How to Set Up a College Basketball Tournament Pool

Known as March Madness or the NCAA tournament, this event is the highlight of college basketball. Go a little "mad" yourself in March by joining with friends and putting your college ball expertise to the test.

Things You'll Need

  • Televisions
  • Beer
  • Beer Mugs
  • Basketballs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find and copy the expansive bracket from a site such as ESPN.com.

    • 2

      Familiarize yourself with the 65 teams, which are broken into four regions: West, East, Midwest and Southeast.

    • 3

      Pick someone knowledgeable (and trustworthy, for goodness sake) as the grand tournament administrator.

    • 4

      Assign point values for each round: 1 point for teams reaching the second round, 2 points for those making the third, 4 points for those reaching the fourth, 8 points for teams entering the Final Four and 12 points if a team enters the finals. Award 16 points for choosing the tournament champion.

    • 5

      Distribute two copies of the bracket to anyone interested in playing, and instruct everyone to pick winning teams for every round.

    • 6

      Fill out the bracket in pen, placing the name of each team on the appropriate line.

    • 7

      Guess the total score of the final game (both teams' points combined) as a tiebreaker and write this number below the bracket.

    • 8

      Collect a copy of each participant's bracket (leaving the other copy with the participant for his or her own reference).

    • 9

      Collect money from each participant - $5, $20, $100 or whatever -- if you're living in a state that doesn't consider such an action illegal. If you'd prefer to stay on the good side of "Johnny Law," just go for the glory of being annointed a Basketball Guru.

    • 10

      Rearrange the TV area at the end of February: Move fridge near couch, rent a portable sanitary unit, bar doors leading to living room, etc., and watch basketball.

    • 11

      Call your friends and gloat after every win. (Turn off the phone when your team loses.)

    • 12

      Keep track of your points as the tourney progresses (and make sure the administrator is grading each entry).

    • 13

      Award winnings to the participant with the highest number of points.