We asked ChatGPT to fill out a March Madness bracket with predictions for every game of the NCAA Tournament. Here's what it came up with ahead of the first round.
In this era of artificial intelligence, it seems like a matter of time before AI can do anything as well or better than a human can. But does it know how to fill out a March Madness bracket?
We put that to the test by asking ChatGPT – the widely popular chatbot by OpenAI – to make March Madness predictions for every single game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament following the First Four. We then compared those picks to the rest of our March Madness bracket predictions to see whether the AI model could compete with our expert picks.
Needless to say, the results were … interesting. Here's a look at how ChatGPT filled out its March Madness bracket ahead of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, i ncluding exact score predictions for all 67 matchups from the first round to the title game.
How to teach ChatGPT to fill out a March Madness bracket
If you're looking to replicate this project at home, it's entirely possible to have ChatGPT fill out your March Madness bracket. It just takes a little work upfront.
First and foremost, I would recommend using GPT-4, a more advanced model of ChatGPT that allows the chatbot to search the internet to fill in the gaps of its preexisting knowledge base. It's also critical to train the large language model – which knows data, not basketball – anything that might be relevant to making predictions for the NCAA Tournament.
To that point, here's how we trained ChatGPT to fill out a March Madness bracket for 2024:
Before we asked ChatGPT for its March Madness picks, we established a set of basic criteria and m ethodology to instruct this project. This is always an important step when using a chatbot, which is designed to follow instructions without necessarily understanding what it might be asked to do in the first place.
In this case, we asked ChatGPT to predict every game of the NCAA Tournament using the same factors that others consider when making their college basketball picks. We asked it to make these predictions based on team-specific and matchup data as well as the latest college basketball odds and historical trends – all of which served as the basic training data for this bracket projection.
Critically, we also instructed ChatGPT to focus on making plausible but entertaining March Madness upset picks to reflect the typically chaotic nature of the NCAA Tournament.
To be clear, this is for entertainment purposes only, as AI chatbots are not a replacement for typical sports bettin g models or even the basic research that many do when filling out their bracket. That said, if you want to use ChatGPT's picks to fill out your own bracket, have at it!
With the guidelines for this project established, we turned to feeding ChatGPT as much training data as possible to improve the “accuracy” of its picks.
First, we asked it to search for common trends related to the NCAA Tournament while also sharing with it some of the best tips from our March Madness betting strategy guide. Then, we provided it with a full list of March Madness odds and Final Four odds for all 68 teams in the tournament field as of Selection Sunday.
Additionally, we imported a spreadsheet of KenPom data for every team in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including how each team ranks in tempo, adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, and adjusted efficiency margin. This involved a few rounds of training to ensure accurate recognition and interpretation of the data, which is a crucial step when working with any developing model.
Finally, we provided ChatGPT with a list of updated spreads and totals for all 32 first-round games to help establish a baseline expectation from the betting market. With that in addition to the rest of the data, we finally let it loose. And boy, did it deliver.
ChatGPT March Madness bracket
Click here to download the ChatGPT March Madness bracket.
ChatGPT pick to win March Madness
It seems that humans and AI can mostly agree on one thing: the UConn Huskies are winning the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
After a few shocking upset picks in the early rounds, ChatGPT went chalk in the Final Four with three No. 1 seeds, including the top overall seed in the Huskies. They outlast Arizona in the regional final, according to our amateur AI bracketologist, before beating Houston in the championship game to become the first back-to-back champions since 2006-07.
That comes even without the chatbot explicitly searching the web for what others are predicting for this tournament, which speaks to just how dominant UConn is on paper compared to the rest of the field. That said, ChatGPT still left plenty of room for surprising results through the first four rounds.
Here's the exact score prediction and brief analysis for every game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, courtesy of ChatGPT. Again, these picks should not be confused with an actual prediction by a sports betting system or other AI projection model. These picks are provided by a large language model and should be considered for entertainment purposes only.
Related: Which March Madness champion is the best college basketball team of all time?
ChatGPT score predictions and analysis for every NCAA Tournament game
- (1) UConn 85, (16) Stetson 64 – UConn dominates as expected against the 16 seed.
