I have set up the program to run the annual prediction contest for the NCAA Tournament following the same rules we have used for the past few years, which have seemed to work well. Last year, we had 24 human participants, the Committee, and 4 computerized rating systems. Hopefully, we will have lots of participants again this year. So have fun following games this week and then get ready to prove your prediction prowess! PREDICTION CONTEST RULES To participate, once the NCAA publishes the bracket, you will predict (before the first tournament game begins) who will advance from each game in the tournament from the first round through the championship. The scoring will be as follows, for each correct prediction of who advances: First Round Correct: 1 point Second Round Correct: 3 points Third Round Correct: 6 points Quarterfinals Correct: 8 points Semifinals Correct: 8 points Championship Correct: 8 points As soon as the NCAA has published the bracket, I will post a list of the first round matchups in the order they appear from top to bottom in the bracket. You will be able to use this as the starting point for your predictions. (This also will jump this topic to the top of the list as a reminder to post your predictions.) If you want to enter, you will post your predictions for the entire tournament on this thread not later than the beginning of the first Tournament game. You will post your predictions in the following format, leaving a space after each round: In order starting from the top of the first round list, post the winner of each first round game (so, you will have posted a list of 32 teams) In order, starting from the top of your list of first round winners, post the winner of each second round game (so you will have posted a list of 16 teams) In order, starting from the top of your list of second round winners, post the winner of each third round game (so you will have posted a list of 8 teams) In order, starting from the top of your list of third round winners, post the winner of each quarterfinal game (so you will have posted a list of 4 teams) In order, starting from the top of your list of quarterfinal winners, post the winner of each semifinal game (so you will have posted a list of 2 teams) Post the winner of the Championship game (so you will have posted the name of 1 team) After each round, I will post a report showing the points scored by round, the total scored by each competitor, and the competitor standings.
And just for fun, here is a list of last year's competitors showing their Prediction Contest average placement ranks over the years they have participated:
NOTE: IT WILL HELP IF YOU USE THE TEAM NAMES EXACTLY AS I HAVE LISTED THEM BELOW. Duke Howard LSU TexasTech MichiganState WesternMichigan BostonU TexasU IowaU MissouriState Fairfield Georgetown VirginiaTech TennesseeU CaliforniaBaptist UCLA NorthCarolinaU USCUpstate SantaClara BYU MinnesotaU SouthDakotaState EastCarolina SouthCarolinaU PennState StonyBrook StephenFAustin TCU Vanderbilt Lipscomb Samford FloridaState SouthernCalifornia SacramentoState KansasU StLouis WisconsinU MaineU Princeton VirginiaU OhioState JamesMadison FIU Auburn GeorgiaU ColoradoU Morehead WakeForest ArkansasU OklahomaState CaliforniaU Pepperdine Rutgers ConnecticutU UCSantaBarbara Stanford NotreDame Milwaukee West VirginiaU KentuckyU UtahState WashingtonU SouthernU MississippiState
NCAA RPI Predictions First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU MississippiState Quarterfinals Winners Duke FloridaState SouthernCalifornia MIssissippiState Semifinals Winners Duke MississippiState Championship Winner Duke
Pre-Season Predicted RPI Predictions First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn ColoradoU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame WestVirginiaU WashingtonU MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU Georgetown UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest Stanford NotreDame Quarterfinals Winners UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthernCalifornia Stanford Semifinals Winners NorthCarolinaU Stanford Championship Winner Stanford
Balanced RPI Rank and Top 50 Results Rank Predictions (Corrected for programming error) First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest Stanford MississippiState Quarterfinals Winners Duke NorthCarolinaU WakeForest MississippiState Semifinals Winners Duke WakeForest Championship Winner Duke
Balanced RPI Predictions First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU MinnesotaU TCU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU MississippiState Quarterfinals Winners Duke FloridaState SouthernCalifornia MississippiState Semifinals Winners Duke SouthernCalifornia Championship Winner Duke
Committee Predictions First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU MississippiState Quarterfinals Winners Duke FloridaState SouthernCalifornia MississippiState Semifinals Winners Duke MississippiState Championship Winner Duke
thanks for doing this again! First Round Duke LSU MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown TennesseeU UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Duke MichiganState IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU Auburn WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest Stanford MississippiState Fourth Round Duke NorthCarolinaU SouthernCalifornia MississippiState Fifth Round Duke MississippiState Champion Duke
Well I have been 1st, last and in the middle. See where this comes in. First Round Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Duke MichiganState IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU MinnesotaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest Pepperdine Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest Stanford MississippiState Quarter Final UCLA FloridaState SouthernCalifornia MississippiState Semi Final FloridaState MississippiState Final FloridaState
Yes, UNC is higher than FSU in the RPI. FSU, however, is seeded higher than UNC and therefore will host their quarterfinal game (if they both get there). For the RPI, the Pre-Season Predicted RPI, and the Balanced RPI, I am able to make adjustments to the ratings for home field advantage. For the RPI, when I have made that adjustment for the UNC @ Florida State quarterfinal, FSU has the better rating.
