Final Four picks

I often offer possible outcomes at this point.  However, there is one person (Ken) who has two choices for champion.  Assuming his pick for the Final Four wins, I can't game play without tipping the hand of who has what left for the championship.  Which, technically, is public record but if Ken wants to know that split he has to look himself 😉 I am an impartial pool administrator.

Suffice it to say the pot will be split.  Likely between 3+ people depending on who wins tomorrow's games.  

As we are headed to Cali tomorrow, I will post Final picks Sunday by Noon (PST). 

Here are the Final Four picks:

Arizona: Eric 2, Terry D, Porkrind 2, Britton 1, Greg, Chad, Jon R and Brent

Illinois: Nancy, Walker, and KT

Michigan: Grimes 2

UCONN: Casey, Ken, PK, Josh L3, John P, Jacky, Voth 1, Voth 2, and Wynn 2

*Underlined entries have a choice left for the championship round.*

Elite Eight picks

We head into the weekend with 23 folks still playing.  The heavy favorite this round is Illinois with 15 picks.  

Note: I switched the Porkrind picks when I listed them yesterday. 

Here are the picks:

Arizona: Voth 2

Illinois: Casey, Eric 2, Terry D, Wynn 2, Britton 1, Greg 1, Grimes 2, Ken, PK, Chad, Josh L3, Jon R, Jacky, Voth 1, and Brent 2

Iowa: Smith 1 and LesLye

Michigan: Porkrind 2, Nancy, KT, Walker and John P

Sweet Sixteen: Friday picks

Greetings from Richmond! After Houston's loss last night we are down to 52 players.  Iowa State is today's heavy favorite with 25 folks betting on them.  Once again we have one lone wolf betting against that favorite with Terry taking Tennessee.  We have folks on both sides of the UCONN/Michigan State game so someone is going home today regardless.

If you survive today - reminder you pick ONE winner from either Saturday or Sunday games but the pick is due at NOON TOMORROW!

Today's picks:

Duke: Ken, Walker, KT, John P, and Smith 1

Iowa State: Ian, Pat B2, Britt 1, Josh C, Britton 2, Tracy 2, Michael, Grimes 1, Will H2, Isaac, CJ, Scott, Pete Special K, Cory 1, Josh L3. Logan P, Perkins 1, Otis, Seagraves, Smith2, Nate, Clayton, Brent 1, and Alex M

Michigan: Casey, Britton 1, Eric C 2, Greg, PK, Jacky, LesLye, Adam V 1&2, Brent 2, Wynn 2 and Josh L3

Michigan State: Carter, Porkrind 2 and BJ

Tennessee: Terry D

UCONN: Porkrind 1, Nancy, Grimes 2, Chad, Jon R

*Note: I incorrectly listed JoshL3 as Iowa State with my original post.  He picked Michigan.  

Cornhusked

With Nebraska (17) and Texas (1) losses we say goodbye to 18 folks. Not quite the thinning of the pool that a Purdue loss would have created but still a sizeable drop in numbers.  We are down to 65 players. 

Sweet Sixteen: Thursday picks

I think the number I reported in my last email about the number of folks remaining was incorrect.  I forgot to take out the folks who picked Virginia.  So we have 83 people headed into the Round of 16.  Actually, 81 unless Zack H can prove he sent picks I missed . . .

Purdue is the HEAVY favorite today with 38 Boilermaker fans! If Texas pulls off that upset Troy will have some serious bragging rights!

