Due to the overwhelming amount of games available to choose from, I'm not going to be posting lines from every game available. You will find and use lines on your own from whatever legitimate source you choose. We will be using a limited honor system here. You post the line you find, and I'll cross-check it with the source I use. I'll allow you a 2-point window in either direction. In other words, if your line is within two points of mine, I'll accept your line. If it's more than two points away, I'll let you know, and you can either change your pick or use my line. If a neutral party (neither myself nor the original picker) wishes to challenge my line, we can work it out over an AIM chat or something. Please note, the window is NOT there for the purpose of allowing you to pad your lines or anything. Be honest about the lines you fine. Honor system applies here.
However, since some of you probably won't want to do exhaustive research, I will post around five "spotlight games" each week. For the spotlight games, my lines must be used.
You may submit your picks at any time prior to the first game you are picking. All games must be picked in one post, meaning, if you want to pick a Thursday game and two Saturday games, you must pick all three games prior to the first game starting. Once any of your games have started, you may not change any of your picks. If you are going to change picks, DELETE AND REPOST. Do not edit your post. Any edited posts will not count.
Unless otherwise noted, every game picked must meet the following criteria: At least ONE of the teams involved must either be a member of a BCS conference, or ranked in the Top 25. BOTH teams must be members of Division 1-A, bowl division, whatever the hell it's called these days. For levels involving player-specific props, the spread of the game you are picking must be under 20.
The "week" will run Thursday - Monday. No games played on Tuesday or Wednesday are eligible for prediction until Championship Week. I'm thinking of including Bowl Season in this contest and doing something totally different for it, but haven't worked out the details yet. Keep this in mind so you don't accuse me of "changing the rules midway through." I'm warning you that such a change is coming now.
ATS = against the spread. OU = over/under. SU = straight up. If you don't know what these things mean, learn. We'll be using them frequently.
I will be participating myself. If anyone has any objections or thinks I'm doing anything unfairly, feel free to call me out and we'll sort it out. There's no prize here, it's all in good fun, fair competition among fans is encouraged!
Level 5: Winners, winners, winners - Pick one winner (SU) from each of the six BCS conferences. At least two of your picks must be favored by single digits or less. All six must win.
Level 4: Pick one game ATS. You must pick a road team who is favored.
Level 3: The Jakyl Tier - Three game teaser (pick three games ATS, add six points in your favor to each spread, all games must win, you may advance with ONE push)
Level 2: Pick three games OU. Must get two or more correct to advance.
Level 1: Pick one game ATS.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Pac12 - Colorado at Washington Big12 - Oklahoma State (-8) at Texas Big10 - Indiana at Wisconsin BigEast - Louisville at Cincinatti ACC - Clemson (-7) at Maryland SEC - Alabama at Ole Miss
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When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless.
Copied over from previous topic...actually it's not a complete copy because I finally found a line for Florida-Auburn.
ACC: Georgia Tech (-7) @ Virginia Big East: Louisville @ Cincinnati Big Ten: Indiana @ Wisconsin Big XII: Oklahoma @ Kansas Pac-12: Colorado @ Washington SEC: Florida @ Auburn (+2)
Seriously, why the hell is Auburn the underdog? This one was an obvious pick, not quite as obvious as Alabama, but obvious enough that if it could fulfill one of my requirements, I'd take it. To put it in perspective, I feel more comfortable with Auburn and Cincinnati than I did with Alabama and South Florida, and the Bulls are an 8.5-point favorite.
Then again, when I was planning out my picks before I had any of the lines, Georgia Tech was one of the four obvious double-digit favorites I was planning to take, and if Auburn turned out to be a double-digit fave it looked as though my two requisite single-digit faves/dogs would be from the BEast and the Pac-12. So I can't predict lines for s***.
-- (this space for rent...okay, not really.) [NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]
On second thought...seeing the team I thought might be in danger of being favored by double-digits as a dog worries me. Switch me back to Alabama for the SEC, and for the Big East, Rutgers (-4) at home against Navy--another oddly suspicious line, given that the Scarlet Knights are 4-1, leading the conference, and coming off a huge blowout of Pittsburgh. Perhaps they're predicting a letdown? Navy just got blown out by USM, and their two wins this year are against FCS Delaware and might-as-well-be-FCS WKU.
-- (this space for rent...okay, not really.) [NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]