March Madness 2022 Picks and Bracket Tips

There really is nothing quite like March Madness. And this year, the “Madness” of March is already in full swing.

Football free agency has been outstanding. Major League Baseball resolved its dispute and is now in a frenzy of signings and trades. And the NCAA Tournament is being considered by many to be more “wide open” than ever before.

Is the last one true? Maybe. But if the first half of the month has been any indication as to what we could expect, then the second half should be a treat.

I have now written an article like this for the past few years — with the exception of the COVID-cancelled 2020 season — and I always try to lay the same foundation. The key to “winning” a bracket — emphasis on “winning” in the sense that we want to beat others and not necessarily put together the perfect combination — is that we want to maximize our potential to get ahead of the crowd. That’s it. If we can pick winners to games, then we are that much closer to our goal. But the March Madness bracket is the ultimate test of risk and reward.

This is the ultimate time to take chances with our picks.

Of course, “take chances” is a relative term. Please always use your own discretion and do your research before risking anything. Below are my picks and thoughts about this year’s March Madness bracket.

11 Michigan vs. 6 Colorado State (+100)

I’m actually cackling. Michigan is being hyped as one of the best ‘sleeper’ teams in the Tournament because of their double-digit seed, and they are actually favored against Colorado State. Need I say more? I will. Colorado State is solid from the free throw line — which many attribute to success in March — and we can even find a mismatch in the numbers. Colorado State is 0-0 against Top-25 teams, but Michigan is unranked. Conversely, the Wolverines are 2-7 against Top-25 teams. Colorado State ranks 24th in the country.

13 South Dakota State (+115) vs. 4 Providence

I generally love ‘upsets,’ and I’m aggressively seeking them in every March Madness Tournament. This year is no different, of course, but I’m diving in without regard when it comes to a small underdog in a perceived impossible seed. Providence is barely favored in an early Thursday afternoon game, and I love the potential of South Dakota State stealing a win.

9 Marquette