Here are the picks:

Arizona: Tracy 2, Michael, Grimes 2, Cory, John S2, Clayton, Brent 1, 

Houston: Will B, Neha, Grimes 3, Lauren, Phil H, Richard, Pete 2, Ramona, J Parsons, Swail, Terry T, Al1, Chris H, and Zack 2

Iowa: Greg, Britton 2, Nancy, Isaac, Jon R and Voth 2

Purdue: Carter, Ian, Pat B2, Britt 1, Casey, Josh C, Eric 2, Terry D, Porkind 1&2, Bj, Britton 1, Grimes 1, Ken, Walker, Will H2, CJ, Scott, Pete 1, KT, PK, Chad, Special K, Josh L3, Alex M, Logan P, Perkins 1, John P, Otis, Seagraves 1, Jacky, John S1, Nate, Theo, LesLye, Brent 2, Wynn2 and Voth 1

Nebraska: Pam, Amy 1, Gregory, Tracy 1, Grimes 5, Bennett, Thad, Larry, Simon, Josh L1, Patrick M, John M, Perkins 2, Charlie, Brent 4, John W and Zack 1

Texas: Troy

Bedtime update

It's my bedtime . . . But between UK and Florida the loss by SEC teams today takes nine folks out of the mix.  We are down to 94 players.

Good night.  

Second Round: Sunday picks

 

A few more folks said goodbye with Vandy last night after I went to sleep.  We have 102 going into today's action.  Unless he can show an entry I missed, Joey B is out. 

Today's biggest upsets as far as our pool would be Purdue or UConn. They have 26 and 24 fans today respectively. We are guaranteed to lose folks with picks on both sides of several games. Stay tuned for updates. 

Today's picks:

Alabama: Porkrind 2, Richard, Pete 1, Swail and Patrick M

Arizona: Casey, Josh L3, Logan P, Perkins 1, John S1, LesLye, Brent 4 and KT

Florida: Britt 2, James 1, Kern, Nick 1, Kyle P, Logan S, Wynn 1

Iowa State: Eric 2, Porkrind 1, Britton 1, Nancy, Grimes 2, Ken, Bennett, Chad, John P, Jacky Adam V2, PK and Wynn 2

Kentucky: Davis and Brent 3

Purdue: Pam, Will B, Amy 1, Greg, Tracy 2, Neha, Michael, Grimes 4, Zack 1, Lauren H, Phil, Isaac Thad, Larry, Ramona, Cory 1, John M, J Parsons, Charlie, John S2, Terry T, Al 1, Brent 1, Simon, Jon R, and John W

St. John's: Troy 1, Scott 1, Pete 2, Seagraves 1, Adam V1 and Special K

Texas Tech: Britton 4, John K, Krista and Seagraves 2

UConn: Ian, Pat B2, Britt 1, Josh C, Terry D, BJ, Britton 2, Gregory, Tracy 1, Grimes 1&5, Zack2, Walker, Will H2, CJ, Josh L1, Alex M, Perkins 2, Otis, Nate, Theo, Clayton, Brent 2 and Carter

Virginia: James 2, Nikki, Mark, Troy 2, Scott 2 and Gray

Zagged when they should have Zigged

Gonzaga got hooked by Texas' horns, and with them we say goodbye to 16 players.  Our number is down to 109 but the fate of half of the pool is still unknown.  At least one person will exit with folks on both side of the Vandy/Nebraska match-up.

Second Round: Saturday picks

It's a crowded field in Arkansas today! I am not sure we have ever had a pick as popular as Arkansas is today.  FIFTY entries are betting on the Hogs.  If High Point is this year's Cinderella then there will be even more people across the Bluegrass who hate Cal.  

Or, my view with both my picks is that if I go out it's because a team I hate lost so that takes some sting off. 

With 27 folks betting on Illinois and 17 on Gonzaga - upsets today could significantly reduce our numbers!  We had one buy back after yesterday - Josh L3 did the dumb.  But that option is gone. From here on out, if you lose you go home.  We have 123 going into today.  Unless he can prove he submitted an entry I missed, John M is out. 

