# My Dogs Pick an NCAA Bracket **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 15, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820 "2011-03-15T18:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/1 "2011-03-15T18:26:51Z")
[Tilly](https://picasaweb.google.com/110426601802221618441/Mar152011#5584372065187325346) and [Toby](https://picasaweb.google.com/110426601802221618441/Mar152011#5584372066149689618), the wondermutts, have decided they wanted to join in on the March Madness fun. So I decided to set up a bracket for them. With little else but a bracket and a bucket of treats, I’ve slowly been filling out a bracket with them. Not wanting to make things absolutely impossible, I gave them the single handicap of giving the #1 seeds a first round automatic win - everything else is up to them to decide. So far, we’re through 3 of the 4 regions, which I’ll break down. **EAST Round of 64** 1/16: Ohio St. (automatic) 8/9: George Mason over Villanova 5/12: UAB/Clemson over West Virginia 4/13: Kentucky over Princeton 6/11: Xavier over Marquette 3/14: Indiana State over Syracuse 7/10: Washington over Georgia (they were unhappy about picking the Bulldogs to lose, but were relieved to hear that they picked the Huskies to win) 2/15: Long Island over North Carolina **Round of 32** 1/8: Ohio St. over George Mason 4/12: Kentucky over UAB/Clemson 6/14: Xavier over Indiana State 7/15: Long Island over Washington **Sweet Sixteen** 1/4: Ohio St. over Kentucky 6/15: Long Island over Xavier **Elite Eight** 1/15: Ohio St. over Long Island **WEST Round of 64** 1/16: Duke over Hampton (automatic win) 8/9: Michigan over Tennessee 5/12: Arizona over Memphis 4/13: Oakland over Texas 6/11: Cincinnati over Missouri 3/14: Bucknell over UConn 7/10: Temple over Penn State 2/15: SDSU over Northern Colorado **Round of 32** 1/8: Duke over Michigan 5/13: Oakland over Arizona 6/14: Bucknell over Cincinnati 2/7: Temple over SDSU **Sweet Sixteen** 1/13: Oakland over Duke 7/14: Bucknell over Temple **Elite Eight** 13/14: Bucknell over Oakland! **SOUTHWEST Round of 64** 1/16: KU over Boston U. 8/9: UNLV over Illinois 5/12: Richmond over Vanderbilt 4/13: Louisville over Morehead St. 6/11: USC/VCU over Georgetown 3/14: Purdue over St. Peter’s 7/10: Florida St. over Texas A&M 2/15: Akron over Notre Dame (Toby just about got disowned on that one) **Round of 32** 1/8: UNLV over KU 4/12: Richmond over Louisville 3/11: Purdue over USC/VCU 10/15: Akron over Florida St. **Sweet Sixteen** 8/12: UNLV over Richmond 3/15: Akron over Purdue **Elite Eight** 8/15: Akron over UNLV ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/2 "2011-03-15T18:30:48Z")
The Southeast will have to wait until tomorrow - I don’t want to load them up too much on treats. (Last night’s gas was pretty potent.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/3 "2011-03-15T18:32:25Z")
Eh, I’ve made worse-looking brackets. WTG Tilly and Toby! ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/4 "2011-03-15T18:37:34Z")
Hopefully we’ll see you on Letterman with your amazingly famous dogs! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/5 "2011-03-15T21:17:23Z")
So how do they make their choices? and what happens if Tilly and Toby disagree? Alpha-dog has 51% of the vote? edit: Toby looks like he might be a good handicappers if you were racing beetles! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/6 "2011-03-15T22:30:08Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > [Tilly](https://picasaweb.google.com/110426601802221618441/Mar152011#5584372065187325346) and [Toby](https://picasaweb.google.com/110426601802221618441/Mar152011#5584372066149689618), the wondermutts Your Toby reminds me of my Rusty: [http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/sgenetti77/Rusty005.jpg](http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/sgenetti77/Rusty005.jpg) who sometimes winks: [http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/sgenetti77/Rusty008.jpg](http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/sgenetti77/Rusty008.jpg) but never picks basketball brackets! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/7 "2011-03-16T01:49:00Z")
> [@](#): > > 8/9: George Mason over Villanova What have they got against cats? As a Villanova alum, I must protest this one. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/8 "2011-03-16T02:09:54Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > So how do they make their choices? and what happens if Tilly and Toby disagree? Alpha-dog has 51% of the vote? > > edit: Toby looks like he might be a good handicappers if you were racing beetles! I alternate between dogs, giving one of them the option of two treats. Left hand is Team A, right hand is Team B. I of course tell them which specific team they’re picking though. There were a few instances where Tilly felt extremely strongly about a pick Toby was supposed to make, and made the decision for him. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/9 "2011-03-16T02:19:40Z")
