19-Handicap 2016 (Unofficial ROD Straight Pick'em) ROD$2000 entry

okay...how do I start now????

This is the thread i'll be using for the tournament:

ramsondemand.com/threads/19-handicap-unofficial-rod-straight-pickem-2016.45639/

Picks can be posted:
1) Openly in the thread. (Everyone will see them).
2) In a 'Spoiler' in the thread. (Everyone will still be able to see them but they would have to make a conscious choice to see your picks).
3) By PM to me, (I will be the only person who sees them before each game kicks off).
4) On the ESPN Pigskin Pick'em board, (so no-one will see them before each game kicks off). You would need to have or create an ESPN account. The ESPN link and sign-up password is in the ROD thread above.
5) In a .zip file on the ROD thread above. This can be password protected if desired so no-one will see what is in the .zip file until the password is posted. (Obviously you run the risk of forgetting the password).

I plan on posting my picks on ESPN on Thursdays and i'll be posting a copy of those picks in either a 'Spoiler' or a .zip file in the ROD thread. This is so I can play along but people will be able to see that i'm not using their picks to my advantage or picking winners after a game. I don't plan on changing picks unless there's a significant event before a game - suspension or QB injury, etc.

Tagging @LACHAMP46 as replying directly to his comment won't automatically trigger a notification.

@DaveFan'51, picks can be posted openly on the 19-Handicap thread, listed in the post below, they can be posted to me by PM, or they can be made on the ESPN board:

games.espn.com/nfl-pigskin-pickem/2016/en/group?groupID=105331

The ESPN sign-up password is: ROD19

Picks made at ESPN are only visible to the account making them yntil kickoff, (when they'll be visible to everyone). Making them at ESPN would guarantee no-one can gain a competitive advantage on you. I will be making my picks on Thursdays and barring an injury to a key player I won't be changing them. Sending your picks by PM to me after i've made my picks is probably the easiest way - but it's entirely up to you.

I joined up and put my picks in of course I was too late for the TNF game.

Okay, sorry but I won't be able to get in this. I'm not smart enough

@Elmgrovegnome, i'm really sorry to here that. This is a fun game and it doesn't require people to be smart or...'whatever'. People simply pick who they think will win. Conventional Pick'ems give the same score for winning so it doesn't matter if you think a team is a 51% or a 99% chance. The winning move is to pick the team you think is most likely to win. All this game does is reward people more if they go against the grain and pick an underdog. As a general strategy picking the favourite is a slightly better strategy than picking underdogs...but it's a close call.

Might I suggest you play along for free. If you don't like it you can drop out. Then again, it's only $ROD and there's going to be a reset at the end of the year anyway.

No-one is going to be embarrassed by this. It's almost like picking coin flips. Some people will be over 50% and some will be under 50%. The best score here will be about 58%. The worst score will be about 44%. Most people will be around 51% and it will all come down to the wire.

I hope you reconsider.

OldSchool said:

I joined up and put my picks in of course I was too late for the TNF game.

Click to expand...

No worries. I'm not including Thursdays because a lot of people are busy during the week and don't find time to make picks on Thursday games. Then they get discouraged because they're some points behind and they give up. That shouldn't happen here.

Additionally most of the prize fund goes to Weekly winners so there's still an incentive to play for those who aren't at the front of the field.

I was only partly joking about my stupidity. I really don't think I will have the time to commit to it.

I am in. Please let me know what else I need to do.

@Juice, if you wish to join the $2000 entry you have to place a $2000 wager on the 'Your entry fee' event. Alternatively you can play for free without $ROD prizes. Either is good. Picks can be made on the main 19-Handicap thread in the Sportsbook forum, they can be sent to me by PM, or posted on the ESPN board. All choices are good.

@Juice, your picks are logged at ESPN. Thanks for playing. You are in as a free player unless you change your mind about the $ROD.

Playing for free is perfectly fine.

@DaveFan'51, just putting in the money I promised. I was waiting to see if Juice wanted to put in $2000. If he was willing I would be adding 1 more $500 bonus to the prize pool.

All the money is now in. The prize fund is ROD$57,500. The 17 Weekly winners will each receive ROD$2,300. 3rd overall will receive ROD$2,300. 2nd overall will receive ROD$5,750. The overall winner will receive ROD$10,350.

Good luck to all.