Tag: Slate of Games

World Football Trifecta Championship 2017-18

Super Trifecta Bowl IV

Slate of Games | Championship Week

The Slate of Games for the divisional round are (in center column):

Championship Round | Super Trifecta Bowl IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games in the Championship Round of Super Trifecta Bowl IV

The Championship round takes place over the next three weeks. This week, Analysts pick the two team they expect (or need) to make The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. In two weeks, the Analysts will pick the winner of The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. A trifecta (pick three correctly) is worth only 1 point in the Divisional round for all Analysts, so most points will have to come from Super Trifecta points.

A Home Team win is worth 3 Playoff Victory points in the Championship round (only). The Analysts with Home Teams remaining must pick their Home Team to win due to the rule that forbids picking against a Home Team. The Home Teams that progress will be eligible for Reverse PC-Fecta points. These Analysts may also pick either team from the other Conference Championship that does NOT include their Home Team.

Analysts without Home Teams may select any team to win. Correctly picking the two remaining #1 Seeds, however, will only yield 1 point total if the Analysts earns a Trifecta after The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. To earn more than 1 trifecta point, these Analysts should consider:

In the AFC, the Jaguars are un-owned and will earn 3 Player Hater points as well as 2 Seeder Redux points if correctly selected to beat the Patriots (5 total). These points are awarded with a Correct Pick and do not require a Trifecta.

In the NFC, all teams are owned so no Player Hater points are possible. The Vikings will award 1 Seeder Redux point in an upset of the Eagles. These points are awarded with a Correct Pick and do not require a Trifecta.

Analyst Scenarios

Analysts with Home Teams will remain in contention if their Home Teams win. Analysts without Home Teams will need the Jaguars to upset the Patriots to remain in contention. The scenarios based on current total points:

Wise Orangutan (9 points): Despite leading, Wise O. will need at least one Jaguars victory in order to hold his lead. If the Patriots win, Little Tuna in second will earn at least 3 Playoff Victory points to reach 11 total. The most he can earn with a trifecta that includes the Patriots is 3 points and only if the #2 seed Vikings move on to win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. However, if the Vikings go on to win, then Kal Krome will earn at least 5 points and have the opportunity for 3 more. So, Analysts can expect Wise O. to take the Jags, while he is at liberty to pick either the Vikings or Eagles to win in the second championship game. Total possible points if Jags win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 6 Player Hater (Jags) + 4 Seeder Redux (Jags/Vikings) + 1 Trifecta = 11 more points.

Little Tuna (9 points): If the Patriots win, Little Tuna will earn at least 3 Playoff Victory points to reach 11 total. She will also be eligible for PC-Fecta points against Atwork or Kal Krome (whichever Home Team moves on). She can pad her point total with a Correct Trifecta (1 point), or by correctly picking the #2 seed Vikings to win in the second championship game. If Patriots move on, she is forced to pick them to win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. Total possible points if Pats win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 3 Playoff Victory (Pats) + 3 Reverse PC-Fecta (Pats) + 1 Seeder Redux (Vikings) + 1 Trifecta = 8 more points (or 7 without Vikings).

Atwork (8 points): If the Eagles win, Atwork will earn at least 3 Playoff Victory points to reach 10 total. He will also be eligible for Reverse PC-Fecta points against Little Tuna. If the Patriots lose and Eagles win, he automatically earns all 3 Reverse PC-Fecta points. If Eagles move on, he is forced to pick them to win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. He is at liberty to pick the Jags or Pats to reach The Game Which Shall Not Be Named, but will have to win the Defensive Reverse PC-Fecta points (2) to catch Little Tuna. He may pad his point total by correctly picking the Jags to move on (3 Player Hater and 2 Seeder Redux points) and/or with a Correct Trifecta (1 point). Total possible points if Eagles and Pats reach The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 3 Playoff Victory (Eagles) + 3 Reverse PC-Fecta (Eagles) + 1 Trifecta = 7 more points. Total possible points if Eagles and Jags reach The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 3 Playoff Victory (Eagles) + 3 Reverse PC-Fecta (Eagles) + 3 Player Hater (Jags) + 2 Seeder Redux (Jags) + 1 Trifecta = 12 more points.

