This year, we're gonna try something a little different. It's the ladder contest you know and love, only for the much more exciting college football! Also, we're damn sure going to separate the men from the boys in this here contest, so the rungs will be different, and by different I mean much more difficult. The same general format applies. You make a pick or picks, if you succeed you move up one level.
Specific Rules:
Due to the overwhelming amount of games available to choose from, I'm not going to be posting lines from every game available. You will find and use lines on your own from whatever legitimate source you choose. We will be using a limited honor system here. You post the line you find, and I'll cross-check it with the source I use. I'll allow you a 2-point window in either direction. In other words, if your line is within two points of mine, I'll accept your line. If it's more than two points away, I'll let you know, and you can either change your pick or use my line. If a neutral party (neither myself nor the original picker) wishes to challenge my line, we can work it out over an AIM chat or something. Please note, the window is NOT there for the purpose of allowing you to pad your lines or anything. Be honest about the lines you fine. Honor system applies here.
However, since some of you probably won't want to do exhaustive research, I will post around five "spotlight games" each week. For the spotlight games, my lines must be used.
You may submit your picks at any time prior to the first game you are picking. All games must be picked in one post, meaning, if you want to pick a Thursday game and two Saturday games, you must pick all three games prior to the first game starting. Once any of your games have started, you may not change any of your picks. If you are going to change picks, DELETE AND REPOST. Do not edit your post. Any edited posts will not count.
Unless otherwise noted, every game picked must meet the following criteria: At least ONE of the teams involved must either be a member of a BCS conference, or ranked in the Top 25. BOTH teams must be members of Division 1-A, bowl division, whatever the hell it's called these days. For levels involving player-specific props, the spread of the game you are picking must be under 20.
The "week" will run Thursday - Monday. No games played on Tuesday or Wednesday are eligible for prediction until Championship Week. I'm thinking of including Bowl Season in this contest and doing something totally different for it, but haven't worked out the details yet. Keep this in mind so you don't accuse me of "changing the rules midway through." I'm warning you that such a change is coming now.
ATS = against the spread. OU = over/under. SU = straight up. If you don't know what these things mean, learn. We'll be using them frequently.
I will be participating myself. If anyone has any objections or thinks I'm doing anything unfairly, feel free to call me out and we'll sort it out. There's no prize here, it's all in good fun, fair competition among fans is encouraged!
No need to sign up, post your picks right here.
Level 1: Pick one winner ATS
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg
I think you're forgetting uh, the biggest game this weekend...
You know, LSU/Oregon.
edit - I understand what you're doing by only picking a couple spotlight games, but this should be fun for the people who don't watch much college football, so imo you should definitely include the biggest game of the weekend in the spotlight!
I think you're forgetting uh, the biggest game this weekend...
You know, LSU/Oregon.
I didn't forget. Neither of my sources have a line for it right now, probably given all the turmoil at both programs. If you can find a line for it, feel free to pick it, but if my source has one eventually that's more than two points away it'll get changed!
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg
Funny, I was just thinking about "neutral site games" this morning. Eventually I plan on having a rung where you're forced to take an away favorite, and I was remembering to point out that neutral site games would be completely excluded from this.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg
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"intention doesn't matter? clearly your cashier degree did not require a law course." - ND to Joyrock on the legality of drinking a soda before paying
I'm disappointed to see so many of you picking the spotlight games! The whole draw of college football "predicting" is that there's so much variety and you can find excellent value if you look hard! Come on, get creative here!
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg
I am confused by this spread. -3 generally implies a game that is roughly a tossup. There is nothing tossup about Boise State beating Georgia. Don't tell me Boise State is still flying under peoples' radar!
SmartMuffin | Posted 8/31/2011 7:39:39 PM | message detail | quote I'm disappointed to see so many of you picking the spotlight games! The whole draw of college football "predicting" is that there's so much variety and you can find excellent value if you look hard! Come on, get creative here!
To be fair, you stipulated that both teams have to be FBS teams, and this is the first week of the season. You already highlighted most of the games that can even be picked at all.
Also, when I see a line like Boise State -3 against Georgia, f*** it.
I am confused by this spread. -3 generally implies a game that is roughly a tossup. There is nothing tossup about Boise State beating Georgia. Don't tell me Boise State is still flying under peoples' radar!
It's a road team getting -3.
That means that the bookmakers believe that the general perception is Boise State being 6 points better than Georgia on a neutral field.
Yes it's Boise State, that same Boise State team that lost to Nevada, versus DAT SEC SPEED.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://img.imgcake.com/Icon/Punkjpguh.jpg
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Behold the majesty that is Doom. Feast upon his greatness, and know you will never measure up. http://img.imgcake.com/Punny/scenemaybecompletepngre.png - Hail
SmartMuffin posted... My site has the TCU line down to -4.5. Big money coming in on Baylor!
Yeah, that line was one of those where it just seemed like they were trying to sucker people into betting on TCU based on name value. A "too good to be true" sort of thing.
If all the money is coming in on Baylor though, maybe I was wrong!
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://img.imgcake.com/Icon/Punkjpguh.jpg
I really don't know about TCU this year. Are they a real PROGRAM or did they just have a hot year because they had a bunch of quality seniors at once. I guess we'll find out! They certainly aren't getting the same carryover love that Boise State is...
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg
And back to your other point, I follow absolutely nothing about offseason football, college or pro, so "searching the rest of the lines for value" in Week One isn't gonna help me.
I just happened to hear some discussion on the radio today about 3 of these lines in particular, and I went with the one where the host presented the most sound logic.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://img.imgcake.com/Icon/Punkjpguh.jpg
And back to your other point, I follow absolutely nothing about offseason football, college or pro, so "searching the rest of the lines for value" in Week One isn't gonna help me.
Ah, but neither has the general public! I've traditionally done a lot better in early-season than late-season "predicting." There's less knowledge all around, more room for generic habits and good ol fashion intuition!
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg
For what it's worth, the logic on the other two lines was:
USF +10: ND is gonna play things close to the vest with Michigan looming next week, because that's how that rivalry is. Plenty of room for a backdoor cover, and USF is at least a BCS team and not some mid-major.
Boise State -3: Never bet against Boise early in the season.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero. http://img.imgcake.com/Icon/Punkjpguh.jpg
I'm actually leaning towards taking Notre Dame and laying the 10. Playing at home in a "something to prove" year, I don't think they're going to show much mercy. They want those style points too.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/lolkrugmanjpgry.jpg