POWER PICK ALERT:  #2 Houston is underway in the South.  Jay Fina (81st) and 2-time champ Michael Johns73 (104th) are the only two with the #10 Aggies.

POWER PICK ALERT: #1 Duke about to tip off in the East.  Val Kundmann (109th) is the only one with #9 TCU here.  Looking to turn the pool upside-down....

UPSET TRACKER:  Tourney 2026 raced out of the gate in stellar form on Thursday, delivering four double-seeded advancers in a satisfying slate of opening-day action. Friday’s pop-topper sent the bedlam index shooting further north, as #7 Kentucky’s buzzer-beating banker secured the unlikeliest of overtimes and the eventual besting of #10 Santa Clara. Unfortunately, a decided shift toward sanity ruled the rest of the way as 14 of 16 faves ultimately held serve. As Friday’s subdued drama drew to its midnight close, the opening stanza of 2026 had inked a total of eight lower-ranked victors, but with a notable asterisk… half of them were 9-seeds.  Here’s the full docket of opening round upsets, from least-to-most predicted:

#12 High Point over #5 Wisconsin: Picked by 20 (14%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Michael Bonin (4th)]

#11 Texas over #6 BYU: Picked by 34 (25%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), Rob Dietrich (4th), Sue Ahlborn (9th)]

#10 Texas A&M over #7 St. Mary’s: Picked by 46 (33%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Rob Dietrich (4th)]

#11 VCU over #6 North Carolina: Picked by 52 (38%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Wehrms (2nd)]

#9 TCU over #8 Ohio State: Picked by 56 (41%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Wehrms (2nd)]

#9 St. Louis over #8 Georgia: Picked by 78 (56%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Wehrms (2nd)]

#9 Utah State over #8 Villanova: Picked by 79 (57%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Wehrms (2nd)]

#9 Iowa over #8 Clemson: Picked by 89 (64%)
[Top 3: Cliff Burton (1st), UMBCBrettski (2nd), Wehrms (2nd)]

Heading into the weekend’s back half, Cliff Burton (1st, 30 pts) is enjoying the view from the top bunk of the bus, having missed the mark on just #10 UCF in the East and two-step hopeful #12 Akron in the Midwest. The road ahead may prove bumpy for Burton, however, as he is joined by only Maegan Dietrich (129th, 22pts) in predicting a Final Four berth for darkhorse #6 Tennessee.  One of 20 poolsters to post #12 High Point in the opening round, Burton will be keeping his jewels on the butcher’s block tonight as he threatens to be the lone poolster to pull the Panthers into the Sweet 16.

While Pool 2026 is still in its early stages, several zero-FPL power players in our Top 10 have already established themselves as the lead dogs for their respective caravans: UMBCBrettski (2nd/28pts/Duke), Wehrms (2nd/28pts/Zona), Sue Ahlborn (9th/27pts/Michigan), Brian Mroozian (9th/27pts/Purdue), and Nolan Harley (9th/27pts/Iowa State).  

The first big has yet to fall. Time to bring the bloodshed…

Congrats to Bass Cliff on an impressive 30/32 round 1 to set the furious pace out of the gate!  Some almost just as gaudy 28/32's to round out the top 10.  

Distribution of the fields Final Four picks...
https://ncaa.hxjam.net/content/moneypix2026.pdf

SETTING THE TABLE:  Off we go!  Gone are the horrifying memories of a chalky Tourney 2025 that planted all four 1-seeds in the Final Four.  It’s a new year, flush with the promise of a return to the carnage of years gone by.  Hoops Nation is strapped in, hungry, and eyeing only one offering on the March menu… a heaping plate of mayhem.  Poolside, we’ll be 138 strong for Tourney 2026 with the following schedule of payouts: 1st $650, 2nd $300, 3rd $200, 4th $100, 5th $70, 6th $50.  As always, if you’re riding in the caboose at journey’s end—you’ll ride for free.  

