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Pick Deadline & Pick Settings for NCAAB Bracket Contests

Commissioners can control when participants must submit their brackets by adjusting the Pick Deadline within the pool’s Pick Settings. Setting the correct deadline is important to ensure all entries are locked before games begin.

Updated over a week ago

Where to Find Pick Deadline Settings

To access your Pick Deadline settings:

  1. Open the Commissioner Console

  2. Select Pool Settings

  3. Click Pick Settings

Here you can view and adjust the deadline for bracket submissions.


Default Pick Deadline

We strongly recommend setting the deadline to:

👉 First tip-off — Thursday, March 20 at 12:15 PM ET

By default, the pick deadline is set to tip-off. This ensures all brackets are finalized before the tournament officially begins.


What the Pick Deadline Means

The Pick Deadline is the exact date and time by which all participants must enter their picks.

After this time:

  • Brackets are locked

  • No edits or new submissions are allowed

  • Late entries cannot be accepted


Important Restrictions

⚠️ The pick deadline cannot be set to a time after the first Thursday game has started.

This rule ensures fairness by preventing participants from making picks after games are already underway.


Why Setting the First Tip-Off Is Recommended

Using the first game’s tip-off as your deadline:

  • Aligns with traditional bracket pool rules

  • Prevents confusion about when entries lock

  • Ensures all participants submit picks before any results are known


Setting your Pick Deadline correctly helps your NCAAB Bracket contest run smoothly and fairly from the very first game. If you’re unsure which deadline to choose, the first Thursday tip-off is the safest and most common option.

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