5 Places to Watch NCAA March Madness in Bradenton

Thursday and Friday often are referred to as the "two greatest days of TV sports."

That's because the NCAA basketball tournament plays dozens of single-elimination basketball games, working its way from 64 to 32 teams (and then down to 16 by the end of the weekend).

Better yet, they're all televised! This means that diehard fans can watch basketball for 12 straight hours starting today through Friday.

But where to watch is the question of the day. Comfort is important, so the spot needs to serve fine pub food, offer a selection of beer and boast some big-boy TV screens (and plenty of them to catch multiple games in progress).

Also choosing a spot close to home makes everything much more convenient, with no traffic or hassle.

Here are some prime choices for Bradenton:

: Gecko's gets great reviews for having food that's better than your typical sports bar fare: seared ahi nachos and blackened shrimp pizza, for example.

2.) Joe's Bar, 5254 E State Rd 64: Classic neighborhood sports bar. Beer and wine only. Cash only.

: A real sports bar guaranteed to be filled with serious fans. But fair warning: this place allows smoking, according to reviews on Yelp.com.

4.) Lee Roy Selmon's, multiple locations: Watching 12-straight hours of
hoops works up an appetite and Lee Roy selmon;s has classics like BBQ
ribs to staisfy hungry fans and plenty of beer, and a full bar, for
thirsty ones.

: Good reviews for its namesake wings.