Final pots - Winner: $1320  St. Jude: $350 (thank you again to the folks who donated extra)

Here are the picks:

Arkansas: Carter, Pam, James 2, Casey, Erik 2, Terry D, Porkrind 1, BJ, Greg, Nancy, Tracy 2, Neha, Michael, Mark, Grimes 5, Troy 2, Ken, Bennett, Lauren, H, Walker, Will 2, Chris H, Isaac, Thad, CJ, Richard, Scott 2, Larry, Pete, Chad, Kern, Simon, Cory 1, Josh L 3, Patrick M, Nick, Logan P, Perkins 1, Kyle P, Charlie, Otis, Davis, Seagraves 2, Jacky, Nate, Swail, Theo, Terry T, Adam V 1, Brent 2

Duke: Zack 2, PK, Krista, LesLye, and Brent 1

Gonzaga: Pat B1, Amy 2, Eric 1, Sue, Grimes 3, Troy 3, Justin, AJ, Kristi, Collins, Cory 2, Josh L 2, Brett 2, Sarabeth, Alex R, Al 2, and Robert

Houston: Grimes 2, KT, John S2, Clayton and Brent 4

Illinois: Joey, Will B, Pat B2, James 1, Nikki, Josh C, Porkrind 2, Gregory, Tracy 1, Grimes 1, Zack 1, Phil, Scott 1, Pete 2, John K, Special K, Josh L 1, Alex M, J Parsons, Perkins 2, John P, Logan S, John S 1, Adam V2, Brent 3, Kyle W1, and John W

Michigan: Britt 1&2 and Ramona

Michigan State: Ian, Amy 1, Britton 1&2, Grimes 4, Troy 1, Josh L3, Jon R, Seagraves 1, Al 1, and Kyle W2 and John M

Nebraska: Gray

Texas: Britton 4

Vandy: Britton 3, Marlo and Mac

First Round: Friday picks

 Day one lived up to the March Madness moniker. 

After a topsy-turvy first day, we said goodbye to 18 players, while 19 folks chose to "do the dumb' and buy back in.  Those second chance entries bring our winner's pot up to $1312 and the charity pot to $338. 

There are definitely some favorites among today's picks that could really shake things up again today.  Today is the LAST day to buy back in after a loss (assuming you have not already lost on that entry). 

Here are the picks:

Akron: Josh L 3

Alabama: Pat B2, James 2, Eric 2, Gregory, Tracy 2, Grimes 4, Troy 2, Zack 2, Walker, Will H2, AJ, Pete 2, Chad, Special K, Simon, Josh L 2, J Parsons, Otis, Seagraves 1&2, Theo, Brent 4 and Pam

Clemson: Lauren B

Connecticut: Britton 3&4, and Scott J2

Iowa: Britton 1, AJ, and Marlo

Iowa State: Amy 2, Terry D, John S1, and Brent 3

Kansas: Joey, Will B, Ian, Pat B, James 2, Nikki, Casey, Eric 1, Porkrind 1&2, Greg, Tracy 1, Neha, Michael G, Grimes 2&3, Troy 1, Lauren H, Isaac, Thad, Collins, Cory 1, Josh L 1, Robert, Patrick M, Alex M, John M, Logan, Perkins 2, Charlie, Alex R, Gray, Jon R, Krista, Jacky, John S2, Wynn 1, Britt 1&2, Mac and Kyle

Kentucky: James 1, BJ, Mark G, Phil, Richard, Swail, Adam V2, Al 1, Mac and Kern

Miami: Brent 5

Missouri: Lauren B, Dino, and DJ

Purdue: Davis and Logan S

St. John's: Carter, Josh C, Nancy, Troy 1, Chris H, CJ, Larry, KT, Cory 2, LesLye, John W, and Wynn 2

Tennessee: Porkrind 1&2, Grimes 1, Ramona, John K, Simon, Nick, Sarabeth, Clayton, Brett and PK

Texas Tech: Amy 1&2, Sue, Troy 3, Bennett, Pete 1, Terry T, Adam V1&2, Al 2, and Brent 1

UCLA: Dino, and Patrick M

Utah State: Britton 2, Nick, and Gray

Villanova: Brent 5

Virginia: Amy, Grimes 2&5, Ken, Zack 1, Justin H, Kristi, Scott J1, Perkins 1, John P, Brent 2&3, and Kyle

V will C U later

We potentially say goodbye to another five players with VCU's win over UNC.  River is definitely out despite her first run at this not lasting long.  She played the daredevil and it did not pay off. (For those who don't know.  River is our tiniest Boston terrier who is afraid of exactly nothing and is always getting into something!)

