Hat Pool

Even before the Brackets are announced, interested participants may begin picking out of a hat to determine what team they will have to begin the tournament. When you pick out of the "hat", you are NOT actually getting a team but rather a region and a seed number (e.g. MW2, S16, E4, W5, etc.). Your team will be determined when the NCAA Selection Committee creates the bracket on the SELECTION SUNDAY (the Sunday before the Tournament begins).

For those that are curious, there is no "hat". And the bag of pennies is no longer too. We are letting the computer pick them for us. It's about time we more into the 20th century.

68 Tournament Teams, but only 64 HAT PICKS what gives???

In 2011, the NCAA expanded the field from 64 teams to include 4 play-in games: 2 between the worst four teams (usually automatic qualifiers who win their Conference Tournament), and 2 between the last four teams to get in the Tournament (usually the last at-large bids from major conferences). The 2 winners between the worst 4 teams will slide in as 16 seeds. The 2 winners of the last 4 teams in (AKA the true "bubble" teams) will slide in where the Selection Committee feels they belong, typically an 11 seed.

For our Hat Pools, these play-in teams are not in the hat, but the winners of these play-in games will slide into the normal spot on the bracket (usually two #16 seeds and two #11 seeds). If this still doesn't make sense, wait until the brackets are revealed and it should become clear.

ENTRY AND PRIZE INFO

Entry Fee:

$3 per team/pick

Deadline:

THURSDAY, March 19, 2026, 12:15pm ET

Winnings:

Hat Pools No. 1 & 2

Champion $107

Runner-Up $45

Final 4 Finish (2 winners) $20 each

Hat Pools No. 3 & 4

Last-One Standing* $ALL

How to Enter:

Contact me (in-person, text, email).

* If there is a tie amongst last-one standing, the pot will be divided equally.

Please pay in the following ways (in order of preference):

1. PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/brianbaldwin

2. Venmo: https://venmo.com/BrianBaldwin570

3. Cash (in person or mail)

4. Check (via in-person or mail)

There is no limit to the number of times you can enter, and everyone is welcome to play. First come-first served.

So don't miss out. Get your hat picks early.

MULTIPLE HAT POOLS

Updated 03/14/26

Hat Pools 1, 2, 3 & 4

Typically, demand for Hat Picks has been very high. So much so, that in 2019, we added a fourth Hat Pool, and we have done so ever since. But there will NOT be a Hat Pool 5.

You may begin reserving picks for all Hat Pools now. HOWEVER, Hat Pools 2, 3 & 4 typically will not become officially active until the previous Hat Pool becomes full. Hat Pools 3 & 4 will be last-entry-standing-takes-all jackpots. If there is a tie amongst the last-one standing, the pot will be divided equally. Everything else remains the same.

HAT POOLS TYPICALLY SELLOUT QUICKLY

RULES & SCORING

Updated 03/22/25

This is a Spread-Based Hat Pool

You theoretically have the same odds winning with a #16 pick as you do with a #1 pick as you do with a #9 pick.

If it doesn't work out that way for you, blame Vegas.

Scoring Rules

The hat pick you receive is the team you have for the First Round. In order for you to advance to the next round, your team must beat the spread regardless if that team actually wins or not (see Spread Source information). If your team wins but does not beat the spread, then your opponent will advance with your team.

To clear up confusion, here is an illustration:

Player	Team	Spread	Score	Player	Team	Spread	Score	Player	Team
BWB	(1) UMD		101
				BWB	(1) UMD		101
DJEm	(4) PS-Sch	45.5	38
								JMK	(1) UMD
MAC	(2) Duke		58
				JMK	(3) Drexel	25.5	90
JMK	(3) Drexel	15.5	60

All spreads that are whole numbers will be bumped up point to avoid ties (e.g. spread of 12 points becomes 12.5 points).

Once the Tournament Begins, under the link(s) for Hat Pool Standings, you will find your selection(s) and the latest spread for each game. The spread may change from day to day, however the spread published in the spread source on the day of the game is the official spread. Anybody familiar with real gambling knows that spreads change continuously and vary by source. But, on the morning of the game, the current spreads of those games are captured and stored for future reference. If you disagree with the spreads, feel free to reach out to request a copy of the spreads.

Spread Source

The source for ALL spreads is now Fanduel Sportsbook (sportsbook.fanduel.com) on the morning of the game, typically about 2 hours before the first tipoff.

A record of all spreads is kept on file in case of any disputes.

Your Entry Information

Your entry(ies) will NOT BE POSTED until ALL hat picks have been selected for that particular Hat Pool. Although this pool is based on odds, some feel they have a better shot at winning if they get a #1 seed. The history of the Hat Pool will prove otherwise.

In order to avoid this false sense of better seeds = better odds, entries will not be posted until all picks have been selected for that pool.

Good Luck!!

