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Or, more importantly, avoid what you don't know. If you can't roll off a team's nickname, coach, and at least two or three starters at the drop of a hat, you have no frame of reference to predict how the team will perform in the tournament. Furthermore, you have no business betting them. On the other hand, if you know the teams, you should trust your instincts.

The day after the brackets are announced, examine sports publications "capsule looks" at all 64 teams carefully. USA Today is probably the best source. For those with web access, ESPN's Sportszone site is a fantastic resource. You'll be surprised at the wealth of information youāll find.

Pick a conference that you can easily follow, perhaps one close to home, and monitor it as closely as you can, especially the spread wins and losses. Unlike the NFL, itās possible for one to know as much about a team (especially a low profile one) or conference than the folks in Las Vegas do.

Don't just arbitrarily set a number; haggle over it. Setting your own line prevents you from subconsciously justifying the line you see posted, and will help you make a rational decision.

Because it's so easy for a winning team to stretch a winning margin late in the game with free throws, you must be cautious betting underdogs. Anytime you are taking points under 10, your side should have a decent chance to win the game outright. It's also wise to make your larger plays on games with low point spreads. It is much better to win or lose because of a game situation rather than have your wager decided on the events that take place in the meaningless closing minutes, also known as "garbage time".

Winning teams with experienced guards who handle the ball well and shoot free throws at a high percentage are safer in this spot. Even if the favorite doesn't blow out their opponent to start, the extend-at-the-end-of-the-game potential is always there. The three-point shot is also a great equalizer, and good shooting teams can usually shoot well against anyone. Last year, Arizona boasted the nationās top guard tandem and it netted them the national title.

Even though the tournament track records of some of the great coaches are factored into the point spreads of their games, betting on coaches like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Temple's John Chaney, both of whom have excellent tournament records in the 90's, is always a wise move.

Because of the tournament's seeding system, there are always teams that are forced to travel across the country to play in a neutral site, and the travel, unfamiliarity, etc. could have a negative effect on them. Conversely, if a team is playing in its own backyard, chances are the players are familiar with their surroundings and will have more fan support at the gameand that's always a plus.

This "bet with your head, not with your heart" postulate can be applied to all sports, but it may carry a little more credence in college sports. If you or your son or daughter attended a small school that's found itself in the tournament playing a powerhouse, it's easy to let your emotions get in the way of intelligent wagering. This concept also carries into watching the games. If possible, be an observer, not a fan, when you watch. Ask yourself questions: Is the better team winning? Would you consider the winning side fortunate? Is the losing side unlucky? Obviously, we all want to win our plays, but by being objective when watching the games, we can be in a better position to learn today, and make better decisions tomorrow.

Since 1985 (the first year the NCAA operated the current 64-team tournament), in the first round of the tournament, the #1 seeded team has never lost to a #16 seed (a 52-0 record). The #2 seed has also been very successful, winning 94 percent of the time since Ī85. On the other end of the spectrum in the 8th vs. 9th seed matchup, the lower seed actually has a better record, winning 58 percent of the time. If you're looking for an upset, look no further than the #3 and #14 and #4 and #13 seed matchups, which have seen most of the tournamentās best upsets, most recently Princeton (13th seed) vs. UCLA (4th seed), in 1996.