CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND RECAP
I’m hoping the Super Bowl is a much better game than what we saw this past Sunday. Besides getting a surprising start from Tennessee, both games were basically blowouts, and I find blowouts so damn boring (unless there’s a “Key Pick” involved, of course). And really, it was only a matter of time before Tannehill did what Tannehill does, and that’s disappoint everyone around him. Either way, I cannot wait until Super Bowl Sunday!!
Normally this second paragraph is about how the Pats have been so amazingly good for my entire adult life, getting to the Championship round eight years straight, and remembering the pre-Kraft days, but clearly this year is different.
And now to our pool… 36 people picked both games correctly, 45 got both wrong, 69 people split, and 50 people couldn’t be bothered making picks — which I kinda get, if you’re already out of it — like me who completely fell apart starting in Week 17. Went from 5th place all the way down to 26th place. Ugh I am so disappointed in myself.
Moving on… 575 points were scored overall, which averages out to 3.83 points per player – slightly under the 4.05 average from the past seven seasons, and not even close to the high in 2015.
January 2019 – 4.54 points per player
January 2018 – 3.16
January 2017 – 5.00
January 2016 – 2.73
January 2015 – 6.16
January 2014 – 2.45
January 2013 – 4.35
OVERALL STANDINGS
Now this is what I’m talking about! All sorts of possibilities for people to win some serious cash! In total, there are 10 people that can place in the top 5 spots depending on how things fall. The chart below shows who still has a chance to win a pile of money – just gotta pick the right team and hope whoever is above picks the opposite!
As mentioned last week, OT617857 is continuing his hot streak, and the answer to my “can he crack the Top 5?” question has been answered… yes he can! But can he hold on to it with one game left?
In addition, I want to point out another member, and his name is FAZIO113. If you think OT617857 is on fire, just wait until you read this these stats: In Week 13, FAZIO’s record was 94-98 and he was sitting in 113th place. Since then, he put up weeks with 10 wins, 12, 7, and another 10 to finish off the regular season, and then added another 24 points in the playoffs. If any of these guys can be considered an underdog, it’s FAZIO, and I’m rooting for him!
Lastly, can we have a moment of silence for MARXY? After finishing in 1st place at the end of the regular season with a 7-game lead, he went 3-1 Wildcard weekend, missing only his 4-pick (NE) and earning 6 points and still had a 6-point lead. But since then, goose eggs. 0-6 during the last two weekends and now all the way down in 8th place. BUTTTTT he has a 5-pointer left, so hopefully he can turn it around to finish the year. If not, someone is gonna need to be by his side for a couple days after the Super Bowl to make sure he’s able to get out of bed and eat.
RANK KEYS MEMBER POINTS REMAINING SB PTS
1 9 WILLY33 170 4
2 11 DEMO1 166 5
3 9 MAJAHUITAS 164 3
4 11 THEKINGBEEJ 162 4
5 10 OT617857 162 4
6 8 Tony M 162 5
7 8 SHUTCH05 161 4
8 12 MARXY 160 5
9 12 MARCUSDUPREESOU 159 5
10 8 FAZIO113 157 5
PLAYOFF STANDINGS
The Playoff pool also pays the top five spots and talk about endless possibilities! Most of the people listed on the chart below are simply hoping for the long-shot 5th place tie. But there are plenty of others that can do better. If OT617857 picks the correct team, he automatically wins $1500 for 1st place. If he doesn’t, the door is open for the four members right below him to at least tie (and yes, it’s FAZIO knocking). Final note: if your name is gray and crossed out, it means you don’t have enough points left to finish in the top five.
RANK KEYS MEMBER POINTS REMAINING SB PTS
1 x OT617857 27 4
2 x FAZIO113 24 5
3 x KDOG63 23 5
4 x WILLY33 23 4
5 x GWILLIFORD7 22 5
6 x THEKINGBEEJ 22 4
7 x BB12CAT 21 3
8 x DEMO1 21 5
9 x GRADY275 21 5
10 x GRUMPYBC 21 3
11 x GUY MARCELL 21 3
12 x MAXWELL SMART 21 3
13 x MH34 21 4
14 x Tony M 21 5
15 x BKELLY17 20 5
16 x FAGE88 20 5
17 x JSECHER85 20 4
18 x MAJAHUITAS 20 3
19 x SLEEZYTREES 20 3
20 x BEANSUMMER 19 5
21 x HUMAROCK 19 5
22 x SEEMOREBUCKS 19 3
23 x Sharts Fired 19 3
24 x X-MEN16 19 5
25 x BACKHAIRBREW 18 5
26 x BSTENNY 18 5
27 x GUARANTEEDTORUN 18 3
28 x JHEALY0611 18 3
29 x MANU. OUTRAGE 18 4
30 x MRTOOMS 18 5
31 x PAULMURATORI 18 3
32 x SHUTCH05 18 4
33 x THE BALD FURITO 18 4
34 x BOSTONJOHN88 17 3
35 x CMCDONALD 17 4
36 x MADELINE HAYES 17 5
37 x PEMERYJR 17 5
38 x THE_SHIVA 17 5
39 x ZIGDAPLORABLE 17 4
ROOKIE RACE
This race is much simpler to report on, as it’s all over. WILLY33 has officially won the Rookie Race as the person in second place (OT617857) doesn’t have enough points left to catch him. So congrats to him, along with his jockey BRADELL. Both members will be rewarded with a free entry into next season, and what’s really wild about this is that BRADELL won the Rookie prize last season. Talk about a thoroughbred bloodline!
COMBO RACE
This race is alsooooo over! And again it’s the unstoppable WILLY33/BRADELL combo. Their 13-point lead is far too much for any other group to catch them. Normally this is an automatic carryover into next year, but since they both already won that honor, they’ll both be getting $250 in cash, and there’s a good chance this won’t be the only prize money WILLY wins this postseason…
VETERANS POOL
Now here is a serious battle. Two long time members, who are not only trying to place Overall, but also trying to take home the title of best Veteran. DEMO1 wins it with a correct pick. Winner will be rewarded with a free entry into next season.
RANK KEYS MEMBER POINTS REMAINING SB PTS
1 11 DEMO1 166 5
2 9 MAJAHUITAS 164 3
BEST OF NOTHING and LAST PLACE OVERALL
These are yet to be determined, but they’re both worth a free entry into next season for two (un)lucky members!
And finally… SQUARES
For all those who did NOT win any cash this year (and those who did for that matter), there are two sets of Super Bowl squares, and every member has one square total. A very different set-up from past seasons when members got multiple squares on multiple sheets, but now each winning square is worth a free entry into next season (instead of just $100). There will be 8 winning squares in all – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarter, plus the final score on both sets. A link to the squares can be found above in the horizontal menu. In addition, there’s an alphabetical list by name with your numbers if you’re not up for searching through the boxes. The squares and the numbers were distributed via complete randomness. And I can prove that, cause I personally have a 1-2 square, and that 2 number is hard to come by unless something odd happens (or six touchdowns are scored by one team)…
Good luck to everyone and I hope all 200 members will join us again next season, but I know that won’t be happening. Every year we seem to lose 25-35 people, but that’s good news for anyone that is looking to get someone new into the league. There’s already a waiting list, so start telling your friends and family NOW about the best pick ‘em pool you’ve ever been involved with!
Look for one last recap sometime shortly after the Super Bowl in early February. All money winners will get paid during that same week.
Can’t believe pro football is almost gone again… it just got here!
Be well, Dan