This is overdue. That’s on me, I apologize.
The fact is that as this pool deepens, we either have to install a tiebreaker format or (gasp!) start dealing with the spread.
Honestly, I don’t think our crowd is down for that. But look; our format lends itself to log jams at the top.
And the motto here at Football Pick ‘Em is no split pots. We want our Winner to have sole possession of First Place every time. So we’re gonna institute criteria to ensure that.
Tiebreaker criteria goes 5 levels deep.
If we ever have to go deeper past points, I will detail how the Winner is determined in the Winner’s post. The Winner will earn his or her money.
Believe that.
1. Points
The Monday Night Game is the tiebreaker. Simply predict the total combined points scored in the ballgame. If there is a tie, whomever is closet to the actual score Wins.
There is no penalty for guessing a higher total than the score. Once again, the closest pick to the final score Wins.
2. Winning Percentage
If #1 doesn’t get it, this one will.
Although this is the first mention of this on the site, the Winning percentage has been calculated for each week this season and overall.
That means that if you got 10 out of 16 games right, your Winning percentage is 63% (rounding up).
This Win % is then added to every other week you’ve played to get an overall Win percentage. And that’s the tiebreaker.
For instance
Since both players were tied in Week 2, the overall Winning percentage was used. In this format, Player 1 has a better overall Win % on the season, so that player would Win the pot using this tiebreaker.
3. Underdog Picks
Going this far should be rare. But just in case this tiebreaker involves use of the points spread. If you don’t know what that is, go here.
Real quick, let’s consider a matchup from this season
Miami 31 ✓
-2.5 Jacksonville 13
A favored team has the minus points next to their name. In this example, Jacksonville was considered the favorite to Win this ballgame.
But Miami prevailed. Since they beat the favored Jacksonville team, picking Miami would have earned you the upset Win.
Now as this relates to the Pick ‘Em pool, if two players are tied, the number of correctly guessed upsets will determine the Winner.
Here’s another example
Player Upset Picks
Player 1 2
Player 2 4 ✓
Using this criteria, Player 2 would Win since that player correctly picked more upsets during the week’s games.
4. Record Versus The Spread
There’s that dreaded S word again!
Look, the reality is that Football Pick ‘Em is a form of betting on Pro Football.
If all else has failed to break a tie between players, then the betting line will definitely do it.
It’s pretty straightforward people: in an intractable tie, the best record against the spread prevails.
Obviously, the aim here was to keep the betting lines out of the pool.
Spreads are considered an advanced form of gambling & is not suited for every football fan’s taste. There are loads of diehard football fans that can’t stand the spread.
I do understand that.
That’s why, in a worst case break-glass-in-case-of-emergency scenario, this is the last resort.
Our last tiebreaker is best record for the week in question against the spread. That should do it.
5. Best Record ATS Overall
And if that doesn’t do it, this damn sure better!
If two (or more players) remain tied through FOUR LEVELS OF TIEBREAKERS then yes, best record against the spread (ATS) will ultimately crown our Champion.
Straight up, I never expect things to get here.
(This is the silver bullet scenario.)
So there you have it folks. These are the tiebreakers in order. Don’t worry, there will be no split pots in this pool. The lifeguard–yours truly–bans ’em.
And FYI, if there is ever an instance where players remain tied past 5 levels of tiebreakers, then I will decide the Winner; unless it’s me and another individual (in which case I would forfeit to the other player).
That’s it.