March Madness bracket favorites picked to win title each year since 2016

We’re back to March Madness in April, so it’s still: Brackets, brackets, brackets!

Forgive me Jan Brady, but it’s Final Four Saturday, sister.

RELATED: 2026 Final Four TV schedule, tip times for today’s games on April 4

Ahem, everyone and their dog sitter filled out at least one March Madness bracket.

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Happens more and more every year as newbies and grizzled veterans alike admire the yearly beauty of the Tournament — as is. We beg you, NCAA, don’t mess with it.

Bracketeers are getting smarter and realizing that No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are the way to go when picking a national champion. Bracket Challenge Game players do that most years, but in other years, BCG users have spread out the selections when picking their title winner.

RELATED: Final Four map shows every state’s pick to win March Madness

Here’s a look at the most-picked Bracket Challenge Game championship winners over the past 10 years.

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2026

Most popular pick: Duke — 25.12%

Champion: ?

Another year, another devastating tourney loss for the Blue Devils. This detonated many brackets across the land.

2025

Most popular pick: Duke — 30.97%

Champion: Florida — 17.51%

If you think Duke’s iconic, miracle-at-the-buzzer loss this year was epic, check out the Blue Devils’ Final Four collapse last year to the eventual champion Gators. But below is the complete video of Florida’s win over Houston.

2024

Most popular pick (and champion): UConn — 26.09%

The Huskies pummelled Purdue to win their second straight men’s NCAA Tournament title and sixth overall. As the first back-to-back champions since 2026-2007 (Florida), winning every March Madness game by double digits.

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2023

Most popular pick: Houston — 20.18%

Champion: UConn — 2.08 percent%

The Dan Hurley-coached Huskies dynasty began on this night.

2022

Most popular pick: Gonzaga — 30.26%

Champion: Kansas — 7.87%

Nearly a third of all entrants thought this was finally Gonzaga’s year. Nope. Kansas had other ideas.

2021

Most popular pick: Gonzaga — 38.84%

Champion: Baylor — 8.44%

This was a stunner. The ‘Zags were 5-point favorites and got mauled by the Bears 86-70.

2020 (Canceled due to COVID-19)

Most popular pick: Kansas — 18.12 percent (according to simulated brackets per NCAA.com)

Champion: None

Staying indoors and wearing masks were the true most popular picks during this maddening time. Six years later, it’s still difficult to comprehend that the entire NCAA Tournament was scrapped. COVID KO’d manh championship dreams.

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2019

Most popular pick: Duke — 39.12%

Champion: Virginia — 5.86%

Tony Bennett led the Cavs to the school’s first men’s basketball championship. The previous March, they became the first No. 1 seed ever beaten by a No. 16 seed. So it was sweet redemption for Virginia, indeed.

2018

Most popular pick (and champion): Villanova — 17.52%

Jay Wright’s Wildcats captured their second national championship in three years. (Note: The full game can be watched below on YouTube. It’s not Jordan’s UNC game from 1983. Promise.)

2017

Most popular pick (and champion): North Carolina — 14.55%

Tar Heels coach Roy Williams became just the sixth coach in men’s college basketball history to win three national championships, all with Carolina.

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2016

Most popular pick: Kansas — 24.87%

Champion: Villanova — 2.36%

One of the greatest, wildest NCAA Tournament title games ever. Villanova’s Kris Jenkins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in what’s arguably the greatest shot in the history of March Madness.

RELATED: How many March Madness brackets have a perfect Final Four?

Final thoughts

Here are all teams picked to win it all in 2006 by at least 1 percent of Men’s Bracket Challenge Game entries:

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