Semi-MM-Related - March Madness

hoffse

This is only MM-related because it relates to gambling... 

So I'm not a sports fan at all, but I finally decided to be a team player and participate in my firm's March Madness tournament for the first time this year.  It was only $10.  They just published the results from the last few days, and I'm currently in second place!!  I think it's made the people who actually care a little upset. 

Crazy.

They give away cash prizes for first, second, third, and last place, so I'm crossing my fingers that this continues! 

Does anybody else play?  How are you doing?

formerlyGDaisy09

I've not played. I once had a friend fill out his bracket based on whose mascot would beat whose mascot in a cage fight...he did surprisingly well, but his bracket was busted because obviously syracuse (The Orange) was out in an early round. 

labro

We don't play in March Madness because H and I just do not care about basketball at all. We'll usually put in a little money (up to $20 max) in some of his work pools for the ACC and SEC championships and the Superbowl. We "win" often enough that the $100 or $200 we'll get will just cover our future gambling.

Good luck!!!

short+sassy

I've only done football pools.  Usually lose, lol.  But a few years back I bought into a Superbowl pool at a friend's party and my $10 bet won me $200 for one of the quarters.

I think that is what is fun about sports pools and even horse racing (for anyone who has ever been to the track).  They are both types of gambling that can be done for a small amount of money, but gives you a chance to "root" for a particular outcome.

I actually live less than two blocks from the race track in NOLA and, not that my H and I go very often, but its a free entrance and you can literally bet as low as $1 that a particular horse is going to win or show.  You can watch all 12-15 races, lose on every single one, but still have a cheap and fun time yelling for your horse.

als1982

I never do a bracket, but the Big 12 tournament happens near my work and all of the players and fans stay at the hotels adjacent to my office building. Every year I say I'm going to take my laptop over and work from their lobbies - it's such an exciting vibe! Oh, and ROCK CHALK!!

emily1004

Awful!  $20 buy in. This is my time of year! I did pick a lot of upsets, just not the right ones. I had Sparty in my final 4, but a good chunk of the people I work with are MSU alums. They had them going all the way. Which was my saving grace. Tom Izzo is having an awful year. Professionally and privately, I suspect, with his dad passing away a few months ago, and especially after what is happening with Mateen Cleaves.

After the first night I had a perfect bracket, until Saturday. Last night Wisconsin winning and Xavier losing, plummeted me down to nearly last place. I was yelling at the TV last night, but since my alma mater didn't make the tournament, I woke up feeling like,  "damn, that was fun". I love the excitement of the "one and done".  (Even though I'm losing). We usually have a pizza party at the end of it, so not all my money is going to waste...

JoanE2012

I have ZERO interest in basketball and don't participate in any of the March Madness pools.  Now football, we're a bit crazy with the pools.  DH and I are in one that runs the entire season and then we're in at least 3 box pools.  We spend close to $300/year on it all - totally not MM.  We did win a few pools about 3 years and took home around $2,500, but otherwise we rarely break even.  It's just fun.  And I'm not really a football fan either, I just enjoy it marginally more than basketball.