Filling out a March Madness bracket isn’t just a tradition—it’s a battle of instincts, logic, and sheer basketball chaos. Every year, someone thinks they’ve cracked the code. Sure they have. Until they watch a buzzer-beater bust their bracket by lunchtime on day one. Maybe you’re the type who rides with the top seeds, or maybe you’re hunting for that 12-over-5 upset that makes you look like a genius in the group chat. But the real thrill—well, we all know it. You watch a Cinderella you believed in knock off a titan while your friends scramble to figure out who the hell that point guard dropping 30 a night even is. This is the best rollercoaster in sports. And, once your picks are in and it’s first tip, there’s no turning back. Just 67 games of absolute, unfiltered madness. And DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered for the action this year with their $1 Million+ Men’s College Basketball Tournament Bracket contest.
We’ll get into all the specific rules re. tables and payouts, but the important thing to note here: fundamentally, it’s no different than filling out a printable bracket. You’re just making picks. And what’s as pure as an unpopulated bracket before the First Four round even begins?
I break down the contest rules as well as some of my favorite early-round upsets and champ picks below.
DraftKings $1 Million+ Men’s College Basketball Tournament Bracket Challenge Rules
Contest Rules and Play Structure
I lifted these directly from the rules and conditions tab of the challenge, which you can also find by clicking this link. I’ve provided an image, as well:
Pick the correct answers by the start of the 2025 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament to win guaranteed prizes! The contest allows users to pick the results of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament (the “Tournament”) games for a chance at winning cash prizes. Each correct selection will give a user points. Points received are designated by which round a team has won.
Round / Points Received
1 / 10 points
2 / 20 points
3 (Rd of 16) / 40 points
4 (Rd of 8) / 80 points
5 (Last 4) / 160 points
6 (Championship) / 320 points
The Contestant with the highest total number of points at the end of the Tournament wins the Contest. As part of every Contestant’s entry, they are asked to predict the final total points scored in the Championship game of the Tournament. The closest predicted score to the final total points scored in the Championship game of the Tournament will be used to break any ties between Contestants who finish the Contest with the exact same number of points. In the event multiple Contestants finish with the same number of total points and the same (closest) total point prediction for the Championship game, such Contestants shall evenly split the portion of the Prize Pool associated with the tied finishing positions. All selections will lock once the first game tips off, the timing of which will be made known to the entrants in advance of the Contest start time. All prizes will be paid out upon the completion of the tournament.
Here is the link to the full terms, as well.
Now, let’s get to the fun part. below are my favorite picks for the tournament champion, as well as some sneaky sleepers who might make it out of the first round and much deeper.
First-round upset picks
No. 13 Akron Zips over No. 4 Arizona Wildcats
It feels a bit folly to totally underestimate the Wildcats in the tournament based on recent pedigree, but Tommy Lloyd’s teams are immediate targets for early exits in the tourney these days.
However! Akron isn’t just another mid-major stepping into the tournament against this Zona powerhouse; they’re a team built to disrupt brackets. The Zips boast a high-octane offense, averaging 84.6 points per game, placing them eighth nationally. Their three-point shooting is lethal, with the team hitting 44.1% from beyond the arc. They thrive in transition, ranking 11th in adjusted tempo. Nate Johnson leads the charge, averaging 14.0 points per game, while James Okonkwo dominates the boards with 7.3 rebounds per game.
Their recent MAC Tournament victory, edging out Miami (OH) 76-74, showcased their resilience under pressure. Arizona, meanwhile, has shown cracks in its ability to command the game’s flow, ranking 226th in turnover margin (-1.2) and often struggling to slow down fast-paced opponents. Defensively, the Wildcats have been vulnerable beyond the arc, allowing opponents to shoot 34.8% from deep (198th nationally)—a glaring weakness against an Akron team that thrives from distance. If the Zips can capitalize on Arizona’s defensive lapses and dictate the tempo, they could be looking at more than just an upset; they could be the Cinderella story this bracket needs.
No. 12 Colorado State Rams over No. 5 Memphis Tigers
Colorado State has all the ingredients for a first-round bracket buster, and Memphis might be ripe for the taking. The Rams play an efficient, disciplined brand of basketball, ranking eighth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.72) and shooting a blistering 44.1% from deep. They just ran through the Mountain West Tournament, taking down Utah State 76-74 behind Nique Clifford’s all-around brilliance—19.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game—and their ability to stretch the floor gives them an edge over a Memphis defense that has been far from elite. The Tigers allow 73.1 points per game (215th nationally) and have been vulnerable against teams that space them out and force them to defend the perimeter. That’s exactly where Colorado State thrives.
