EL SEGUNDO/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- The 2006 HWCI NCAA Pool Champion could be crowned on Saturday if #4S-LSU and #11E-George Mason both win. LORENZO MATA (1st, 113 pts) will hope for this scenario and thus claim the $405 prize, our largest ever. And it could grow if the SEC picks up at least two wins because then no one will win the Bonus Prize and the first place prize will grow to $415. In addition to MATA (who could also win if LSU or George Mason wins the championship), GATORS NEVER CHOKE (13th, 100) (if Florida is the champ) and FAT BASTARD (14th-Tied, 99) (if UCLA wins it all) will not only try to win the title, but also win their first money spot (in 3, 7, and 2 tries, respectively).

In addition, JAYLOC (21st-T, 95) will be trying to win money for the first time in 10 tries, BELUCKY1 (3rd-T, 108) in 8 tries, and JINX (2nd, 110) in 7. BIX PIX (18th-T, 97) will be trying for his third money win, but first since 1999. BRUINS4LIFE (18th-T, 97) is in his first pool and AGENT 86 OF CONTROL (3rd-T, 108) won 4th last year in his third try.  These are the nine people still alive for the big money spots.

These supposed Bruin fans may have to trade $$ for a championship as LORENZO MATA, JINX, and BELUCKY1 did not pick UCLA to make the final. THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA (5th-T, 106), another Bruin alum, sits in 5th and also did not have UCLA in the final and can't win any money.

Complete Final Four Possibilities

As for the $40 Bonus Prize, the SEC and Big East conferences have 11 wins each. But there are 2 SEC teams in the Final Four and no Big East teams.

So this is what it boils down to. If UCLA beats George Mason in the Final, then BAMAG (5th-T, 106) and LORENZO MATA will tie and be subject to the tie breaker (if total points scored in final is <=144, BAMAG wins, if 145 they split, and if 146+ MATA wins). If George Mason beats UCLA in the Final, then since LORENZO MATA will win money, BAMAG will win the Bonus Prize. If UCLA beats Florida or if George Mason beats LSU in the Final, then DAVYBOY (33rd-T, 92) will win the Bonus Prize as he was the only person to have the SEC with 12 wins. All other scenarios mean no one will win the Bonus and the money will be redistributed to the top 4 winners.

Complete Prize Distribution and Bonus Prize Details 

Etc, Etc... Of the seven people who entered at least twice, only Cliff T with his BELUCKY1 entry has a chance to cash in... Round 4 was the worst-ever, averaging just 0.58 correct (of 4 possible teams), edging out 2003 where the average was just 0.75... even if everyone picks up the maximum points, this will be the lowest scoring pool ever, currently at 89.3 (can't finish any higher than 92.0); the average over the 12 pools is 101.2... no #1 seeds? what about the past five years a school has made both the Men's and Women's Final Four (OK '02, TX '03, CT '04, Michigan St. '05, and LSU this year) and something to think about for next year... what's less exciting than the NIT tournament? the Women's NIT tournament! I didn't even know it existed.