04/19/24
January 14, 2007
NFL Pick 'em - Conference Championships: Division round Standings
Yay! Being perfect on the New England game takes some of the pain from messing up every other game away.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:39 PM on January 14, 2007
I'm not all that familiar with google spreadsheets, but I'm guessing that the fact I was within the spread-set for rushing yards, even though I didn't pick the correct rusher, means I missed on a point, eh? Stupid teasing bold tagged stat! (not that I'm close anyhow, yet)
posted by Ufez Jones at 08:42 PM on January 14, 2007
I was generous with the bonus points in the Divisional Round. If you were within the spread you got a point regardless if you got the rusher right. Which isn't the case with the kicker bonus question.
posted by apoch at 08:46 PM on January 14, 2007
Damn- I was all excited that I was in a tie for the lead, but then I looked closer. That spreadsheet can't be right. For example, Mr.Bismarck had two perfect picks this week (3 points each) plus picked the Saints to win, the spread of 9 exactly in the Ravens/Indy game, plus picked 132 yards for the rushing (within the +/- 15 of the real value of 143) for another point. By my count, Mr.Bismarck should have 9 points total this week, to go with his 4 last week, and be crushing us all with 13 points. And to answer Ufez Jones' question above, the rules said you got points for the rushing yards within margin-of-error regardless of whether you picked the right back to earn them: while his pick is bolded, he didn't seem to get the points for them.
posted by hincandenza at 08:47 PM on January 14, 2007
You got to be kidding me right? Two weeks in a row. You guys sure you want me running this? ANYWAY. It's fixed. I forgot to add in the bonus question points. There ya go. It's all fixed. Mr. Bismarck has a 3 pt lead. It also knocks Weedy out of the top mover slot. goddam holds the sole honor with a move of 26 slots.
posted by apoch at 08:56 PM on January 14, 2007
You're doing fine- it's Google spreadsheets that might be making it overly complex. Guess it's caveat picker: everyone should double check/track their own point scores.
posted by hincandenza at 08:59 PM on January 14, 2007
No... I'm doing the spreadsheets in Excel then uploading the files. Google is actually better to sort in because it locks the whole row so you can't accidentally sort part of someone's picks (like what happened the first week.) It's entirely user error. Easily fixed errors. I was so hopeful I'd have it right this week.
posted by apoch at 09:02 PM on January 14, 2007
Somehow I managed to run the table for winning teams and highest rusher but got absolutely no love on the spreads or total yards.
posted by holden at 09:12 PM on January 14, 2007
Oh- then yeah, kind of embarassing. :) Although in Excel, you can avoid this if you just make sure to highlight all the columns before doing a sort. What I liked to do last year that you might find useful is to have a worksheet sorted by name, doing the computations and formulas in there and never using a sort on them. Then when I updated the final results (and it auto-computed that weeks scores), I'd select all the cells, do a copy, and then in a different worksheet do right-click Paste Special, and choose to only paste the Values. This would give a separate value-only worksheet that I could sort and format, including conditional formats like "Bold when a number = 9" or whatever. It also made it easier to do sums week to week, since the order and format of the users never changed on the primary computation sheet.
posted by hincandenza at 09:14 PM on January 14, 2007
Well, I shouldn't have any issues (crossing fingers) the next two weeks as instead of adding potential points I'll be removing them as the number of games go down.
posted by apoch at 09:19 PM on January 14, 2007
Muchas gracias, hal. I wasn't so much pining for points as I was looking for clarification. My prognostsers are pretty futile anyhow. And apoch, much love and respect. You're taking on much more than I would care to.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:58 PM on January 14, 2007
You know, Apoch, if you're having problems I'm ok with calling the competition now and crowning a winner...
