AARP Community Giveaway - Bracket Free Showdown

[AARPTeri]

Nothing But Net! Where college hoops mania meets fun and rewards.

Think you can call the championship match-up? Put your prediction skills to the test in the AARP Community Bracket-Free Showdown.

Skip the stress of filling out a full bracket; just pick the two teams you think will make the men's college Championship on April 6, 2026 and tell us who you think will win it all.

How to Enter: Reply to this post with your predictions by March 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET and include:

1. Finalist Team #1

2. Finalist Team #2

3. Your Championship Winner

This promotion runs in the AARP Online Community from March 9, 2026, through March 20, 2026.

One entry per person.

Then keep the conversation going! Throughout the tournament, come back to this thread to talk about upsets, buzzer-beaters, standout teams, and bold predictions with fellow fans.

Participants with predictions are eligible to receive a $10 AARP Rewards Gift Card, while supplies last.

Good luck—and let the tournament chatter begin!

[pc9490]

Duke

Michigan

Duke wins

[KimberlyW177834]

 Half of this prediction is with my heart, half with hoop knowledge:

Duke

Gonzaga

Winner: Gonzaga

[jjkennedy2]

1. Houston

2. Gonzaga

3. HOUSTON - GO COOGS!

[JayS709057]

1. Duke

2. Arizona

3. Arizona - Winner

[camartin]

1. Duke

2. Michigan

3. Duke - Winner

[CaraJ561833]

1  Michigan

2 duke

3 Michigan 

[gb69]

1. Duke

2. Virginia

Duke

[CherylC64837]

1. Arizona

2. Duke

3. Duke

[cindylidd]

1. Houston

2. Arizona

3. Houston

[Rambotx]

1. Arizona

2. Florida

3. Arizona

[Omegaplayboy]

1. Finalist Team #1 - Florida

2. Finalist Team #2 - Iowa State

3. Your Championship Winner - Iowa State

[cryslee]

1. Duke

2. Michigan

3. Duke - Winner

[FICMAN]

1. Duke

2. Arizona

3. Arizona

[mariannemc]

1. Michigan

2. UCONN

winner Michigan

[PatriciaR686681]

1. Michigan

2. Houston 

3. Houston 

[LindaF13612]

Florida and duke winner florida

[petunia25]

1.  Duke

2.  Miami

winner =  Duke

[pcoul52]

1. Duke 

2. Arizona

Winner - Duke

[AndrewF210063]

1. Miami

2. Duke

3. Miami wins championship.

[BlueCrabPot]

1. Duke

2. Houston

Winner: Houston

[KennethH457497]

I predict Duke and Miami with Duke winning the championship.

[SereneSeagull]

Question @AARPTeri —

Can one make multiple entries/guesses?

Does this Free Gift Card count against any monthly card allowances?

What $10 Gift Card?  Or do we pick one?

Thanks!

[AARPTeri]

@SereneSeagull Great questions!  There is one entry per person. If you pick the right team and receive the giveaway, it does not count against your free card allowances for the month.  It will be one of our AARP Rewards gift cards, TBD.  You will not get to choose a card.

[AndrewP128336]

Connecticut

Purdue

Connecticut

[SereneSeagull]

Thanks, @AARPTeri appreciate it.

[c401147m]

1. Michigan 

2. Florida 

3. Michigan 

[AARPTeri]

Michigan vs. Florida would definitely make for an exciting championship match-up. Michigan taking it all is a great pick this year!

As the tournament gets underway, feel free to come back and share what games or teams are surprising you along the way.

Good luck with your picks, and thanks for being part of the Bracket-Free Showdown conversation!

[LemmeCaution2012]

Much to the great surprise of what I'm quite certain was a preponderance of March Madness fans, Florida became the victim of a much earlier than anticipated elimination from the tournament!

[SereneSeagull]

Yep, I’m out now.  Good luck to the others still standing

[LemmeCaution2012]

Speaking of which, I wonder if anyone has EVER managed to have a perfect bracket in the entire history of the NCAA National Championship Basketball Tournament aka March Madness.