ChatGPT March Madness Bracket: AI Final Four Picks and Results So Far

As the 2026 NCAA Tournament approaches its conclusion, we tasked ChatGPT with completing a March Madness bracket and providing predictions for the Final Four based on artificial intelligence analysis.

We are currently experiencing the beginning of a new era in artificial intelligence, where AI has the potential to equal or even exceed human abilities in certain tasks. However, the question remains: can AI predict the outcomes of a March Madness bracket?

We tasked ChatGPT, the well-known chatbot from OpenAI, with making predictions for every game in the NCAA Tournament after the First Four. We compared its picks to our expert predictions in our March Madness bracket to see if the AI model could hold its own.

The findings were quite intriguing. Take a look at ChatGPT’s completed March Madness bracket for the upcoming 2026 NCAA Tournament, complete with score predictions for all 67 games starting from the first round up to the championship game.

Utilize these forecasts to enhance your experience with our top-rated free bracket challenges.

AI Final Four picks

If you were keeping up with the bracket during the NCAA Tournament, you’ll be aware that ChatGPT accurately predicted two out of four Final Four teams. However, the other two picks didn’t quite pan out.

As expected, our beloved AI predictor accurately forecasted that the top-seeded UConn Huskies and Purdue Boilermakers, the two most favored teams by humans to win it all, would advance to the March Madness semifinals. Both teams have shown strong performances, winning four games each and looking like strong contenders for the championship title.

ChatGPT’s bracket had some unfortunate picks, with Alabama losing to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 and Arizona winning the Midwest Region. While it did correctly predict NC State upsetting Texas Tech in the first round, it stumbled by having them lose to Kentucky in the second round. Better luck next year, ChatGPT!

How to teach ChatGPT to fill out a March Madness bracket

If you want to recreate this project at home, you can have ChatGPT complete your March Madness bracket with some initial effort.

I highly suggest utilizing GPT-4, an upgraded version of ChatGPT that can search the internet to supplement its existing knowledge base. It is essential to train this advanced language model with relevant information for predicting outcomes in the NCAA Tournament, as it is not inherently knowledgeable about basketball.

Up to now, here is the method we used to train ChatGPT in order to complete a March Madness bracket for 2026:

Setting the guidelines

Prior to requesting ChatGPT for its March Madness picks, we laid out a clear set of fundamental criteria and methodology to guide the project. This preliminary step is crucial when utilizing a chatbot, as it operates based on instructions rather than fully comprehending the tasks it is given.

In this instance, we tasked ChatGPT with forecasting each game of the NCAA Tournament by utilizing the same criteria that others use when selecting their college basketball picks. We requested it to generate these predictions by analyzing team-specific and matchup information, along with current college basketball odds and past trends. This data served as the foundational training data for this bracket projection.

Additionally, we directed ChatGPT to prioritize creating March Madness upset picks that are both believable and engaging, capturing the unpredictable essence of the NCAA Tournament.

Just to clarify, this is purely for entertainment and AI chatbots should not be relied upon as a substitute for traditional sports betting strategies or conducting thorough research when making bracket selections. However, if you’re interested in using ChatGPT’s recommendations to assist you in filling out your bracket, feel free to give it a try!

Training data

Once the project guidelines were set, we focused on providing ChatGPT with extensive training data to enhance the precision of its predictions.

Initially, we requested it to analyze common trends associated with the NCAA Tournament and shared some top tips from our March Madness betting strategy guide. Following that, we supplied it with a comprehensive list of March Madness odds and Final Four odds for all 68 teams in the tournament field as of Selection Sunday.

Furthermore, we brought in a spreadsheet containing KenPom data for all teams participating in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. This data includes rankings for tempo, adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, and adjusted efficiency margin for each team. To ensure precise recognition and interpretation of the data, we underwent several training rounds, a necessary step when working with any evolving model.

After supplying ChatGPT with the latest spreads and totals for all 32 first-round games, we used this information to set a baseline expectation from the betting market. Once all the data was inputted, we unleashed ChatGPT and it exceeded our expectations with its performance.

ChatGPT March Madness bracket

To download the ChatGPT March Madness bracket, click here.

