Pool Rules

• Project Runway
• So You Think You Can Dance
• The Mole
• Nashville Star
• American Idol 24
• American Idol 12
• Amazing Race
• CBS Survivor
• Dancing With The Stars
• College Football Pick'em
• NFL Bonus Pick'em

Frequently Asked Questions

• GENERAL QUESTIONS
• How much does it cost to host an office pool on Fun Office Pools?
• I'm getting reminders and I don't want them...how do I change that? Or, I'm not getting reminders, please send them to me.
• What Pools does Fun Office Pools offer?
• How do I create an Office Pool?
• What is a Selection?
• How do I invite my friends to an Office Pool?
• Can people join my pool after it starts?
• What is the difference between a Public and a Private Pool?
• How do default picks work?
• I made a mistake when I set up the pool - how can I change the options?

Office Pool Rules

Project Runway Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall Project Runway winner - at the beginning of the pool, you can make your overall winner pick. If you are correct, you get points equal to 2 times the number of contestants left at the time you make your overall selection (so if you make it as soon as the office pool starts, it will be worth 30 points (15 contestants left when the pool starts)). You can change your overall pick at any time, but the points you receive if you are correct will be adjusted to reflect how many contestants are active at the time you make your pick (so if there are only 12 left and you change your pick, it is now only worth 24 points). If your overall pick is the winner at the end of the show you receive those points. If your overall selection finishes 2nd, you'll receive 50% of those points (rounded down) and if your overall selection finishes 3rd, you'll receive 25% of those points (rounded down). Example: You pick someone who finishes 2nd and you picked him when there were 12 contestants left. You will receive 12 points (2 * 12 = 24 maximum points - finishing 2nd reduced this to 12).
• Pick who is sent home each week. Each week you will have 20 points to allocate to the person or person(s) you believe will be going home. You can put all your points on one contestant or split them up. You will receive any points you allocate to anyone who goes home. Example: You put all 20 points on Debra Designer and she is the one to go home - you receive 20 points. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who wins - not who loses. You only receive the points you allocate to the winner of the show on this episode.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Who is in the bottom three?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the elimination show airs on the east coast - typically 9:00 pm ET on Wednesdays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. In order to get maximum points, picks for the overall winner are due as soon as the office pool starts.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for up to 30 points at the end of the pool

So You Think You Can Dance Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall SYTYCD winner - once the Top 20 are announced, you can make your overall winner pick. If you are correct, you get points equal to 2 times the number of contestants left at the time you make your overall selection (so if you make it as soon as the Top 20 are announced, it will be worth 40 points). You can change your overall pick at any time, but the points you receive if you are correct will be adjusted to reflect how many contestants are active at the time you make your pick (so if there are only 12 left and you change your pick, it is now only worth 24 points). If your overall pick is the winner at the end of the show you receive those points. If your overall selection finishes 2nd, you'll receive 50% of those points (rounded down) and if your overall selection finishes 3rd, you'll receive 25% of those points (rounded down). Example: You pick someone who finishes 2nd and you picked him when there were 12 contestants left. You will receive 12 points (2 * 12 = 24 maximum points - finishing 2nd reduced this to 12).
• Pick who is sent home each week. Each week you will have 20 points to allocate to the persons you believe will be going home. In SYTYCD they send 2 people home each week. You can put a maximum of 10 points on any one contestant. You will receive any points you allocate to anyone who goes home. Example: You put 10 points on Susie Dancer, 5 points on Johnny Two Step and 5 points on Tommy Tango. Susie and Tommy go home - you receive 15 points. Example 2: You put 10 points on Susie Dancer and 10 points on Johnny Two Step - Susie and Tommy Tango go home - you get 10 points. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who wins - not who loses. You only receive the points you allocate to the winner of the show on this episode. On the finale you are allowed to put as many points on any contestant(s) you wish.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Who is in the bottom three?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the elimination show airs on the east coast - typically 9:00 pm ET on Thursdays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. In order to get maximum points, picks for the overall winner are due for the elimination show that reduces the contestants below 20.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for up to 40 points at the end of the pool

