PODS are total points for the entire contest.
Yep, pod winners are awarded for the most total points for the entire contest.
A pod winner can be shown to have clinched with the following computation:
1. Start with the leader's points (say L with total TL) and choose one opponent (say A and total TA).
2. List all picks alive for both L and A. Eliminate any common picks.
3. Add to TL the minimum of any pending head-to-head matches for the leader (and possibly also if all 4 picked in the next round).
4. Add to TA the maximum points available to win it all (highest live seed)
5. Add to TA the maximum points for all the other A picks to go as far they can before losing to another A pick.
6. Repeat steps 1,2,4 and 5 for the other opponent (B with total TB).
7. L has clinched if TL is larger than TA and TB.
Example:
Pod = John Thompson, L = CB with 138 pts, 7 picks (Alabama, Texas, Gonzaga, UConn, Creighton, Arkansas, Princeton)
1. A = Tony Mar, 79 pts, 3 picks.
2. All common picks (Alabama, Gonzaga, Creighton)
3A. L has Creighton/Princeton gives 6*3 = 18 pts
3B. L has UConn/Arkansas gives 4*3 = 12 pts
4. None
5. None, TA = 79
1. B = JimmytheGreek, 42 pts, 3 picks
2. Common pick (Alabama), Others (UCLA, Xavier)
4. Pick 3 seed: Xavier win it all, pts = 3 * (3+4+6+10) = 69
5. Other pick 2 seed UCLA =2* (3+4) = 14 (meets Xavier in Semis)
6 TB = 42+69+14 =125
TL = 138+18+12 = 168, TA =79, TB = 125, therefore L has clinched the John T Pod.
For kicks, CB max points would be 138 + 15*23 + 8*13 + 6*0 + 4*0+ 3*3 + 2*7 + 1*3 = 138+345+101+9+14+3= 610
Just a guess, but I doubt any other pod has been clinched going into the Sweet 16.