If the Rams can take care of the ball—something they’ve done well all year, ranking top-25 in turnover rate (14.3%)—and keep Memphis from speeding them up, this one has all the makings of an upset. Memphis has relied heavily on transition scoring, but when forced into half-court sets, they’ve struggled. They’ve shot just 42.8% from the field in their last five games. Colorado State’s ability to slow things down, pick apart mismatches, and capitalize on defensive lapses could swing this game in their favor. If they do, don’t be surprised if they’re still dancing deep into the second weekend.
No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs over No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs
In a battle of Bulldogs, Georgia is the one with more bite than bark. Mike White’s squad has turned a corner late in the season, riding an offensive surge behind Noah Thomasson (16.8 PPG, 42.5% 3PT in his last five) and Russell Tchewa’s interior dominance (9.2 RPG, +4.6 rebounding margin in SEC Tournament play). Their spacing and physicality give them a legitimate chance to push Gonzaga, a team that—while still formidable—has looked shakier than usual against high-energy, athletic teams. The Zags’ defense has been suspect, allowing opponents to shoot 36.1% from three (295th nationally). That’s a glaring weakness against a Georgia squad that just torched tournament defenses at a 38.7% clip from deep over its last five.
For Georgia to pull off the upset, they need to control possessions and limit Gonzaga’s transition game. The Zags feast when they get downhill—averaging 18.2 fast-break points per game. But when forced into slower half-court sets, they’ve been held to just 41.9% shooting against top-50 defenses. If Georgia can grind this game into a rock fight, exploit Gonzaga’s defensive lapses, and let its guards control flow, it wouldn’t be shocking to see these Bulldogs emerge as top dogs. If they do, they’re not just a one-game Cinderella—they could be a bracket-wrecker.
Dan Johnson’s 2025 March Madness Champion Pick
Florida Gators
Florida enters the NCAA Tournament playing its best basketball of the season, fresh off a dominant SEC title run where they steamrolled Alabama and outlasted Tennessee. The Gators rank third nationally in scoring (85.4 PPG) and are lethal in transition, but their biggest evolution has come in the frontcourt. Alex Condon’s return has bulwarked their interior spectacularly, giving Florida the size and rebounding presence (38.7 RPG) to absorb physical matchups without losing pace. Oh—and Condon can score. More on that in a bit. Add in Walter Clayton Jr.’s shot-making (22 points, six assists vs. Bama) and this team’s depth, and the Gators look like a No. 1 seed built for a deep run. If you’re talking about the best team in college basketball, you have to talk about Todd Golden’s 2025 Florida squad.
Florida’s championship upside isn’t just about firepower—it’s about layers. As referenced above, Alex Condon has transformed into a two-way monster. He’s averaging 17.2 points over his last six games while shooting a ridiculous 61.3% from the field. This young man is not just a defensive anchor but a matchup nightmare on offense. Meanwhile, Alijah Martin has found another gear, putting up 14.7 PPG in the SEC Tournament and flashing the shot-creation that makes Florida’s attack even more dangerous. But it’s the depth that makes them terrifying—six players average at least 9.5 PPG, and they rank top-15 nationally in bench scoring (27.1 PPG). All to say, they can throw fresh bodies at opponents all game. And indeed they do.
This team doesn’t wear down—it wears you out. Florida’s offense hums at 85.4 PPG (third in the nation), but their ability to control tempo, dominate the glass, and win in different styles is what makes them built for six straight wins in March, even though they got slapped with the toughest region.
Note on seeding robbery
Florida did everything right this season. Dominant SEC run? Check. A 30-4 record? Check. An SEC Tournament title where they put Alabama and Tennessee in the dirt? Also check. Despite all of that, the Gators didn’t land the No. 1 overall seed—that went to Auburn—and instead got tossed into a brutal West Region. Their path to a title is packed with landmines, plainly. It starts as early as the second round with the possibility of facing reigning back-to-back champs UConn. Further down: potential matchups against battle-tested squads like Gonzaga and St. John’s, two teams that can light it up offensively and won’t be fazed by the moment.
Auburn, meanwhile, gets the South Region despite losing three of its last four. The Tigers’ toughest projected matchup? Michigan State, a team that’s been inconsistent all year. Florida, on the other hand, will have to claw its way through some of the sport’s biggest names just to get to the Final Four. It’s a gauntlet. But if there’s a team built to handle it, it’s these Gators. They’ve won 12 of their last 13, their offense is cooking at 85.4 PPG, and they have the kind of depth that wears opponents down late in games.
Listen, I was in on these Gators before they became the national darling. Go through my college hoops archive. I’m on the record saying Alex Condon’s return to the lineup against the very Georgia team I just wrote up would change this team’s outlook for the SEC tournament, and potentially for the Big Dance. And boy was I sure right. Let’s hope that continues.
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