Predicting the final score of the NCAA championship game could help win your March Madness bracket.
WASHINGTON — As millions of people fill out their March Madness brackets, they’ll inevitably come across one final question: how many total points will be scored in the championship game.
With a perfect March Madness bracket all but impossible to achieve, knowing that answer could be the difference between winning first place or not.
It’s a key question, and one many turn to Google for the answer to. Last year, Google Trends indicated “average March Madness final score” searches jumped up 140% nationwide before brackets were finalized.
What is the March Madness average final score?
In the past 25 years, the NCAA’s data shows an average combined score for the men’s national championship game around 141 points. Usually, that breaks down to around 76-65 for the final score.
For the women’s tournament, it averages out to around 136 points total in the final game, or 74-62 at the buzzer.
According to an analysis from the betting site Fanduel, average points per championship game have been trending up in recent years. For the women’s league especially, the championship games also tend to score higher than earlier games.
How to pick your bracket tiebreaker number
Of course, this isn’t a perfect science. Final scores are largely based on the team’s style and pace of play, so make sure to consider that before submitting your tiebreaker number.
When building your bracket, focus on the two teams you think will reach the top two. If they’re both aggressive teams with little defense, it’s usually a good idea to go higher than the 141 or 136 average. If both like to play it safe and focus on fundamentals, take the under.
What were the final scores last year?
The men’s championship in 2025 saw Florida squeak out a win against Houston with a 65-63 victory. That game’s final tally was 128 points.
For the women’s championship, UConn defeated South Carolina 82-59. The total score in that game was 141.
You can click here or below to download a printable men’s tournament bracket to fill out for March Madness 2026. And even though there has never been a perfect March Madness bracket, maybe this is your year?