04/19/24
September 07, 2016
Enter SportsFilter's NFL Pick 'Em Contest: The NFL season starts Thursday, which means the return of the SportsFilter NFL Pick 'Em. There are some changes this year. Choose the winners of each game, the margin of victory and any game as a stone cold lead pipe lock to double your points in victory (for the glorious) or lose points in defeat (for the vainglorious). The winner will receive an official NFL game ball (details inside).
How This WorksSportsFilter is running a season-long NFL Pick 'Em contest and awarding a prize to the season's winner: an official NFL Game Football ($99.99 value).
To play, pick who you think will win and by how many points. You then get points based on the result:
Picked the winner? You get 5 points
Picked the winner and a spread within the margin of error? You get 3 more points
Picked the winner and the exact spread? You get 2 more points
What's the Margin of Error?
A window around the spread that's defined as the following:
spread - round(0.3 * spread) <= Margin of Error <= spread + round(0.3 * spread)
You get rewarded for being close to the spread. The bigger the spread, the bigger the margin of error, so you don't have to be as accurate predicting a blowout as a close game.
Examples:
| Actual Spread | Margin Starts at | Margin Ends at |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | 9 |
| 11 | 8 | 14 |
| 20 | 14 | 26 |
| Outcome | Your score |
| Dallas by 20 | 8 points (winner + spread within MoE) |
| Dallas by 10 | 5 points (winner only) |
| Dallas by 15 | 10 points (winner + nailed spread) |
| Miami by 5 | 0 points |
Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks
You can choose any game as a stone cold lead pipe lock. This doubles the points you win for that game, but if that team doesn't win, you lose 10 points (even if you get the spread). You can make as many picks a lock as you like or pick no locks at all.
The Small Print
In order to receive the prize, you must respond to our email within 14 days of the winner announcement. Make sure you have a valid email address on SportsFilter or contact me within that time period. The prize does not include international shipping, so in that situation you can pay the cost or receive an equivalent cash prize over Paypal.
This Week's Games
Carolina at Denver (Thursday)
Tampa Bay at Atlanta (Sunday)
Minnesota at Tennessee (Sunday)
Cleveland at Philadelphia (Sunday)
Cincinnati at New York Jets (Sunday)
Oakland at New Orleans (Sunday)
San Diego at Kansas City (Sunday)
Buffalo at Baltimore (Sunday)
Chicago at Houston (Sunday)
Green Bay at Jacksonville (Sunday)
Miami at Seattle (Sunday)
New York Giants at Dallas (Sunday)
Detroit at Indianapolis (Sunday)
New England at Arizona (Sunday)
Pittsburgh at Washington (Monday)
Los Angeles at San Francisco (Monday)
Picks must be submitted in this discussion before the game's kickoff. So if you miss Thursday night's opener you can still choose the Sunday and Monday games.
My Costanza defense begins today!
Carolina by 7
Tampa Bay by 3
Tennessee by 3
Philadelphia by 13
Cincinnati by 8
New Orleans by 4
Kansas City by 14
Buffalo by 9
Chicago by 10
Green Bay by 10
*LOCK* Seattle by 13 *LOCK*
New York Giants by 5
Indianapolis by 2
Arizona by 5
Washington by 3
San Francisco by 6
posted by bender at 02:58 PM on September 07, 2016
Speaking of winning neat things, rcade, did you ever get my email with my address in it? I think you were supposed to send me a cool prize for winning the NBA playoffs pick 'em.
posted by NoMich at 03:29 PM on September 07, 2016
Carolina 3
Atlanta 7
Minnesota 10
Philadelphia 4
Cincinnati 7
Oakland 6
Kansas City 11
Buffalo 5
Chicago 6
Green Bay 9
Seattle 7
New York Giants 9
Indianapolis 4
Arizona 6
*LOCK* Pittsburgh 11 *LOCK*
Los Angeles 4
posted by cixelsyd at 03:44 PM on September 07, 2016
In honor of Tom Brady removing the NFL logo from his helmet during the preseason, wouldn't it be fitting to award a ball that had no shield and no commissioner's signature?
