December is for Christmas, January is for Winter Break and February is for the Super Bowl. But when it comes to March, nothing is on a sports fan’s mind other than the excitement of the renowned NCAA College Basketball Tournament. A frantic schedule of 63 games are scattered across mornings, afternoons and even late nights. Fans will find a way to watch these games by any means necessary. From secretly listening to the game during class or wasting precious cellular data on the bus, March Madness consumes everybody in many ways.

At this time of the year, millions of Americans fill out their NCAA Tournament bracket, where they pick who will win each round all the way up to the Final Four and the championship game. Former President Barak Obama was infamous for his forever-flawed brackets. Las Vegas plays millions of people for chumps and ESPN analysts are stumped year after year. In the last few years, investor Warren Buffett has entered into the March Madness fray by sponsoring his “Million-Dollars-A-Year Prize.” If anyone – among the millions who try – accurately predicts all the teams who make the “Sweet 16,” he or she receives a million dollars annually for life.

With money like that for the taking, you’d imagine there are some enthusiastic takers here at North Atlanta. Junior Wes Schatten is one among many lining up to contend for the prize. “Making a bracket gives more interest to the March games. Bragging rights for having the best bracket is important to get,” said Schatten.

Top predictions are made every year. In 2016, the University of Kentucky was poised to go all the way, but was stopped in the Final Four, ceding the title to Villanova. Bleacher Report analysts seem to favor the repeat this year. “In 2017, the Wildcats are a legitimate threat to repeat thanks to some familiar faces,” said journalist Brian Marron. Although professional opinion is always a good measure, March Madness is often just a shot in the dark. Last year, No. 2 seed Michigan State lost to No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee and the year before that No. 14 seed University of Alabama at Birmingham took down No. 3 seed Iowa State. But that’s the beauty of March Madness. The overarching intrigue of a chance at A-Million-Dollars-A-Year compels us all to participate, and we love it.

The spirit of the March Madness Bracket will consume America’s attention for the month’s duration. The attention span of citizens will divert from school, work, family, and health. Prepare for a month of heartache and sleepless nights, North Atlanta. March Madness is upon us.