ALL BRACKETS ARE DUE BY TIP-OFF THURSDAY MORNING, ZERO EXCEPTIONS!

Pay-out this year depends on the turn-out.  Right now I am expecting about 80-100.  If we get that high, or higher, I will reward $50 to 3rd place, then the rest will go 70% to 1st, 30% to 2nd.

After every night of games, I will send out an updated standings email that shows where you stand after that night.  I try to keep these emails fun with little tidbits of who did well and who did poorly that day,  like calling individuals out.

Also remember we will do the 3rd Annual Sweet 16 Pool this year for those of you who feel your brackets are trash.  This will be a $15 entry fee and due before the Sweet 16 games start.

As most of you know, my scoring system is unlike any other.  I give out bonus points for picking upsets and for getting the Final 4 correct.  We have edited the first 2 rounds upset bonuses to adjust for larger upsets.  It goes back to straight points in the 3rd round.

First Round:
Correct Pick:  2 pts.
Upset Bonus:  9-11 seeds:  1 pt.  12-14 seeds:  2 pts.  15-16 seeds:  3 pts.

Second Round:
Correct Pick:  4 pts.
Upset Bonus:  1-3 seed separation:  2 pts., 4-6 separation:  3 pts., 7-8 separation:  4 pts.

Regional First Round:
Correct Pick:  5 pts.
Upset Bonus:  4 pts.

Regional Finals Round:
Correct Pick:  6 pts.
Upset Bonus:  5 pts.

Final Four Semifinals:
Correct Pick:  8 pts.
Upset Bonus:  6 pts.

Championship Game:
Correct Pick:  10 pts.
Upset Bonus:  7 pts.

If all Final 4 correct:  5 bonus pts. (down from 8 last year, we figured out it was too much)

An upset qualifies only as a lower seed beating a higher seed, not the Vegas odds.