Guide to Running Your 2026 March Madness Pool: Prizes and Fun

Mar 9, 2026, 2:42 AM
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March Madness is an exciting time for basketball fans, and the 2026 NCAA Tournament is just around the corner, with Selection Sunday on March 15. This is the perfect opportunity to set up your March Madness pools and engage friends, family, and co-workers in some competitive fun.

Setting Up Your March Madness Pool

Creating a March Madness pool is straightforward. For the Men's bracket, head over to the CBS Sports website and navigate to the "Create Men's Bracket Pool" page. You will need to name your group and decide whether you want a locked pool, where you control invitations, or an open pool that anyone can join. After setting up the pool, you can confirm the rules and share the link with your participants.
The process is similar for the Women's March Madness pool; just start at the "Create Women's Bracket Pool" page to get your group started.

Competing for Prizes

CBS Sports offers exciting NCAA Bracket Challenges for both the men's and women's tournaments, with a chance to win trips to the 2027 Final Four. To enter the Men's Challenge, simply click the "Join Now" button and fill out your bracket after the teams are revealed on Selection Sunday. If you have already created brackets in your personal pools, you can easily import them into the Challenge for a quick entry.
For the Women's Challenge, you can enter later that same evening after the Selection Show. Make sure to import your brackets from your women's pools as well to streamline the process.

Important Dates to Remember

The deadline for the Men's bracket is March 19, right before the first round begins, while the Women's bracket deadline is set for March 20. Make sure all participants complete their entries by these dates to be eligible for prizes.

Teams to Watch

As you prepare your brackets, consider some of the top teams likely to make waves in the tournament. For the Men's tournament, the Florida Gators, the defending champions, are poised for another strong run. The Arizona Wildcats and their impressive record also make them a team to keep an eye on.
On the Women's side, the UCLA Bruins, who made their first Final Four appearance last season, are currently off to a fantastic start, while Vanderbilt's women's team has also shown significant promise this year.

Tips for Filling Out Your Bracket

When filling out your bracket, consider historical trends and statistics. For instance, No. 1 seeds have historically had the best chance of winning their respective tournaments, but March Madness is notorious for its upsets. Focusing on matchups, team performance, and even player injuries can provide insight into potential surprises during the tournament.

Conclusion

Running a March Madness pool can be an enjoyable way to enhance your tournament experience, offering both excitement and the chance to win prizes. As the tournament draws near, gather your friends and family, set up your pools, and prepare for an unforgettable March Madness season. Engage with the thrill of the competition, and may the best bracket win!

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