- (9) Northwestern 73, (8) FAU 70 – An upset with Northwestern edging out FAU in a close game.
- (5) San Diego State 71, (12) UAB 65 – SDSU's defense leads to a win, but UAB keeps it competitive.
- (4) Auburn 78, (13) Yale 68 – Auburn controls the game, but Yale sh ows resilience.
- (6) BYU 76, (11) Duquesne 70 – BYU handles business but Duquesne competes fiercely.
- (3) Illinois 81, (14) Morehead State 70 – Illinois's talent prevails, but Morehead State battles hard.
- (10) Drake 68, (7) Washington State 66 – Drake pulls off a minor upset in a nail-biter.
- (2) Iowa State 77, (15) South Dakota State 62 – ISU solidly dispatches the 15 seed.
- (1) Houston 79, (16) Longwood 53 – Houston dominates Longwood with its strong defense.
- (9) Texas A&M 75, (8) Nebraska 72 – Texas A&M narrowly defeats Nebraska in an upset.
- (12) James Madison 73, (5) Wisconsin 69 – JMU stuns Wisconsin in a major upset.
- (4) Duke 79, (13) Vermont 65 – Duke comfortably beats Vermont.
- (11) NC State 76, (6) Texas Tech 71 – NC State upsets Texas Tech in a close game.
- (3) Kentucky 82, (14) Oakland 67 – Kentucky handles Oa kland with ease.
- (7) Florida 69, (10) Colorado/Boise State 65 – Florida wins in a competitive game against the First Four winner.
- (15) Western Kentucky 75, (2) Marquette 73 – A big upset with WKU narrowly defeating Marquette.
- (1) Purdue 90, (16) Grambling State/Montana State 62 – Purdue easily dispatches the First Four winner to get past the first round.
- (9) TCU 78, (8) Utah State 75 – TCU narrowly escapes Utah State in a close game.
- (5) Gonzaga 84, (12) McNeese State 70 – Gonzaga comfortably beats McNeese State.
- (13) Samford 75, (4) Kansas 72 – Samford shocks Kansas in a huge upset.
- (11) Oregon 67, (6) South Carolina 65 – Oregon edges out South Carolina in a tight contest.
- (3) Creighton 80, (14) Akron 70 – Creighton wins comfortably against Akron.
- (7) Texas 74, (10) Colorado State/Virginia 70 – Texas narrowly beats the First Four winner.
- (2) Tennessee 86, (15) Saint Peter's 65 – Tennessee easily overcomes Saint Peter's.
- (1) North Carolina 88, (16) Wagner/Howard 60 – UNC easily overcomes the First Four winner.
- (9) Michigan State 67, (8) Mississippi State 64 – MSU secures a close victory in a defensive battle.
- (5) Saint Mary's 72, (12) Grand Canyon 68 – A tight game, but Saint Mary's edges it out.
- (4) Alabama 85, (13) Charleston 75 – Alabama's offense shines in a high-scoring affair.
- (11) New Mexico 78, (6) Clemson 75 – New Mexico upsets Clemson in a high-scoring upset.
- (3) Baylor 76, (14) Colgate 64 – Baylor's strength is too much for Colgate.
- (10) Nevada 71, (7) Dayton 68 – Nevada edges out Dayton in a closely contested match.
- (2) Arizona 83, (15) Long Beach State 61 – Arizona cruises to an easy win.
