NCAA Football Pool Rules
Because chaos is fun... but only when it's organized. Here's everything you need to know before the madness begins. Read it, know it, live it.
How to Enter
Submit your entry each week by picking the winners against the spread. Rank each pick using the confidence point dropdown menu on the right. Then enter your guess for the total points in the final game of the week at the bottom. That's your second tiebreaker — don't forget it unless you like losing via technicality. Most games are on Saturdays, however we reserve the right to select earlier or later games as needed to make the best weekly schedule. We will let you know if there are early games, so read your emails.
If you have trouble accessing the site, logging in or otherwise completing your entry, please contact the administrators for help, twasikxs@yahoo.com and ron@twazpool.com.
Scoring
- Assign confidence points to each pick (1 up to number of games that week)
- Each number used once — no repeats
- Correct pick = gain those points
- Wrong pick = lose those points (yes, seriously)
- Don't overthink it. Or do. Either way, you'll feel something.
Point Spreads
The point spread (aka "the line") tells you how much the favorite must win by. All spreads are set in 0.5-point increments — no ties allowed.
Example: A team at -6.5 must win by 7+. A team at +3.5 loses by 3? That's a win for you.
If you don't understand this, just pick the opposite of your gut. It'll probably work out.
Games and spreads for each week are input by end-of-day Wednesday.
Weekly Prizes
Each week, we reward the top 2 scorers and hope to match last year's numbers:
🥇 1st Place – $100
🥈 2nd Place – $50
Tiebreakers
1. Most correct picks that week
2. Closest tiebreaker guess (over/under doesn't matter)
3. Most correct picks for the season
4. Still tied? Split the winnings like civilized humans
Season Prizes
Final payout depends on number of players. Last year’s prizes ranged from $2,000 (1st) to $150 (5th). Let's aim higher in 2025.
Last place for the season wins free entry into next season's NCAA Football Pool (must make picks for all weeks of the season).
Game Lock Times
- Games lock at scheduled start time (Eastern)
- Early games lock individually (Thursday, Friday, etc.)
- All other games lock when the first Saturday game starts (12:00pm Eastern most weeks)
- You can change picks or confidence points anytime before a game locks
- Tiebreaker guesses are editable until all Saturday games lock
- The Bowl "Week" games all lock at the start of the first selected Bowl Game.
Missed Picks?
- No picks? You get the lowest score posted that week
- No team but confidence points assigned? Negative points
- Team picked but no points? We'll assign them — and probably not generously
- Miss your Thursday pick because you're lazy? We'll assign you -1 point, because we're nice
Heads up: The site gives you a warning for incomplete entries. Listen to it. Or don't. Your loss.
Payment Info
- Total: $150 for the season ($10/week)
- Due in full by: Saturday, Sept 20 – must be received, not just mailed
- Payment plan: 3 checks: $80 (by 9/20), $50 (post-dated 10/31), $50 (post-dated 11/30)
By entering, you commit to the full 15-week season. No midseason bailouts. No ghosting. No "my dog ate my Venmo."
Payment records are kept separately — TWaz will confirm once received. If you say "I paid" four weeks after the fact but it's not logged, what's logged wins. Reach out to TWaz if you paid but don't get a confirmation email within 5 to 7 days.
Trouble Logging In?
Contact the Pool Management Tribunal (aka TWaz) ASAP. Don’t wait until Sunday kickoff to panic. No mercy after locks.
Final Word
By entering the pool, you agree to follow these rules and accept all decisions made by TWaz. This may be a football pool, but it’s not a democracy.
If you have trouble accessing the site, logging in or otherwise completing your entry, please contact the administrators for help, twasikxs@yahoo.com and ron@twazpool.com.
To make picks, view results and find additional information, see the site map.
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