B-Reezy (5 points): B-Reezy needs two Jaguars victory in order to hold his lead. He is at liberty to pick either the Vikings or Eagles to win in the second championship game. Total possible points if Jags win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 6 Player Hater (Jags) + 4 Seeder Redux (Jags/Vikings) + 1 Trifecta = 11 more points (or 10 without Vikings).

Kal Krome (5 points): If the Vikings win, Kal will earn at least 3 Playoff Victory and 1 Seeder Redux to reach 9 total. He will also be eligible for Reverse PC-Fecta points against Little Tuna. If the Patriots lose and Vikings win, he automatically earns all 3 Reverse PC-Fecta points for 12 total. If Vikings move on, he is forced to pick them to win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. He is at liberty to pick the Jags or Pats to reach The Game Which Shall Not Be Named, but will have to win at least the Defensive Reverse PC-Fecta (2) to force a tiebreaker with Little Tuna. He may pad his point total by correctly picking the Jags to move on (3 Player Hater and 2 Seeder Redux points) and/or with a Correct Trifecta (1 point). Total possible points if Vikings beat Pats in The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 3 Playoff Victory (Vikings) + 3 Reverse PC-Fecta (Vikings) + 2 Seeder Redux (Vikings) + 1 Trifecta = 9 more points. Total possible points if Vikings beat Jags in The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 3 Playoff Victory (Eagles) + 3 Reverse PC-Fecta (Eagles) + 3 Player Hater (Jags) + 3 Seeder Redux (Vikings/Jags) + 1 Trifecta = 13 more points.

Big Tuna: B-Reezy needs two Jaguars victory in order to hold his lead and must pick differently than B-Reezy and Wise O. in order to avoid the Box Out. He is at liberty to pick either the Vikings or Eagles to win in the second championship game. Total possible points if Jags win The Game Which Shall Not Be Named: 6 Player Hater (Jags) + 4 Seeder Redux (Jags/Vikings) + 1 Trifecta = 11 more points (or 10 without Vikings).

Analyst with 0 points have been eliminated. The most possible is 11 points with a Jags victory and these Analysts will be Boxed Out by the six Analysts running in front of them. Play for pride!

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World Football Trifecta Championship 2017-18

Super Trifecta Bowl IV

Slate of Games | Divisional Round

The Slate of Games for the divisional round are (in center column):

Division Round | Super Trifecta Bowl IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games in the Division Round of Super Trifecta Bowl IV

A trifecta (pick three correctly) is worth 2 points in the Divisional round for all Analysts.

A Home Team win is worth 2 Playoff Victory points. It is not necessary to pick the Home Team to win.

If an Analyst correctly picks his or her Home Team to win in the Divisional round, he or she may earn Reverse PCFecta points: 2 for the best defensive effort (lowest score by an opponent) and 1 for the best offensive effort (highest score by the Home Team). Analysts whose Home Teams have been eliminated are not eligible for PCFecta points in the division round.

In the AFC, the Titans are un-owned and will earn 2 Player Hater points as well as 4 Seeder Redux points if correctly selected to beat the Patriots (6 total). The Jaguars are un-owned and will earn 2 Player Hater points and 1 Seeder Redux point if correctly selected to beat the Steelers (3 total). These points are awarded with a Correct Pick and do not require a Trifecta.

In the NFC, all teams are owned so no Player Hater points are possible. The Falcons will award 5 Seeder Redux points in an upset of the Eagles and the Saints will award 2 Seeder Redux points in an upset of the Vikings. These points are awarded with a Correct Pick and do not require a Trifecta.

Note: If an Analyst’s Home Team has been eliminated, the only path to victory is to pick the NFC correctly PLUS pick one or both of the un-owned teams in the AFC (and hope they win!).

Useful links:

Super Trifecta Bowl rules: http://www.roi2partners.com/wftl/superfecta-bowl/

Last year, the Patriots were un-owned and The Bookie beat Atwork when the un-owned team won The Game Which Shall Not Be Named.