| East | South | Midwest | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn 85, Stetson 64 | Houston 79, Longwood 53 | Purdue 90, Grambling State/Montana State 62 | North Carolina 88, Howard 60 |
| Northwestern 75, FAU 70 | Texas A&M 75, Nebraska 72 | TCU 78, Utah State 75 | Michigan State 67, Mississippi State 64 |
| San Diego State 71, UAB 65 | James Madison 73, Wisconsin 69 | Gonzaga 84, McNeese State 70 | Saint Mary's 72, Grand Canyon 68 |
| Auburn 78, Yale 68 | Duke 79, Vermont 65 | Samford 75, Kansas 72 | Alabama 85, Charleston 75 |
| BYU 76, Duquesne 70 | NC State 76, Texas Tech 71 | Oregon 67, South Carolina 65 | New Mexico 78, Clemson 75 |
| Illinois 81, Morehead State 70 | Kentucky 82, Oakland 67 | Creighton 80, Akron 70 | Baylor 76, Colgate 64 |
| Drake 68, Washington State 66 | Florida 69, Colorado/Boise State 65 | Texas 74, Color ado State/Virginia 70 | Nevada 71, Dayton 68 |
| Iowa State 77, South Dakota State 62 | Western Kentucky 75, Marquette 73 | Tennessee 86, Saint Peter's 65 | Arizona 83, Long Beach State 61 |
- (1) UConn 81, (9) Northwestern 70 – UConn continues its strong play, overcoming Northwestern's challenge.
- (4) Auburn 76, (5) San Diego State 72 – Auburn edges out San Diego State in a closely contested game.
- (3) Illinois 79, (6) BYU 74 – Illinois's depth and talent prove too much for BYU.
- (2) Iowa State 75, (10) Drake 68 – Iowa State withstands a valiant effort from Drake to advance.
- (1) Houston 83, (9) Texas A&M 70 – Houston's defense and efficient scoring lead them past Texas A&M.
- (4) Duke 82, (12) James Madison 75 – Duke's talent and experience help it fend off a spirited James Madison.
- (3) Kentucky 77, (11) NC State 72 – Kentucky's athleticism and skill outlast NC State in a tough matchup.
- (7) Florida 71, (15) Western Kentucky 65 – Florida advances, overcoming Western Kentucky's upset bid.
- (1) Purdue 88, (9) TCU 80 – Purdue's balanced attack proves too strong for TCU.
- (5) Gonzaga 82, (13) Samford 74 – Gonzaga's experience and depth help them move past a surprising Samford team.
- (11) Oregon 70, (3) Creighton 66 – Oregon continues its upset run, taking down Creighton.
- (2) Tennessee 84, (7) Texas 77 – Tennessee's efficient play and defensive prowess lead to victory over Texas.
- (9) Michigan State 76, (1) North Carolina 72 – Michigan State continues its upset streak, taking down North Carolina.
- (4) Alabama 80, (5) Saint Mary's 73 – Alabama's offense proves too much for Saint Mary's.
- (3) Baylor 78, (11) New Mexico 70 – Baylor's consistency and strength lead it past New Mexico.
- (2) Arizona 87, (10) Nevada 79 – Arizona's offensive firepower carries it to victory over Nevada.
| East | South | Midwest | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn 81, Northwestern 70 | Houston 83, Texas A&M 70 | Purdue 88, TCU 80 | Michigan State 76, North Carolina 72 |
| Auburn 76, San Diego State 72 | Duke 82, James Madison 75 | Gonzaga 82, Samford 74 | Alabama 80, Saint Mary's 73 |
| Illinois 79, BYU 74 | Kentucky 77, NC State 72 | Oregon 70, Creighton 66 | Baylor 78, New Mexico 70 |
| Iowa State 75, Drake 68 | Florida 71, Western Kentucky 65 | Tennessee 84, Texas 77 | Arizona 87, Nevada 79 |
- (1) UConn 83, (4) Auburn 78 – In a battle of heavyweights, UConn's versatility and clutch play late in the game secure a spot in the Elite Eight.
- (2) Iowa State 74, (3) Illinois 70 – Iowa State pulls off a slight upset, leveraging its strong defensive play to slow down Illinois and advance.
- (1) Houston 77, (4) Duke 73 – Houston's defense stifles Duke's stars in a close game, sending the Cougars to the Elite Eight.
- (3) Kentucky 75, (7) Florida 69 – Kentucky's talent and depth are too much for Florida, as it advances in a competitive matchup.
- (1) Purdue 85, (5) Gonzaga 80 – Purdue's size and offensive efficiency carry it past Gonzaga in a thrilling contest.
- (2) Tennessee 79, (11) Oregon 73 – Tennessee's disciplined play and strong defense end Oregon's Cinderella run.
