Consistent play is a typical ingredient in a successful recipe when it comes to sports. Consistency over a full season, over a seven-game series, or even each quarter or half is how the best teams tend to perform.

But in a 40-minute, winner-takes-all format, having a little inconsistency can be all the difference.

A weaker team needs some inconsistency to thwart a heavy favorite; they need to reach their ceiling in a given game and play above their usual level by a massive margin.

Want to get a huge leg up on your March Madness pool? Subscribe to numberFire and get instant access to power rankings, bracket picks, game simulators, and tons of awesome expert advice to help you make the right decision.

Even better, we're offering our subscriptions at $19 over the first month when you use the promo code BRACKET.

nERD could make runs toward the Sweet 16 and beyond?