The Rules
- Each player begins the season with 3600 points (200 points per week of the season, in case you are curious).
- The picks are made against the spread as posted by DraftKings. I will post these on the web site by Thursday each week.
- Each week, a minimum of 100 points must be wagered. You may wager any whole number of points up to the number of points that you have left. Wagers are placed on one, two, or three games. Your total winnings for the week are added to (or subtracted from) your score, and this becomes your new score for the beginning of the next week.
- All picks must be made on the same entry with your latest submitted entry being the one that will be used for your weekly scoring. Submitting multiple single entries will not be combined together for your final selection. Exception: If you pick the Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday early morning game the entry closest to that kickoff will be considered your weekly entry.
- Wagering against the Spread: As an example, let’s say that the 49ers are favored by 6 over the Chargers. The 49ers are called the favorite, the Chargers are the underdog, and the spread is 6 points. If the 49ers win the game 20 to 13, they cover the spread, because they have won the game by more than 6 points. If the Chargers win the game, or lose by fewer than 6 points, they have covered the spread. If the 49ers win by exactly six points, this is a “push”, and the points wagered on either team are returned to the player.
- Sample Wagers in week 1:
Player1 NYG 200 MIA 100 PIT 300
Player2 MIA 500
If the Giants and Steelers cover and Miami does not cover, Player 1 wins 400 points, for a new total of 4000, and Player 2 loses 500 points, dropping to 3100. Get the idea?
- When you wager and lose all of your points, you are out of the pool for the season. Keep in mind that the minimum bet is 100 points, so your entire sum must be put on the line if your total falls to 100 or fewer points.
- The winner will be the player with the most points at the end of the 18-week regular season. The top 10-or-so positions will receive some winnings, depending on the number of players.
- All bets for the week must be sent by kickoff on Sunday. You must make your picks without knowledge of anyone else’s picks. Thursday and Saturday games: You may choose games played earlier than Sunday, but your picks for the entire week must be in by the kickoff time of the earliest game. If you pick only Sunday and Monday games, you may send them in as late as the Sunday kickoff. You may not parlay your bet – in other words, you can’t see how your Thursday pick goes before placing additional Sunday or Monday picks.
- If a player fails to make any picks in a given week by the 1:00 PM Sunday kickoff, the player will lose 100 points for that week (the minimum bet amount).
Some other notes:
- Sometimes a game will show “NL”, or no line. This game is not available for picks in that week. If a wager is placed on one of those teams, it will be ignored. I will try to contact you about the error, but I cannot make any guarantees. When I send out the spreads, I will omit any game with a “NL”.
- If a posted spread moves by more than 3 points due to an injury not listed on the injury report at time of posting, that spread becomes No Line and no wagers will be counted on that game. Bettors who have made wagers on that game before the No Line has been updated and posted have the opportunity to change that pick to any game that has not yet begun. If the bettor has also wagered on any other game that has already occurred or started, the bettor cannot increase the total amount originally wagered. I will try to get any updates communicated to the group via email if I am able to.
- If you own or assist in multiple player picks, you may not hedge any bets by wagering on both sides of any game.
- The Honor System applies: If the form you submit with your picks is lost in e-space or something, I trust that you will tell me your picks truthfully.
- I would like to take all of the picks from the form on the internet during the season, but if you get stuck away from a computer, you can text me or call and leave a message on my cell at (717) 712-7680.
- Please double-check your own results each week. If I record your picks or winnings incorrectly, please call it to my attention and I will gladly fix the error.
- My picks for the week will be made with no knowledge of any other picks. I don’t process the weekly picks until after I have made mine. I, like everyone else, am bound by the honor system.
What you can expect:
- You can expect to find updates on this website at least two times each week. I will post the results for each week on Tuesday or Wednesday evening along with the spreads for the following week’s games.
- I will try to post another spreadsheet on Sunday to show all of the picks that everyone has made for the week, so you can follow along. This should happen shortly after kickoff, assuming that I am in town on that day.
- Check back to this site periodically before the season. Let me know if you find any problems, and I will fix them before the season.
What you need to do:
- Enter the pool by filling out the form on the Main Page. Include your name, your player name, your state, and your email address.
- Use the PayPal or Venmo option or send a check for 50 units, payable to Nick DeCecco, 1400 South Barton Street Apt 419, Arlington, VA 22204. BOTH the form and the entry fee must be received before Week 1 1:00 PM Sunday Kickoff.
- PayPal: [email protected]
- Venmo: @NickDeCecco
- I do have Zelle as well, but please contact me prior to using this as I rarely use it.
- When using electronic payment methods please include the Player Name(s) you are sending for. This makes my life easier trying to sort through who has or has not paid.
- Make sure the website is working well for you. If you notice any problems, email me.
- Think up a strategy for the season. Good luck!