Tip-off for Tom NCAA Men's Basketball Pool

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Tanya
Creator
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Hi Basketball Fans,

It's time for the 2026 Tip Off for Tom NCAA Men’s Basketball Pool! My husband, Tom Irelan, started this March Madness Pool in 2008. He wanted us to all continue this fun tradition. According to Tom - the NCAA Men’s basketball Tournament is the greatest sporting event ever!!?? Please see the pool details and rules below. The pool grows each year; in 2025 we had 321 entries. Our goal is 400 entries and to raise at least $15,000 to fund brain cancer research this spring. Feel free to forward this email to your family, friends and co-workers and encourage them to join us.

Entry Opens: AFTER CBS Selection Show
Sunday, March 15th at 6:00 pm EST

Entry Deadline: Thursday, March 19th, Noon EST (Payment due by March 22)

Game Schedule: First Round – Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th
Second Round – Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd
Sweet Sixteen – Thursday, March 26th and Friday, March 27th
Elite Eight - Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th
Final Four - Saturday, April 4th
Championship Game – Monday, April 6th

Entry Cost: $15.00 per pool (optional to add $5 for a donation to Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Research. In Tom’s memory, I am going to personally make a $5 donation for each entry to fund brain cancer research. Any money sent to me above the $15 per entry will be donated to Glioblastoma Research Org)

Pool entries payable via Zelle (614-736-5181) or Venmo @Tanya-Irelan
Unlimited pool entries per person – fee is $15 per entry

Payout: There is a small fee charged by Run Your Pool, the remaining total will be divided: First Place: 60%, Second Place: 18%, Third Place: 12%, Fourth Place: 7%, Fifth Place: 3%. Official rules are listed below.ng:

Thank you for joining the Tip-off for Tom March Madness pool. Please raise a glass and toast Tom as you enjoy the exciting hoops action!

“Hoops Baby Hoops!”

~Tanya Irelan
tanyairelan@gmail.com
614-736-5181

~If you would prefer to mail a check:
Tanya Irelan
6094 Borgata Way
Dublin, OH 43017

Rules

If you have any questions about these rules, please contact your commissioners Tanya Irelan (tanyairelan@gmail.com) Rich Irelan (rirelan@dublinbuilding.com)
  • Members pick all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament.
  • The pick deadline is set to March 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET.
  • There are no restrictions on how many entries a member can have in the contest.
  • Points are awarded for each correct pick.
  • Points values increase as the tournament progresses, as follows:
    • Play-in games are not included or scored
    • First Round = 1 point
    • Second Round = 2 points
    • Sweet 16 = 4 points
    • Regional Final (Round of 8) = 8 points
    • National Semifinal (Last Four) = 16 points
    • Championship = 32 points
  • The contest does not use a seed point bonus. Correct picks will be awarded the points assigned for each round.
  • The tie-breaker is the combined number of points scored in the Championship game. Each member must enter a tie-break value when they make their picks.
  • The winner is the entry with the most points at the end of the NCAA Tournament.