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:54 AM on January 15, 2007
That won't be necessary. I can handle it.
posted by apoch at 06:54 AM on January 15, 2007
we're picking here, right? Saints by 9 Patriots by 7 Vinatieri - 11
posted by YukonGold at 07:51 AM on January 15, 2007
I must ruminate on these selections - while I am assured I know who will win, I don't quite yet know that scores or kicker stats. Acessing the Universe..... Accessing..... Thanks a mint, again, apoch.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:56 AM on January 15, 2007
Saints @ Bears Saints go marching through the Bears.
Saints by 12.
Patriots @ Colts Vinatieri sticks the dagger in Belichick's fleece heart, and Peyton finally goes to the show.
Colts by 2.
posted by wingnut4life at 08:04 AM on January 15, 2007
On review, I forgot the extra points after TDs. Please set my point tally for Vinatieri to 13. Thankyouverymuch.
posted by wingnut4life at 08:07 AM on January 15, 2007
Saints @ Bears Saints by 7 Patriots @ Colts Pats by 3. Stephen Gostkowski 11 points
posted by hawkguy at 09:06 AM on January 15, 2007
Saints by 3 Colts by 7 Carney - 12
posted by trox at 10:32 AM on January 15, 2007
hincandenza Saints by 10 (24-14) Patriot by 7 (24-17) Vinatieri with 10 (3FG, 1PAT)
posted by hincandenza at 10:49 AM on January 15, 2007
grum@work's locks of the week!* Saints by 6 Colt by 3 Vinatieri with 12 *not to be used for wagering purposes, or impressing your friends, because, well, the picks are usually wrong
posted by grum@work at 11:46 AM on January 15, 2007
"That won't be necessary. I can handle it." Dammit, I wanted that satin winner's jacket too. My momma be so proud. As it is, I shall follow San Diego's example in guaranteeing my ultimate victory now, choking, binning the lead and then punching the eventual winner before blaming it on the Pope Squatter's lack of class.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:26 PM on January 15, 2007
Bears by 4 Pats by 3 Gould 10 pts.
posted by willthrill72 at 04:14 PM on January 15, 2007
Bears - 3 Indy - 4 Gould - 12
posted by skydivemom at 06:49 PM on January 15, 2007
Saints by 3. Indy by 4. Carney - 10 pts. For the record, I'd be picking the Pats here, but I need the Colts to grab the Confidence Costanza.
posted by BullpenPro at 07:03 PM on January 15, 2007
Saints by 3 Colts by 3 Vinatieri with 9
posted by cl at 08:21 PM on January 15, 2007
Colts 4 Bears 6 Vinatieri 11
posted by tselson at 08:57 AM on January 16, 2007
colts by 11 saints by 7 Vinateri with 7
posted by louisville_slugger at 09:04 AM on January 16, 2007
Pats by 4 'Aints by 9 Gotkowski with 11.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:06 AM on January 16, 2007
Patriots by 5 Saints by 4 Carney with 11
posted by NoMich at 09:41 AM on January 16, 2007
Saints by 6 Colts by 3 Vinatieri with 5 The defences rule this weekend
posted by Folkways at 09:43 AM on January 16, 2007
Saints by 10 Patriots by 4 Vinatieri with 11
posted by billsaysthis at 01:06 PM on January 16, 2007
Saints by 10 Colts by 1 Carney 7 Thanks, apoch!
posted by Termite at 01:27 PM on January 16, 2007
Saints by 3 Colts by 3 Vin 10
posted by catfish at 01:33 PM on January 16, 2007
Chicago Bears by 7 Vinny Testaverde New England Patriots by 3 Vinatieri with 12
posted by MrFrisby at 01:39 PM on January 16, 2007
You can double check your picks here. The extra 9 points for people who have not picked yet is not a bug. It's a feature. Actually it proves that the math on the spread sheet is right. A max of 9 points this week and the results page for this week is blank, so until the games get played the blanks are "worth" points.
