How to Run a College Basketball Pool in 2026 — Free Setup Guide
College basketball pools bring season-long competition to your friend group with multiple contest formats — from Pick'em and Survivor to chip-based Bankroll contests. ValueBet makes hosting free and easy with auto-grading, live leaderboards, and zero setup costs.
College hoops fans don't need to wait until March Madness to compete. Running a college basketball pool keeps your group engaged from opening tip through Selection Sunday, with contest formats that work for casual fans and basketball junkies alike.
Pick the Right Pool Format for Your Group
Pick'em pools work great for weekly matchups where members pick winners and rank them by confidence. Survivor pools create high-stakes drama as one wrong pick eliminates members each round. Bankroll contests let members bet virtual chips against live spreads and totals, simulating the sportsbook experience without real money.
Set Your Pool Rules and Season Schedule
Decide whether you're running a full-season pool or focusing on conference play. Establish how many games members pick each week, whether they can use the same team multiple times (in Pick'em), and which games are eligible. Set your chip distribution amount if you're running a Bankroll contest, and clarify whether NCAA Tournament games count toward season standings.
→ Planning to extend your pool into March Madness? Here's how to set up your tournament bracket pool.Invite Members and Launch Your Club
Create your private club on ValueBet and share the unique club code with your group. Members join instantly without downloads or payment setup — everything runs through the web platform. Set your first round deadline and remind members to submit picks before tipoff.
Track Standings and Keep Members Engaged
ValueBet auto-grades all picks against live results and updates leaderboards in real time. Share weekly standings updates, trash talk the bad picks, and build hype around elimination weeks in Survivor pools. The platform handles all scoring automatically so you can focus on running a fun competition instead of managing spreadsheets.
→ Looking for more ways to keep your sports group active? Check out these engagement strategies for pool hosts.Ready to host your college basketball pool? Create your free club on ValueBet today — no credit card required.
Create your free club →FAQ
Can I run multiple contest types in the same basketball pool?
Yes — ValueBet lets you run Pick'em, Survivor, and Bankroll contests simultaneously in one club so members can compete in multiple formats.
Do members need to download an app?
No — ValueBet runs entirely through your web browser on desktop and mobile, with no app download required.
How does auto-grading work for college basketball games?
ValueBet pulls live game results and automatically grades all picks, updating leaderboards in real time without any manual input from hosts.
Can I charge entry fees for my college basketball pool?
ValueBet is a chip-based social gaming platform — hosts handle any buy-ins or payouts privately outside the platform, which keeps everything legal and simple.
What's the difference between Pick'em and Bankroll contests for basketball?
Pick'em members rank game winners by confidence points without betting lines, while Bankroll members bet virtual chips against live spreads, moneylines, and totals like a sportsbook.