And the winner is..........

JACOB!!!

Congratulations to Jacob on winning the 2010 edition of the Young Family Bracket Challenge in just his FIRST try!!!

Butler lost, 61-59, for Jacob to win the challenge.

Alright everybody, be sure to send your $5 to Jacob. And be sure to include some smack talk "words of encouragement" when you send him your money.

This ends the 2010 Challenge!!! Great job Jacob!!!

Here are the final standings:

1. Jacob Young - 227 points
2. Allison Young - 222 points
3. Teresa Matters - 209 points
4. Eric Young - 198 points
5. Brad Young - 168 points
6. Nathaniel Abbott - 147 points
7. Robert Young - 140 points
8. Lindsey Abbot - 137 points
9. Jeremy Bird - 127 points
10. Melissa Young - 114 points
11. Heather Abbott - 105 (Disqualified)
12. Beth Bird - 77 points

Also, congratulations to Ali bug! She has correctly chosen the Champion two years in a row! Way to go, Ali! I'm copying your bracket next year!

It's down to two!

Defending Young Family Bracket Challenge Winner, Teresa Matters, and rookie Jacob Young are the only two people left in the running for the 2010 Challenge Trophy!

Much like the Young Family Challenge, a smaller and new team will take on a past Champion for the title. Butler beat Michigan State to advance to its first Championship game ever, while West Virginia choked and was unable to advance.

Teresa, Jacob, Allison, and Eric all chose the team to face Butler in the Final Game. So, here are the standings:

1. Teresa Matters - 209 points
2. Jacob Young - 177 points
3. Allison Young - 172 points
4. Brad Young - 168 points
5. Eric Young - 148 points
6. Nathaniel Abbott - 147 points
7. Robert Young - 140 points
8. Lindsey Abbot - 137 points
9. Jeremy Abbott - 127 points
10. Melissa Young - 114 points
11. Heather Abbott - 105 (Disqualified)
12. Beth Bird - 77 points

Monday night will tell the tale and for the second year in a row, the Challenge title has come down to the final game! Way to go Teresa and Jacob! I am so proud of you guys for kicking ass!

I can't believe how low scoring this challenge is (for reference, the winner had 333 points last year, this year max is 227). This was by far the weakest NCAA tournament ever and the most absurd (the set up and seeding). Huge props are deserved to Jacob and Teresa for predicting as well as they have with all of the upsets that have happened! Way to go, guys!!!

Final Four... today!

There are only Four teams left in the NCAA Basketball Championship... and there are only four people vying for the Young Family Bracket Challenge Trophy!

Teresa, Brad, Jacob, and Nathaniel are the only member remaining that could win the challenge... and here is how:

Teresa will win if... Duke defeats West Virginia in the Final Four game, but loses in the Championship.

Brad will win if... West Virginia defeats Duke in the Final Four game, but loses in the Championship game.

Jacob will win if... Duke wins the National Championship.

Nathaniel will win if... West Virginia wins the National Championship.

It's as simple as that!

Go WVU... and then Butler or Michigan State to win it all!

In other news, I'm happy to report that if Brad does not win, he cannot finish in second place... again...!

Beth & Jeremy Bird Flee Vegas Amid Gambling Charges

It has come to the attention of the Young Family Bracket Challenge that Beth and Jeremy Bird have fled Las Vegas, Nev. amid information that they may have put money on Nathaniel Abbott and West Virginia to win the National Championship - a team neither of them selected in their own brackets.

It is believed to be a strategy to make money off of the NCAA Tournament after both of them had been out of contention to take the 2010 Challenge.

Reports of Beth Bird repeatedly saying, "I called it!! ...I said Nathaniel would take it this year... GO NATHANIEL!!!!!!!!!!!!," has spurned concern to bracket challenge participants. Nathaniel Royce Abbott is currently in third place and is the lead contender for the 2010 Challenge crown if West Virginia does win the National Championship.

Also, numerous anonymous reports have come in, including a tip from a close friend of the family, saying they mentioned placing a bet in Vegas on the National Championship game.

While gambling is not prohibited by the Young Family Bracket Challenge Rules, this situation is frowned upon based on the rule that prohibits participating in other bracket challenges. It is believed that the two suspects placed money on West Virginia in hopes of making a formidable amount of money after not winning the Bracket Challenge three years in a row.

The initial report came from the receptionist at the Treasure Island Resort on the strip of Las Vegas. She mentioned hearing Jeremy tell Beth he planned on buying a brand new Toyota 4Runner with the winnings he would receive after placing money on Nathaniel Abbott to win it all. The witness also reported that Beth was practically drooling over the ideas of remodeling her kitchen and installing a see-through fireplace to connect the living room and family room.

"I'm appalled by their actions and their decision to exploit my beautiful and innocent child," says Heather Abbott, mother and fan club president of Nathaniel Royce Abbott. "If anyone should be able to exploit him for money, it should be me and his father, not an Aunt and Uncle who lives hundreds of miles away. I'm disgusted by this, and if they wish to ever see my son again, they better hope they win because they will need to split the winnings 50/50 with me. I've got some new prescription drugs ER bills coming my way, and that sh*t is expensive... you know... 'doctor's orders'."

The last report about Beth and Jeremy placed them boarding American Airlines Flight 1476 in Dallas/Fortworth, Texas... destination unknown.

We will give you the most up to date information as we receive it while the Board will discuss any ramifications of their exploitation of their nephew for money.