Well, I don't think I can do worse than last year, so here goes........ Thank you for the opportunity to participate again FIRST ROUND Duke TexasTech WesternMichigan TexasU IowaU Georgetown TennesseeU UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU VirginiaU JamesMadison Auburn ColoradoU WakeForest ArkansasU CaliforniaU Rutgers Stanford NotreDame West VirginiaU WashingtonU MississippiState SECOND ROUND Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU Auburn WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississipiState THIRD ROUND Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState WakeForest ArkansasU NotreDame MississipiState SEMI-FINALS Duke FloridaState WakeForest NotreDame FINAL Duke WakeForest CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER WakeForest
FIRST ROUND WINNERS Duke TexasTech MichiganStat TexasU IowaU Fairfield VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU SantaClara MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU Princeton OhioState Auburn Colorado WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState SECOND ROUND WINNERS Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU TCU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia Princeton OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame UtahState THIRD ROUND WINNERS Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia OhioState ArkansasU Notre Dame QUARTERINALS WINNERS Duke FloridaState SouthernCalifornia Notre Dame SEMIFINALS WINNERS FloridaState SouthernCalifornia CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER FloridaState
First Round Duke LSU MichiganState TexasU MissouriState Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU SantaClara MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU Princeton OhioState FIU ColoradoU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU WashingtonU MississippiState Second Round Duke TexasU Georgetown UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU TCU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia Princeton OhioState WakeForest Pepperdine Stanford KentuckyU MississippiState Quarters Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest Stanford MississippiState Semis Duke FloridaState WakeForest Stanford Finals FloridaState WakeForest Champs FloridaState
@BostonIrish12, the bottom half of your round 3 doesn't match with how the bracket is set up. Could you check it out and fix it?
Probably not a valid entry: The bracket’s out and it’s easy to see There’s no respect for the ACC. As with that other kind of football The SEC lords over all. Pitt can’t even get in And the SEC has ten? Although Carolina’s RPI ranks number two It’s Tallahassee they must go through. When it is all over, however, with any kind of break The winner will be the Dreamin’ Deacons of Wake.
First Round: Duke LSU Mich St. TexasU IowaU Georgetown Virgina tech UCLA North Carolina U Santa Clara Minnesota South Carolina U Penn St. TCU Lipscomb Florida State Southern California Kansas Wisconsin Virginia Ohio state U Auburn GeorgiaU Wake Forest Arkansas CaliforniaU UConn Stanford Notre Dame KentuckyU Washingtons Mississippi State Second Round: Duke TexasU Georgetown UCLA North Carolina U South Carolina U TCU Florida state Southern CaliforniaU Virginia Auburn Wake Forest Arkansas U UConn Notre Damn MississippiU Quarter finals: Duke UCLA North Carolina U Florida State Virginia Wake forest ArkansasU MississippiU semi: Duke North CarolinaU Wake Forest MississippiU final: North Carolina U Mississippi U CHAMP: North Carolina U!
Ok, I hope this will fix my bracket (ie, I messed up round three in my original bracket, thank you for the heads up).....please let me know if this corrected my bracket or not....Thank you ! FIRST ROUND Duke TexasTech WesternMichigan TexasU IowaU Georgetown TennesseeU UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU VirginiaU JamesMadison Auburn ColoradoU WakeForest ArkansasU CaliforniaU Rutgers Stanford NotreDame West VirginiaU WashingtonU MississippiState SECOND ROUND Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU Auburn WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississipiState THIRD ROUND Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU NotreDame SEMI-FINALS Duke FloridaState WakeForest NotreDame FINAL Duke WakeForest CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER WakeForest
Terrible performance last year. Time to bounce back! First Round: Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU SantaClara SouthDakotaState SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU VirginiaU JamesMadison Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU WashingtonU MississippiState Second Round: Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU TCU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU Auburn WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round: Duke IowaU NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU NotreDame Fourth round: Duke FloridaState WakeForest ArkansasU Fifth round: Florida State Wake Forest Champion: Florida State
First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginiaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU SantaClara MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU CaliforniaU Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU WashingtonU MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU MinnesotaU TCU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Rutgers NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke IowaU NorthCarolinaU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU MississippiState Quarterfinals Winners Duke FloridaState WakeForest MississippiState Semifinals Winners FloridaState WakeForest Championship Winner Florida State
A note to all who want to participate in the contest: The first game of the tournament starts at 4:00 pm East Coast time on Friday, so that is the deadline for posting entries.
Well... Taking a whack at this with an obvious prejudice in favor of the ACC. Embarrassment to come... First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown VirginaTech UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennSt TCU Vanderbuilt FloridaState SouthernCalfornia StLouis WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU Wake Forest ArkansasU CaliforniaU ConnecticutU Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke TexasU IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU PennState FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford NotreDame MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU FloridaState Southern California WakeForest Stanford NotreDame Quarterfinal Winners Duke FloridaState WakeForest NotreDame Semifinal Winners FloridaState WakeForest Champion FloridaState
First Round Winners Duke TexasTech MichiganState TexasU IowaU Georgetown TennesseeU UCLA NorthCarolinaU BYU MinnesotaU SouthCarolinaU PennState TCU Vanderbilt FloridaState SouthernCalifornia KansasU WisconsinU VirginiaU OhioState Auburn GeorgiaU WakeForest ArkansasU Pepperdine Rutgers Stanford NotreDame KentuckyU UtahState MississippiState Second Round Winners Duke MichiganState IowaU UCLA NorthCarolinaU SouthCarolinaU TCU FloridaState SouthernCalifornia VirginiaU OhioState WakeForest ArkansasU Stanford KentuckyU MississippiState Third Round Winners Duke UCLA NorthCarolinaU TCU SouthernCalifornia WakeForest ArkansasU MississippiState Quarterfinals Winners Duke NorthCarolinaU SouthernCalifornia ArkansasU Semifinals Winners Duke ArkansasU Championship Winner ArkansasU