No longer fans of Florida

 Two more folks go out with Louisville's victory.

High Point by a Point

High Point (this year's Cinderella?) could take out as many as 21 of our players with their upset of Wisconsin.  I feel pretty confident some folks will be doing the dumb out of that group.

As a refresher - if you picked Wisconsin and want back in, you can buy back with $10 plus TWO picks from tomorrow's games. 

First person out?

With loss to TCU,  AJ and his Buckeyes are headed home and earn the title as the first one out for the year . . . Or else as the first person to do the dumb.

One other programming note - in the interest of full disclosure.  Because I saved a few others from a similar mistake but missed it with the Kansas pick.  I have give Britt 1&2 the chance to select a new team from any game that has not yet started.  He chose Vandy today and will use Kansas tomorrow. Previous post of picks has been updated. 

First Round picks: Thursday

 

Good grief.  We have set another record with 145 entries this year, besting last year's record by an even dozen.  Welcome to our new players!

This sets our initial winner's pot at $1160, with our charity pot at an even $300 (thanks to the folks who threw in a little extra for St. Jude).  Of course, games have barely started so those numbers will change as folks opt to "do the dumb" today and tomorrow.

I will update as warranted through the day. . . For now here are the first round picks:

Arkansas: Pat B, Josh C, Grimes 3, Justin, Scott, Pete 2, PK, Josh L2, Perkins 2, Sarabeth, Krista, John S2, and John W

BYU: Jeff B, Mike F, Mandy, Adam V2 and Brent 5

Duke: Richard

Georgia: Amy 2 and Brent 3

Gonzaga: Joey, Grimes, Bennett, Walker, Scott 2, Davis, Jacky, Logan S, Nate, and Clayton

Illinois: Britton 3&4, Tracy 2, Zack 2, Kristi, Marlo, Otis, LesLye and Brent 4

Kansas: Britt 1&2, 

Louisville: James, Eric 2, BJ, Britton, Troy 3, CJ, Kern, Cory, Swail, and Adam V

Michigan State: Casey, Tracy, and DJ

Nebraska: Carter, Will, Ian, Pat B2, Nikki, Eric, Terry D, Greg, Neha, Michael G, Grimes 4, Lauren, Phil, Will H2, Isaac, Chris H, John K, Special K, Cory 2, Josh L, Alex M, Brett 2, J Parsons, Logan P, Perkins, John P, Jon R, Seagraves 1&2, Theo, Terry T, Al 1&2, Brent, and Wynn

North Carolina: Amy, Lauren, Kendrick, River, and Rob

Ohio State: AJ

South Florida: Rachael and George

St. Louis: Collins and Alex R

St. Mary's: Gray

TCU: Britton 2

Texas A&M: Brent 2

Vandy: Pam, Gregory, Nancy, Sue, Mark, Grimes 5, Troy 2, Zack, Thad, Larry, Pete, Ramona, KT, Chad, Robert, John M, Charlie, and John S and Britt 1&2

VCU: Ken and Josh L3 and Wynn 2

Wisconsin: James 2, Porkrind 1&2, Dino, Chris G, Mac, Vickie, Grimes 2, Troy, Will H, Laura, Simon, Travis L, Patrick M, Nick, Brett, Brandon, Kyle, Will P, Elijah, and Noah

Danvegas Survivor Rules and Schedule - 2026

It is March . . . . and you all know what that means . . . Danvegas Survivor is back.  It's year 18 which means we are legal adults now!

