The best March Madness apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac

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March Madness is here. Will your bracket survive? Photo: Cult of Mac

It’s that time of year when office work comes to a standstill for weeks thanks to the NCAA’s annual celebration of sweat, leather and nylon nets. The brackets have been set and teams are en route to play the 67 basketball games that will take place over the next few weeks, with Kentucky being the undisputed favorite to walk away with a perfect season.

Thanks to the glories of technology, you can follow all the action this year even if you don’t have a cable subscription. With the right combo of apps, you can get expert insight into your favorite Cinderella team, watch every game — and maybe even pick the perfect bracket.

Dominate March Madness this year with these apps for Mac and iOS:

March Madness for iOS

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NCAA March Madness Live

The NCAA’s official app for iOS offers free live-streaming of all tournament games. It’s the go-to app to watch games on the go or check in on scores. It works on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch but unfortunately they’ve turned off the option to beam the video to your Apple TV via AirPlay. Check out our official reviewFree

ESPN Tournament Challenge

If you enjoy filling out a bracket more than actually watching games, you’ll probably spend more time with ESPN’s Tournament Challenge app. You can fill out brackets and then compete with everyone from your friends to President Barack Obama himself. Free

CBS Sports

As the official broadcast partner of the NCAA National Tournament, the CBS Sports app is filled with goodies tailored for March Madness. Scores, news and bracket games are prominent features, as well as the ability to set alerts on certain games or even purchase tickets if you’re in the area. Free

Yahoo Fantasy Mobile

Yahoo’s looking to attract fans to its Tourney Pick Em contest this year with a $50,000 prize to whoever gets that perfect bracket. You can use the Yahoo Fantasy Mobile app to create a group, pick your teams and follow your bracket throughout the tournament. Free

TuneIn Radio

Those stuck in rush hour traffic will appreciate TuneIn Radio’s audio live streams of the 67 games courtesy of WestWood One Sports. Free

SportsCenter

The worldwide leader in sports recently revamped its ESPN app with a great new design packed with live scores, news and highlights. You can personalize the app to give you more news on your favorite teams. The Tournament Challenge app is integrated with the app, making for a potent tandem. Free

Team Stream

The Bleacher Report is a nice alternative to ESPN’s SportsCenter app. The app gives you a more personalized experience by giving you news about only your favorite teams, as soon as stories break. Free

March Madness on the Mac

NCAA Website

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All 67 games will be available on the NCAA’s website for free, along with news, bracket breakdowns, stats and enough info to keep you busy between the half-time commercials. Just remember to keep your finger close to the Boss Button.

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