How to Run a NFL Pool (As Well as Smokkee’s NFL Week Five Picks)
As a sponsor of an NFL pool, I try to get my picks out before anybody else. from Week five until the end of the season, I will let the world in on my picks as well as how to conduct an NFL pool in the first place.
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Conducting the pool is easy. Just list that particular week’s match ups so that there is a blank space by each team in that match up. How I do it is have each participant (whom I call a Panelist) choose which team will win each given match up. Now here is where it gets tricky for some. Depending on the number of games (14 matchups if 4 teams have Byes, otherwise it will be 16 matchups), you label each of your selected winners a number 1-14/16 (depending on the number of matchups). 1 represents low confidence, 14/16 represents high confidence. For example, you have Colts @ Patriots (a great matchup), only a die harder fan of either team would put a number higher than 5 on this series because it could go either way but if you have Colts @ Browns, most would put a high number on the Colts because honestly the Browns suck big time. Anyway, everybody starts the pool with the same number of points, which is all the points of that week totaled, for instance for 14 match up weeks,everybody starts with 105 or 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 all the way to +12 + 13 +14. The most a person can end up with is 210 (win all games); the least is 0 or lose all games. In case of a tie, I have a tiebreaker question which is generally how many points the Monday Night teams score total. Whoever gets closes to the actual point total wins the pool.
Sinple right? Wrong, because some teams would always win on paper yet everybody knows the football phrase “Any Given Sunday” because any given Sunday any team can beat any other team. Still with that in mind here are my picks for Week 5:
Bengals @ Ravens: Ravens are coming off a gut wrenching loss to the New England Patriots but definitely had a chance to snag a victory at the end of the game. Bengals eked out a victory over their fellow Ohio team the Cleveland Browns. Ekeing out a win against the Browns does not inspire confidence. I say the Ravens will be 4-1 after this matchup. Confidence Level: 12
Browns @ Bills: This matchup sucks! The only reason I will watch this game is for T O madness. The Browns will make a game of this one, too, even though I don’t see them getting their first victory here. Don’t quote me about that. I’ll ride with the hometown team Bills just by default. Confidence Level: 5 (and that may be too high!)
Redskins @ Panthers: Do you remember when this would have been a fun matchup? Yeah, well damn you’re old. I have not gave up on the ‘Skins yet and whipping the lowly Panthers ought to boost confidence in Washington. Redskins with a Confidence Level of 11 ( boy I hope they don’t prove me wrong here!)
Steelers @ Lions: Yeah, Pittsburgh is back on track after beating the Chargers yesterday but even a 1-3 Steelers team wouldn’t lose to these ‘Cubs’ (get it: baby lions). Steelers, Confidence Level: 10 ( I know the ‘Skins & Ravens will win and I put an 12 & 11 on them respectively but where could my 13 and 14 be?)
Cowboys @ Chiefs: The winless Chiefs will finally get a win! Sounds good but I don’t even believe this is the week for a Chief victory, especially over a Cowboys team that has to be seeing red after a loss to Denver (BTW, I KNEW Denver was going to beat ‘em!) Cowboys, with a Confidence Level:6.
Raiders @ Giants: Even if Eli manning does not play, THERE IS NO WAY Oakland wins this game! NONE! Giants, Confidence Level: 14 (there’s my 14).
Bucs @ Eagles: The Eagles have landing after their bye week. Rejuvenated, still possibly without McNabb, but I don’t see ant problems with them taking off against Tampa Bay. Eagles Confidence Level:7.
Vikings @ Rams: Are we sure this is the real Brett Favre or a clone of his younger self? I know the truth, so I’m riding with the clone! Besides the Rams are this year’s Lions (they’ll play some games but won’t win any. Vikings Conifidence Level: 9.
Falcons @ 49ers: Here we go with a great match up. The Mike Vick-less Falcons are almost as exciting without Vick at quarterback as they are when they had him. Those 49er’s are just as exciting as watching, well, I don’t know who to compare them to but nevertheless, I like ’em. Between a Great D versus a Great O I’ll take the one that can do a little bit of both, which oddly enough doesn’t help here. Fine, I’ll take the Falcons only because the 49er’s are still growing under Mr Mike Singletary, and please call him Mister. Falcons, Confidence Level: 2 (honestly this one could go either way.)
Patriots @ Broncos: On paper there is no way those Denver boys have a chance against the great American rather the great New England Patriots. Brady looking like the Brady of old with just as many offensive weapons as he had back in the day, a revamped D, and of course the great Billy B is still the coah wtih the most. Yet, Kyle Orton & these Broncos are looking good. I know what Orton is capable of and if the Denver defense does its part, Orton will do his. It’s a good thing I don’t always read papers. Broncos, Confidence 1 (this was decided by a coin toss, hence the low number.)
Jags @ Seahawks: I like the Seahawks despite their record. I’m almost inclined to pick them except I’ve tried to pick them 3 times now and they let me down each time. The fact that they CAN beat the Jags doesn’t mean they will. Jags, Confidence Level: a very low 3.
Texans @ Cardinals: Here’s more of me being bias. While I like the Texans too, this is another team that has let me down in the past. The Cardinals let me down in the Super Bowl but I forgive them. Kurt Warner still has juice left so I’ll ride with him over them Texans and that crap they call a defense. Cardinals, Confidence Level: 8.
Colts @ Titans: Again, here’s a team (Tennessee) that has let me down whenever they got a chance (which is for them their first 4 games). Last year’s best team (record-wise) aren’t playing like it this year while the original Mr Manning is playing like he wants a piece of his brother in Super Bowl XLIV. It may happen yet. Colts, Confidence Level:13 (Peyton’s little brother’s team has it easier even if Eli doesn’t play!)
Jets @ Dolphins: What a game for Monday Night Football! I mean this match up WILL be must see TV within 2-3 years, tops. Right now, both teams are at the early stages of something special. Tough call, but since Chad Pennington isn’t 100% right now and Sanchez is (even if his ego is still bruised by his first loss to the Saints), I believe them Jets are clear for takeoff. Jets, Confidence Level: 4. I believe the Dolphins will score at least 17 points to the Jets 27 points, and since 17 + 27= 44, that’s what my tiebreaker point is.
I will have more picks next week for all of you NFL heads out there. Meanwhile let me know what you think of my picks.
