How to Win the Cash in your NCAA Tournament Pool

I know most of us do at least one bracket pool this time of year. Maybe you do it for free, maybe you put a little cash on it. But you surely do it.

The question is how have you done? If you win regularly then you can skip this post and instead check out my post on changing the tournament a bit.

But if you aren't winning your pool's then continue as I will give you the keys to winning it all.


1. Pick your Champion and Final Four teams first

By doing this you don't have to be worried about any upset that could potentially exist. You choose your winner, runner up, and other final four teams. Then you put them in right away, just click on their name or write it down for every game they play. Don't even consider who else they might play.

2. Don't pick any crazy upsets

This kind of ties into #1 but here it is anyway.

Take note that of the past ten Champions, seven were number 1 seeds, two were 3 seeds and one was a 2 seed. Notice that there were NO Champions seeded lower than number 3 in the past 10 years.

Only THREE Champions have EVER (EVER) been lower than a 3 seed and 2 of those were in the late 80s. Overall 18 of the 24 Champions have been a 1 or 2 seed, which equals out to 75% of all the Champions.

And if you are thinking right now that maybe the lower seeds make the Championship but lose...nope....only 4 times has the runner up been lower than a 3 seed.

I am not saying the low seeds don't win or can't win BUT if you want to win the cash then let someone else pick a 4 or 6 seed to win it all.

3. Pick a 7 or 10 to get to the Sweet Sixteen

Every year except 3 (1989, 1995, 1996) has seen a 7 or 10 seed make it to the second weekend of the tournament.

Now if you have already picked your Final Four and Champions you would be able to look and say okay I think this 7 or 10 seed might make a run.

And honestly...most years....there are two 7 or 10 seeds that make it to the second weekend. But if you want to win the cash you only have to get one. Figure it out and you are one step ahead of someone.

*fact - I picked Kansas last season to win but finished second. why? the person who won had West Virginia beating Duke (a 7 over a 2).

4. Pick a 12 seed

You have to pick at least one 12 seed to win. In every year (except 3 1998, 2000, 2007) a 12 seed has beaten a 5 seed in the first round.

It happens every single year (almost) so you better make sure that you have one.

But don't get crazy. You only need one. Sure two 12's might win and it is okay to pick two but don't make it a stretch. Only take the 12 over the 5 that will surely lose in the next round anyways. If you have a 5 that you like to make the second weekend IF they win the first round game...DON'T pick them to lose in the first round.

Safest play is to look at the 5 seeds, which one won't win the second round game anyway? If you see one like that, take that 12 seed now.
5. Don't bet on 8s and 9s

Lots of people want to predict the big upset in the second round. They want to take an 8 or a 9 to beat a 1 seed.

Don't fall into that trap!

Sure it happens. But in 24 years only 10 have seen a 1 seed lose in the second round. It just isn't worth the risk.

The ONLY way you make this pick is if you think that a 4 or 5 seed is going to make the Elite 8. Then you could take the risk. But if you are wrong you fall behind.


There you go! Follow these 5 simple steps and you will win the cash!

Oh and go to this site here and check it out. It has the statistics for seeds and every tournament since 1985 filled in.

*editors note* - I have picked the champ the last 2 years and have lost both times....so you might not want to listen to me.


If you liked this read these:

How to Get Off Work for the Tourney
Verb's Midwest Region preview