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theScore's comprehensive guide to picking your bracket

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

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With March Madness about to get underway, theScore is your source for everything you need to satiate your bracket appetite.

It doesn't seem like that long ago that Kris Jenkins hit the tournament-winning buzzer-beating 3-pointer for Villanova to give the Wildcats a thrilling victory in the national championship over North Carolina last April. However, a new tournament provides plenty of opportunity for thrills, chills, and excitement, with everyone in the nation trying to knock 'Nova from its pedestal.

Here's what you need to know to be prepared for the start of March Madness:

Bracket Tips

One of the best part of March Madness is filling out your bracket and competing with family, friends, co-workers, and strangers to earn bragging rights (and maybe something extra) with your college knowledge. While getting a perfect bracket is a near statistical impossibility, we're here to provide tips to get you as close to perfect as possible:

Bracket tips: Don't go crazy with your title game pick

Defense wins championships, but offense makes upsets

Don't get attached to 1st-round upsets in your bracket

Why picking UCLA to reach the Final Four is a must

3 teams you need to have in your Sweet 16

Do's and Don'ts for picking the perfect NCAA tournament bracket

Think twice before penciling in Arizona throughout your bracket

Picking a 12-seed upset could be key for your bracket

Coaches matter when making your bracket picks

5 bracket-busting teams to be weary of

Oregon could throw a wrench into your bracket after Boucher's injury

5 under-the-radar players who will be X-factors in tournament

Tournament Preview

From the Cinderellas to the favorites and everything in between, theScore has you covered for all you need to know heading into the tournament:

Ball Bets Day 1: Notre Dame set to roll over Princeton

Final Four Staff Picks

Why everyone should root for Michigan

3 players who will determine their team's tournament fate

5 bold predictions for the NCAA tournament

Meet SMU, the hottest team in the country

3 teams that could wear Cinderella's slipper in the NCAA tournament

Who could be this year's Michigan State?

5 biggest questions entering the tournament

6 favorites to win the championship

Which long-suffering NCAA fan base has the best shot at celebrating in 2017?

Looking for a team? Join the Northwestern bandwagon

5 tournament matchups every college basketball fan should hope for

Which teams could get the Big Ten more recognition in the Big Dance?

Pitinos become 1st father-son coaching duo in tourney history

Mid-major Snapshots

The average fan doesn't need to be introduced to the likes of Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas, the annual powers in the world of college basketball. But every year when the tournament rolls around there are plenty of smaller schools a casual fan may not be familiar with. These mid-major snapshots should help provide an idea of what brought these programs to the Big Dance:

Winthrop

Nevada

Rhode Island

Middle Tennessee

South Dakota State

Northern Kentucky

Iona

Wichita State

Florida Gulf Coast

(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)

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