I'd love to see a rampant, widespread uniform alteration action by the players. Nothing would be more likely to cause the league office to have a meltdown. You can't fuck with the dress code. It's a much bigger deal than knocking women out cold.
posted by beaverboard at 03:47 PM on September 07, 2016
Carolina by 16
Atlanta by 5
Tennessee by 2
Cleveland by 4
Cincinnati by 11
Oakland by 8
Kansas City by 5
Baltimore by 6
Chicago by 2
Green Bay by 5
Seattle by 10
New York Giants by 12
Detroit by 1
Arizona by 9
Pittsburgh by 5
Los Angeles by 2
posted by tommybiden at 04:30 PM on September 07, 2016
Carolina by 9
Tampa Bay by 3
Minnesota by 5
Cleveland by 3
New York Jets by 5
New Orleans by 7
Kansas City by 10
Buffalo by 5
Houston by 6
Green Bay by 10
Seattle by 7
New York Giants by 5
Detroit by 3
Arizona by 5
Washington by 7
Los Angeles by 6
posted by NoMich at 06:12 PM on September 07, 2016
Carolina by 7
Atlanta by 4
Tennessee by 3
Philadelphia by 7
Cincinnati by 7
New Orleans by 6
Kansas City by 7
Buffalo by 3
Houston by 10
Green Bay by 13
Seattle by 17
*LOCK* New York Giants by 6 *LOCK*
Detroit by 7
New England by 3
Pittsburgh by 6
San Francisco by 4
posted by MeatSaber at 07:36 PM on September 07, 2016
Carolina by 10
Tampa Bay by 6
Minnesota by 4
Philadelphia by 6
Cincinnati by 3
Oakland by 10
Kansas City by 8
Buffalo by 3
Houston by 6
Green Bay by 7
Seattle by 13 **LOCK**
New York Giants by 14
Indianapolis by 6
Arizona by 7
Pittsburgh by 10
Los Angeles by 13
posted by tahoemoj at 08:19 PM on September 07, 2016
I assume we are picking straight up and letting our point predictions prevail rather than the betting spread. Here are my picks:
Carolina by 3
Tampa Bay by 6
Minnesota by 7
Philadelphia by 10
Cincinnati by 16 LOCK
New Orleans by 9
Kansas City by 12
Baltimore by 4
Houston by 15 LOCK
Green Bay by 10
Seattle by 14 LOCK
Dallas by 3
Indianapolis by 14
Arizona by 6
Pittsburgh by 7
Los Angeles by 10
3 locks. I learned an expression watching tennis this week. "Sydney or the bush" It applies here.
To echo NoMich's comment above, I will send you my mailing address via e-mail to collect my ill-gotten award for the regular season NBA Pick 'em. Many thanks.
posted by Howard_T at 10:27 PM on September 07, 2016
Time to defend my title!
(But what am I going to do with TWO footballs?)
Denver by 3
Atlanta by 7
Tennessee by 11
Philadelphia by 3
Cincinnati by 14
New Orleans by 9
San Diego by 1
Buffalo by 3
Houston by 9
Green Bay by 14 - Lickety split! Lock this pick!
Seattle by 17 - Lickety split! Lock this pick!
New York Giants by 3
Indianapolis by 7
New England by 3
Pittsburgh by 7
Los Angeles by 9
posted by grum@work at 12:25 AM on September 08, 2016
Starting off with a bang, with 5 Locks in the first week. Either I'll have a huge week or have a huge hole to dig out from in future weeks.