Two-time pool champ Jon Pranian (2001/2025) is back in the fold for 2026, and he’ll be looking to ride an Arizona/Michigan State finale to an unprecedented third pool title.  Here’s a quick glance back at those who claimed a cash spot in Pool 2025:

• Jon Pranian    101
• Steve Harley    99
• David Heck 98
• MIDI Alvarez 97
• Mahak Gupta 96  
• Brad Siwek 94

While the field of 138 has coronated 1-seeds Arizona and Duke as consensus co-faves for Tourney 2026, little respect has been given to the top-seeded Gators in the South. Pool 2025 stand-outs David Heck (3rd) and MIDI Alvarez (4th) highlight the group of only nine entrants (6.5%) who expect defending champ Florida to nab the nylon in Indy.  Meanwhile, two-time champ Chris Lyons (2003/2017) paid a savvy visit to the value bin for his championship pick as one of only three poolsters to predict a chip for #2 Iowa State out of the Midwest.

Who's got a perfect bracket so far?   This guy....

"This tik-tok generation, no attention span, no focus..."   Me on opening weekend...

Great start Big 10.  

Welcome to Tournament 2026!   We're underway, 138 poolsters along for the ride.  Got a good 8v9 one going to get us started.   And you know how a 12 always manages to kill off a 5 before the work day is done?  Umm, Wisconsin, hello?

Brackets are ready.  Time to start crunching those numbers!

Working on loading up the teams!

The new brackets are here!

GATOR DON’T PLAY:
In a thrilling finale worthy of its top-seeded heavyweights, Florida followed its trademark comeback script to edge out Houston, 65-63. The Curse of Valvano lives on…. And with the Gator chip, long-time pool vet Jon Pranian (1st, 101 pts) emerges as our deserving champ of Pool 2025. Logging his first title since 2001, JP joins runner-up Steve Harley (2nd, 99 pts) atop the pack of 9 poolsters who successfully predicted the Florida-over-Houston ender. Condolences to Glen Brown (9th, 92 pts), who could only watch in agony as his Cougars failed to launch a potential buzzer-beater in the game’s final seconds, thus ending his bid to lock up the first- and fourth-place spoils.

Our 2025 Elites:

    1. $700 Jon Pranian    101
    2. $350 Steve Harley    99
    3. $170 David Heck      98
    4. $100 MIDI Alvarez    97
    5. $70   Mahak Gupta   96
    6. $50   Brad Siwek       94

Closing out the last bit of business for Pool 2025, Mama Mary (145th, 25 pts) lays claim to this year’s money-back voucher. After chip pick #15 Robert Morris was bounced by Bama in opening round action, the going only got rougher for Mama as remaining Final Four hopefuls #6 Illinois, #10 Arkansas, and #13 Yale all flatlined well short of the finals.

With overall 1-seed Auburn and AP top-ranked Duke each face-planting in Saturday’s semis, both the NET and Faves trackers fell just short of money spot finishes. Same goes for the Perplexity AI tracker, as the field of 145 held strong in striking a blow on behalf of mankind in its ongoing battle for survival. [Cue Braveheart battlefield score] Hold… hold… hold!

Congrats to all the winners! That’s all, folks!

GATOR DON’T PLAY:  In a thrilling finale worthy of its top-seeded heavyweights, Florida followed its trademark comeback script to edge out Houston, 65-63.  The Curse of Valvano lives on…. And with the Gator chip, long-time pool vet Jon Pranian (1st, 101 pts) emerges as our deserving champ of Pool 2025.  Logging his first title since 2001,  JP joins runner-up Steve Harley (2nd, 99 pts) atop the pack of 9 poolsters who successfully predicted the Florida-over-Houston ender.  Condolences to Glen Brown (9th, 92 pts), who could only watch in agony as his Cougars failed to launch a potential buzzer-beater in the game’s final seconds, thus ending his bid to lock up the first- and fourth-place spoils.  

Our 2025 Elites:

• $700 Jon Pranian    101
• $350 Steve Harley 99
• $170 David Heck 98
• $100 MIDI Alvarez 97
• $70         Mahak Gupta 96  
• $50         Brad Siwek 94

Closing out the last bit of business for Pool 2025, Mama Mary (145th, 25 pts) lays claim to this year’s money-back voucher.  After chip pick #15 Robert Morris was bounced by Bama in opening round action, the going only got rougher for Mama as remaining Final Four hopefuls #6 Illinois, #10 Arkansas, and #13 Yale all flatlined well short of the finals.