ChatGPT pick to win March Madness

It appears that both humans and AI are in consensus that the UConn Huskies will emerge victorious in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Following some surprising upset selections in the initial rounds, ChatGPT favored the top seeds in the Final Four, with three No. 1 seeds advancing, particularly the number one overall seed, the Huskies. Our amateur AI bracketologist predicts that they will defeat Arizona in the regional final and go on to win against Houston in the championship game, making them the first team to win back-to-back championships since 2006-07.

Even without the chatbot actively searching the web for tournament predictions, it’s clear that UConn’s dominance on paper sets them apart from the competition. Despite this, ChatGPT still allowed for unexpected outcomes in the initial four rounds.

Below are the score predictions and analysis for every game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, as generated by ChatGPT. Please note that these predictions are for entertainment purposes only and should not be mistaken for those made by a sports betting system or other AI projection model.

Which team is considered the greatest college basketball champion of all time in March Madness, and what betting promotions are available for the tournament?

ChatGPT March Madness upset picks

An NCAA Tournament bracket wouldn’t be complete without some upsets, and ChatGPT embraced this notion by selecting 15 lower-seeded teams to progress in the bracket, with 12 of them making it through the first round.

The most surprising upset of the tournament occurred when No. 15 seed Western Kentucky defeated No. 2 seed Marquette in the first round, possibly due to Tyler Kolek’s questionable health. This victory was part of a trend, as eight double-digit seeds advanced to the second round, with one team making it all the way to the Sweet 16 as a true Cinderella story.

Below is a comprehensive list of every upset predicted by ChatGPT in the first round, ordered by the difference in seed rankings:

• (15) Western Kentucky over (2) Marquette
• (13) Samford over (4) Kansas
• (12) James Madison over (5) Wisconsin
• (11) NC State over (6) Texas Tech
• (11) Oregon over (6) South Carolina
• (11) New Mexico over (6) Clemson
• (10) Drake over (7) Washington State
• (10) Nevada over (7) Dayton
• (9) Northwestern over (8) FAU
• (9) Texas A&M over (8) Nebraska
• (9) TCU over (8) Utah State
• (9) Michigan State over (8) Mississippi State

ChatGPT March Madness update: 1st and 2nd round

The opening weekend for ChatGPT was not flawless, accurately predicting 21 out of 32 matchups in the first round and 10 out of 16 teams in the Sweet 16. Surprisingly, this performance was similar to my own March Madness bracket predictions, which correctly forecasted 20 out of the first 32 games and 12 out of the 16 teams in action this weekend.

ChatGPT accurately predicted some significant upsets in the initial round, with No. 11 seeds Oregon and NC State progressing in its bracket, and No. 12 seed James Madison pulling off a surprising victory against Wisconsin. However, the AI missed the mark on No. 15 Western Kentucky and No. 13 seed Samford, despite both teams having opportunities to secure a win in the latter part of the game.

Despite a few early missteps, ChatGPT managed to maintain all of its Final Four picks as the Sweet 16 approaches. This is more than what many, including myself, can claim after a chaotic opening weekend.

ChatGPT score predictions and analysis for every NCAA Tournament game

1st round picks, matchups

East Region

• (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 shows 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.

South Region

• (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 Oakland 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.

Midwest Region

• (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.

West Region

• (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.

1st round score predictions

2nd round picks, matchups

East Region

• (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.

South Region

• (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.

Midwest Region

• (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.

West Region

• (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.

2nd round score predictions

Sweet 16 picks, matchups

East Region

• (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.

South Region

• (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.

Midwest Region

• (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.

West Region

• (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.

Sweet 16 score predictions

Elite Eight picks, matchups

East Region

• (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.

South Region

• (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.

Midwest Region

• (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.

West Region

• (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.

Elite Eight score predictions

Final Four, championship score predictions

Final Four picks

• (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.

National championship pick

• (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 have to be a bracket expert to participate in March Madness with your friends, family, and coworkers. Even the most knowledgeable college basketball fans have never achieved a flawless bracket. However, these tips can improve your chances of success as you strive for 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 predictions. 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.

2026 March Madness bracket

Download and print our free March Madness bracket for the 2026 NCAA Tournament by clicking here!

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