NCAA Pick 9 Game - 2025

The game I love to run is back! You probably know the rules, but if you don’t…

Pick 8 teams in the NCAA Tourney field to succeed, and one to fail miserably. Points are awarded based on seeds and how far they make it (or not). For the 8 teams you think will perform admirably, they get points for their seed number multiplied by the points selected for that round. You get 1 point for a first round win, 2 for the second, 3 for a Sweet 16 win, 6 for the Elite 8, then 8 in the Final Four and 10 for the championship. (Sorry first four, you don’t count). So a 10-seed gets 10 points for winning one game, 30 for making it to the Sweet 16, etc. But taking Houston (let’s run them back as the example again) to win it all would only net you 30.

As for that lovable loser. Or Kansas, a reminder that I hate Kansas… but you can add Michigan State in there since Kansas isn’t seeded all that high. They will get you bonus points based on how quickly they lose. A 5-8 seed will get you 1 point for bowing out in the first round. A 3-4 seed losing in the first round gets you 4, in the second round 2. Pick a 1-2 seed and they will get you 10 points for a first round loss, 8 for a second round loss, and 4 if they lose in the Sweet 16.

Place all picks here, scores will be tallied periodically, most likely Monday mornings.

1 Like

Succeed:
12 UC San Diego
12 McNeese
10 Vanderbilt
8 Louisville
8 Gonzaga
6 Ole Miss
3 Iowa State
2 Mich St

Fail:
1 Auburn

3 Iowa State
4 Maryland
4 Texas A&M
5 Clemson
7 UCLA
7 Saint Mary’s
8 Louisville
11 VCU

4 Purdue

2 Florida - W
4 Texas A&M - S
5 Clemson - MW
2 Tennessee - MW
12 Colorado St - W
7 Marquette - S
2 - Alabama - E
1 - Duke

Loser - 2 - Michigan St

I plan to enter tomorrow.

1 Houston
2 St John’s
4 Arizona
7 Kansas (sorry)
3 Wisconsin
6 Illinois
5 Clemson
4 Texas A&M

4 Purdue

1 Like

1 Duke
2 Michigan St
2 Tennessee
3 Wisconsin
5 Michigan
7 St Mary’s
8 Gonzaga
11 UNC/SDSU

1 Houston

1 Duke
1 Florida
2 Michigan State
2 Tennessee
5 Michigan
8 Gonzaga
12 Colorado State
14 Lipscomb

1 Auburn

Yale
Maryland
Gonzaga
Colorado State
Saint Mary’s
High Point
Fuke
Kentucky

Loser:
Alabama

1 Duke
2 Tennessee
3 Texas Tech
3 Iowa State
4 Texas A&M
8 Gonzaga
11 VCU
12 Colorado State

2 Alabama

My Grateful 8
Gonzaga
Maryland
Missouri
Illinois
Louisville
VCU
NC
UC San Diego

My Red Headed Step Child
St Johns

Duke out, NC in.

1 Duke
3 Texas Tech
11 VCU
11 UNC
13 High Point
7 St Marys
5 Michigan
12 Colorado St

Loser
2 St Johns

I would have selected “UNC/SDSU” if that was an option. It seems like you are doing something legal, but I would like to get a ruling from The Arb.

If IPD can pick UNC and no points are awarded for first 4, I would think it clear picks are due before first rip off in round of 64 but would obviously yield.

1 Duke
3 Texas Tech
7 Saint Mary’s
11 North Carolina
11 VCU
11 Xavier
12 Colorado State
12 UCSD

2 Alabama

2 St John’s
3 Wisconsin
5 Oregon
11 UNC
11 Xavier
12 UCSD
13 Yale
15 Bryant

2 Alabama

Pick 9
1 Duke
2 Alabama
4 Texas A&M
5 Clemson
10 Arkansas
11 North Carolina
11 Xavier
12 Colorado St

Biggest Loser
Auburn

It’s all for fun… UNC/SDSU gets points for either one of them in Round 1.
Sorry couldn’t get to the ruling earlier. Work/life/AO balance issues.

[color=“red”] What’s “AO”? [/color]