The Mole Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the Mole at the start of your pool (Overall Pick). At the start of your pool, pick who is the mole and you'll receive 2 points per contestant left at that time (the show starts with 12 contestants so if you pick the Mole before the first show, you can earn up to 24 points). You can change your pick at any time, but when you do, you reduce the points you may be able to earn to be equal to the number of contestants times 2 (so if you change your pick when there are 5 contestants left, you'll score 10 points if you've correctly identified the Mole). You do not get any points if the person you identified as the Mole is not the Mole (no 2nd or 3rd place points in this pool).
• Pick who is sent home each week. You have 20 points to allocate to who you think will be sent home each week. You can bet all your points on one person, or spread your 20 points among multiple contestants. You receive the number of points you allocate to the person who is eliminated. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who is the Mole - not who wins or who goes home.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Does a male or female go home this week?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week. Note - on the final show, one of the bonus questions will be who wins the Mole show - and it will be worth more than 5 points.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the show airs on the east coast - typically 10:00 pm ET on Mondays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. Picks for the Mole (overall pick) are due as soon as the first show your pool uses airs - and are worth less each week - so get this pick in early.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall pick (the Mole) - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for up to 24 points at the end of the pool

Nashville Star Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall Nashville Star winner at the beginning of your pool. If you are correct, you get points equal to 3 times the number of contestants left at the time you make your overall selection (so if you make it when there are 10 contestants, you can earn up to 30 points). You can change your overall pick at any time, but the points you receive if you are correct will be adjusted to reflect how many contestants are active at the time you make your pick (so if there are only 5 left and you change your pick, it is now only worth 15 points). If your overall pick is the winner at the end of the show you receive those points. If your overall selection finishes 2nd, you'll receive 50% of those points (rounded down) and if your overall selection finishes 3rd, you'll receive 25% of those points (rounded down). Example: You pick someone who finishes 2nd and you picked him when there were 10 contestants left. You will receive 15 points (3 * 10 = 30 maximum points - finishing 2nd reduced this to 15).
• Pick who is sent home each week. Each week you will have 20 points to allocate to the person or person(s) you believe will be going home. You can put all your points on one contestant or split them up. You will receive any points you allocate to anyone who goes home. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who wins - not who loses. You only receive the points you allocate to the winner of the show on this episode.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Who is in the bottom three?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the show airs on the east coast - typically 9:30 pm ET on Mondays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. In order to get maximum points, picks for the overall winner are due before the first elimination show.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for up to 30 points at the end of the pool

American Idol Pool - Top 24

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall American Idol winner once the top 12 are announced - if you're correct, you get 40 points. If your selection finishes 2nd, you get 20 points. If your selection is 3rd, you get 10 points. Note - if you make your overall selection late (after the week they are due), you will get less points for being correct (decreases 25% each week).
• Pick who is sent home each week. When there are more than 12 contestants, you pick two girls and two guys each week that you think will go home. You will get 5 points for each person you correctly pick. Once the contestants are down to 12 people, you have 20 points to allocate to who you think will be sent home each week. You can bet all your points on one person, or spread your 20 points among multiple contestants. You receive the number of points you allocate to the person who is eliminated. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who wins - not who loses.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Who is in the bottom three?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the elimination show airs on the east coast - typically 8:00 pm ET on Wednesdays (Thursdays when there are more than 12 contestants). You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. Picks for the overall winner are due for the elimination show that reduces the contestants to 11. You can still get points if you get your overall pick in late, just not the full amount (see above).

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for getting the maximum of 40 points at the end of the pool.

American Idol Pool - Top 12

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall American Idol winner at the beginning of the season - if you're correct, you get 40 points. If your selection finishes 2nd, you get 20 points. If your selection is 3rd, you get 10 points. Note - if you make your overall selection late (after the first week of that pool), you will get less points for being correct (decreases 25% each week).
• Pick who is sent home each week. You have 20 points to allocate to who you think will be sent home each week. You can bet all your points on one person, or spread your 20 points among multiple contestants. You receive the number of points you allocate to the person who is eliminated. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who wins - not who loses.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Who is in the bottom three?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the elimination show airs on the east coast - typically 8:00 pm ET on Wednesdays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. Picks for the overall winner are due with the first week picks. IYou can still get points if you get your overall pick in late, just not the full amount (see above).

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for the maximum of 40 points at the end of the pool

Amazing Race Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall winning team - at the beginning of the pool, you can make your overall winner pick. If you are correct, you get points equal to 3 times the number of teams left at the time you make your overall selection (so if you make it as soon as the office pool starts, it will be worth 33 points (11 teams left when the pool starts)). You can change your overall pick at any time, but the points you receive if you are correct will be adjusted to reflect how many teams are active at the time you make your pick (so if there are only 6 left and you change your pick, it is now only worth 18 points). If your overall pick is the winner at the end of the show you receive those points. If your overall selection finishes 2nd, you'll receive 50% of those points (rounded down) and if your overall selection finishes 3rd, you'll receive 25% of those points (rounded down). Example: You pick someone who finishes 2nd and you picked him when there were 8 teams left. You will receive 12 points (3 * 8 = 24 maximum points - finishing 2nd reduced this to 12).
• Pick who finishes last each week. You have 20 points to allocate to who you think will be last each week. You can bet all your points on one team, or spread your 20 points among multiple contestants. You receive the number of points you allocate to the team who is last. Note - you get the points whether it is an elimination leg or a non-elimination leg. On the show finale - we double the points to 40 and on this final show, you're predicting who wins - not who loses. You only receive the points you allocate to the winner of the show on this episode.
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Which occurs first - detour or roadblock?". Your pool can have 0, 1,or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the show airs on the east coast - typically 8:00 pm ET on Sundays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. Picks for the overall winner are due with the first week picks to maximize the value of the overall pick.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for 33 points at the end of the pool