Last year we had a record 133 entries!  Think we will beat that this year? Feel free to share with anyone you know who might be interested.

As always, please pay attention to both the submission and payment deadlines!  Last year was the first year I did not lose money on this endeavor - THANK YOU for paying up let's keep the streak alive and get all our entry fees and buy back payments in before the tip of the Sweet Sixteen round.  If you have not paid up by tip of the first Sweet 16 game you will not be allowed to participate next year!

The charity this year will be the Campbell Keepin Johnson Scholarship Fund.  JK. I will think of a legit 501C3 before we get going but might change it up this year. If there is an organization near and dear to your heart that you want to suggest, I'm all ears.

The Rules

The Survivor Pool is a twist on the classic NCAA bracket challenge. Pick a winner each round, win some money and help out the kiddos at the same time!

How to Play:

• Entry fee is $10 - $8 goes to the winner's pot, $2 goes to the charity pot.  Additional charitable donations are accepted. Entry fee and first day's pick must be in by NOON, March 19! Anyone who hasn't paid by tip of the Sweet Sixteen will be disqualified AND will not be allowed to play next year unless money is in BEFORE first pick is due.
• Pick one winner from each day's games for the first six days of the tournament (excluding play-in games).  If your team wins, then you rinse and repeat for the next day's games. If your team loses you are out. Those surviving until the Elite Eight will then start picking one team per ROUND. So one pick from any Elite Eight games, regardless of day. Then one Final Four team and, of course, the champion. (A full listing of picks is below.)
• Here's the kicker: You can only pick a team ONE TIME per entry! If you pick Kansas in the second round and they make it to the final game, you cannot pick them again. If you do not have a viable pick for a round, then you are out!
• Each day's picks are due by NOON! Entries may be submitted via email or text. If you have multiple entries please clearly state which team goes with which pick. (Krista1 - Kentucky; Krista 2 - Gonzaga)
• The last survivor standing takes home the winner's pot.  If there is more than one person left standing then the pot will be split evenly.
• The charity gets 20% of the pot.
• Multiple entries are allowed.  However, there is no frequent shopper discount - $10 to play. Period. 
• The "I did the dumb" reset button: If you lose in the first round (Thursday or Friday games - March 19 or 20) you may buy back in ONCE per entry for another $10, but you must pick TWO teams from the next day's games and both must win for you to advance. 

How to Enter:
Entries may be emailed or texted to Krista. Entry fees should be submitted electronically if at all possible via PayPal to my email address. I also have Zelle. I do NOT have Venmo. If your money is not in by tip of the first Sweet Sixteen game on Saturday, March 28 you will be eliminated!

2026 Submission deadlines:
First Round/Thursday pick: Noon, March 19
First Round/Friday pick: Noon, March 20
Second Round/Saturday pick: Noon, March 21
Second Round/Sunday pick: Noon, March 22
Sweet Sixteen/Thursday pick: Noon, March 26
Sweet Sixteen/Friday pick: Noon, March 27
Elite Eight pick: Noon, March 28
Final Four pick: Noon, April 4
Championship pick: Noon, April 6

If you feel like jinxing yourself, you may submit multiple days worth of picks at once but you are responsible for clearly labeling which pick goes with which day.  Pool administrator (aka Krista) is not responsible for confused submissions! Likewise, if you pick a team you've already picked and do not notice before tip of the game you are out!

Results:
Each day's picks and results will be posted here. In order to make my life easier - I will NOT be emailing a full list of picks and results.  I will do my best to upload each day's picks by 1:00 PM. However, I do have an actual job and I am a staff of one right now so this may not always happen. 

Players are responsible for checking the posts here to ensure that selections are accurately recorded before halftime of the day's first game (or roughly 90 minutes after posting). Any errors not reported (and documented) within 90 minutes of the list going live will not be changed. Periodic updates of those moving on or being eliminated will also be posted here.

Cheers and Good Luck!