posted by apoch at 02:55 PM on January 16, 2007
The Bears realize that the Saints are no Seahawks, and the Saints realize that Grossman is much, much worse than Jeff Garcia. Saints by 10. Colts keep it close, but with no help from Peyton Manning. Brady comes up with some heroics but ultimately it will come down to Vinatieri's leg. Wide right gives the Patriots a win by 3. Gould with 10.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:25 PM on January 16, 2007
Saints nip the Bears by 17 Patriots patronize the Colts by 7 Robbie I-was-so-bad-in-college-my-team-actually-lost-a-game-6-to-4-to-Iowa Gould racks up 12 points.
posted by SummersEve at 06:56 PM on January 16, 2007
SummersEve, it looks like you've got the Saints pegged to really imbibe on the weekend, hey? Not just a little nip at 17. You're too funny!
posted by Spitztengle at 09:22 PM on January 16, 2007
Ok, I was sure I'd picked, but I must have hit preview and then got distracted by a butterfly. Saints by 9 Colts by 4 I'll have the Gould chipping in 11 points, please.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:01 AM on January 17, 2007
For my first pick, I am no longer going against the li'l brown nighttime flying machine: Patriots by 4 Saints by 10 John Carney - 6 points
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 04:14 PM on January 17, 2007
The only thing harder for me than making these picks is knowing that I won't be able to watch these games this week :( Anyway, here goes: Saints by 5 Colts by 3 Gould with 11
posted by Spitztengle at 09:22 AM on January 18, 2007
Saints by 7 - By the end of the 1st qtr of NOLA/Philly game, it became obvious they're going all the way. Colts by 3 - the curse of Vinatieri begins. (I swear I didn't copy offa Spitztengle.) Vinatieri - 9
posted by danostuporstar at 10:30 AM on January 18, 2007
My head says Saints and Pats win this weekend, but for sentimental reasons, I'll go with the Bears (by 3) and Colts (by 6). I think Gould will be forced to keep his team afloat, but I'm going to pull for Vinatieri to make the Pats pay for dissing him. Give him 11 points.
posted by forrestv at 03:20 AM on January 19, 2007
Saints by 10 Colts by 7 Vinatieri - 9 We'll see how that works out...
posted by chris2sy at 09:52 AM on January 19, 2007
saints by 9 colts by 6 vinatieri with 16
posted by goddam at 10:06 AM on January 19, 2007
Saints 10 Colts 3 Carney 9
posted by holden at 10:33 AM on January 19, 2007
Bears by 10 Colts by 3 Vinateri with 11
posted by gspm at 11:33 AM on January 19, 2007
Any opinons on the # of bonus questions for the Superbowl? There is going to be at least one 3 point question plus 1 point for over/under. Should there be a second 3 point bonus or is 4 possible bonus points enough?
posted by apoch at 12:11 PM on January 19, 2007
(...7, 8, 9.) Nine, please. I would like 9 bonus points.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:36 PM on January 19, 2007
The total points in the superbowl should be close to the points available in this round. The three point question should have tiers, too- i.e., you can get 1 of 3 points if you get X, but if you nail it with Y, you get all 3 points (kind of like the way you've been doing the spread picks). I'd say the total points available in the Superbowl should probably be 6 or 7. Part of the trick is to make sure that the Superbowl game isn't pointless in the pick 'em; if the choices are all binary (team A vs. team B) and small in number, and say Mr.Bismarck has a 3 point lead on his competition, then no one else can win unless they pick differently than him on everything and he's 100% wrong. People should be rewarded for leads, but to keep it interesting you should make it possible for people to catch up. Things like "pick the total yardage for each team. Within 30 yards, you get one point, within 15 yards you get two points"- leaves it open for come-from behind victories. :)
posted by hincandenza at 03:03 PM on January 19, 2007
apoch, my apologies but I didn't completely read the criteria for this round's bonus and need to change my answer. Vinatieri - 10 points Thank you.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 05:55 PM on January 19, 2007
Chicago by 4 New England by 3 Gostkowski-12
posted by tron7 at 05:58 PM on January 19, 2007
Well, the way I have it set up currently there are seven possible points, so unless someone has a 6 point lead, I won't add another bonus questions.