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World Football Trifecta Championship 2017-18

Super Trifecta Bowl IV

New Home Team Preparations

Kal Krome and Wise Orangutan had to pick new Home Teams as the Seahawks and Ravens failed to make the postseason. Kal Krome selects Vikings with the first pick and Wise O. selects Atlanta with the second pick.

The Home Teams for the Super Trifecta Bowl are:

Super Trifecta Bowl IV | Slate of Analysts and Home Teams
Slate of Analysts and Home Teams for Super Trifecta Bowl IV

Slate of Games Wildcard Round

The Slate of Games for the wildcard round are (at the left):

Super Trifecta Bowl IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games for Super Trifecta Bowl IV

A trifecta (pick three correctly) is worth 3 points in the Wildcard round for all Analysts.

Analyst who correctly pick Home Teams that are playing in the Wildcard round may earn Reverse PCFecta points: 2 for the best defensive effort (lowest score by an opponent) and 1 for the best offensive effort (highest score by the Home Team). The #1 and #2 seeds are not eligible for PCFecta points in the wildcard round.

In the AFC, the Titans are un-owned and will earn 1 Player Hater point as well as 1 Seeder Redux point if correctly selected to win over the Chiefs. Both the Bills and Jaguars are un-owned so no Player Hater  points are possible. Correctly picking the Bills to upset the Jaguars will yield 3 Seeder Redux points.

In the NFC, all teams are owned so no Player Hater points are possible. The Falcons will award 3 Seeder Redux points in an upset of the Rams and the Panthers will earn 1 Seeder Redux point in an upset of the Saints.

Useful links:

Super Trifecta Bowl rules: http://www.roi2partners.com/wftl/superfecta-bowl/

A little history: STB I was won by the shameless Little Tuna with #1 Seed and Super Bowl winner Patriots. So, we tweaked the rules to make the STB II more competitive. The Bookie won with #1 Seed and Super Bowl loser Panthers. In STB III, The Bookie defended her championship with #4 Seed and NFC Championship loser Packers. If the The Game Which Shall Not Be Named was not fixed last year (!), Atwork would have won with #2 Seed Falcons. The Bookie has earned a Trifecta in the wild card round every year and that has proved to be the difference in her victories.

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Seeders’ Cup IV | Slate of Games

The Entrants

The Analysts have selected their Home Teams to start the fourth annual Seeders’ Cup.

Wise Orangutan has dropped the redbirds and selects….. the Baltimore Ravens.

The entrants are:

Slate of Analysts | Seeders' Cup IV
Slate of Analysts for the Seeders’ Cup IV

Slate of Games

Seeders' Cup IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games for Seeders’ Cup IV

 

The slate of games for The Seeders’ Cup IV will test the playoff-worthiness of the Analysts’ Home Teams in the final stretch as Analysts compete for Seeder bonus points in winning trifectas.

We have four head-to-head clashes between the Analysts’ Home Teams in the first two legs of the Cup: in Leg 1, conference upstarts Eagles and Rams face each other while division rivals Ravens and Steelers will destroy their hopes for a championship with needlessly brutal blows to the head that will eventually aid the Patriots; in Leg 2, division rivals Rams and Seahawks spar for supremacy in the NFC West as the Patriots visit the tattered remains of the Steelers after the prior week’s Ravens game.

During the month, a few un-owned teams will be competing for playoff seeds: Vikings (1), Falcons (3 and 4), Cowboys (3 and 4), and Titans (3), being the most likely. These un-owned teams, or others as the season unfolds, may be worth “seed” scores to the Analysts.

Home teams owned by an Analyst are in bold. The team at the left is the visiting team; the team at the right is the host (playing at home). There are a half dozen or more featured games, including one Thursday night games, two Sunday night games of the week (subject to flexing), two Saturday games, one Monday night games, and two Xmas day games.

