With March Madness around the corner, the annual surge of tournament fever is sweeping the nation, as millions of fans prepare to take on the 1 in 9.2 quintillion odds of a perfect bracket. Engagement levels are predicted to hit an all-time peak due to the avid multi-screen viewing culture where the average fan will dedicate over 10 hours to the tournament.
According to Fox Business, the US faces an alarming $20 billion productivity drain as people all over the country glue themselves to their TVs, phones and computers, waiting eagerly for the outcome of this year’s tournament.
Drawing data from 2,000 March Madness fans, this report will delve into the ever-shifting world of tournament engagement in 2026 and the confidence of different demographics when it comes to their bets. We will also explore the role of AI in optimizing bracket selection, and how the shift towards work-from-home (WFH) culture has catalyzed a surge in March Madness viewership.
The AI March Madness Bracket Takeover
March Madness is just around the corner, and despite over half of the fans using AI to build their bracket, there’s a clear consensus who fans think are going to win:
- Duke (25.1%): The Duke Blue Devils – with current odds of +325 – take the lead with 25.1% of survey participants predicting they will win, which is perhaps no surprise when considering their history in the tournament.
- Michigan (14.5%): With slightly higher starting odds of +325, the Michigan Wolverines have 14.5% of fans predicting they’ll be the last team left at the Big Dance.
- Florida (11.8%): Coming in at third in the polls, the defending National Champion, the Florida Gators, have 11.8% of fans predicting they’ll repeat – just like 2006/2007. They’re currently +700 on Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
- UConn (8%): Meanwhile, 8% of fans predict the Connecticut Huskies are the ones to back in this year’s tournament, with current odds of +1600. UConn won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, but lost a nail biter to Houston last year.
- Houston (7.2%): And the fifth highest team backed by fans are the Houston Cougars, with 7.2% of our respondents predicting they will win. The 2025 runner-up are currently +1000 to make it all the way back, and win the final.
March Madness odds for every team are available now on Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. All referenced odds are subject to change.
How Confident are Fans With Their Bracket?
Considering March Madness is a tournament built on uncertainty, fans are surprisingly optimistic with the brackets they have formed. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being “extremely confident), the average confidence score is 6.7/10, which is high for an unpredictable tournament like this.
So, what is causing this level of fan confidence?
The Age Gap
It’s interesting to note that fans aged 25-34 are your “bracket optimists”, at an average score of 7.38/10. Perhaps this score is a reflection of youthful ignorance, a life yet unshaken by a 15-seed ruining their bracket (or parlay) in the first round. Or, and what could be the case, it is the link between this demographic and their use of AI.
Our survey showed that 70% of 25–34-year-olds will be using AI to assist their picks. Compared to the 55+ crowd, the demographic least confident in their brackets, who are sticking to traditional methods, with only 37% have admitted to using AI for their picks.
AI Takes Over the Tournament
The bottom line is that AI is controlling the majority of fans’ decisions on which teams to back. 57% of all March Madness fans are now using AI in some capacity, with only 39% of them still “going with their gut” (and the final 4% going off which mascot they enjoy seeing running around the court).
WFH Has Led to a 28% Increase in Watching March Madness During Work Time
It’s no easy task forming a bracket. It takes time, concentration, and a good grasp on the game. So how are fans able to balance their professional lives with March Madness? And what’s contributing to this rise in tournament viewership?
How Much Time Do Fans Spend Watching Tournament Games?
On average, fans are clocking 63 minutes per day watching games or refreshing their phones for scores. That adds up to a staggering 21 hours of game engagement per person. On top of this, 14% of our respondents claimed they were deeply committed to spending over 120 minutes (2 hours) a day following the action.
If you’re one of these committed fans, don’t forget to head over to our Hard Rock Bet news page for unique tournament betting insights.
In-Office vs. WFH Viewing Habits
It’s likely that performance levels at work will drop when March Madness rolls around. Not only that, but there’s also a stark contrast in work slacking depending on where someone sits.
In-office fans admit to spending about 29 minutes of their workday watching the tournament, whether that’s on a separate office screen or on their phones hidden beneath their desks. However, when they work from home this number jumps up to 37 minutes. That’s a 28% increase!
This means people who work remote are spending 8+ minutes more per day on the tournament compared to when they are in office, and those spending over an hour of work time on the game also increases when they’re in the comforts of their house, rising from 9% to 17%.
Calling in Sick
Our survey showed that over 1 in 4 workers (26%) admitted to calling in sick to specifically catch a game, with fans aged 21-34 being three times more likely to do so. When you combine those who have actually called in sick with those who have considered it, 42% of the workforce becomes a potential “no-show” during the tournament, reinforcing Fox Business’ fear that the country will take a heavy hit to productivity when the tournament begins.
Once again, it’s the fans aged 65+ who remain the most compliant and dedicated to their careers, with 79% of them saying they never even considered calling in sick for the games.
The Perception-Performance Gap: Fans vs. Elite Athletes
Considering fans are spending an average 63 minutes per day watching the game, you would think they’d be able to appreciate the immense talent the players possess. Well, it turns out 1 in 5 fans (18%) believe they could be subbed into a D1 game for a full two minutes without the crowd realizing they aren’t a true player.
The “Armchair Athlete” Confidence
So strong is the confidence of these “armchair athletes” in their ability that we decided to offer a hypothetical situation. In our survey, we offered an imaginary $1,000 to our respondents per dribble attempt against a top D1 defender before being stopped. The average fan expected to walk away with $3,521, with 11% of them possessing an “elite” confidence that they could maintain their handle for over 10 dribbles.
The March Madness Takeover
The conclusion is clear: We are about to see a decline in productivity when March Madness takes a hold of the nation. But despite the looming “work” crisis, fans seem more confident than ever when it comes to the tournament and are ready to build their brackets and throw their bets down with a sense of triumph – with a little help from their favorite AI buddy.
Methodology
We surveyed 2,000 March Madness fans (all 21+) between February 20th and 26th, 2026, to see how they’re actually approaching March Madness this year.
We dug into how confident they really feel about those brackets, whether they’re ditching “gut feelings” for AI-powered picks, and just how much work time is being sacrificed.
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