How to Set Up an NFL Football Pool

Many football fans talk big. Make them put their money where their mouth is. When the playoffs come around, "invest" yourself in the game.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Televisions
• Notebook Papers
• Pens

1. Find the bracket at ESPN.com near playoff time ' this will include the 12 playoff teams and a blank tree descending to the Super Bowl.

2. Print out copies.

3. Assign point values for each of the successive four rounds ' 1 point for teams reaching the second round, 2 points for those making the third, 4 points for NFC and AFC champions and 8 points for the Super Bowl champ.

4. Gather friends and co-workers interested in playing.

5. Decide on an entry amount.

6. Distribute the bracket with instructions.

7. Have all participants pick winners for each game, filling in the name of the winning team for each round. No cheaters; write in pen.

8. Guess at a combined total score of the two Super Bowl teams for use as a tiebreaker.

9. Collect each participant's entry amount and a copy of their bracket.

10. Watch hours of football and yell vehemently for your chosen teams.

11. Create a bracket key after the Super Bowl by filling in all the correct winners and grade each entry by awarding corresponding points.

12. Give the prize to the one with the highest total points, determining the closest combined Super Bowl score in case of a tie.

Tips & Warnings

• A variation on "winner take all" is to give 75 percent of the prize to first place and 25 percent to second place.

• If you are not a great football aficionado but find yourself joining the pool for something to do, pick the brain of someone who knows the professional football scene. Those most knowledgeable are usually identified by the limited way in which they disseminate said knowledge.

• You may lose.

• Attempt to acknowledge your spouse during game time. Or better yet, get your spouse involved in the pool.