posted by apoch at 05:05 AM on January 20, 2007
Saints by 9 Colts by 6 Vin - 6
posted by yzelda4045 at 07:35 AM on January 20, 2007
NFC Championship: Saints by 17 (Shameless Plug Alert!) AFC Championship: Patriots by 9 Bonus: Gostkowski with 13
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:55 AM on January 20, 2007
Saints by 6 Pats by 3 Vinatieri with 8.
posted by bperk at 07:52 PM on January 20, 2007
Saints by 3 Indy by 7 Gostkowski with 11 What George Bush couldn't recitify, mother karma will put right. As a softcore Bears fan, I can't, in my right mind, root for them tomorrow. NFC over AFC regardless of who comes out.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:17 AM on January 21, 2007
Sorry for the delay, apoch. Saints by 10 Pats by 6 Vinatieri with 10 points.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:25 PM on January 21, 2007
And the kick is off for the Saints-Bears. No more picks for that game or the bonus will be accepted. Picks for the Colts-Pats game will be accepted till that kick off. The collective picks the Saints by 5, Colts by 1, Vinatieri with 10 points.
posted by apoch at 02:09 PM on January 21, 2007
I'll wait till the pats/colts is over, but the spreadsheet already looks off: Mr.Bismarck got 3 points for Gould/11, which is not the exact total nor is it confirmed yet to be the right choice (although he's likely to get 2 points)
posted by hincandenza at 05:27 PM on January 21, 2007
Well it was 13 points for Robbie Gould. 4/4 on extra points and 3/3 on Field goals.
posted by skydivemom at 05:41 PM on January 21, 2007
The sheet was off because when I last updated it, Mr Gould was leading Mr Carney 11-2. It's updated for Gould with 13 and the final score of the bears game.
posted by apoch at 06:02 PM on January 21, 2007
Good lord, but I suck.
posted by hawkguy at 09:23 PM on January 21, 2007
You and me both- I got a whopping ZERO. Sweet jesus.... at least I almost got the kicker right for one point, but it was Gould over Vinatieri 13-12. I'm officially out of it- even if I got all 7 points or whatever next week, there's no way Mr.Bismarck gets skunked- looks like he's going to run away with this... Wait- four people picked the Colts by 4?! What the deuce- who picks a win by 4?!
posted by hincandenza at 09:26 PM on January 21, 2007
You can view standings here, I'll create a new post with the guidelines for the superbowl picks tomorrow.
posted by apoch at 09:42 PM on January 21, 2007
I picked NE by 4, Hal, and that was the only point I scored. Are there anymore SpoFi prediction games I can play? It's hard to believe a Costanza hasn't rolled my way. Yet.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:49 PM on January 21, 2007
apoch, the standings are in alphabetical order?
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:51 PM on January 21, 2007
Yeah, they were. I figured most people didn't want to look at Mr. Bismarck on top again. I'm kidding. I look at them in alpha order when entering picks. I blame being sick.
posted by apoch at 10:16 PM on January 21, 2007
I much preferred the alphabetical order where I was close to the top. Well done this week to skydivemom and Bismarck.
posted by bperk at 07:54 AM on January 22, 2007
Ok the way I see you friggin non-AMERICANS should stay out of the USA sports pools. I mean if I cant be competitive in cricket or Canadain football at least stay out of pools I just might have a chance in. Well ok so in reality I don't have a chance, but still..... At the other end, Folkways made a full complement of picks in every round, and yet failed to register a single point. Every single thing he picked was wrong. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The Perfect Costanza. A Perfect Costanza? That deserves a special trophy. posted by grum@work at 8:17 PM CST on November 21 Folkways this is a moment that you'll want to remember for the rest of your life. Congrats to owlhouse as well. posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 4:57 PM CST on November 21 of course im kidding, sleep deprived, and chimically stimulated beyond my own good at this age. What I get for hanging with a crowd 10-20 years younger than me,
posted by Folkways at 10:46 AM on January 22, 2007
(You forgot to shout "and get off my lawn!")