- (9) Michigan State 68, (4) Alabama 66 – Michigan State 's magical run continues as it edges out Alabama in a defensive slugfest.
- (2) Arizona 82, (3) Baylor 77 – Arizona's dynamic offense overpowers Baylor in a high-scoring affair, moving it into the Elite Eight.
| East | South | Midwest | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn 83, Auburn 78 | Houston 77, Duke 73 | Purdue 85, Gonzaga 80 | Michigan State 68, Alabama 66 |
| Iowa State 74, Illinois 70 | Kentucky 75, Florida 69 | Tennessee 79, Oregon 73 | Arizona 82, Baylor 77 |
- (1) UConn 79, (2) Iowa State 74 – UConn's consistent performance and late-game execution help it edge past a tough Iowa State team to advance to the Final Four.
- (1) Houston 75, (3) Kentucky 72 – In a closely fought battle, Houston's elite defense and efficient scoring give it the edge over Kentucky, securing its place in the Final Four.
- (1) Purdue 81, (2) Tennessee 76 – Purdue's balanced team effort and strong inside play prove too much for Tennessee, as it advances to the Final Four.
- (2) Arizona 84, (9) Michigan State 78 – Arizona's offensive prowess and ability to control the tempo of the game lead it past a resilient Michigan State team into the Final Four.
| East | South | Midwest | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn 79, Iowa State 74 | Houston 75, Kentucky 72 | Purdue 81, Tennessee 76 | Arizona 84, Michigan State 78 |
- (1) UConn 82, (2) Arizona 79 – In a high-stakes showdown, UConn's depth and clutch shooting help it overcome Arizona's dynamic offense in a nail-biting finish, propelling it into the championship game.
- (1) Houston 78, (1) Purdue 74 – Houston's defense proves pivotal in a tough matchup against Purdue. The Cougars manage to contain Purdue's inside game and execute effectively on offense to secure its spot in the national championship.
- (1) UConn 81, (1) Houston 77 – In a thrilling championship game, UConn's balanced offense and ability to make critical plays in key moments give it the edge over Houston's stout defense. The game remains tight throughout, but UConn's experience and poise under pressure allow it to pull ahead in the final minutes, capturing the national title in a memorable showdown.
How to make March Madness bracket predictions
You don't need to be a bracketologist to fill in a March Madness bracket against your friends, family, and coworkers, as even the most experienced college basketball experts have never submitted a perfect bracket. But these tips can help you put forth your best shot on the road to glory.
- Research teams: Start by familiarizing yourself with the teams participating in the tournament. Look into their regular-season performance, key players, playing styles, and recent form. Pay attention to factors like strength of schedule, conference performance, and any notable wins or losses.
- Study the bracket: Examine the tournament bracket carefully to understand the matchups and potential paths each team could take. Consider factors like seeding, potential upsets, and historical trends when evaluating matchups.
- Analyze statistics: Dive into team and player statistics to gain insights into their strengths and weaknesses. Look at metrics like scoring offense and defense, rebounding, three-point shooting, and turnover margin to assess each team's capabilities.
- Consider matchups: Evaluate individual matchups within each game to determine how teams might fare against each other. Look for mismatches in playing styles, size, and skill sets that could impact the outcome.
- Factor in intangibles: Consider intangible factors like coaching experience, tournament experience, injuries, and momentum when making predictions. These factors can often play a significant role in determining game outcomes.
- Trust your instincts: While data and analysis are essential, don't overlook your gut feelings and instincts when making bracket predictions. March Madness is known for its unpredictability, and sometimes, a hunch or gut feeling can lead to successful predictions.
- Fill out your bracket: Once you've done your research and analysis, fill out your bracket accordingly, making picks for each matchup based on your predict ions. Consider both favorites and potential upsets when filling out your bracket to maximize your chances of success.
- Stay flexible: Remember that March Madness is inherently unpredictable, and upsets are bound to happen. Stay flexible and be prepared to adjust your predictions as the tournament progresses based on game results and developments.
2024 March Madness bracket
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