Welcome to the college football pool. I'll be sending out the first five games of the season on Wednesday morning of next week. There are 109 people signed up as of now, and even though I initially said I was limiting the pool to 100 people this year, I may allow a few more to enter.
Before we jump into it, here are some basic rules to know. Read this, people. It might just help you win $800, and you might want to save it for future reference.
Every year, at least one person spends the first week picking with the point spread. Don't let that be you! Please note that the games are picked straight up without regard to the spread. The Vegas line is provided with each game for information purposes and to indicate the amount of points available per game.
Essentially, the standings are based on your win-loss record, but each correct pick is assigned a certain point value based on the line for the game. The following is a breakdown of points available per game:
Games with a point spread of 1 to 4:
All correct picks worth two points each
Games with a point spread of 5 to 8:
If you pick the favorite and it wins, you get two points
If you pick the underdog and it wins, you get three points
Games with a point spread of 9 to 12:
If you pick the favorite and it wins, you get two points
If you pick the underdog and it wins, you get four points
If it sounds complicated, it's not at all, and most games will be in the first category with spreads of 1 to 4 anyway. It all comes down to picking who you think will win the game, but picking an underdog can be worth a little more sometimes.
For an example of how points influence the standings, the top five finishers last year had the following total points and records following the annual SEC victory over Ohio State in the BCS Championship Game:
153 (74-35) Beth Shields
149 (73-36) Mike Beranek
149 (73-36) Will Slaney
149 (73-36) Robert Neighbors
146 (72-37) Maura Beranek
The Vegas lines are frozen at the time the games for the week are distributed by e-mail. Point values will not change if the spread changes later in the week.
Once you have turned in your picks for the week, no changes can be made. Once you hit send, if you change your mind on a game, just hope for the best.
If you haven't gotten the games in your inbox by noon on Thursday, send me an e-mail to let me know because it probably means there is an e-mail problem somewhere. Then go to Poolsville where you can find the games posted each week. If e-mail is still a problem, post your picks there.
Picks should be turned in by 5 p.m. Friday. However, I will take them up until the first game kicks off if for some reason you need extra time. The 5 p.m. Friday deadline is to help you and me. You are pressing your luck by turning in your picks later. I always confirm I have gotten your picks with a reply e-mail if they are sent before 5 p.m. Friday.
In the twice-a-year case that there is a good Thursday night game, you will get the games a day early on Wednesday morning and they'll be due at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
I will not accept picks turned in after a game starts. The time stamp in my inbox must be prior to that deadline. Do not give me any excuse about your e-mail not sending them or whatever because I'm not tryin' to hear that. All picks must be turned in at one time in one e-mail.
If you are going on vacation some week or will not have access to e-mail, let me know in advance and we can try to work out an early schedule where you'll get some possible games for the week to pick.
In case of a tie at the end of the season, the protocal for a tiebreaker is total points, followed by record, followed by bowl points, followed by bowl record. If there is still a tie after that, the money will be split. The all-star game tiebreaker will no longer be used.
If you want to pay online and haven't already specified that, let me know and eventually I'll get around to sending you an invoice with directions on how to pay.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Thanks for entering.
Good luck.
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