1. OBJECT OF THE GAME

The object is to score points based upon the scoring system described below by accurately picking the winners of the NCAA College Basketball tournament. Each pick can score points for you, and the player with the most points wins. There will be a winner for each division of 20 to 25 entries. There will also be 3 overall winners (1st - 3rd). For each round of the tournament there will be a high score winner. See the Prize page for more details.

2. MAKE YOUR PICKS (Unique Bracket Method)

After Sunday, March 11, 2007, when the brackets are announced; you can make picks for the first round of the tournament. After each round is completed, you can enter your picks for the next round of the tourneyment. Since each round has a high score winner, you are never "out of it" at AntSport! You can change your selections at anytime before the cooresponding game begins. There are actually 65 NCAA tournament teams. The game to determine which of two small schools get to be the 64th team will not be used in the Basketball Bracket Challenge.

3. DEADLINE

You can change your picks anytime up until that game begins. Once that game starts, your selections are locked for that round. Entries not submitted will by default get the higher seed for their selection. If the seeds are the same (final 4) the default selection will be the first team in alphbetical order (based on the team names AntSports uses).

4. SCORING POINTS

When creating the scoring system for AntSports Basketball Bracket Challenge, I wanted to reward underdog selections. The Underdog Bonus is based on seed postion. Since, you make your selections only 1 round at a time, I felt the early, mid, and final rounds scoring should be reasonally balanced. I wanted to place an equal importance on the first round as well as the mid and final rounds. Notice (below) that excluding the Underdog Bonus, Round 1 has a maximum of 64 total points. Round 2 also has 64 points. Rounds 3-6 added together has a maximum of 76 points. The last 2 rounds are worth more because the Underdog Bonus points in those rounds are unlikely. Round 1 (32 games) : Correct Selection = 2 points Round 2 (16 games) : Correct Selection = 4 points Round 3 ( 8 games) : Correct Selection = 4 points Round 4 ( 4 games) : Correct Selection = 4 points Round 5 ( 2 games) : Correct Selection = 8 points Round 6 ( 1 game ) : Correct Selection = 12 points Underdog Bonus : If you select a team with a lower seed, and they win, you receive Underdog Bonus points. The bonus is calulated as follows, subtract seed values, divide by 2, round down to the nearest whole number. The website has these values precalulated for you. The points for selecting either team is very clear. Example Underdog Bonus points : Example 1 : Team A (1 seed), 2 pts Team Z (16 seed), 9 pts (16 seed - 1 seed = 15; 15/2 = 7.5; Round down to 7 + 2 points for a win = 9 pts) Note that a 16 seed team has never beaten a 1 seed. Example 2 : Team E (8 seed), 2 pts Team F (9 seed), 2 pts (9 seed - 8 seed = 1; 1/2 = 0.5; Round down to 0 + 2 points for a win = 2 pts) So, a 8 vs 9 seed does not award an Underdog Bonus.

5. TIEBREAKER

In case of a tie based on the bracket scoring, you need to predict the total number of points scored for the rounds selected tie-breaker game (that's both teams points added together). See the Prize page for tie-breaker use.

6. ELIGIBILITY

AntSports Basketball Bracket Challenge is open to anyone 13 years of age or older with a valid internet e-mail address. You must be able to pay the $25 entry fee by credit card. For this game, personal checks and money orders will not be accepted. Children younger than 13 years of age may not play. AntSports employees and members of the immediate families their parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, third party developers and promotional agencies are not eligible to play.

7. PLAYING OVER THE INTERNET

If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of AntSports.com which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this contest, AntSports.com reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. In such event, AntSports.com further reserves the right to award prizes to the players with the most points as of the termination date. AntSports.com assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries or transactions. AntSports.com is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail entry or transaction to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this contest. In the event of a dispute, the ruling of AntSports is final. In the event that the contest is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, AntSports.com reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Contest. In such event, AntSports.com shall have no liability to any players who are disqualified due to such an action. Any entry disqualified for any reason will have their entry fee returned. AntSports will run this game reguardless of the number of entries.

8. GENERAL CONDITIONS

By entering, each entrant accepts and agrees to be bound by these rules and by the decision of the judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. No substitution or transfer of prizes permitted except by AntSports.com. Contestants agree to AntSports.com use of their names and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. AntSports.com is not responsible for lost, late or misdirected on-line entries, for incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete entry information whether caused by a contestant, equipment, or technical malfunction or for any human error, technical error or malfunctions. AntSports.com reserves the right to halt or modify the contest at any time during the contest period if events beyond their control compromise the contest's fairness or integrity. In the event that a scheduled event is canceled or preempted for any reason, no points will be awarded for that game. AntSports.com is not responsible for typographical or other human or technical errors in the offer or administration of this contest, including but not limited to errors in advertising, the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of the winner or the distribution of the prizes. AntSports.com, Inc. reserves the right to modify these rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the contest. This contest is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NCAA or any NCAA member. This is a skill contest designed to increase consumer awareness of and interest in the AntSports.com services. This contest may not be used for any form of gambling.