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:48 AM on January 22, 2007
I hate this game! And I hate football! Hate it, hate it, hate it!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:29 AM on January 22, 2007
I'm with you lbb. I'm still trying to find a way to root against both teams in the Super Bowl.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:20 PM on January 22, 2007
Well, since I went Pats - Saints, I figure that Costanza ain't yours yet.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:24 PM on January 22, 2007
Me too, weedy. It's a sprint...no, more like a waddle, to the costanza line.
posted by hawkguy at 08:11 PM on January 22, 2007
I will costanza you all, dammit. I mean...how do you like that? Within two days: the Patriots lose, James Blake gets knocked out of the Australian Open, and they formally announce that there's not going to be a Hahnenkamm this year. I would go and open my veins and bleed to death in the snow, if there were any snow. I hate everything. Football, tennis, ski racing, hate it all.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:43 PM on January 22, 2007
I hate everything. Football, tennis, ski racing, hate it all yeah, but pitchers and catchers report in 24 days. so, you know, there's that.
posted by goddam at 09:06 PM on January 22, 2007
lbb, you can have my snow. We got a whole bunch Saturday. So much, in fact, that I got mad and booked my Maui vacation too early. I'm sure it cost me a couple hundred in airfare.
posted by hawkguy at 10:04 PM on January 22, 2007
I've added some new stuff to the standings. We now have a movement column from the previous week and the people who've moved up the most are highlighted in a bright green. People who got one point for nailing the spread but missing the winner are a light blue and Perfect Prognostications are on a background of light grey. The two most succesful pickers (unless there is a tie for first) have that weeks points in orange. The results tab has the spread for all the games. Well, what an exciting week. Three games won by Three points. Home teams are now 6-2. A big week for prognostication perfection. Colts by 9 - goddam Saints nipping the Eagles by 3 - grum@work, lil_brown_bat, Spitzengle, Hal Incandenza Bears by 3 - billysaysthis, bperk, willthrill 72, Mr Bismarck, cl Patriots by 3 - Ying Yang Mafia, WeedyMcSmokey, MrFrisby, yerfatma, MrBismarck Bonus - none. Mr Bismarck and cl are the only people to have two perfect picks. Both of Mr B's came this week. cl has managed one each week. 28 points were handed out on the bonus. McAllister lead all rushers with 143 yards. SummersEve and MrFrisby were the only two to McAllister and the yardarge with 15 yards. A lot of points were handed out to for people nailing the spread but not getting the winner, 9 to be exact. The most succesful predictions which were for the Saints which netted 45 points, closely followed by the Bears at 44. The biggest movers were goddam and WeedyMcSmokey who both jumped 25 places from 38th to 13th. This Weeks Picks NFC Championship: The New Orleans Saints go to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears. Starts at 3:00 pm ET AFC Championship: The New England Patriots hope to foil the Indianapolis Colts' hopes for a Super Bowl, for the first time in Indy. (First time an AFC Championship game has ever been played in a bowl.) Starts at 6:00 pm ET The Bonus: Which Kicker will score the most combined points (FG+PAT) and how many? The scoring will work the same way as for the games. You get one point for nailing the spread if you don't get the kicker. Kicker is worth one point, kicker and within the spread (computed same way as margin of error for game spreads), and 3 for a perfect prognostication. The kickers are: John Carney - New Orleans Saints Robbie Gould - Chicago Bears Stephen Gostkowski - New England Patriots Adam Vinatieri - Indianapolis Colts Please have all picks in by Saturday Noon Eastern. This is a request, I will accept picks up until the start of the NFC game (3:00 pm ET). After that, no NFC pick, no bonus. The AFC picks will be accepted until Kickoff of the AFC game (6:00 pm ET