Division Playoff Weekend

As I prepare to post the games for this weekends NFL Playoffs, I have a question that you guys need to weigh in on.

***I have already received 8 positive responses to this (which is a majority) so I have gone ahead and changed the points for the BCS games and Wild Card Weekend. If you haven't read the changes read on before making your predictions for the weekend.

The way that the points are currently being rewarded is under question (and rightfully so). I have both benefited from the current system and been hurt by it. Right now, I am rewarding people 1, 2, 5, or 10 points based on their score.

Here is where it get hairy.

Example 1: (The one where I benefited) This weekend I predicted that the Falcons would beat the Cardinals. I was wrong. I also predicted that the Falcons would not cover the spread. I was right. Under the scoring system that I put in place, I got 2 points. I correctly beat the spread which is harder to do, after all that's why Vegas uses point spreads.

Example 2: Last night Texas beat Ohio State but did not cover the spread. Under the scoring system that I put in place, people who correctly predicted that Texas would win but not cover got 2 points. Those that wrongly predicted that Ohio State would win also got 2 points for beating the spread, but didn't actually predict as correctly as others.

Example 3: (The one where I got hosed) I am the only person who correctly predicted that San Diego would beat the Colts on Saturday. However, I only got two points for beating the spread because that outscored the fact that I predicted the winner.

My proposed solution: I would like to rescore the games so that winners (1 point) and beating the spread (2 points) is cumulative meaning that on most games people will earn either 0 (everything wrong), 1 (only the winner right), 2 (only the spread right) or 3 points (both the winner and the spread right). Nailing the correct spread in your prediction will still be a total score of 5 and nailing the exact final score of the game will still be a total of 10 points.

Also, I will try to add half points into all of the spreads from here on out so that we can avoid push situations which currently count as not beating the spread.

When you send your scores for the NFL games this weekend, please weigh in on this proposal. If I get enough votes I will make the necessary changes. I really am enjoying doing this and I hope you guys are too.

On to the games:

Saturday, January 10

Baltimore Ravens (+3.5) at Tennessee Titans

Actual Score: Ravens 13-10
Predictions:
Aaron G: NONE (-1pt)
Carmen: Ravens 20-14 (3pts)
Jeff: Titans 21-10 (0pts)
Kubatski: Ravens 14-13 (3pts)
Kubatski Sr: Titans 24-17 (0pts)
Marty: Ravens 13-10 (10pts)
Maxwell: Ravens 27-21 (3pts)
McClain: Titans 13-9 (0pts)
Murray: Titans 24-17 (0pts)
Paulie: Titans 19-13 (0pts)
Princess G: Titans 24-20 (0pts)
Ronnie “Butters” Rowe: Ravens 17-16 (3pts)
Ryan G: Titans 24-13 (0pts)
Wade: Titans 24-10 (0pts)
Wild Bill: Ravens 20-17 (5pts)

Arizona Cardinals (+9.5) at Carolina Panthers

Actual Score: Cardinals 33-13
Predictions:
Aaron G: NONE (-1pt)
Carmen: Panthers 24-17 (2pts)
Jeff: Panthers 35-17 (0pts)
Kubatski: Panthers 31-21 (0pts)
Kubatski Sr: Panthers 34-23 (0pts)
Marty: Panthers 24-17 (2pts)
Maxwell: Panthers 24-21 (2pts)
McClain: Panters 27-14 (0pts)
Murray: Panthers 28-21 (2pts)
Paulie: Panthers 38-21 (0pts)
Princess G: Cardinals 21-14 (3pts)
Ronnie “Butters” Rowe: Panthers 27-17 (0pts)
Ryan G: Panthers 31-24 (2pts)
Wade: Panthers 28-17 (0pts)
Wild Bill: Cardinals 28-24 (3pts)

Sunday, January 11

Philadelphia Eagles (+4.5) at New York Giants

Actual Score: Eagles 23-11
Predictions:
Aaron G: NONE (-1pt)
Carmen: Giants 24-20 (2pts)
Jeff: Eagles 24-21 (3pts)
Kubatski: Giants 24-21 (2pts)
Kubatski Sr: Giants 27-20 (0pts)
Marty: Eagles 17-14 (3pts)
Maxwell: Eagles 24-21 (3pts)
McClain: Giants 21-17 (2pts)
Murray: Giants 24-21 (2pts)
Paulie: Giants 21-14 (0pts)
Princess G: Eagles 14-10 (3pts)
Ronnie “Butters” Rowe: Eagles 24-21 (3pts)
Ryan G: Giants 21-17 (2pts)
Wade: Giants 28-10 (0pts)
Wild Bill: Eagles 24-17 (3pts)

San Diego Chargers (+6.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers

Actual Score: Steelers 35-24
Predictions:
Aaron G: NONE (-1pt)
Carmen: Chargers 27-24 (0pts)
Jeff: Steelers 27-21 (1pt)
Kubatski: Steelers 17-13 (1pt)
Kubatski Sr: Steelers 33-24 (3pts)
Marty: Steelers 17-10 (3pts)
Maxwell: Steelers 21-10 (3pts)
McClain: Steelers 24-10 (3pts)
Murray: Steelers 28-24 (1pt)
Paulie: Steelers 17-10 (3pts)
Princess G: Steelers 24-21 (1pt)
Ronnie “Butters” Rowe: Chargers 20-16 (0pts)
Ryan G: Steelers 20-17 (1pt)
Wade: Steelers 28-21 (3pts)
Wild Bill: Steelers 17-10 (3pts)

Deadline: Kick-Off for each individual game.