CBS Survivor Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall winner of the show at the beginning of the season - if you're correct, you get 40 points. If your selection finishes 2nd, you get 20 points. If your selection is 3rd, you get 10 points. Note - if you make your overall selection late (after the week they are due), you will get less points for being correct (decreases 25% each week).
• Pick who gets voted off each week (or is removed from the show). You have 20 points to allocate to who you think will be voted off each week. You can bet all your points on one player, or spread your 20 points among multiple contestants. You receive the number of points you allocate to the person who is voted off (or is removed from the show).
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Which tribe will receive immunity this week?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week. Note: No bonus questions during week 1.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the show airs on the east coast - typically 8:00 pm ET on Thursdays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. Picks for the overall winner are due with the first week picks.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for 40 points at the end of the pool

Dancing With The Stars

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the television show's season.

How To Score Points

There are three ways to get points:

• Pick the overall winner of the show at the beginning of the season - if you're correct, you get 40 points. If your selection finishes 2nd, you get 20 points. If your selection is 3rd, you get 10 points. Note - if you make your overall selection late (after the week they are due), you will get less points for being correct (decreases 25% each week).
• Pick who gets voted off each week. You have 20 points to allocate to who you think will be voted off each week. You can bet all your points on one player, or spread your 20 points among multiple contestants. You receive the number of points you allocate to the person who is voted off
• Bonus questions - this is an optional feature in the pool as designated by your pool commissioner. Bonus point questions are created by Fun Office Pools and are typically worth 2-5 points each. A sample bonus question is "Who is in the bottom two but is safe?". Your pool can have 0, 1 or 2 bonus questions each week.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due each week before the elimination show airs on the east coast - typically 8:00 pm ET on Tuesdays. You can change your picks after submitting them up until the deadline, so it is advisable to get your picks in early. Picks for the overall winner are due with the first week picks.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks (picks made by Fun Office Pools admins), so you won't be shut out if you miss a week. However, there is no default pick for the overall winner - so you need to make that pick after you sign up or you'll lose your chance for 40 points at the end of the pool

College Football Pick'em Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the regular college football season by correctly predicting the winners of a set of football games.

Teams Used For The Pool

The pool commissioner selects which teams your pool will use when he sets up the pool (the Season Pass). The commissioner can also pick individual games each week. Game selections should be finalized by Sunday at midnight before the week's upcoming games.

Making Your Selections

Each week you need to pick the winner of each game. If your pool is a weighted pool, you also need to apply confidence points - the higher the confidence you have in being right, the more points you should assign to the game. If your pool has 10 teams, the games will be worth between 1 and 10 points. If you are not using the weighted option, all games are worth 1 point each. You score the points for the game if you correctly pick the winner.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due before the games start - and all picks are locked at noon on Saturday. So if you have a Thursday night game, you must make your pick on that game before it kicks off. However, you will still be able to change your other picks after that game up until the other games start or noon Saturday, whichever occurs first.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks - which is the home team in each game. For default confidence points, the points are given in alphabetical order of the home team - highest confidence points first.

NFL Bonus Pick'em Pool

Goal

To accumulate the most points throughout the regular NFL season by correctly predicting the winners of a set of football games.

How To Score Points

In an NFL Bonus Pick'em Pool you select which NFL team you think will win each week. Point spreads are not used in determining the winner - you are just picking who will win each week. However, the bonus part comes from the spread - if the spread is less than 3 points, you get 1 point for picking the winner regardless of whether the winner was favored or not. If the spread less than 7 but at least 3 points, you'll get 2 points instead of 1 if you pick the underdog. And if the spread is 7 or more points, you can get 3 points instead of 1 for picking the underdog. Picking the favorite is always worth 1 point. Back to top.

