After finishing 3rd in my pool last year, I feel really confident in my picks this year. Especially after I read that I have the same Final 4 and champions as President Obama's brackets. He does seem to have the Midas Touch as recalled from the Superball. His and my Final 4 are Louisville, Memphis, Pitt, and UNC, with UNC over Louisville in the Championship game.

So I was at my usual Superbowl party yesterday. I really choose this party over others because this is a superbowl party done right. Greatly organized potluck; TV in every room (even bathroom) and outdoors. 2 TV on both sides on the room in the poker room so that noone has their backs to the game. 1 special TV with DVR in case someone missed anything. A game room with PS3 for Rock Band 2 for kids and adults.

So there is a proposition events pool with such items as coin toss, first commercial after kickoff, MVP, 1st TD, and a about 30 other stats. Well at the end of the night I was told I won the pool. I get an email this morning saying there was a correction I end up not winning. I had $80, and now I don't. What a tease. Like the hopes of all Cardinals' (who I was routing for) fans.

Total losses for Superbowl Sunday:

-$11 for betting on the Steelers to cover
-$6 for 3 squares in box pool
-$5 for prop pool
-$30 for poker tournament (4th/8)
-$13 for poker cash game
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$65 total for fun with friends.

Played in a small poker game last night with 12 others. After a dragged out up and down night I was able to pull out the win and take the $190 1st prize for a $20 buy-in and I didn't have to rebuy. Sweet, now if Kansas and win the tournament, I have a good chance of taking that pot.

It's always this time of year when I regret so much not going to a Division I school. There is so much pride during the tournament time, but I have no team to stand by. Though I saved tons of money with my school of choice and now have a stable job (knock on wood), I never get to see my school on an ESPN highlight. I guess I could have gone to Cal State Fullerton (or Long Beach St 2007).

It's this time of year when production slows down as we enter the end of the week when company's bandwidth is taken up by streaming videos of basketball games. I run the office pool at my office, but only half of the entries are from those that work here as I've incorporated others who don't have an office pool. Running the office pool keeps me from going to Vegas for the tournament because I have to collect the entries Thursday morning. The time, my entries, and the free entry I give out every year is all worth it.

Who are your Final Four?

I know some of us play the lottery every once in a while, but how many play the office superbowl pool. Of course, the boxes were filled out before it got to me. What is up with that? They should limit the number of boxes someone should buy so everyone has a chance before people buy more. I'll have to play in another pool.

Looking at the lines though I do like the Giants getting 12 points now, where they opened at 14. I also like the over at 54 total points. Would I take the Giants on the money line? Probably not--I've seen the Patriots come back a few times in the 4th quarter this year.

Though I am not a big fan of Eli Manning after what he and his father did during his draft, I find it hard to root the Patriots and their smug. I was really undecided in regards to who to root for until I found out that the Patriots have applied for trademark rights to "19-0" and "19-0 the Perfect Season". Go Giants

It's been a long time since I've been on the felt and played some poker. The night started with 28 players in the no rebuy tournament. Didn't do so well and played horribly with the scrub hands I was dealt. After 2 hours, I was out with 15 players remaining. I had some tough beats so I know the last 2 hands were tilt. I was down $35 for the entry fee already. The cash game started slow but as we changed the games up. I started to win some big pots. Took home $50 so a profitable night of $15.

So in the office pool for the college bowl games. This is the 6th year and I won the first year, but haven't had a good showing since. So this year I have a chance for 1st again. If Ohio State can with the 4.5 pts they are getting, then all I need is for the total score to be 56 or lower for me to win 1st. A higher score would still put me in the money for 2nd. Given the fact that Ohio State is 0-8 against SEC schools in bowl games, I would say things are slim, but just don't lose by more than 4 pts, then I will be happy. I guess if things don't go my way, then I'll start studying for college basketball season.

While putting in a late night at work yesterday, I noticed the there was literally nothing going on the Monday Night Football game. In listening on the way home, I listened on the radio that the Steelers got a late game FG to take a 3-0 lead. My worse fears were about to be realized as I held a slim lid in the office fantasy football league for highest score for the week. I knew that the Dolphins were going to try a bunch of laterals in hopes to get lucky. Sure enough when that happens, there is bound to be fumble somewhere and recovered by the defensive team. That fumble gave the 2nd high team the points it needed to pass me up and cost me the $5 weekly award for highest score.

Though it is hard to blame it on that one play, that was the result. If the Dolphins only put up some points, than I would have been fine, but how can you count on a team to score who has to resort to bringing back Ricky Williams who has spent the last 2 years higher than gas prices.