· ENTRY FEE is $10.00 USD (Please see below!)

Official Rules:

General Rules:

• Rule 1.1: For each of the 63 games in the tournament, you must predict a winner.
• Rule 1.2: For purposes of this pool, the "play-in" game where two teams play for the chance to earn a 16 seed does not count.  If you are "brave" enough to choose either of those teams to beat the #1 seed they are assigned should they win, you can just pick both teams for as far into the tournament as you think they will go...don't waste your pick though, no #16 seed has ever beaten a #1...ever.
• Rule 1.3: You need to pick a combined total score (over/under) for the championship game. The purpose of this pick is to be used as a tiebreaker. No pick will count as 0.
• Rule 1.4: You may play more than one sheet, and you are welcome to invite others to play also.
• Rule 1.5: All entries are due no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday March 19th, 2009.

Monetary Rules:

• Rule 2.1: Entry fee is $10.00 USD. Of this, $5.00 USD will contribute to the payout fund and $5.00 USD will contribute to the Samuel Henry Kotlarz Trust Fund.
• Rule 2.2: By entering this pool, you are legally agreeing that 50% of your entry fee is to be used as a donation to the trust fund.
• Rule 2.3: Prizes will be paid out as follows:
  • Rule 2.3.1: 1st place will receive 50% of total money collected.
  • Rule 2.3.2: 2nd place will receive 20% of total money collected.
  • Rule 2.3.3: 3rd place will receive 15% of total money collected.
  • Rule 2.3.4: 4th place will receive 10% of total money collected.
  • Rule 2.3.5: 5th place will receive 5% of total money collected.
• Rule 2.4: TIES: In the event that two or more people are still tied after the tiebreaker is applied for a position that pays a prize, the following scenarios will be enforced.
  • Rule 2.4.1: If Two people tie for first place – They will split evenly the sum of 1st and 2nd prize, the next highest score will receive the 3rd place prize.
  • Rule 2.4.2: If Three people tie for first place – They will split evenly the sum of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes, the next highest score will receive the 4th place prize.
  • Rule 2.4.3: If Four people tie for first place – They will split evenly the sum of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prize, the next highest score will receive the 5th place prize.
  • Rule 2.4.4: If Five or more people tie for first place – They will split evenly the sum of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th prizes, the next highest score will receive no prize.
  • Rule 2.4.5: If Two people tie for second place – They will split evenly the sum of 2nd and 3rd prize, the next highest score will receive the 4th place prize.
  • Rule 2.4.6: If Three people tie for second place – They will split evenly the sum of 2nd, 3rd prize and 4th prize, the next highest score will receive the 5th place prize.
  • Rule 2.4.7: If Four or more people tie for second place – They will split evenly the sum of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th prize, the next highest score will receive no prize.
  • Rule 2.4.8: If Two people tie for third place – They will split evenly the sum of 3rd and 4th prize, the next highest score will receive the 5th place prize.
  • Rule 2.4.9: If Three or more people tie for third place – They will split evenly the sum of 3rd, 4th, and 5th prize, the next highest score will receive no prize.
  • Rule 2.4.10: If Two or more people tie for fourth place – They will split evenly the sum of 4th and 5th prize, the next highest score will receive the no prize.
  • Rule 2.4.11: If Two or more people tie for fifth place – They will split evenly the sum of 5th prize, the next highest score will receive the no prize.

Scoring Rules:

• Rule 3.1: Points will be assigned as follows:
  • Rule 3.1.1: For 1st-round games, for a total of 32 games, each game predicted correctly will receive 1 point.
  • Rule 3.1.2: For 2nd-round games, for a total of 16 games, each game predicted correctly will receive 2 points.
  • Rule 3.1.3: For 3rd-round "Sweet Sixteen" games, for a total of 8 games, each game predicted correctly will receive 4 points.
  • Rule 3.1.4: For the 4th-round "Elite Eight" games, for a total of 4 games, each game predicted correctly will receive 8 points.
  • Rule 3.1.5: For 5th-round "Final-Four" games, for a total of 2 games, each game predicted correctly will receive 15 points.
  • Rule 3.1.6: For the Championship game, for a total of 1 game, each game predicted correctly will receive 25 points.

Abbreviation Guide:

For purposes of this pool, the following abbreviations will be used to refer to the teams in the tournament: