Current Standings | PC-Fecta Derby V
Little Tuna has a three point lead on the nearest Analyst and a four point lead on nine of ten Analysts.
Box Out
A Box Out occurs when one Analyst selects the same teams to win as an Analyst with fewer points–both Analysts hit a Trifecta together or not at all and, thus, the Analyst in the lead boxes out the challenger. Box Outs may occur in full (three Picks) or in part (one or two Picks). For instance, if two Analysts have two Picks in common, and both Teams from the different Picks win, then the front-running Analyst Boxes Out the trailing Analyst because both win or lose together. In other words, Analysts playing for one of the four Crowns need to consider which teams the Analyst in the lead may Pick to win.
Scenarios
Little Tuna will eliminate all Analysts if she wins 3 or more points in Leg 3. She will have 7 points total and the trailing Analysts* (see below) will at most have 6 points after Leg 4. Four points is the maximum that may be won in a single Leg, so she effectively wins the PC-Fecta Derby if she goes into Leg 4 with a 5+ point lead.
If Little Tuna earns 2 points, only one Analyst* (see below) may be in contention in Leg 4.
If Little Tuna earns 1 point, only The Strategist* (see below) and other Analysts who get a Trifecta in Leg 3 will remain in the competition.
If Little Tuna earns 0 points, then The Strategist* (see below) and Analysts who are within 1 Correct Home Team Pick will remain in contention.
* The Strategist’s Home Team is on a bye week in Leg 4 of the PC-Fecta Derby. She remains in contention for first place only if she draws within 1 Trifecta point and ties Little Tuna for Correct Home Team Picks in Leg 3. The Strategist, currently in second place with 1 Trifecta Point, may also eliminate other Analysts for the Place (2nd) if she gains a five point lead on any of the nine Analysts who currently have 0 Trifecta Points.
Tricky Picks
Thus, if an Analyst hopes to win or place in the PC-Fecta Derby, s/he must have a Trifecta (Correct Pick Three), but also consider how the leading Analysts may Pick.
As the alternative, every week, an Analyst may Pick Three for the Analyst of the Year (in other words, no concern for Picking their Home Team unless it is one of the top three options). When an Analyst is eliminated or gives up on a Crown race, the alternative is to Pick Three teams with no other regard than winning the Analyst of the Year competition. NOTE: The last two AoY Champions pursued this strategy for an entire season and won that title.
So, strateger-ize wisely, Analysts!
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