The Golf Ball

As Paul reported earlier I once again have a shot at a big payoff thanks to a Golf-Ball Against-the-Spread Pool that I've done for three years now. Here's how it works.

1. 64 Golf Balls with tournament teams written on them go into two buckets, one for the left side of the bracket, one for the right side of the bracket.

2. 32 Participants pick a ball from each bucket to receive two teams.

3. To advance a player's team must beat/cover the spread in that day's game.

4. In the event of a loss and cover the player with the covering team advances and receives the winning team in his/her team's place.

So I originally drew.

Marquette and Indiana

Marquette lost to Michigan State in a pick 'em game eliminating that ball.

The Indiana ball covered against Gonzaga (favored by 1) but also covered against UCLA (7 point underdog, lost by 5). Therefore I have UCLA.

Last year, I also had UCLA, receiving them via Gonzaga originally drawing Xavier.

For my Golf Ball to advance UCLA would almost definitely have to win the tournament and cover all the way. They are favored by 3 against Pittsburgh. If they played Kansas in the next round they would likely be a slight favorite because the game would be played in San Jose. Florida is the only team left on their path to the final that I'd imagine would be favored against them. The biggest threat to the golf ball would be Southern Illinois. In quick turnaround action, UCLA would probably be a double-digit favorite with little time for that spread to go down. Those that have watched both teams know they both have defensive half-court styles that would make a blowout unlikely.

Funny thing is pools like this are becoming trendy. The guys from Bar Stool Sports in Boston who I hung out with last Friday (announcement coming soon) were doing a pool exactly like it.

Here's wishing UCLA and my Golf Ball luck the rest of the tournament!