Picks

Reminder: Every Analyst has a bias for his or her Home Team and may not pick the sponsored team to lose. Analysts do not have to pick his or her Home Team to win a trifecta or to earn the Seeder bonus points.

Additional points in a winning trifecta are scored for picking teams that clinch spots during the week according to the following: playoff spot/wildcard (1 point), division title (2 points), first round bye (3 points), and homefield advantage (4 points).

The Clearinghouse will start the Picks thread with a link and notes regarding which teams have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot during the upcoming week.

Email three picks to The Bookie before each leg (week) of the Race. The first picks are due Thursday, December 7, before kickoff.

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Fibonacci Stakes IV | Slate of Games

The Entrants

The Analysts have selected their Home Teams to start the fourth annual Fibonacci Stakes. The entrants are:

Fibonacci Stakes IV | Slate of Analysts
Analysts and Home Teams for the Fibonacci Stakes IV

Slate of Games

Fibonacci Stakes IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games for the Fibonacci Stakes IV

 

The slate of games for Fibonacci Stake IV will live up to its billing as the Race that separates the pretenders from the contenders after five Analysts dump their prior Home Teams for current playoff challengers. Will the Analysts redeem their horse senses in the second half of the year?

During the long month, we have five head-to-head clashes between the Analysts’ Home Teams: Seahawks v. Cardinals (Leg 2), Saints v. Rams (Leg 4), Panthers v. Saints (Leg 5), Rams v. Cardinals (Leg 5), and a battle of titans to end the Stakes with the Eagles @ Seahawks on Sunday Night (Leg 5).

Five teams go on bye weeks during the month, limiting the opportunities to select these teams two weeks in a row: Patriots (Leg 1), Steelers (Leg 1), Chiefs (Leg 2), Eagles (Leg 2), and Panthers (Leg 3). With three head-to-heads in the final Leg, only 6 games are open to pick in Leg 5 of the Stakes — we anticipate some heated exchanges between the Analysts in the home stretch!

There also are several un-owned teams that compete two weeks in a row: Broncos (Leg 1 and 2), Texans (2 and 3), Bills (4 and 5), and Jets (4 and 5). These un-owned teams may be selected two weeks in a row for the Fibonacci bonus trifecta points.

Home teams owned by an Analyst are in bold. The team at the left is the visiting team; the team at the right is the host (playing at home). There are over a half dozen featured games, including three Sunday night games of the week (subject to change), two Thursday night games, and three Monday night games.

Picks

Remember: Every Analyst has a bias for his or her Home Team and may not pick the sponsored team to lose. Analysts do not have to pick his or her Home Team to win a trifecta. *Bonus* trifecta points are earned for picking the same team two weeks in a row. See the Fibonacci Stakes Rules for more information.

Email three picks to The Bookie before each leg (week) of the Race. The first picks are due on Saturday, November 4.

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Player Haters Preakness IV – Slate of Games

The Entrants

The Analysts have selected their Home Teams to start the fourth annual Player Haters Preakness. The entrants are:

Player Haters Preakness IV | Slate of Analysts
Analysts and Home Teams for the Player Haters Preakness IV

Slate of Games

Player Haters Preakness IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games for the Player Haters Preakness IV

The slate of games for the Player Haters Preakness III will prove to be a challenging test of Analyst’s foresight. With 4 head-to-head competitions this month (first tiebreaker), most Analysts will have to navigate the Run of the Black-Eyed Analysts with moxie and sweat!

In Leg 1, Atwork travels to face Little Tuna. Leg 3 pits The Strategist against B-Reezy and The Bookie forninst  Craft Brew. In Leg 4, Big Tuna challenges Kal Krome. Player Hater Bonus Points may not be earned from the two head-to-head Analyst match-ups, so in each of these Legs the chance for bonus points narrows.

Leg 3 may prove to be the difference as only 4 games feature challengers that may earn bonus points. In Leg 4, only five games feature Home Team challengers.

Home teams owned by an Analyst are in bold. The team at the left is the visiting team; the team at the right is the host (playing at home). There are less than a handful of featured games: one Thursday night, two Sunday nights, and one Monday game.

