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 15th, 2022, 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 wins.
If you want to skip to the final rounds, we recommend using the Table of Contents.
Let The Big Dance begin.
Source: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
First Round
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | 657,030 |
| Georgia State Panthers | 9,670 |
Winner: Gonzaga Bulldogs
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Boise State Broncos | 100,320 |
| Memphis Tigers | 676,690 |
Winner: Memphis Tigers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| UConn Huskies | 189,260 |
| New Mexico State Aggies | 19,120 |
Winner: UConn Huskies
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 350,060 |
| Vermont Catamounts | 10,690 |
Winner: Arkansas Razorbacks
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 6,083,950 |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 672,660 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 697,470 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | 461,360 |
| Montana State Bobcats | 1,570 |
Winner: Texas Tech Red Raiders
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Michigan State Spartans | 1,158,080 |
| Davidson Wildcats | 25,440 |
Winner: Michigan State Spartans
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Duke Blue Devils | 2,506,320 |
| Cal State Fullerton Titans | 9,660 |
Winner: Duke Blue Devils
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Baylor Bears | 1,463,980 |
| Norfolk State Spartans | 1,710 |
Winner: Baylor Bears
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 990,660 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | 45,620 |
Winner: North Carolina Tar Heels
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Saint Mary Gaels | 15,410 |
| Wyoming Cowboys | 735,470 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 334,290 |
Winner: Wyoming Cowboys
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| UCLA Bruins | 1,621,830 |
| Akron Zips | 5,690 |
Winner: UCLA Bruins
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,024,700 |
| Virginia Tech Hokies | 264,560 |
Winner: Texas Longhorns
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 384,790 |
| Yale Bulldogs | 187,550 |
Winner: Purdue Boilermakers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Murray State Racers | 117,930 |
| San Francisco Dons | 19,660 |
Winner: Murray State Racers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 1,526,730 |
| Saint Peter’s Peacocks | Insufficient Data |
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Arizona Wildcats | 850,120 |
| Wright State Raiders | 52,070 |
Winner: Arizona Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Seton Hall Pirates | 37,260 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 144,880 |
Winner: TCU Horned Frogs
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Houston Cougars | 214,000 |
| UAB Blazers | 51,380 |
Winner: Houston Cougars
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 274,190 |
| Chattanooga Mocs | 13,520 |
Winner: Houston Illinois Fighting Illini
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Colorado Buffaloes | 140,760 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4,457,120 |
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 318,560 |
| Longwood Lancers | 880 |
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 1,138,720 |
| Loyola Ramblers | 13,550 |
Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Villanova Wildcats | 64,850 |
| Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens | 13,350 |
Winner: Villanova Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 86,020 |
| Texas Southern Tigers | 1,440 |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 1,926,920 |
Winner: Texas A&M Aggies
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| San Diego State Aztecs | 116,750 |
| Creighton Bluejays | 42,960 |
Winner: San Diego State Aztecs
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 675,390 |
| Richmond Spiders | 67,470 |
Winner: Iowa Hawkeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Providence Friars | 82,850 |
| South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 3,190 |
Winner: Providence Friars
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| LSU Tigers | 289,810 |
| Iowa State Cyclones | 86,310 |
Winner: LSU Tigers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2,438,980 |
| Colgate Raiders | 53,670 |
Winner: Wisconsin Badgers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| USC Trojans | 1,710,570 |
| Miami Hurricanes | 1,240,480 |
Winner: USC Trojans
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Auburn Tigers | 2,383,810 |
| Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 5,610 |
Winner: Auburn Tigers
Second Round
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | 657,030 |
| Memphis Tigers | 676,690 |
Winner: Memphis Tigers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| UConn Huskies | 189,260 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 350,060 |
Winner: Arkansas Razorbacks
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 6,083,950 |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | 461,360 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Michigan State Spartans | 1,158,080 |
| Duke Blue Devils | 2,506,320 |
Winner: Duke Blue Devils
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Baylor Bears | 1,463,980 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 990,660 |
Winner: Baylor Bears
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Wyoming Cowboys | 735,470 |
| UCLA Bruins | 1,621,830 |
Winner: UCLA Bruins
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,024,700 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 384,790 |
Winner: Texas Longhorns
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Murray State Racers | 117,930 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 1,526,730 |
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Arizona Wildcats | 850,120 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 144,880 |
Winner: Arizona Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Houston Cougars | 214,000 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 274,190 |
Winner: Illinois Fighting Illini
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4,457,120 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 318,560 |
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 1,138,720 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 64,850 |
Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 1,926,920 |
| San Diego State Aztecs | 116,750 |
Winner: Texas A&M Aggies
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 675,390 |
| Providence Friars | 82,850 |
Winner: Iowa Hawkeyes
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| LSU Tigers | 289,810 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2,438,980 |
Winner: Wisconsin Badgers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| USC Trojans | 1,710,570 |
| Auburn Tigers | 2,383,810 |
Winner: Auburn Tigers
Source: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Regional Semifinals: Sweet 16
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Memphis Tigers | 676,690 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 350,060 |
Winner: Memphis Tigers
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 6,083,950 |
| Duke Blue Devils | 2,506,320 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Baylor Bears | 1,463,980 |
| UCLA Bruins | 1,621,830 |
Winner: UCLA Bruins
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas Longhorns | 1,024,700 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 1,526,730 |
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Arizona Wildcats | 850,120 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 274,190 |
Winner: Arizona Wildcats
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4,457,120 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 1,138,720 |
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 1,926,920 |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 675,390 |
Winner: Texas A&M Aggies
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2,438,980 |
| Auburn Tigers | 2,383,810 |
Winner: Wisconsin Badgers
Source: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Regional Finals: Elite 8
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Memphis Tigers | 676,690 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 6,083,950 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| UCLA Bruins | 1,621,830 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 1,526,730 |
Winner: UCLA Bruins
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Arizona Wildcats | 850,120 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4,457,120 |
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 1,926,920 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2,438,980 |
Winner: Wisconsin Badgers
Source: AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt
National Semifinals: Final Four
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 6,083,950 |
| UCLA Bruins | 1,621,830 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4,457,120 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2,438,980 |
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
Source: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports
National Championship
| Competing Teams | Pageviews |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 6,083,950 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 4,457,120 |
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
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!