Greetings!

So we're a few weeks into August and that means college football is just right around the corner. With that in mind, I was considering organizing another MAC Pick 'Em Tournament again this year. I was pretty pleased with the participation last year, so I would be happy to keep track of everyone's picks on a week-to-week basis again.

Last year's rules were pretty straightforward to keep things simple. They were as follows:

1. Each week, I (or another) will start a thread listing the week's matchups a minimum of 72 hours prior to the kickoff of the first week's game
2. With the exception of Week 1, a list of all participants will be included in the thread with a cumulative, season long point total as well as the points earned from the previous week's matchups.
3. Picks are made straight-up (just choose who you think will win).
4. Picks will be accepted up to one hour prior to kickoff of the first week's game*
5. If a participant misses a week, he/she is not disqualified from the season long contest, but cannot earn points for the week missed.
6. Correct MAC vs Out-of-Conference picks will be worth 1 point; MAC vs MAC picks will be worth 2 points.
7. Tournament concludes at the end of the regular season. If two (or more) participants tie with the highest score at the end of the season, the tie will be broken by picking the winner and the margin of victory in the MAC Championship game
   

* Due to the unique nature of the MAC, I decided mid-season last year to allow people to break up their picks when it comes down to the October and November Mid-Week MACtion games. For instance, you may submit your picks for the week-day games (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) 1 hour prior to the first mid-week kickoff, and a separate post submitting your picks 1 hour prior to the first of the weekend games (Friday/Saturday). I hope this makes sense.

For 2018, I thought it might be interesting to change up the format a little bit but I wanted some input from the board to see if it would be fun or worth doing. Some things we can do to change things up this year:

• Include an additional 1-3 non-MAC related games in each week's pick'em slate; This could include rivalries, top games from throughout the G5 or P5, or games with CFP or NY6 implications.
• Include a weekly poll to vote on a MAC "Game of the Week"; could make the GOTW worth double points
• Awarding rep points for the winner of each week -- this can serve as motivation for people to continue participating week in and week out. I noticed a drop in participation halfway though the season due to folks missing a week or falling behind in the standings (Credit to Ken d for this idea), so this could give folks a reason to participate even if they miss a week.
  

Again, I'm open to input from the board for any suggestions or rule changes for the upcoming season. Ball State plays Central Connecticut State on Thursday, August 30th, so I'll take suggestions on the rules up until the 23rd. I'll post the Week 1 thread on the following day (Friday, the 24th).

The winner of the 2018 MAC Pick 'Em will have bragging rights for the year as well as a small trophy provided by myself.

Last year's winner:



Looking forward to the upcoming football season!

Regards,

BobcatEngineer

Thank for doing this again!

Personally, I am not a fan of the first new proposed rule. I think we should keep it strictly to MAC games. I like the other two ideas though.

If you do the OOC game, make it a G5 match-up. P5 I like the other two ideas also.

(08-14-2018 02:24 PM)george14 Wrote:  Thank for doing this again!

Personally, I am not a fan of the first new proposed rule. I think we should keep it strictly to MAC games. I like the other two ideas though.

i agree with george14. no to the first one, yes to the last two.

and, damn, that trophy looks AWESOME on my mantle! :-)

I want that trophy this season!

I'm in - still hungry after missing first by only a few points last season IIRC.

Sounds good to me!

Can't wait. One of my favorite parts of the season LOL

(08-15-2018 09:08 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  I'm in - still hungry after missing first by only a few points last season IIRC.

Can last seasons standings be reposted? I forget where I stood and how close the finish was.

Full results of the 2017 Pick 'Em:

(08-21-2018 10:05 AM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  Full results of the 2017 Pick 'Em:

Thanks! I tied for 7th, 7 points back. It's time to chase what's rightfully mine!

(08-21-2018 04:49 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(08-21-2018 10:05 AM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  Full results of the 2017 Pick 'Em:

Thanks! I tied for 7th, 7 points back. It's time to chase what's rightfully mine!

So I'll most likely put up the Week 1 Thread tomorrow morning instead of Friday because I have to travel for a wedding.

I just had some lingering questions that needed resolved and was hoping to get some input.

It sounds like awarding rep points weekly and having a "Game of the Week" were pretty popular rule additions from the comments I've received. I can include a poll in the weekly thread and have everyone vote on the GOTW for said game to be worth double points should you pick correctly.

I'm all for having a GOTW that everyone votes on, however, I also see a few issues:

1. Participants may not necessarily know what game is the GOTW until later in the week. This could pose a problem because people posting early in the week might not know how much weight their picks are having. For instance, in the early week voting, the Miami vs Ohio game could be leading in the polls. I make my picks assuming that game will be worth double... Then later on in the week the WMU vs CMU game overtakes Miami vs OU in votes in the poll. That may change the calculus of people's decisions.

2. Should I include all MAC matchups in the poll? Or can I narrow it down to 2-3 games that are legitimate candidates for GOTW? This may introduce some bias into the competition.

3. I don't believe there is anyway to limit voting to MAC Pick 'Em participants in general. I can envision a scenario where a bunch of AAC posters flood our board and vote some insignificant game as GOWT.

The other route we could take would just to let me pick the GOTW each week. That way everyone will know in advance prior to making their picks what game will be worth double points. Again, this may introduce some bias into the competition, but I will try to be as objective as possible (I'll try not picking an OU game each week ).

(08-22-2018 04:52 PM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  So I'll most likely put up the Week 1 Thread tomorrow morning instead of Friday because I have to travel for a wedding.

I just had some lingering questions that needed resolved and was hoping to get some input.

It sounds like awarding rep points weekly and having a "Game of the Week" were pretty popular rule additions from the comments I've received. I can include a poll in the weekly thread and have everyone vote on the GOTW for said game to be worth double points should you pick correctly.

I'm all for having a GOTW that everyone votes on, however, I also see a few issues:

1. Participants may not necessarily know what game is the GOTW until later in the week. This could pose a problem because people posting early in the week might not know how much weight their picks are having. For instance, in the early week voting, the Miami vs Ohio game could be leading in the polls. I make my picks assuming that game will be worth double... Then later on in the week the WMU vs CMU game overtakes Miami vs OU in votes in the poll. That may change the calculus of people's decisions.

2. Should I include all MAC matchups in the poll? Or can I narrow it down to 2-3 games that are legitimate candidates for GOTW? This may introduce some bias into the competition.

3. I don't believe there is anyway to limit voting to MAC Pick 'Em participants in general. I can envision a scenario where a bunch of AAC posters flood our board and vote some insignificant game as GOWT.

The other route we could take would just to let me pick the GOTW each week. That way everyone will know in advance prior to making their picks what game will be worth double points. Again, this may introduce some bias into the competition, but I will try to be as objective as possible (I'll try not picking an OU game each week ).

Make the game of the week the closest to pickem in Vegas. Some weeks it may be a couple games that are close but on Sunday you will have a line established in Vegas and can choose a GOTW. Then it will be the toughest game to pick per Vegas and therefore worth more.