CUF March Madness Bracket Challenge 2011

[EuropeanFootballMale]

You've totally lost me now, but as long as I win I'm ok with it.

[cougjunkie]

Scenarios under scottie's proposed system

A number 1 seed would get 2 points for a victory in round one and 21 points for a victory in round six. A number one seed would get a cumulative total of 52 points for all rounds of the tournament.

Assuming the rest of the bracket went according to chalk, a 7 seed would get 2 points in round one because it was not an upset and 57 points for a victory in round six (21+(6round*(7seed - 1seed) Assuming the rest of the tournament went according to chalk a 7 seed would get the following per round:

round 1 (7-10 match up) - 2 points
round 2 (2-7 match up) - 13 points
round 3 (3-7 match up) - 17 points
round 4 (1-7 match up) - 32 points
round 5 (1-7 match up) - 43 points
round 6 (1-7 match up) - 57 points

total cumulative points for a 7 seed assuming chalk 164

If I understand you Scottie it seems ok to me.

Seems that it would be a huge benefit to hit on lower seeded team in the final four. In fact if for instance you pick K-state to the final four and the other 3 teams are #1 seeds. Your lead would be insurmountable. Even if someone else has 3 of the 4 final four teams right and you only have 1 but chose a 7 or 8 to win it, you would win.

[Surfah]

Seems that it would be a huge benefit to hit on lower seeded team in the final four. In fact if for instance you pick K-state to the final four and the other 3 teams are #1 seeds. Your lead would be insurmountable. Even if someone else has 3 of the 4 final four teams right and you only have 1 but chose a 7 or 8 to win it, you would win.

Yeah that's what I don't like about it.

[ERCougar]

My two cents: You're already rewarded for picking upsets by picking up points that no one else (or few others) get. I agree with Flystripper though that yahoo doesn't give first round games enough credit, although that doesn't bug me that badly.

You just have to let us know soon. We have to redo brackets if you give a big incentive for picking upsets.

[ERCougar]

Seems that it would be a huge benefit to hit on lower seeded team in the final four. In fact if for instance you pick K-state to the final four and the other 3 teams are #1 seeds. Your lead would be insurmountable. Even if someone else has 3 of the 4 final four teams right and you only have 1 but chose a 7 or 8 to win it, you would win.

Yup.

It gives a distorted (and pretty significant) incentive to not predict accurately, but come up with the wildcard team that surprises everyone. These bracket pools involve enough luck already. Really, anyone that picked George Mason is either a fan, an alum, or liked the mascot (Grrr...it's always these types who win our work pools, which are also incentivized to pick upsets)--nothing to do with basketball knowledge. Teams get on hot streaks and no one can predict who's going to.

[scottie]

Seems that it would be a huge benefit to hit on lower seeded team in the final four. In fact if for instance you pick K-state to the final four and the other 3 teams are #1 seeds. Your lead would be insurmountable. Even if someone else has 3 of the 4 final four teams right and you only have 1 but chose a 7 or 8 to win it, you would win.

It would be a huge benefit, my IMO that's what's cool about picking upsets into the FF. In your scenario you just listed (K-State in the FF with three other #1s), it's a difference of 29 points, hardly insurmountable when points for a semi-final win is 13 and points for picking the champ is 21.

Here's how I got the 29 points:

Picking a #1 seed into the FF gets you 18 per #1 seed (2+3+5+8=18).
Picking a #5 seed into the FF gets you 47 points per #5 seed: (2+5+17+23=47).
47-18 = 29.

[ERCougar]

It would be a huge benefit, my IMO that's what's cool about picking upsets into the FF. In your scenario you just listed (K-State in the FF with three other #1s), it's a difference of 29 points, hardly insurmountable when points for a semi-final win is 13 and points for picking the champ is 21.

Right, but it's a lucky pick. Sure, K State may get hot, but no one in their right mind would pick them to win the region.

I'm telling you, we do our ER pool like this every year, and it's always some complete non-fan who knows nothing about basketball who wins. It really incentivizes luck.

That said, I never win either way, so I don't care all that much.

[scottie]

Right, but it's a lucky pick. Sure, K State may get hot, but no one in their right mind would pick them to win the region.

I'm telling you, we do our ER pool like this every year, and it's always some complete non-fan who knows nothing about basketball who wins. It really incentivizes luck.

That said, I never win either way, so I don't care all that much.

Would people feel better about the seed difference thing if I took away the multiplier? Or am I hearing that you'd prefer no bonus for upset picks? I'm game for either.

[Flystripper]

Seems that it would be a huge benefit to hit on lower seeded team in the final four. In fact if for instance you pick K-state to the final four and the other 3 teams are #1 seeds. Your lead would be insurmountable. Even if someone else has 3 of the 4 final four teams right and you only have 1 but chose a 7 or 8 to win it, you would win.

yes it would be a huge benefit to have K-state in the final 4 if K State actually gets there. (they will lose to USU so it does not matter). If a person had K-state in the final 4 and they were right then more power to them. It is a crazy bold pick. Does it reward luck? Yes, but it also rewards insight.

I don't care too much I am not changing my picks either way.

[scottie]

After a few more hour's worth of boardmails, I'm changing my prediction to $500.

I'm now predicting a $600 jackpot.

[DrumNFeather]

You're not the best around.

I joined this bracket for one reason: money. But now I got a new reason, kickin your ass!

[ERCougar]

Would people feel better about the seed difference thing if I took away the multiplier? Or am I hearing that you'd prefer no bonus for upset picks? I'm game for either.

My vote's with no bonus, but I just changed up my bracket with the idea that there is a bonus. I'm fine with either way, but do we have a decision yet?

[scottie]

My vote's with no bonus, but I just changed up my bracket with the idea that there is a bonus. I'm fine with either way, but do we have a decision yet?

I just changed it again, sorry folks. I'm leaving the seed difference multiplier, but I did away with the multiplier.

[byu71]

I just changed it again, sorry folks. I'm leaving the seed difference multiplier, but I did away with the multiplier.

All I want to know is if I pick every game right will I win?

[ERCougar]

I just changed it again, sorry folks. I'm leaving the seed difference multiplier, but I did away with the multiplier.

Cool. Thanks for setting this up!