Crimson Red Sports

The field of 68 will be selected later today. The field will be trimmed to 64 after the play-in games. The field of 64 will start with 16 games this Thursday and 16 more this Friday.

In the past we have used CBS website for our contest. We can use that again or use ESPN. To me ESPN is easier to set up and use but we will do whatever the group decides. Give your comments regarding which site you want to use and I will set up a league by Monday night. That should give everyone a few days to make their first day picks.

Feel free to comment. If you know of a site with a better contest let us know. I am willing to take the lead and set everything up if that is acceptable to the group.

The more who play the more fun it is. Ask your friends and co-workers to join.

Only one entry per person please.

SC usually pays out a few e-creds for the winners and to all who play.

I'm wiling to ante up a few e-creds to play.  :lol2:

ESPN would be my choice.  Thanks for helping set it up.

As a computer moron I like easy. If ESPN is the easiest, go with it.


 :shake:

ESPN is good with me as well.

I'll not dissent from the first few comments. ESPN sounds good to me. So, no billion dollars for a perfect bracket?  :lol2:

I have set up an ESPN group.

The Group Name is: Crimson Red Sports

The Password is: Roll Tide

Got to ESPN.com, Select Fantasy Games, Select Men's Tourney Challenge. At this point you should have a screen that says Get Started. Enter and select Join Group. Our Group Name is Crimson Red Sports. The password is Roll Tide.

If you are new to ESPN Fantasy Games you will be asked to create a free account when you enter the Get Started page.

I have created my account so you should see pmull listed a player to confirm you have the right group.

If you have trouble getting started, and we always do, come back here and ask for help. Me or who ever sees your question first and knows the answer will try and help you.

Thanks for setting this up, pmull. I'm in.

Six teams selected from the ACC and 6 from the Atlantic 10. Is this a joke or what?


By the way pull, thanks for spending the time and energy to set up the Pick'em. I'm sure most of us will embarrass ourselves like when picking football games.



 :lol2:

CB, 2Stater and I are signed up.

I'm in.   8)

We're both in.      :dog:

I am really conflicted about picking Michigan State over Virginia for the Final Four & Louisville over Michigan. Can someone give me some ideas or input. Louisville over Wichita State is another tough call.



 ???

This is not a time to waffle. It's time to put your big boy pants on and muster up your own opinion concerning who will do what. I know that will be tough for you, but it's time you make a prediction based on a strong opinion. C'mon, MD, time to grow a pair.  8)

With Bama's season in the tank before Christmas I haven't really followed CBB at all this year.  I'm trying to decide if that increases or decreases my chance of success in the bracket.

My method's pretty good. Throw darts at the bracket.

Well I am ready to go. I am not sure about all the rest but I know 2 schools who are in and it was not a bad pick. Florida and Villanova. RTR!

We have 8 entries now. So far it appears the ESPN site is easier to use than CBS. We had a lot of trouble getting people signed up the last two years.

I hope we can get more to enter. The first games are Thursday since the play-in games are not part of the contest.

Good luck to everyone.

I think ESPN is easier to use than CBS, and I like that it has easy access to team info.

Stop picking on me or I'm telling SUPERCOACH!



(http://www.tithing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/man-crying.jpg)







 :'(

I just filled out my bracket.

I am still in shock from NALT saying you seem quite intelligent.  ???

 :lol2: :lol2:
Somebody better make sure NALT doesn't have a fever.

Thanks for your concern.  I'm good though... :lol:

He had me confused with someone else.


 :duh:

LOL.  No confusion.  Was actually trying to say that I wish you would display some intelligence quietly.   8)

I will join in later.  Cannot access it from work.

I just filled out my bracket.

I completed mine but will probably go back and make changes before Thursday.



 :facepalm:

I filled mine out pretty quickly.  I might go back and make changes, but my basketball knowledge isn't going to increase.

In many cases for me it is not knowledge, but playing a hunch.


 :dunno:

I filled mine out and just looked and picked without much thought. Maybe I will do better than when I sit and think it out!!!

 :pray: :pray:

Look at my bracket, make the opposite selections, and you will be fine.  :lol2:

The pick'em games start tomorrow. Make sure you have your picks made before the first game.

It is not too late to join. We only have 10 signed up. I was hoping for more.

I think a picked game is tonight at 8 pm on TruTV. Tennessee is playing Iowa. Could be very interesting game. Iowa is in the Top 11 in rebounding, scoring, & assists. They are 20-12 so I think they have greatly underachieved with those kind of stats.


 :popcorn2:

The UT/Iowa game tonight is not included as a pick'em game. None of the play-in games are. The game you may be thinking about is the Friday game matching UMass against the UT/Iowa winner.

BTW I like UT tonight against Iowa.

Me, too. Something is going wrong at Iowa, maybe coaching problems, in-fighting with players, something. You just can not have the team stats they have and lose 12 games. They lost 6 of their last 7 on top of that. They are 10th in scoring, 7th in rebounds, & 11th in assists in the NCAA. Even their FG% is an impressive 65th. What the heck has happened?


