Alabama and Tennessee fans don’t usually get along too well, but Scott Fort might just be heard uttering something sacriligeous like “Roll Tide, Rocky Top” this morning, after Tennessee’s seventh national championship propelled him to victory in the 10th annual Living Room Times women’s basketball pool.

Fort, a Birmingham resident and former UAB student who considers Alabama his second-favorite team, correctly predicted the title run by Pat Summitt’s squad, and thus surged ahead of former leader Josh Krause when the Lady Vols beat Rutgers, 59-46 last night.

He finishes with 347 out of a possible 477 points. P.J. Wanecski is a close second with 345 points. Krause, who would have won the pool if Rutgers had won, finished third with 337.

Fort is an Irish Trojan blog reader since late 2005. Wanecski is a resident of North Tonawanda, NY and the father, with Shannon Steinmiller, of the adorable Logan. Krause is a resident of New Britain, CT, a former Gordon College student, and Diane Huffman’s fiancé.

Rounding out the top ten were Kevin Hauschulz (334 points), Joey Perucki (327), Ken Wagner and Sandy Pilz (322 apiece), Miranda Epperson (320), Todd Stigliano (314) and Justin Vale (312). Complete standings are here and below.

Fort’s winning total, 347 points, is the third-lowest in Times women’s pool history, a reflection of an unusually unpredictable women’s tournament that saw, for example, a #13-seed reach the Sweet Sixteen, a #7-seed make it to the Elite Eight, and a #4-seed play in the national championship game. For only the second time ever, the winning total in the men’s pool was lower than that in the women’s pool, and the difference was easily the largest ever: 62 points.

Fort’s bracket correctly predicted five of the Elite Eight, two of the Final Four, one of the finalists, and the champion. In this year of upsets, that was enough to win the pool. Nobody predicted both finalists, and only eight contestants (Wanecski, Perucki, Brian Dupuis, Jennifer Elam, Kendall Houk, Joe Loy, Daniel Port and Matt Wiser) picked three of the Final Four.

Fort’s victory comes in the largest women’s pool in Times history, and the first ever to have more than 100 entrants. A total of 104 contestants took part.

[NOTE: This post didn’t actually appear on the blog until 7:51 AM, but I back-dated it to 1:00 AM in order to keep the fifth blogaversary post on top for a while longer. -ed.]

FINAL STANDINGS, 10TH ANNUAL LIVING ROOM TIMES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POOL, 2007

1. Scott Fort - 347
2. P.J. Wanecski - 345
3. Josh Krause - 337
4. Kevin Hauschulz - 334
5. Joey Perucki - 327
6. Ken Wagner - 322
6. Sandy Pilz - 322
8. Miranda Epperson - 320
9. Todd Stigliano - 314
10. Justin Vale - 312
11. Matt Kagan - 310
11. Josh Britton - 310
13. Michael Rosenkrantz - 309
14. Rick Boeckler - 304
15. Brian Dupuis - 303
16. F X McGahee - 302
17. Jennifer Elam - 300
17. Kendall Houk - 300
19. Tyler Condon - 297
19. Katrina Lewonczyk - 297
21. Becky Loy - 296
22. Derek McDonald - 294
23. Ted Zak - 293
24. Kristy McCray - 292
25. Carol LaPlante - 290
26. Joe Loy - 289
27. Colleen Duggan - 287
28. Tom Greca - 285
29. Dan Dinunzio - 284
30. Daniel Port - 283
30. Matt Wiser - 283
32. Chris Pearsall - 282
32. Patrick Witham - 282
34. James McGinnis - 280
34. Mark Gardner - 280
36. Sean Sullivan - 279
37. Kevin Curran - 278
37. Greg Plank - 278
37. Nate Evangelista - 278
40. Scott Loomer - 275
41. Conor Sullivan - 272
42. Peter Timbrell - 270
42. Brian Paine - 270
44. Tom K. - 269
45. Andrew Long - 268
45. Chris Aemisegger - 268
45. Gerry deSImas, Jr. - 268
45. Tristin Thomsen - 268
49. Alex Whitfield - 267
50. Joyce Kohler - 266
50. Jay Johnson - 266
52. Barbara Hanks - 265
52. Soren Hammerschmidt - 265
52. Diane Huffman - 265
55. Ian Auzenne - 263
55. Danny Pilz - 263
57. Rachel Wetherill - 261
58. Mike Wiser - 260
59. Gary Kirby - 258
60. Weston Cross - 256
60. David K. - 256
62. Leanna Loomer - 253
62. Josh Rubin - 253
64. Matthew Boyle - 251
64. Matthew Thomsen - 251
64. Stacey Tetreault - 251
64. Mike Thompson - 251
68. Jeremy Gist - 250
68. Charles Fenwick - 250
68. Randy Styles - 250
71. Suzanne Ogden - 248
71. Jon Sandlin - 248
73. Clayton Bassett - 247
73. Ryan McBride - 247
75. Yvette Webster - 245
75. Shaun Sullivan - 245
77. Mike Quinn - 243
77. Matt Drachenberg - 243
79. Lauren Taylor - 241
79. Stephen Leys - 241
81. Liz Kamps - 240
81. Wilson Loftis - 240
83. Lisa Velte - 239
84. Brian Neudorff - 236
85. Brendan Loy - 235
86. Bonnie Stone - 227
86. David Whelan - 227
88. Don LaPlante - 226
89. Brian Krusell - 225
89. Shannon Steinmiller - 225
91. Pat Caplin - 223
92. Jon Caplin - 218
93. Jeff Morrison - 214
94. Trisha Neudorff - 211
95. Carolyn Blessing - 206
96. Kate Spitz - 203
97. Larry Caplin - 196
98. MT Swanson - 194
99. Steve Hartranft - 191
100. Jen H. - 181
101. Brandon Minich - 179
102. Rose Holden - 170
103. Rosalie Town - 166
104. Melanie Dickson - 157