Portland Bolt Bracket Challenge

Welcome to Portland Bolt's Bracket Challenge!

Be sure to get your bracket in before the pick deadline! Pool rules are available here. Only the main 64 teams that make up a standard bracket are included (i.e. the play-in games, or 'first four', are NOT included). Good luck to everyone. If you have any questions, please contact us at webmaster@portlandbolt.com.

— Portland Bolt

• Members pick all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament.
• The pick deadline is set to March 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET.
• Each participant is limited to a single entry in the contest.
• Points are awarded for each correct pick.
• Points values increase as the tournament progresses, as follows:
• Play-in games are not included or scored
• First Round = 1 point
• Second Round = 2 points
• Sweet 16 = 4 points
• Regional Final (Round of 8) = 8 points
• National Semifinal (Last Four) = 16 points
• Championship = 32 points
• The contest does not use a seed point bonus. Correct picks will be awarded the points assigned for each round.
• The tie-breaker is the combined number of points scored in the Championship game. Each member must enter a tie-break value when they make their picks.
• The winner is the entry with the most points at the end of the NCAA Tournament.