For the Winkler family, March Madness isn’t just about college basketball—it’s about celebrating their furry family members too. Since 2008, the Winklers have filled out their brackets, but with a unique twist: their dogs are part of the action. The tradition has grown so popular that since 2014, it has become a beloved staple on the College Basketball subreddit.
Vince Winkler, a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, explained that the dog bracket is an equalizer. “The winner is rarely the person who is most knowledgeable or invested in basketball. Everyone gets a level playing field,” he said. And that includes their pets, who have been picking tournament winners since the tradition began.
How the Dog Bracket Works:
The formula for the dog bracket is simple, but it has a fun and quirky twist. According to the formula:
- A dog mascot beats a wolf mascot.
- A wolf mascot beats 99% of all other mascots.
- 99% of all other mascots beat bird mascots.
- Bird mascots beat cat mascots.
While Winkler encourages pet owners to modify the formula to fit their dog’s personality or preferences, it’s clear that certain teams tend to have an advantage—especially those with a dog mascot.
A Year in the Life of the Dog Bracket:
In 2024, Ripley, the Winklers’ current canine “responsible” for filling out the bracket, correctly predicted the UConn Huskies to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Despite the impressive accuracy, Ripley placed second overall as another family member also picked the Huskies. It’s all part of the fun!
The dog brackets have even earned a bit of a reputation for unpredictability. The Winklers have seen their dogs win the pool in 2011 and 2014, and when that happens, they’re rewarded with a steak dinner instead of the human prize.
A Tribute to Family Pets:
Beyond the basketball, the dog bracket serves as a heartfelt tribute to the Winkler family’s pets, many of whom were rescues. Over the years, pets like Wesley, the backyard escape artist, Tesla, the tiger ball enthusiast, and Omar, the retired racing greyhound, have all participated in the family tradition. For Winkler, the bracket is a way to honor the memory of these beloved dogs, keeping their spirit alive during each March Madness season.
“It’s a tribute to the dogs that my family has had,” Winkler said. “It’s a way to show respect to all of them. It’s as much a tribute to my family members as it is to the dogs.”
As the tournament kicks off each year, the Winkler family continues their tradition of filling out the dog bracket—creating new memories while keeping their pets’ legacies alive. And for the Winklers, it’s a reminder that sometimes, the best picks come from the most unexpected places: like a dog with a knack for choosing winners.
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