The college football pool primer

In case you ever need to refer back to this information and didn't save a copy, it will always be here in the archives...

Before we jump into it, here are some basic rules to know. 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. I promise you will understand when making picks for the first games. 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 six finishers last year had the following total points and records following Florida's trashing of Ohio State to end the season:

162 (77-32) Jeremy Peppas
152 (75-34) Mike P.
149 (73-36) Ben Baldwin
149 (69-40) Oscar Davis
147 (70-39) Jeff Kendall
147 (70-39) Kate Dishongh

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.

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 once-or-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.

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, we will pick the college football all-star games with all entrants eligible. If there is still a tie after that, the money will be split.