17 WEEKS! (right up to Christmas). [Week 18, in essence will be the annual Bowl Pool which you'll all want to do - but it's a separate pool.]
15 choices are available each week, but you pick only 12!
Throughout the college season, most of the games will be College with several NFL. For the last few weeks, most or all of the games will be NFL.
All picks are versus a spread. This allows those not so knowledgeable to participate since a point spread on a game makes each game a virtual toss-up pick. The football point-spread is the great equalizer!
Picks will generally always include important and/or TV games - so that just about every game that is on TV will be a pool pick. If there are games you wish to have (or not have) in the pool - please let me know.
Monday night NFL game will always be in the pool (thus final results will always depend on the outcome of that game).
Your picks must be weighted from 12 (best) to 1 (worse). 3 of the 15 games (your choice), you do not pick. Thus you can exclude picking the 3 games you are least certain about. Max score for a week therefore is 78.
All point-spreads will include a half-point. Thus - No tie games.
There will be no tie-breakers for pool winnings. Winnings will simply be split equally. I expect each week's final results to approximate a bell curve, so there shouldn't be lots and lots of ties every week for the top spots.
Tip. Since each game is equally-likely to go either way (versus the spread), you can maximize your chances by picking those teams you think most people in the pool won't. If week after week, most people pick Iowa, it might be better to pick against Iowa.
Each week costs $5.
You don't have to enter every week, but your top 10 weeks (out of 17) will count towards the overall awards. $10 each week will be put into the overall kitty (which will therefore end up totaling $170).
Each week's payout is (from all proceeds less the $10):
1st - 40%
2nd - 30%
3rd - 20%
4th - 10%
(More money for 3rd and 4th place this year!)
Final overall payouts are:
1st - $76.50 (40%)
2nd - $42.50 (25%)
3rd - $25.50 (15%)
4th - $17.00 (10%)
5th - $8.50 ( 5%)
(Same as last year)
For those unable to enter picks via the Pioneer intranet, you can e-mail (stowe@phibred.com) or voice-mail (270-3216) your picks to me. Clearly indicate your weights for each of your choices (12 to 1). Do NOT re-order the games (that just makes my compilation of your entry more difficult.) Do NOT forget to put weights by your picks this year!
As in past years, entries will be accepted as long as they're before the start of the first game. In fact, the system will prohibit any entry from being accepted after that time.
The Overall report will also be automatically generated.
Expect each week's pool games to be available by Wednesday.
I have friendly easy payment plans. Pay as you go preferably a few weeks at a time and preferably ahead of time.