So Tilly is Alpha Dog? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/10 "2011-03-16T02:38:39Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I alternate between dogs, giving one of them the option of two treats. Left hand is Team A, right hand is Team B. I of course tell them which specific team they’re picking though. > > There were a few instances where Tilly felt extremely strongly about a pick Toby was supposed to make, and made the decision for him. If you want to enter Tilly and Toby in the Yahoo $1M perfect pick prize, I can give you a league number and password… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/11 "2011-03-16T03:14:01Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > So Tilly is Alpha Dog? Oh yeah. Toby has probably 15 lbs on her, but he’s a big softy who doesn’t know how to wrestle. He leads with his butt. Tilly’s a friggin’ tactical jetfighter fueled by tiger blood. > [@Zakalwe](#): > > If you want to enter Tilly and Toby in the Yahoo $1M perfect pick prize, I can give you a league number and password… Already there. I started up a bracket tourney with my friends, and put that in there to shame them. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/12 "2011-03-16T16:43:15Z")
Tilly and Toby need to get the last bracket in soonest… Hopefully, **Munch** can find some low-gas treats for them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/13 "2011-03-16T17:29:25Z")
**SOUTHWEST Round of 64** 1/16: Pitt over UNCA 8/9: Butler over Old Dominion (go Bulldogs!) 5/12: K-State over Utah St. 4/13: Bellmont over Wisconsin (Toby really tends to vote for chalk, but this one gave him some serious paws…) 6/11: St. John’s over Gonzaga 3/14: BYU over Wofford (two anti-canine picks in a row…) 7/10: Michigan St. over UCLA 2/15: UCSB over Florida (go Gauchos!) **Round of 32** 1/8: Butler over Pitt 5/13: K-State over Bellmont 3/6: BYU over St. John’s 10/15: Michigan St. over UCSB **Sweet Sixteen** 5/8: K-State over Butler 3/10: BYU over Michigan St. **Elite Eight** 8/15: BYU over K-State **FINAL FOUR** Bucknell over Ohio St. BYU over Akron **2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS BYU over Bucknell** I guess they were more focused on the horn-dog aspect of BYU than the Cougar mascot… Any ideas on how to come up with a tiebreaker score? Or can I safely assume I’m the only one with a final four of Bucknell, Ohio St. BYU and Akron? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/14 "2011-03-16T19:41:35Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I guess they were more focused on the horn-dog aspect of BYU than the Cougar mascot… > > Any ideas on how to come up with a tiebreaker score? Or can I safely assume I’m the only one with a final four of Bucknell, Ohio St. BYU and Akron? … er… :o No, you can probably safely assume that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/15 "2011-03-17T20:14:49Z")
Man, I was really hoping they would choose the **Buckeyes**. I like the **Buckeyes**. FWIW, I picked The Richmond Spiders to go to the Sweet 16 as well in one of my brackets (Hometown favorites), so we could be laughing (and barking) over some tasty buckeyes. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/16 "2011-03-18T00:43:53Z")
ooops wrong thread. nevermind ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/17 "2011-03-21T13:34:34Z")
How did the first round treat the wondermutts? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/18 "2011-03-21T15:40:22Z")
Well, BYU and Ohio State are still alive - so that’s good. Of the Sweet 16, they have 6 of them. Not great. In my pool, they’re 2nd to last in points. But in potential points, there are 15 teams below them (out of 34) - there’s a bunch of Notre Dame and Purdue fans in the group. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/19 "2011-03-21T15:47:28Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Well, BYU and Ohio State are still alive - so that’s good. Of the Sweet 16, they have 6 of them. Not great. In my pool, they’re 2nd to last in points. But in potential points, there are 15 teams below them (out of 34) - there’s a bunch of Notre Dame and Purdue fans in the group. They did a great job in the Southeast region. Go Butler! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dogs-pick-an-ncaa-bracket/574820/20 "2011-03-21T15:50:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > They did a great job in the Southeast region. Go Butler! Unfortunately, so did a bunch of other people in my pool. Living in Indy doesn’t make a Butler pick very sexy…