HAT POOL HISTORY

Updated 03/14/26

Hat Pool History (25 years)

The Hat Pool Champion has covered the spread for each game ONLY 8 times in the history of the Hat Pool (2024, 2023, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2009, 2006). In other words, the winner usually does not finish with the team they started with.

The Runner-Up has covered the spread for each game only FIVE times (2024, 2019, 2011, 2010, 2002).

The 2024 Hat Pool was the only time both the champion and runner-up kept their teams from start to finish. One of the Final 4 winners also kept their team from start to finish.

Every seed (1-16) has placed in a money position. However, there are 18 region/seed combinations that have never placed in a money position including MW1 and MW2.

No. 2 seeds have won money 11 times; No. 1 seeds have won money 10 times; No. 4 & No. 11 seeds have won money 8 times.

Only 13 region/seed combinations have won money more than twice; S1, E7, W10, and MW12 have won four times.

Only 4 region/seed combinations have finished as champs more than once: E1, S1, W10, W13 (all twice)

E seeds have finished first EIGHT times but second only 4 times.

MW has finished first 5 times and second 10 times. That means that a pick from the MW has made the championship game 60% of the time, better than any other region.

Previous Pool Champions
Year	Top Prize	Winner (1\|2\|3\|4)
2025	$107 / $107 / $192 / $192	DJEm \| AlyzaK \| EdBo \| RDK
2024	$107 / $107 / $192 / $156	MadisonD \| MickBotto \| Reese \| RDK
2023	$107 / $107 / $192 / $192	PatOP \| Moet \| Marmas \| JeanieD
2022	$107 / $107 / $192 / $192	JasonB \| JoshH \| PatOP \| JoshE
2021	$107 / $107 / $171 / $75	GlennR \| PatOP \| MadisonD \| JennieH
2020	No Tournament
2019	$107 / $107 / $192 / $183	CarolynS \| JCK \| PatOP \| MattC2
2018	$107 / $107 / $192	NicCuts \| GregK \| SteveOP
2017	$107 / $107 / $192	Ang S \| J Burke \| Mariann G
2016	$107 / $107 / $192	JCK \| J Burke \| Joe B
2015	$107 / $107 / $192	J-Cuts \| Kathy C \| RDK
2014	$107 / $107 / $192	J Burke \| J-Cuts \| MCM
2013	$107 / $107 / $147	DJ Em \| CathyD \| PatOP
2012	$107 / $107 / $168	Tohill \| LilManSlim \| PatOP
2011	$107	PMC \| SteveOP
2010	$110	Eric Y \| Sean R \| Jack R
2009	$110	Meredith \| DJ Emm
2008	$110	George H
2007	$110	ChristineM
2006	$110	Jo F
2005	$110	RDK
2004	$110	Nate
2003	$110	Emil
2002	$110	Jo F
2001	$110	RDK
2000	No Hat Pools
1999	$100	(old) Mike B

Where the Winners Started
Year	Winner		Runner-Up		Final 4
2025	W	10	MW	4	E	4	S	16
2024	E	1	MW	1	S	14	W	4
2023	W	4	E	16	S	5	MW	5
2022	E	8	MW	4	S	2	W	15
2021	S	16	E	11	W	1	MW	12
2020	No Tournament
2019	MW	12	W	6	E	15	S	12
2018	E	1	W	9	S	11	MW	5
2017	MW	11	E	7	S	7	W	13
2016	S	2	E	16	MW	10	W	10
2015	S	1	W	8	E	7	MW	3
2014	E	7	W	2	S	11	MW	8
2013	W	9	S	4	E	12	MW	12
2012	W	13	MW	11	E	7	S	16
2011	W	12	S	8	E	13	MW	11
2010	W	13	S	1	E	2	MW	12
2009	S	1	MW	15	E	14	W	1
2008	MW	10	S	8	E	1	W	12
2007	MW	5	S	5	E	6	W	7
2006	MW	3	W	14	E	11	S	12
2005	E	11	MW	3	S	12	W	10
2004	S	7	MW	6	E	8	W	15
2003	E	10	MW	15	S	14		65
2002	E	15	S	5	MW	4	W	15
2001	E	6	MW	14	S	1	W	14
2000	No Hat Pools
1999	W	10	MW	13	E	12	S	4

Where the Regions Finish
Region	Champ	RunnerUp	Final 4
E	8	4	13
S	5	6	14
MW	5	10	10
W	7	5	12

Money Finishes
Seed	Times	%
1	10	10%
2	4	4%
3	3	3%
4	8	8%
5	6	6%
6	4	4%
7	7	7%
8	6	6%
9	2	2%
10	7	7%
11	8	8%
12	11	11%
13	5	5%
14	6	6%
15	7	7%
16	5	5%
65	1	1%

Any and all rules for any Madness of March pool may change at any time up to the tip-off of the first game of that pool.

Any changes will be posted on this and/or its respective website.