 ???

We need a player at Alabama like UT's Jarnell Stokes. He is 6-8 260 rebounding machine will soft hands. He reminds me of Erwin Dudley.

Watching the first play-in game. I had no idea that Mike Davis was the HC at Texas Southern. His boys down by 11 with 12 to play. Ronnie Arrow, the former coach at South Alabama, is also one of his assistants.

Just saw the odds for picking a perfect bracket. 1:9,223,372,036,854,775,808. Yep. That is one in 9.2 QUINTILLION. You heard me. Your odds are better of winning the Powerball jackpot 3 consecutive times.

Yeah, but I'm feeling lucky & think I can do it.


 :dance: :dance: :dance:

Iowa was pounding UT early, but the Vols cut the lead to 3 and trail 29-26 at the half.

This UT/Iowa game is a good match-up of two physical teams with excellent size. Good game, so far.  Iowa 47-44.



 :clap:

UT beats Iowa in OT. UT just wore them down 78-65. UT plays UMASS next who is a #6 seed. I pick UT to win against them.



 :clap:

Finally got mine in this morning.  I put a solid 12 minutes of thought in it, so it's sure to be a real peach.

I entered my $Billion bracket last evening.  Gonna be a big ol party after I get my check from Warren...  8)

Is anyone else have trouble accessing the  Crimson Red Sports group?

It gave me a "reload" message a couple of times a few minutes ago but I keep trying and finally got through. I bet the high traffic is slowing it down.

That must have been what happened, I finally got in. Phil and CP are on fire!

Preacher Ricky signed up but did not get his picks in.  :(

I missed my picks. I went through them 2 times. OH man I am sorry, I don't know what happen. RTR!

Sorry, padre.   :(

8/8 so far.  No complaints.   ;D

 :kickme:

The submit button was tricky, in the middle of the bracket.

After day one, six people are tied for first with thirteen correct picks.

We all know you took one for the team, Padre.
Your humble sacrifice is appreciated!   :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

Oof, 10-6 yesterday. I got killed on three upset picks, but tOSU and OU losses are what annoy me the most.  :wall:

This is early for you, CB. Is spring fever hitting you?  :lol2:

Got to get little cbbama to school this morning. Otherwise, I would still be in bed.  :lol2:

Better go back to bed afterwards.  This early-morning crap is habit forming!

You're telling me! I am actually cognizant right now!

Just the fact that you can spell that is evidence of your body begging to stay awake.
DON'T DO IT!

 :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

It'll pass.  :D

There's a Seinfeld episode that accounts for this.  George gains intelligence the longer he goes without (THE BIG WITHOUT).  :lol2:

I thought everyone did a pretty good job with their picks on day one. If you can get 12 or 13 right again today that will be good. Of course the real key in the early round is to not loss anyone you have going deep into Tourney.

Yesterday had some very good games. I expect more of the same today.

This would be real fun is our team was in it.  :(

If only he hadn't calculated the odds on ever being with a Portuguese waitress again.  The world lost one of its great minds that day.

 :lol: :lol:
Indeed.  But a genius George was difficult to maintain on the show!

BINGO!!  I mentioned the same thing to my wife. You see teams like Manhattan who pushed Louisville to the limit, victories by Harvard (no scholarship players), North Dakota State, that's right, North Dakota State beat Oklahoma, and I wonder how we finished 13-19, which we all know the reason why, and it just frustrates me so much.  Plus, it also shows how many good coaches there are out there at all types of schools.


 :(

Well, I think it is safe to say that I will not be having a need to open that Swiss bank account this year.  :facepalm: :facepalm:

No kidding. Now I have to return the new Corvette, Tundra Pick-up, and new Lexus SUV I bought on Monday.


 >:(

I hope you got a deal with CNS' dealership.  :lol2: :lol2:

On day 1 I lost one Sweet Sixteen team.  On day 2 I lost one Final Four team and one Sweet Sixteen team.  I may be out of contention already. 

I'm glad that gambling has never appealed to me.

I lost two sweet 16 teams in the first round. The pick'em is very close. This weekend we should see more separation as the picks and keeping teams alive get more difficult.

Round one was very entertaining but it always is.

I think I saw somewhere that there were only somewhere around 16 perfect brackets left in the country. I would really like to meet those people who had Duke, tOSU, and VCU losing in the first round.

I bet those 16 people filled out many brackets. I only did one this year. When you do several brackets you start making odd picks just to go against your best judgement.

Amen to that! I hate losing my hard-earned money and then have nothing to show for it.


 :clap:

No perfect brackets left in the Billion Dollar Challenge after the first 25 games. Next year I'm using a Ouija board.

Yeah, I posted this on another thread.

I'm done.  :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

I might actually find a way to finish behind Ricky. :lol2:

Lost my first Elite 8 team with Syracuse going out.

I lost a Final Four team on day 2 and my champion on day 3.

Wisconsin has looked really impressive this half.

I have them in the Final Four.


 :dance:

Well, at least my Final 4 are still intact (Michigan State, UF, Wisconsin, and Louisville).