Carolina by 7
Tampa by 2
Minnesota by 3
Philly by 5
Cincinnati by 10 LOCK
Oakland by 3
Kansas City by 6
Baltimore by 3
Houston by 10 LOCK
Jacksonville by 3
Seattle by 14 LOCK
Dallas by 7
Indianapolis by 10
Arizona by 14 LOCK
Pittsburgh by 14 LOCK
Los Angeles by 4
posted by jagsnumberone at 12:47 AM on September 08, 2016
Carolina by 12
Atlanta by 23
Minn by 17
Philadelphia by 10
Cincinnati by 3
New Orleans by 10
Kansas City by 4 LOCK
Buffalo by 6
Houston by 24
Green Bay by 26
Seattle by 17
NYG by 13
Detroit by 2
N.E. by 6
Pittsburgh by 7
L.A. by 21
posted by ic23b at 12:47 AM on September 08, 2016
Carolina by 6
Atlanta by 4
Tennessee by 6
Philadelphia by 7
Cincinnati by 10
New Orleans by 7
Kansas City by 6
Buffalo by 8
Houston by 13
Green Bay by 7
Seattle by 9 **lock**
New York Giants by 6
Indianapolis by 7
Arizona by 8
Pittsburgh by 14 **lock**
Los Angeles by 6
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:14 AM on September 08, 2016
Denver by 3
Atlanta by 4
Minnesota by 3
Philadelphia by 4
Cincinnati by 7
New Orleans by 6
Kansas City by 10 - lock
Baltimore by 3
Houston by 6
Green Bay by 7
Seattle by 10 - lock
Dallas by 4
Indianapolis by 3
Arizona by 3
Pittsburgh by 7
Los Angeles by 3
posted by tron7 at 11:01 AM on September 08, 2016
Carolina by 6
Atlanta by 3
Minnesota by 7
Philadelphia by 4
Cincinnati by 4
New Orleans by 7
Kansas City by 7
Baltimore by 4
Chicago by 3
Green Bay by 10 LOCK
Seattle by 13 LOCK
New York Giants by 7
Indianapolis by 3
Arizona by 8
Pittsburgh by 3
Los Angeles by 6
posted by holden at 11:47 AM on September 08, 2016
(But what am I going to do with TWO footballs?)
I suggest buying a good pressure gauge and keeping it calibrated. Do not store the footballs in a freezer or in a hot place. I understand that rcade has hired an investigator to periodically visit you and check the pressure.
posted by Howard_T at 01:47 PM on September 08, 2016
Commenting gold, Howard_T.
Carolina by 13
Atlanta by 14
Tennessee by 7
Cleveland by 3
Cincinnati by 10
Oakland by 7
Kansas City by 9
Baltimore by 6
Chicago by 7
Green Bay by 17 (lock)
Miami by 3
New York Giants by 14
Indianapolis by 10
Arizona by 16
Pittsburgh by 17 (lock)
San Francisco by 1
posted by Goyoucolts at 07:12 PM on September 08, 2016
I understand that rcade has hired an investigator to periodically visit you and check the pressure.
I'm sorry if my hands are cold. Please turn your head and cough.
posted by rcade at 07:51 PM on September 08, 2016
Carolina by 10
Atlanta by 6
Minnesota by 3
Philadelphia by 7
Cincinnati by 3
New Orleans by 6
Kansas City by 13 <-- lock
Buffalo by 6
Houston by 10
Green Bay by 7
Seattle by 17 <-- lock
New York Giants by 4
Detroit by 3
Arizona by 9
Washington by 3
Los Angeles by 4
posted by rcade at 07:56 PM on September 08, 2016
Carolina at Denverxxx
Tampa Bay at Atlanta Atlanta by 10
Minnesota at Tennessee Tennessee by 11
Cleveland at Philadelphia Philadelphia by 7
Cincinnati at New York Jets Cincy by 3
Oakland at New Orleans Oakland by 9
San Diego at Kansas City KC by 6
Buffalo at Baltimore buffalo by 6
Chicago at Houston Houston by 10
Green Bay at Jacksonville Jax by 3
Miami at Seattle Seattle by 14
New York Giants at Dallas NY by7
Detroit at Indianapolis Indy by 20
New England at Arizona Arizona by 6
Pittsburgh at Washington Pittsburgh by 11
Los Angeles at San Francisco. San Fran by 10
I'm in a remote spot with shit internet on coast of BC. So even more wild ass guessing than usual.
posted by rumple at 02:10 AM on September 11, 2016
Several rules changes discussed last year are in effect. The biggest is that you can have as many stone cold lead pipe locks as you want (or none).