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!
Level 4: Pick one game ATS. You must pick a road team who is favored.
Level 3: The Jakyl Tier - Three game teaser (pick three games ATS, add six points in your favor to each spread, all games must win, you may advance with ONE push)
Level 2: Pick three games OU. Must get two or more correct to advance.
Level 1: Pick one game ATS.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Spotlight Games: LSU -5.5 at West Virginia (49.5) Arkansas +11.5 at Alabama (50.5) Oklahoma State +4.5 at Texas A&M (70) Florida State +2.5 at Clemson (50) USC +2.5 at Arizona State (53.5)
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Damnit, when I originally made my picks, Clemson-Florida State was a pick 'em. Was seriously considering Clemson, but I ended up going with Florida instead, and now the line has moved. But now that I'm hearing that Manuel might not even be able to play...
Remove: Florida -19.5 Add: Clemson -2.5
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Ulti (in one of his Post-Contest Analyses): God of War turned a 5 hour deadlock into a total laugher Anagram: Oh God, Tidus and Yuna were involved?
I posted my selections based on what the lines were when I placed my "predictions." The only one I changed actually changed to work AGAINST me. Anyway, like I said, we're using the honor system with a 2-point cushion. If you want to use my spotlight line that's fine, if you find your own line and it's within the two-point cushion, that's also fine, but the honor system prohibits just selecting the most favorable possible line that is technically within the rules.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Well, so far Kansas State is winning late, so I think it worked out pretty well! Of course, Florida still has to come through for it to be a good decision
...And it really did seem like Miami teased down to -6 would be the obvious one. Just like Michigan State seemed like an obvious pick last week. I'm just glad Maryland had that early game to help me see that coming.
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Nominate The Kid vs. The Guy (I Wanna Be The Guy) for the Greatest Gaming Rivalry Contest! Also, nom Luigi/King Boo, not Luigi/Waluigi.
SmartMuffin posted... Also want to point out, the FSU/Clemson game gives us a rare scenario where there are people on opposite sides!
Tsunami has Clemson Regaro, Camden, masterplum, and sonten have FSU
Looks like both sides are going to win. Clemson's up by five with under two minutes left and FSU's driving. Even if FSU gets into the end zone and successfully gets the 2-point conversion, it'll be a three-point game and Clemson will have covered my side.
I'm just dreading that FSU will score with too much time left, Clemson will kick a tying field goal, and FSU will win by a full TD in OT.
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Nominate The Kid vs. The Guy (I Wanna Be The Guy) for the Greatest Gaming Rivalry Contest! Also, nom Luigi/King Boo, not Luigi/Waluigi.
GaryOak also fails to advance thanks to SDSU's 21-point loss to Michigan, and Arkansas takes out sonten. Regaro, Camden and I are all 1-0 and KCF is already 2-0.
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Nominate The Kid vs. The Guy (I Wanna Be The Guy) for the Greatest Gaming Rivalry Contest! Also, nom Luigi/King Boo, not Luigi/Waluigi.
Wow, I knew the Miami spread seemed easy but that one wasn't setting off my "trap" alarm like Michigan State/Notre Dame did. It honestly makes no sense to me that they lost to Kansas State.
Yeah, it wasn't until Maryland got destroyed that it started setting off alarms for me.
And I agree with you completely, KCF--as bad as Indiana is, I didn't expect them to lose outright to North Texas. Still plenty of time for a comeback (just like they did against Virginia, even though they ended up losing that game), but 24-0 is not pretty.
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Nominate The Kid vs. The Guy (I Wanna Be The Guy) for the Greatest Gaming Rivalry Contest! Also, nom Luigi/King Boo, not Luigi/Waluigi.