I have 3 of those, but substitute Louisville for Michigan. That was a huge effort for me to pick Michigan over Louisville.

No you won't phil. I am not playing due to the hour of lateness of my bracket. haha, RTR!

Yeah, I had a tough time with that one, too. If that one occurs, it is a tossup in my opinion.

I do too, but, I also have Kentucky playing Florida for the final dance, I don't know whether to  :dance: or be  :-[

I think Baylor is going to be a handful for Wisconsin, Virginia will stay with MSU for about a half, and Iowa State will end UConn's run.

I have Michigan State in the Final Four. I have a man crush on Coach Rizzo and his coaching ability. I think the Virginia/MSU game could be compelling.

I have Florida, Wisconsin, Mich State and Kentucky for final four.

I have UF, Wisconsin, Michigan St., & Michigan in Final Four. I think Michigan handles UK.



 :popcorn2:

You got Kentucky in your Elite 8?

cp, I think your bracket and Mine just got interesting!

Kentucky beats Wisconsin, you win.  Wisconsin beats Kentucky, I win.   Good luck.  :clap: 

CRAP!!!! I had 4 teams in the Elite 8, but only 2 made the Final Four, UF & Wisconsin. I am very surprised UK got this far.


 :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

 #+ e-creds to both you and cp for picks!

Thanks! Back at you on the luck! I was looking at the total entries and it looks like a little over 11,000,000 and cp has a ranking that is around 23,000 and could improve! VERY IMPRESSIVE!

Kentucky has elite talent and finally started playing as a team near the end of the season.  With the bracket they were in, I figured they had a chance to make the Final Four.  But I thought eventually youth and pressure would get to them, so I picked them to lose to Wisconsin (and then Florida to beat Wisconsin in the final).  Bama57 has Kentucky beating Wisconsin for an all-SEC final.

I got lucky.  I think you might have me with that Kentucky pick, though.  It should be interesting. 

It sure would be NICE to see 2 teams representing the SEC get to dance in the Final BIG DANCE!

For sure, this proves that Calapari can coach. Great job with a team of freshmen who lost to Arkansas (twice), LSU, &……………. South Carolina!!


 :o

You picked a good bracket. Had Michigan won, you'd be on top. 

Kentucky was a risky pick.  They were inconsistent all season, though they beat Louisville.  But I thought they came together in the SEC Tournament, clobbering LSU and Georgia, and then nearly coming from 16 down against Florida.  If the Kentucky player didn't slip on the way to the basket and made the shot, Kentucky would have beaten Florida.  I thought they showed a change in attitude, and their bracket with Wichita State at top convinced me they could make a run.  Good coaching, sure, but also the players seemed to be more focused, and they have more natural talent than anyone.  Calapari can recruit. 

Wisconsin starts a senior, 3 juniors and a sophomore.  They were undefeated in OOC play, including wins over Florida and Virginia.  Should be a good game v. Kentucky.

Nope, had them losing to Louisville.


 :wall:

Still too early for me to start  :dance:, but, I ain't  :-[ no more.

 :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

Since no one has Kentucky or UCONN picked to win the Tournament this thing is over.

RANK    OWNER      TOTAL   PCT
1   bama57                   1020   99.9
2   catch prothro         870   98.8
3   Marshal Dillon          820   97.9
4   cbbama                 770   95.0
5   2Stater                  720   88.0
6   BAMADCHAMPSHIPS 700   83.4
7*   pmull                     680   77.7
7*   Dr. Lecter's            680   77.7
9   Chechem                590   43.2
10   KoKoPuf                 520   22.3
11   bamaphil                500   17.9
   
Ricky should get some credit for trying to play but he did not get his picks in before ESPN locked the picks.

Congrats to the Bama 57, CP, MD and CB for having picks in the 90% +.

Thanks to all who played. It was fun again this year.

(E-cred for anyone who can post a screen shot of the final standings. My little cut and paste is all out of whack.)

(http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y401/gkconn52/692294a1-ad27-4cae-a114-e8483ab90aa4_zps4600ee0c.png)

Thanks.  #+

Wow, I ended up 4th? I'm surprised considering how the last couple of rounds have gone for me.

Thanks pmull. I really enjoyed watching you guys go at it over the games. It was fun. Congrats to the guys who did so well in their picks. RTR!

 #+   to pmull for putting this altogether this year.

"Here, here.  All together now!"

 #+

Yep! A big BINGO to him.


 #+

Thanks pmull.  #+

Thanks guys. I think using ESPN made it easier to get signed up. I don't think we had any problems except for Preacher. I feel bad he did not get his picks in.

Thanks pmull.    :clap:

So, who do people think will win the final?

UConn has some great guards and took apart Florida, but I think Kentucky's size is going to be too much for them, and Kentucky wins.

I'll be pulling for Ky, so I might as well pick them.  :popcorn2:

I got Big Blue in this one, too. The guard play for UCONN has been great, but UK has too much all around talent. I do know one thing: if UK is behind with chance to win at the buzzer, UCONN had better get two guys on Harrison.