With overall 1-seed Auburn and AP top-ranked Duke each face-planting in Saturday’s semis, both the NET and Faves trackers fell just short of money spot finishes.  Same goes for the Perplexity AI tracker, as the field of 145 held strong in striking a blow on behalf of mankind in its ongoing battle for survival.  [Cue Braveheart battlefield score]  Hold… hold… hold!

Congrats to all the winners!  That’s all, folks!

DARK DAYS:  No way to sugarcoat this one.  For just the second time in tourney history, all four 1-seeds will be advancing to college basketball’s final weekend.  The road to San Antonio will be restricting access to only the bluest of bloodlines, as Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston collectively have made a mockery of March’s mayhem myth.  Living rooms across the land are draped with the stench of vomit-splattered big screens, as hoops fanatics prove unable to stomach the rancid reality of Tourney 2025.  With 60 games in the books, the upset counter sits at 11…. A level never before seen.  A level few ever dared to imagine.

Poolside, Paul Karras (1st, 92 pts) led the gaudy group of 21 entrants who successfully rode the chalk line to this year’s Final Foursome.  Karras’ work is far from finished, however, as four other poolsters remain in contention for this year’s coveted top slot.  Should Florida meet Houston in this year’s finale, Karras will plummet below the payline while long-time pool vets John Pranian (Florida) and Glen Brown (Houston) will spar for the podium’s top step.  Likewise, a Dukie-Gator finale will cede the spoils to either Gerald Smith (Duke) or MIDI Alvarez (Florida).  And from the realm of the unthinkable--  if Auburn trims the nylon in Monday’s capper, the Faves Tracker will plant itself atop the entire field for the first time in pool history.  Dark days indeed…

National semis tip off Saturday night.  Good luck to those still chasing the dream.

HOLD THE MADNESS:  #10 Arkansas pushed #3 Texas Tech to overtime.  #6 Ole Miss rocked Izzo’s #2 Spartans with an early uppercut.  And #4 Purdue took #1 Houston to the final agonizing seconds.  But as the closing buzzer marked the end of regional semifinal action on Friday night, dismayed hoops fans were left to embrace this year’s frigid March reality… Madness has taken a pass on Tourney 2025.  Heading into tonight’s regional finals, 7 of the 8 top seeds have held serve, with #3 Texas Tech left to play the unconvincing role of party-crashing pauper.

Leading the pack of 41 poolsters to ride the #3 Red Raiders into the West final, Paul Karras (1st, 76 pts, 0FPL) has regained his grip on the top slot.  Should all four 1-seeds advance to San Antonio with a Duke-over-Auburn finale, Karras will lock up just the second back-to-back title repeat in pool history.  Karras joins fellow power players Dave Heck (2nd, 75pts), Gerald Smith (4th, 73 pts), and Mike Wolter 5 (31st, 68 pts) as the only members of this year’s field to post a perfect third-round resume.  The resilient Paul Harley (3rd, 75 pts) belly crawls onward despite the early limb loss of chip pick St. Johns.  Flex of the year goes to Gerald Smith who has planted his three pick sets in 4th, 5th, and 6th places heading into regional final action.  Both Harley and Smith (5th, 73 pts) are desperately banking on a #3 Texas Tech triumph tonight to remain in contention, while darkhorses Jay Fina (23rd, 69 pts), James Mosly (38th, 66 pts), and Jeff Wehrman (41st, 66 pts) will be shooting up the leaderboard should the Red Raiders oust the #1 Gators.  Keep an eye on Bama boys Smith (5th, 73 pts), Dave Heck BB (8th, 72 pts), Glen Brown 1 (17th, 70 pts), and Mike Stand (23rd, 69 pts), as all will be angling for a money spot should the Tide roll the Dukies. With nearly every regional final contest representing a flip-flopping of fates throughout the field of 145, Pool 2025 remains a wide-open battle of attrition.  

The Final Four will be set by Sunday night, and the final payout scenarios for Pool 2025 will be inked later that night.  Good luck to all!