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 5: Winners, winners, winners - Pick one winner (SU) from each of the six BCS conferences. At least two of your picks must be favored by single digits or less. All six must win.
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
Level 5 Pac12 - Arizona (-2) at Oregon State Big12 - Kansas at Oklahoma State Big10 - Michigan (-7) at Northwestern BigEast - Connecticut at West Virginia ACC - Boston College at Clemson SEC - Alabama at Vanderbilt
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Wildcard, *****es! Yeeeeeehaaaaw! I do understand the lure of the maple bar.
Sorry Muffin, I just wasn't seeing any other spreads I liked! The OSU anti-hype train is just too easy to ride right now.
I thought about taking Florida State -11.5, but that feels too easy and I'm scared off by it because I don't know how good FSU really is. Illinois over Indiana -14.5 would have honestly been tempting if it was -13.5 instead. Georgia -1 over Tennessee seems like a nice tossup pick as well, probably would've been my second choice but I honestly don't know much about Tennessee. Michigan -7.5 is firing off my trap alarms. Boise State -21 is too big a spread. Oklahoma -10 is straight up dumb in such a huge rivalry game, albeit against an overrated Texas.
Hypothetical question on level 4, what if we wanted to take a road underdog as a pick-em? I sort of genuinely considered Washington State getting the win outright over UCLA but they're underdogs.
Indiana is a disaster, don't get me wrong, but -14.5 is just such an ugly spread. All it takes is Illinois taking their foot off the gas a little bit and Indiana getting lucky in garbage time to wind up with a 38-24 score.
Florida +13.5 at LSU (41) Oklahoma -10 at Texas (57) (technically neutral site, but counting it as Texas at home) Auburn +10 at Arkansas (63.5) Ohio State +11 at Nebraska (43.5) Arizona State -4 at Utah (48.5)
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Paratroopa1 posted... Indiana is a disaster, don't get me wrong, but -14.5 is just such an ugly spread. All it takes is Illinois taking their foot off the gas a little bit and Indiana getting lucky in garbage time to wind up with a 38-24 score.
Yeah. Last week, BrettEagles had Georgia Tech -10 and the Yellow Jackets were up 45-21 with a minute left. NC State scores a touchdown, kicks off normally because down 45-28 with 34 seconds left, the game's still completely out of reach, then Georgia Tech inexplicably tries to rush on their first snap from scrimmage instead of just taking a knee--fumble-recovery, returned for a touchdown, and the sure-fire win turned into a push, which in this competition is as good as a loss.
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Nominate The Kid vs. The Guy (I Wanna Be The Guy) for the Greatest Gaming Rivalry Contest! [NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]
lol blocked punt TD. I picked against them, but I'd like to see Oregon State win. The last thing I want is for them to go 0-11 heading into the Civil War, nothing good can come of that.
SmartMuffin posted... The only thing that will cheer me up is the Beavs ****ing all of you.
Same here; after all, I'm only one level back of the lead! Of course, my own advancement is very much in question at the moment; I've got ASU -3.5, and they lead by 3 at halftime so they're not there yet, but it's easily doable.
-- (this space for rent...okay, not really.) [NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]
I've been watching the ASU game while listening to the OSU game on the radio. ASU has definitely been the better team. That's one of my picks for this week as well, and as of right now, I'm still pretty confident they'll close it out.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Same difference! Whenever I lose a bet involving a team, I'm usually pretty nervous to bet on a game involving them again, even if I'm going the opposite way!
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
I decided to turn the Arizona/OSU game on, which was a mistake. The Dance Cam was going on for about three full minutes and now I'm going to have AC/DC stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
On the other hand, lol Oregon State. What the hell happened to 30-6? It's 30-27 now?
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When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless.