As I indicated in the Pickem Standings thread, I would like all players to send their picks to me via PM. Do not post them here.

I also indicated I was considering picking against the point spread, either instead of picking straight up or in addition to doing so. Rather than holding up this week's picks waiting for input from all the players, here is what I plan to do this week.

Everybody will continue to pick straight up, without regard to the spread. We will do this through the end of the season, and crown a champion in that contest as we have always done.

Starting this week, players will also have the option of picking underdogs to cover the point spread. I will keep track of these picks as if it were a separate contest. If enough players choose this option (even if you don't pick any upsets against the spread this week), I will continue to track this through the regular season, and will crown the season champion at the end of the year. If few are interested, we will consider that a referendum in favor of the status quo, and drop the idea.

You do not have to choose to play against the spread to stay in the original contest.

If you have any questions about this, please pose them here - others may be wondering the same thing but won't ask.

This week's schedule:

Miami @Duke (+5.5)
Southern Cal @Washington St (+4.5)
Rice @Pitt (-22.5)
UNC @ Georgia Tech (-9.5)
Vanderbilt @Florida (-9.5)
Syracuse @NC State (-13.5)
Central Michigan @ Boston College (-8.5)
Florida State @Wake Forest (+7.5)
Georgia @Tennessee (+7.5)
Navy @Tulsa (+3.5)
Iowa @Michigan State (-3.5)
Marshall @Cincinnati (-4.5)
Memphis @Central Florida (-2.5)
South Carolina @Texas A&M (-9.5)
Clemson @Virginia Tech (+6.5)

First alternate in case of cancellation:
BYU @Utah State (+3.5)

Second alternate:
Nebraska @Illinois (+6.5)

Including alternates, four of these games are on Friday night, so get your picks in before kickoff.

My picks this week (underdogs to lose but cover point spread indicated in blue):

Miami @Duke (+5.5)
Southern Cal @Washington St (+4.5)
Rice @Pitt (-22.5)
UNC @ Georgia Tech (-9.5) UNC covers
Vanderbilt @Florida (-9.5) Vandy covers
Syracuse @NC State (-13.5) Syracuse covers
Central Michigan @ Boston College (-8.5)
Florida State @Wake Forest (+7.5)
Georgia @Tennessee (+7.5)
Navy @Tulsa (+3.5)
Iowa @Michigan State (-3.5)
Marshall @Cincinnati (-4.5)
Memphis @Central Florida (-2.5)
South Carolina @Texas A&M (-9.5)
Clemson @Virginia Tech (+6.5)

First alternate in case of cancellation:
BYU @Utah State (+3.5)

Second alternate:
Nebraska @Illinois (+6.5) Illinois covers

Note:
I'm not sure it's appropriate for me to continue picking, since I select the games on the schedule and post the results. If several of you indicate in your PM that you think I should withdraw, I will do so with no hard feelings. I will still have fun just running the game.

(09-25-2017 10:14 AM)ken d Wrote:  I'm not sure it's appropriate for me to continue picking, since I select the games on the schedule and post the results. If several of you indicate in your PM that you think I should withdraw, I will do so with no hard feelings. I will still have fun just running the game.

Ken, I can't speak for anyone else but I don't think you should withdraw from competing. Yes, you are picking the games and tallying results, but I trust you. Not to mention, none of us have big stakes on the line in the contest. I say the more the merrier competing each week. Thanks for running the pick'em.

(09-25-2017 10:59 AM)CollegeCard Wrote:  

(09-25-2017 10:14 AM)ken d Wrote:  I'm not sure it's appropriate for me to continue picking, since I select the games on the schedule and post the results. If several of you indicate in your PM that you think I should withdraw, I will do so with no hard feelings. I will still have fun just running the game.

Ken, I can't speak for anyone else but I don't think you should withdraw from competing. Yes, you are picking the games and tallying results, but I trust you. Not to mention, none of us have big stakes on the line in the contest. I say the more the merrier competing each week. Thanks for running the pick'em.

I concur. Excellent work!


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I concur. too.

You Louisville guys sure do stick together, dont you.


But I also concur.

Cuse's bowl chances are on the line...a loss against NCSt pretty much sticks a fork in it.

With all the focus on the hoops scandal, let's not forget to get our picks in on football. There are two games plus two alternates tomorrow night.

I like to see what other people picked.

I can sort of see your argument about gaming picks but I don't know that much of that goes on.

I like to check in in and see how I'm doing and remind myself of who I picked.

(09-30-2017 07:09 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  I like to see what other people picked.

I can sort of see your argument about gaming picks but I don't know that much of that goes on.

I like to check in in and see how I'm doing and remind myself of who I picked.

Players picking underdogs this week:

Duke: otacon, Buckminster Fuller
Washington St: Wilkie01, ChrisLords, Ole Blue, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger
Rice: none
UNC: Wilkie01, Lenvillecards, samandrea, otacon
Vandy: ChrisLords, Ole Blue
Syracuse: none
Central Michigan: none
Wake Forest: Wilkie01, Ole Blue, 4x4hokies
Tennessee: Wilkie01, g_t_swagger
Tulsa: ken d, ChrisLords
Iowa: ken d, Ole Blue, Bigtexnole, samandrea, 4x4hokies, CollegeCard, g_t_swagger
Marshall: none
Memphis: ken d, Wilkie01, Ole Blue, Bigtexnole, Lenvillecards, lumberpack4, otacon
South Carolina: Bigtexnole, Lenvillecards
Virginia Tech: Wilkie01, ChrisLords, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger

Alternates:
Utah State: Ole Blue, Lenvillecards, samandrea, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger
Illinois: Ole Blue, samandrea, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger


As games are completed, I will highlight the losing picks in red.

(09-30-2017 08:15 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(09-30-2017 07:09 AM)4x4hokies Wrote:  I like to see what other people picked.

I can sort of see your argument about gaming picks but I don't know that much of that goes on.

I like to check in in and see how I'm doing and remind myself of who I picked.

Players picking underdogs this week:

Duke: otacon, Buckminster Fuller
Washington St: Wilkie01, ChrisLords, Ole Blue, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger
Rice: none
UNC: Wilkie01, Lenvillecards, samandrea, otacon
Vandy: ChrisLords, Ole Blue
Syracuse: none
Central Michigan: none
Wake Forest: Wilkie01, Ole Blue, 4x4hokies
Tennessee: Wilkie01, g_t_swagger
Tulsa: ken d, ChrisLords
Iowa: ken d, Ole Blue, Bigtexnole, samandrea, 4x4hokies, CollegeCard, g_t_swagger
Marshall: none
Memphis: ken d, Wilkie01, Ole Blue, Bigtexnole, Lenvillecards, lumberpack4, otacon
South Carolina: Bigtexnole, Lenvillecards
Virginia Tech: Wilkie01, ChrisLords, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger

Alternates:
Utah State: Ole Blue, Lenvillecards, samandrea, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger
Illinois: Ole Blue, samandrea, 4x4hokies, g_t_swagger


As games are completed, I will highlight the losing teams in red.

Thanks...I didn't pick the most underdogs but I wasn't far from it!

Not a good day for underdogs, apparently.

Congratulations to Buckminster Fuller and lumberpack4, winners of Week 5 in the pickem with a 12-3 record. Be sure to shower them with praise and rep points.

Close behind with 11 correct picks were 4x4hokies, ChrisLords, CollegeCard, georgia_tech_swagger and samandrea.

This brings the season standings to:

4x4hokies.........42 correct
lumberpack4.....42
CollegeCard......41
ken d...............41
Bigtexnole........40
Buckminster F. .40
Ole Blue...........40
samandrea.......40
g_t_swagger.....39
otacon.............39
Wilkie01..........39
ChrisLords.......37
Lenvillecards....37

It's still anybody's ball game. One good week can make a big difference.

It figures that I would win the week that didn't count.


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