When Are Picks Due

Picks are due before the games start - and all picks are locked at one on Sunday. So if you have a Thursday night game, you must make your pick on that game before it kicks off. However, you will still be able to change your other picks after that game up until the other games start or one Sunday, whichever occurs first.

Default Picks

If you forget to get your picks in you'll get the default picks - which is the favored team in each game.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

How much does it cost to host an office pool on Fun Office Pools?

Fun Office Pools is completely FREE. There are no hidden charges. You may invite as many of your friends as you like to your pools without paying any fees. Please tell your friends about us and invite as many people as you like to your pools. Back to top.

I'm getting reminders and I don't want them...how do I change that? Or, I'm not getting reminders, please send them to me.

You can opt in or out of receiving reminders or notices of new pools by updating your profile. You can change this by clicking the Your Profile link in the upper right hand corner of the main page. From there you can change your username, your password, your email, etc., and you can also change whether you opt in or out of reminder emails from Fun Office Pools

What Pools does Fun Office Pools offer?

Fun Office Pools offers all types of Office Pools, including sports office pools, reality TV office pools, entertainment office pools, and specialty office pools. Current plans include:

• Sports Office Pools: NFL Office Pools, College Football Office Pools, College Football Bowl Pools, March Madness Pools (coming), Superbowl Office Pools (coming)
• Reality TV Office Pools: CBS Survivor Office Pools, Dancing With The Stars Office Pools, The Amazing Race Office Pools, and American Idol Office Pools
• Entertainment Office Pools: The Oscars Office Pool (coming)
• Specialty Office Pools: Baby Pools (coming)

If you have suggestions for other pools, let us know in the Send Us a Note. Back to top.

How do I create an Office Pool?

Creating a pool is easy and can be done either directly on the Home Page of Fun Office Pools or by selecting the Create A Pool Tab. Select which type of pool you want to create and you'll be taken to the Office Pool Parameter page. On this page you can enter various parameters for the pool, and choose any options available for that pool. After choosing the options, create the pool and you'll be taken to a screen that allows you to join your own pool. Create a selection or use one of your existing selections (if available for this type of pool). That's it. After creating the pool, it's time to invite your friends and to make your weekly picks! Back to top.

What is a Selection?

A Selection is your entry into a pool. A Player may have multiple Selections in each pool - it's up to the Pool Commissioner to allow it or not - if you don't want it, you can kick out a second Selection from a player - see Manage Members under the Pools Management Menu (you get there from the Your Pools Page and select the Pool you want to manage). You create your Selection when you Join A Pool. After creating a Selection, you make the picks for the Selection by clicking on the status link on either the Home Page of Fun Office Pools or the Your Pools Page. Back to top.

How do I invite my friends to an Office Pool?

The best way is to create an Address Book of people you will want to invite to pools you run. To do that, go to the Your Pools Page and select the pool you are going to invite people into. Select the Address Book tab on the left and start entering in people's email addresses. Once you've loaded up your Address Book, click on the Invite People tab on the left. This will list your current Address Book and you can check those people you want to invite. You can also add other people not in your address book on this page. Once you've selected all the people you want to invite, click the submit button and you'll be taken to a page where you can add a personal message to the invitation. Then hit the Send Invitation button and emails will be automatically sent to all those people. Back to top.

Can people join my pool after it starts?

In some pools, you can allow people to join late (the NFL Bonus Pick'em Pool and the College Football Weighted Pool allow this). In other pools, you can't (the NFL Survivor/Suicide Pool does not allow late entries for obvious reasons). For pools that allow late entries, if you want that to happen, set the Pool Deadline date to be later than the default date suggested when setting up your pool. Once the Deadline date passes, no one will be allowed to join this pool. Back to top.

What is the difference between a Public and a Private Pool?

A public pool does not require a password - but then anyone that knows the name of your pool can join. A private pool requires a password and only people you tell the password to can join this pool. Back to top.

How do default picks work?

We know that you're busy and sometimes forget to get your picks in. All of the Fun Office Pools have default picks in case you don't get your picks in time. It varies on how the Default picks are done, but in general they are not bad picks. In NFL Bonus Pick'em, the Default Picks are the favorites. In the Survivor/Suicide Pool, it's either the best remaining team or worst remaining team (depending if you are picking winners or losers) as determined by last year's draft order. Back to top.

I made a mistake when I set up the pool - how can I change the options?

You can change any of the parameters you set when you created the pool by going to the Your Pools Page and selecting the pool you want to modify. On the next page, select Change Pool Parameters and then modify any of the parameters listed. Note, though, that if the pool has already started, changing some of the parameters may void selections already made or not make sense (changing winners to losers in the Survivor/Suicide pool, for instance). Back to top.