The new season is almost upon us and with it comes the new season of Pick'em here at RotB. I am getting this up early for week 1, partly because I can't hardly stand the wait for the season to begin and partly to make sure everyone has plenty of opportunity to get in on the action. Also, watch out for the Survivor League post later today!
For those of us that remember, this once was the baby of long time member, Hawkwind. I have continued his tradition for the last two years and will do it again this year, unless Hawkwind is willing to take back the reins.
Below are the rules for RotB Pick'em. Please pay special attention to rule No. 1. Before last season any omitted pick lead to your entire set of picks for that week being thrown out, as of last year, it just counts as an incorrect pick.
Also rule No. 1 alludes to the possibility of Thursday night games. Considering that the NFL now has Thursday night games every week, I believe they should be included each week the same as the prime time games on Sunday and Monday. I am including a poll at the end of this week's post to get feedback from all of you, so please vote and let your voice be heard!
Speaking of polls, starting next week there will be a poll each week to determine one of the wildcard games (games that aren't automatically included like prime time and Cardinals' games) for the following week. So next week you will see week 1 results, make your picks for week 2 and vote for which wildcard game you want to see the most in week 3. Something suggested last year that makes a lot of sense.
Here are your rules:
1) Weeks 1 through 16 will have eight games to pick from and can include the Thursday game (if scheduled), the Cardinals game, the Sunday Night game, and Monday Night Football game. The remaining games will be chosen for their competitive unpredictability and/or division rivalry intrigue. Week 17 will have all games to pick.
- Thursday games happen regularly in today's NFL, be sure to have your eight picks in that week if a Thursday game is on the Pick'em schedule. Your posts are time stamped and any posts/alterations after the listed official start time for a particular game will not be tallied for that week.
- You may change your picks after the initial submission but not after that particular game's kick-off. So if you're adjusting your fantasy football roster just before kick-off, you may consider your Pick'em selections too.
- Any pick not entered before it's official start time will count as an automatic loss. Be sure and double check your picks to ensure all eight games are entered.
2) To qualify for the Standard Pick'em championship a total of nine weeks of the NFL regular season must be picked; it is mandatory that picks are made for Week 16 and 17. To win the Iron Man Pick'em championship, all seventeen weeks of the season must be picked!
- Here is where the Pick'em strategy can come into play, as weeks with tough match-ups can be skipped entirely to maintain a good winning average.
- The last two weeks of the season must be picked to create an interesting finish to the league. It is conceivable that someone can jump to a commanding lead after nine weeks of picks and just ride out the rest of the season with that winning percentage. Picking the last two weeks of the season when starters are potentially getting rested on a playoff run gives the greatest potential to "mix it up" on the Pick'em leader board. For Week 17, the entire sixteen game schedule is picked.
- Those that participate for the entire 17 week season are eligible for the Iron Man Pick'em championship. If you can remember to submit picks all season and do so with consistent results, you deserve some additional recognition!
3) Individuals' rankings are based on a correct vs. wrong percentage with the leader having the highest percentage correctly picked.
- For example, Bezekira and hevchv picked fourteen winners correctly for 2009 Week 17. Fourteen of sixteen gives them a 0.875 winning percentage which would be a great finish to the season for anyone (won them the Standard and Iron Man championships that year respectively). A poor performance any given week isn't the end of your Pick'em hopes either; there is plenty of time to make a comeback.
- In case of winning percentage ties, the tie breakers are Weeks Won Points then Weeks Picked followed by number of times the Cardinals were picked to win, with the last tie breaker being SBNation tenure. Hopefully a tie doesn't go that far!
- Speaking of ties, in case the NFL has a tie (like that Rams and 49ers game a couple of years ago) unless you predicted a tie, it counts as an incorrect pick. If you predict a tie and one actually happens besides getting a correct pick you'll having bragging rights forever with RotB Pick'em League.
Whoever has the best record any given week earns one Weeks Won Point. In the case of ties, that point is split between all the tied participants. This "Weeks Won Point" total is the first tie-breaker and is only used for that. So there is only 1 point up for grabs each week, if you have the week's best record by yourself you get the point all to yourself. If you tie for the best record with other entries, you share that point (2 people would get .50 points each, 3 would get .33 points each, etc.). So beating the field by yourself gets you more than tying for the best entry with others in any given week.
I will try my best to have the updated results and new slate of games up early every Tuesday, especially with the possible addition of Thursday Night Football.
Please Rec, it keeps this fanpost at the top of the list all week.
Here are this week's games, including the Thursday Night Game, so get those picks in early. Who is going to knock off redking90, last year's overall champ? And who is going the distance to overtake SenSurround, last year's ironman champion? Speaking of SenSurround, he was painfully close to winning both titles finishing second in the overall standings, a mere .010 percentage points back. Here is a link to last season's final results. Good luck to all!
Green Bay @ Seattle **Thursday Night Game**
New Orleans @ Atlanta
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
San Francisco @ Dallas
Indianapolis @ Denver
NY Giants @ Detroit
San Diego @ Arizona
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