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March Madness is considered among the largest, most anticipated tournaments in sports, especially for those who participate from home by creating brackets to predict the winners. The inaugural basketball games in 1939 had just eight contenders. Now, 68 collegiate teams make it much more difficult to predict who will become the NCAA Tournament champion.
Selection Sunday has come and gone, brackets are being created, and bets are being made. Although it’s nearly impossible to pick all 63 NCAA Tournament games correctly, our publisher partner data may be able to lend a helping hand.
On March 13th, 2023, we gathered our publisher pageviews of articles mentioning the participating basketball teams from the last 90 days to predict who might win each game. Our scoring system: the team with the most pageviews, and fan interest, wins.
If you want to skip to the final rounds, we recommend using the Table of Contents.
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Let The Big Dance begin.
Source: Chris Gardner / Stringer / Getty Images
First Round
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2,469,170 |
| Missouri State Bears | 3,410 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 205,100 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Maryland Terrapins | 192,740 |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | 261,810 |
Winner: West Virginia Mountaineers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| College of Charleston Cougars | 6,200 |
| San Diego Toreros | 8,280 |
Winner: San Diego Toreros
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Furman Paladins | 8,040 |
| Virginia Cavaliers | 104,370 |
Winner: Virginia Cavaliers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Creighton Bluejays | 108,710 |
| NC State Wolfpack | 138,620 |
Winner: NC State Wolfpack
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Baylor Bears | 216,920 |
| Santa Barbara Gauchos | 80,560 |
Winner: Baylor Bears
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Missouri Tigers | 210,720 |
| Utah State Aggies | 81,790 |
Winner: Missouri Tigers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Princeton Tigers | 10,120 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 217,550 |
Winner: Arizona Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 620,910 |
| Texas Southern Tigers | 2,120 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | 26,840 |
Winner: Purdue Boilermakers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Memphis Tigers | 116,700 |
| Florida Atlantic Owls | 13,380 |
Winner: Memphis Tigers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Duke Blue Devils | 437,960 |
| Oral Roberts Golden Eagles | 3,560 |
Winner: Duke Blue Devils
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 568,960 |
| Louisiana Ragin Cajuns | 8,660 |
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 609,020 |
| Providence Friars | 64,220 |
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kansas State Wildcats | 430,100 |
| Montana State Bobcats | 23,460 |
Winner: Kansas State Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Michigan State Spartans | 300,380 |
| USC Trojans | 849,020 |
Winner: USC Trojans
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Vermont Catamounts | 39,680 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | 51,610 |
Winner: Marquette Golden Eagles
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Northern Kentucky Norse | Insufficient Data |
| Houston Cougars | 200,510 |
Winner: Houston Cougars
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 1,008,280 |
| Auburn Tigers | 266,860 |
Winner: Iowa Hawkeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Miami Hurricanes | 761,700 |
| Drake Bulldogs | 21,990 |
Winner: Miami Hurricanes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 386,650 |
| Kent State Golden Flashes | 104,320 |
Winner: Indiana Hoosiers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Iowa State Cyclones | 220,850 |
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | 305,780 |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | 320,360 |
Winner: Pittsburgh Panthers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Xavier Musketeers | 133,370 |
| Kennesaw State Owls | 25,910 |
Winner: Xavier Musketeers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 205,100 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 674,410 |
Winner: Penn State Nittany Lions
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,847,290 |
| Colgate Raiders | 20,560 |
Winner: Texas Longhorns
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 987,740 |
| Howard Bison | 6,030 |
Winner: Kansas Jayhawks
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 186,950 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 108,410 |
Winner: Arkansas Razorbacks
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Saint Mary’s Gaels | 34,980 |
| VCU Rams | 62,160 |
Winner: VCU Rams
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| UConn Huskies | 287,470 |
| Iona Gaels | 45,210 |
Winner: UConn Huskies
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 3,031,310 |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | 213,070 |
| Nevada Wolf Pack | 18,710 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Grand Canyon Antelopes | 4,680 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | 158,770 |
Winner: Gonzaga Bulldogs
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 166,510 |
| Boise State Broncos | 43,180 |
Winner: Northwestern Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| UCLA Bruins | 524,090 |
| UNC Asheville Bulldogs | 7,350 |
Winner: UCLA Bruins
Source: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
Second Round
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2,469,170 |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | 261,810 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| San Diego Toreros | 8,280 |
| Virginia Cavaliers | 104,370 |
Winner: Virginia Cavaliers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| NC State Wolfpack | 138,620 |
| Baylor Bears | 216,920 |
Winner: Baylor Bears
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Missouri Tigers | 210,720 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 217,550 |
Winner: Arizona Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 620,910 |
| Memphis Tigers | 116,700 |
Winner: Purdue Boilermakers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Duke Blue Devils | 437,960 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 568,960 |
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 609,020 |
| Kansas State Wildcats | 430,100 |
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| USC Trojans | 849,020 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | 51,610 |
Winner: USC Trojans
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Houston Cougars | 200,510 |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 1,008,280 |
Winner: Iowa Hawkeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Miami Hurricanes | 761,700 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 386,650 |
Winner: Miami Hurricanes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | 320,360 |
| Xavier Musketeers | 133,370 |
Winner: Pittsburgh Panthers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 674,410 |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,847,290 |
Winner: Texas Longhorns
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 987,740 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 186,950 |
Winner: Kansas Jayhawks
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| VCU Rams | 62,160 |
| UConn Huskies | 287,470 |
Winner: UConn Huskies
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 3,031,310 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | 158,770 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 166,510 |
| UCLA Bruins | 524,090 |
Winner: UCLA Bruins
Source: AP Photo/Michael Allio
Regional Semifinals: Sweet 16
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2,469,170 |
| Virginia Cavaliers | 104,370 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Baylor Bears | 216,920 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 217,550 |
Winner: Arizona Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 620,910 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 568,960 |
Winner: Purdue Boilermakers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 609,020 |
| USC Trojans | 849,020 |
Winner: USC Trojans
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 1,008,280 |
| Miami Hurricanes | 761,700 |
Winner: Iowa Hawkeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | 320,360 |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,847,290 |
Winner: Texas Longhorns
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 987,740 |
| UConn Huskies | 287,470 |
Winner: Kansas Jayhawks
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 3,031,310 |
| UCLA Bruins | 524,090 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
Source: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
Regional Finals: Elite 8
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2,469,170 |
| Arizona Wildcats | 217,550 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 620,910 |
| USC Trojans | 849,020 |
Winner: USC Trojans
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| 1,008,280 | |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,847,290 |
Winner: Texas Longhorns
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 987,740 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 3,031,310 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
Source: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
National Semifinals: Final Four
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2,469,170 |
| USC Trojans | 849,020 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,847,290 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 3,031,310 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
National Championship
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2,469,170 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 3,031,310 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
And there you have it!
Some of you may read this article and think we’ve missed our shot. Others may think they totally scored by finding this story.
We won’t be offended either way. We’re not basketball experts, just people who love data.
Agree? Disagree? Strongly disagree? Tweet us @taboola and let us know!