

Oklahoma State may be the top candidate from that group to reach the Final Four. The Cowboys have the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft in Cade Cunningham and have one loss dating back to February 13. 

There is much more drama on the other end of the bracket, as the Utah State Aggies and Memphis Tigers are fighting to stay alive on the bubble. Both sides still have a chance to win their respective conference tournaments and could do so by beating programs already locked in to the field of 68. 

If they do not win league tournaments, Utah State and Memphis could be in for a nervy Selection Sunday since there are two potential bid stealers in the Big East and Pac-12. 

If the Oregon State Beavers and Georgetown Hoyas win Saturday, the complexion of the projected bracket will change significantly, but that can only be altered if they win because they are not expected to earn at-large berths.

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.

NCAA Bracket 2021: Printable Bracket Preparation and Top Challenge Games

Mar 13, 2021
Michigan fans cheer in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Maryland and Michigan at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan fans cheer in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Maryland and Michigan at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

When the sports world shut down in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, one of the casualties was that year's March Madness. With the NCAA men's basketball tournament's cancelation, fans also lost the chance to fill out brackets.

You don't even have to be a college basketball fan to try to predict how the 68-team tournament will unfold and then join a group with your friends, family, coworkers or even online strangers.

While this year's NCAA tournament will look a little different (every game is taking place in the Indianapolis area), March Madness is back. And Bleacher Report has all your needs covered with Selection Sunday on the horizon:

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Watch Selection Show Live

If you want to have a blank bracket ready to fill out for the selection show Sunday evening (which airs at 6 p.m. ET on CBS), then NCAA.com has those available.

Here are some other bracket challenges from around the internet, followed by a look at some of the early favorites to win the national title this year.

                          

Bracket Challenges

ESPN Tournament Challenge (chance to win $10,000 Amazon gift card, trip to 2021 Maui Invitational)

Yahoo Tourney Pick'Em (chance to win cash prizes, Las Vegas getaway)

Capital One NCAA Bracket Challenge

CBS Sports Bracket Games (chance to win prizes)

       

Early Tournament Favorites

Gonzaga is going to be the No. 1 overall seed for the men's NCAA tournament, and it will have the chance to do something special. There hasn't been a team go undefeated and win the national title since Indiana in the 1975-76 season.

Having won its first 26 games and the West Coast Conference tournament championship, Gonzaga is one of the early favorites. However, history isn't on the Bulldogs' side, as they have never won a national title and only once reached the Final Four (2017).

Still, this season could be different for Gonzaga, which faced some tough non-conference competition before rolling through its WCC slate. Not to mention that the Bulldogs haven't lost a game since Feb. 22, 2020.

Entering Saturday, ESPN's Joe Lunardi projected Baylor, Illinois and Michigan to be the other No. 1 seeds for the tournament.

Baylor fell short of winning the Big 12 tournament for the first time, as it was knocked off by Oklahoma State in the semifinals Friday. Still, the Bears were the regular-season conference champions and have a 22-2 record.

Illinois and Michigan have both made the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. The Fighting Illini will take on Iowa, while the Wolverines are set to face Ohio State. All four teams could be dangerous in March Madness, as they are all among the top nine teams in the AP Top 25 poll.

While anything could happen during March Madness, and history could always be made, it's been risky to pick against No. 1 seeds over the years.

According to NCAA.com's Eric Vander Voort, there have been 22 No. 1 seeds to win the national title in the 35 men's NCAA tournaments held since 1985 (when the field was expanded to 64 teams). 

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