Frequently Asked Questions

Have a Question? Check out the FAQs below?

  1. Why can't I login?
  2. Why aren't the brackets seeded?
  3. What can I win?
  4. What do the numbers mean next to the team names (from 1 to 16)?
  5. How often do the standings update?
  6. How do I complete a bracket?
  7. How can I tell what games I've predicted correctly/incorrectly in my bracket?
  8. How does the tiebreaker work?
  9. What's the difference between the Field of 64, Field of 16 and Field of 4?
1.  Why can't I login?
When this happens, the problem almost always has to do with either the browser configuration or security software (firewall). Try resetting your security software or browser configuration to enable/accept "cookies."

The website keeps track of users by saving small, temporary files to your computer called "cookies." These "session" cookie files are deleted from the computer when the browser is closed and the browser session is completed. But web browsers like Internet Explorer realize that some users are exceptionally security conscious and wish to disable cookies, or prevent them from being saved on the user's computer.

Enable Cookies In Security Software
1. Launch your privacy or firewall software.
2. Navigate to the section with cookie controls.
3. Choose to accept cookies.

Enable Cookies in Internet Explorer 6
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. From the Tools menu select "Internet options".
3. Select the Privacy tab.
4. Make sure the slider is NOT on "Block All Cookies".
5. Click the "Advanced" button.
6. Check "Override Cookie Handling".
7. Check "Always Allow Session Cookies".
8. Click "OK" twice

Enable Cookies in Mozilla Firefox
1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. From the Tools menu, select "Options".
3. Click the Privacy icon.
4. Click the + sign to expand the Cookies section.
5. Select the "Allow sites to set cookies" option.
6. Click "OK".
2.  Why aren't the brackets seeded?
If the date is before Monday, March 15
The reason why the brackets are not seeded is because the tournament teams have not been announced yet. The bracket will be ready for you to make your picks on Monday, March 15.

If the date is after Monday, March 15
The bracket rounds required JavaScript be enabled in your browser. If JavaScript is not enabled in your browser, you will not be able to view any of the seedings. To learn how to enable JavaScript please visit this page.
3.  What can I win?
There are lots of great prizes to be had! Check out the Prizes Page or Rules Page for details.
4.  What do the numbers mean next to the team names (from 1 to 16)?
The Tournament is divided into 4 regions. Each region has 16 teams competing in it - with the eventual regional winner advancing to the Field of 4 (the final 4 teams left overall).

The 16 teams competing in each regional bracket are seeded, by the Tournament Selection Committee, from 1 (the top seed) to 16 (the lowest seed).
5.  How often do the standings update?
We score the contest after each tournament game is played. When the result of each game is entered, the entire contest is re-scored and the standings will automatically update with the most recent points applied to each participant.
6.  How do I complete a bracket?
Once you have clicked on the bracket you want to complete, the teams that are in the tournament will appear on the left-hand and right-hand sides. To predict the winner of each game, simply click on the name of the team you think will win. That will advance the winning team's name to the next round - where you then predict the winner of the next game involving that team. By continuing to click on the team you think will win each game, its team name will continue to advance to the next matchup in the bracket - until there is only one slot left and you have predicted the National Champion.
7.  How can I tell what games I've predicted correctly/incorrectly in my bracket?
Once the tournament has started, log back into the game, and the winning teams you selected will be highlighted in green, while the teams you got wrong will be highlighted with a red strike-through.
8.  How does the tiebreaker work?
When you are asked to provide a tiebreaker, you should predict what the combined score of the final (National Championship) game will be and enter that number. If you think Team A will score 75 points and Team B will score 70 points, you should enter 145 in the tiebreaker field. After all of the games have been played, we will then calculate how close you were to the actual combined final score. In the case of any ties, the participant with the lowest point differential (the participant who was closest in their prediction) will be the winner. If two or more participants continue to be tied, the participant closest to the actual number of rebounds by both teams in the National Championship Game will be determined the winner. See Rules for official details.
9.  What's the difference between the Field of 64, Field of 16 and Field of 4?
You have three chances to win with this contest:

When the tournament field is decided on March 14th, we will populate the full tournament bracket and invite you to complete an entire Field of 64 online bracket. It will consist of all 64 teams in the tournament and all 63 games that will be played, all the way up to the final National Championship game.

After the first weekend, we will take the 16 teams remaining and offer a second contest . . . the Field of 16. This is another chance to win. All you have to do is select the winners for the final 15 games of the tournament. It does not affect your Field of 64 entry.

Right before the final weekend, we will again ask you to return to complete a Field of 4 bracket. There are only 3 games left to pick, so it's pretty simple. This is your third chance to win a prize. Your Field of 64 and Field of 16 entries will still be running.

All contests (Field of 64, Field of 16 and Field of 4) end with the National Championship game in April.