Upset Brackets (2025): Our Algorithm's Top Underdogs

Our model identifies the smartest underdogs, creating a bracket that maximizes upset potential while still keeping the structure strong.

In March Madness pools that reward correct upset picks with extra points, Dimers' Upset Brackets are your best bet.

• Multiple risk levels—choose how bold you want to go
• Data-driven underdog picks based on thousands of simulations
• Perfect for pools that reward bold choices

Download an Upset Bracket and make the bold picks that win big!

While the standard March Madness bracket pool simply awards a player point(s) for successfully picking the winner of each of the 63 games in the tournament (excluding the First Four), there are alternative variations that more heavily reward upset picks. 

Dimers has created the brackets on this page to service players participating in these pools by developing data models of varying risk-levels to account for these unique competitions. Below are the two most popualr examples of alternate bracket pools best suited for our predictions:

• Classic Upset Pool: Players receive a traditional score for correctly picking a winner, plus an upset bonus based on the seed difference. For example, picking a 12 seed to beat a 5 seed might earn a player 8 points. 
• Upset Assassin Pool: Players receive points for winning matchups, and also steal points from the team they defeated. This format especially incentives late-round upset picks, as the favorites in those matchups have accumulated more points throughout the earlier rounds of the tournament.

March Madness is notorious for its unexpected outcomes and dramatic upsets — there's a reason we don't call it March Mundanity. At Dimers, we understand not only the emotional appeal of rooting for the little guy, but the historical basis for occasionally selecting the underdog. 

Below are three of the most famous examples of upsets from the last 40+ years of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament:

• UMBC vs. Virginia (2018): UMBC (16) made history by becoming the first 16-seed to defeat a 1-seed (Virginia) in the men’s tournament.
• NC State vs. Houston (1983): NC State (6) stunned Houston (1), a team with future NBA stars, to win the national championship.
• Villanova vs. Georgetown (1985): 8-seed Villanova defeated top-seed Georgetown in one of the most surprising championship game results.

In other words...we're telling you there's a chance. 

At Dimers, we’re dedicated to delivering reliable sports predictions powered by cutting-edge tech and data-driven insights. Our team of data scientists and machine learning pros has built proprietary models that tap into the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and simulation techniques to break down every game with precision.

We start with collecting massive amounts of data—from historical stats to live, in-game updates at both the team and player level. Some of this data comes from external sources, while other key metrics we track ourselves. We then apply advanced statistical analysis to uncover patterns, pinpoint critical variables, and refine our predictive models.

Our models process thousands of data points and weigh every possible factor—team and player performance, weather, starting lineups, home vs. away trends, projected minutes, and more. The result? Data-backed insights that help you make sharper picks with confidence.

Best of all, while our advanced data is typically reserved for paying Dimers Pro subscribers, who can use it to get an edge against sports betting odds all year long, the free and downloadable college basketball brackets on this page are the exception.