End-Around.com

MARGIN OF VICTORY PLAYOFFS POOL

This year we'll use the same scoring method for the playoffs and Super Bowl XLV as I've used for the past 2-3 seasons. As during the regular season, players will need to enter their picks for each round of the Playoffs. Here's a rundown on how the Playoffs will be handled (be sure to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions about this pool format):

For each week, including the Wildcard Games:

• Pick the "straight-up" winner of every game + how many points the team will win by. Point Spreads will not be used.
• Automatic 3 Penalty Points for picking the wrong (losing) team.

Scoring:

• Winner Picked:
  • Game Difference points minus Your Predicted Points (positive value)
• Loser Picked:
  • 3 Penalty Points + Game Difference points + Your Predicted Points

The object is to have the LOWEST point total overall

Example:

• Green Bay is playing Arizona in a Wild Card game and you pick Arizona by 3.
• If Arizona wins by 3, you get "0" points...the best possible score for a game.
• If Arizona wins by 10, you would get 7 points
• Now if Green Bay wins by 3, you would get 9 points; 3 for picking the wrong team + you were off by 6 points (game difference of 3 + your prediction for Arizona to win by 3)

When making your pick for the Super Bowl you will also enter your estimated total points to be scored, just as in the regular season pool. This value will be used as a Tiebreaker, if needed.

This format should make for a much more enjoyable Playoffs. I like the fact that no one is "out of the running" after the first round is finished. Strategy can definitely be used here. Of course, a lot of ground can be made up if you're daring enough to go out on a limb and pick a team to win by a big number, and have that team come through for you. We saw some pretty big winning margins for a few of the playoff games last year. Who knows, it could happen again.

The first Picksheet for the playoffs will be ready the Tuesday following Week 17, just for the Wildcard games. Subsequent picksheets will be posted by Tuesday of each week.