In total, six Home Teams enjoy a bye week during the Player Haters Preakness.

Picks

Remember: Every Analyst has a bias for his or her Home Team and may not pick the sponsored team to lose. Analysts do not have to pick his or her Home Team to win a trifecta. *Bonus* trifecta points are earned for picking against other Analysts’ Home Teams in a winning trifecta. See the Preakness Rules for more.

Email three picks to The Bookie before each leg (week) of the Race. The first picks are due on Saturday, October 7.

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PC-Fecta Derby IV | Slate of Games

The Entrants

The Analysts have selected their Home Teams to start the new season and the entrants for PC-Fecta Derby IV are:

PC-Fecta Derby IV | Slate of Analysts
Analysts and Home Teams for the PC-Fecta Derby IV

Slate of Games

PC-Fecta Derby IV | Slate of Games
Slate of Games for the PC-Fecta Derby IV

The slate of games for PC-Fecta Derby IV includes five head-to-head competitions this month (first tiebreaker)! Leg 3, the far turn, looks to be a brutal stretch as three games feature head-to-head competitions: Craft Brew vs. B-Reezy (the rook vs. the champ!), The Bookie vs. Atwork (Super Trifecta Bowl III rematch!), and Little Tuna vs. Wise Orangutan (grudge match!). Atwork is fixin’ to bring down the competition all month long with three head-to-head competitions total beginning in week 1, hosting Kal Krome, the week 3 rematch with The Bookie, and hosting B-Reezy in week 4.

Home teams owned by an Analyst are in bold. The team at the left is the visiting team; the team at the right is the host (playing at home). There are several featured games: two Thursday nights, (all) four Sunday nights, and one Monday night.

No bye weeks this year during week 4.

Picks

Remember: Every Analyst has a bias for his or her Home Team and may not pick their own sponsored team to lose. Analysts do not have to pick his or her Home Team to win, but *bonus* trifecta points are won only if Analysts include the Home Team in a winning trifecta. See the Derby Rules for more.

Email three picks in private to The Bookie before each leg (week) of the Race. The first picks are due on Saturday, September 9.

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Slate of Games | Super Trifecta Bowl III | Championship Round

Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games

With compliments to CBS Sports, the Slate of Games for Super Trifecta Bowl III are:

Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games | Championship Round
The Slate of Games for the Championship Round of Super Trifecta Bowl III (2016-17)

Analysts must pick from the two games in the conference championships. Analysts whose Home Teams have been eliminated are free to pick any of the four teams to win. Analysts with a Home Team in the Championship round must take against their Home Team.

As a game of skill, we provide a few links for Analysts to prepare their prognostication research:

Team Stats
ELO Predictions (fivethirtyeight.com)
Colleagues (other experts)

Trifecta Points

A trifecta (pick three correctly) is worth 1 points in the Championship round for all Analysts.

Analysts whose Home Teams are playing in the Championship round will earn 3 Playoff Victory point if their Home Team wins.

Analyst who correctly pick Home Teams that are playing in the Championship round may earn Reverse PCFecta points: 2 for the best defensive effort (lowest score by an opponent) and 1 for the best offensive effort (highest score by the Home Team).

In the Championship Round, New England can earn 3 Player Hater points against each Home Team played in the round (max = 2 games).

The following teams earn Seeder Redux points with a win in the conference championships: Pittsburgh (2 points) and Packers (2 points). World football championship Seeder Redux will be determined after the conference championships.

NOTE: Points earned from picks will vary by Analyst. For example, if Wise Orangutan correctly picks the Packers to win, he earns 2 Seeder Redux points (2 total). If The Bookie correctly picks the Packers to win, she earns 2 Seeder Redux points, 3 Playoff Victory point, and up to 3 Reverse PCFecta points (8 total possible).

Probabilities

Each year, ten playoff games precede the professional football championship game held in February: four wildcard, four divisional, and two championship games.

Since 2002, away team upsets have averaged about 3-4 per year (38%). In 2005 and 2010, 6 away teams (60%) upset the higher-seeded hosts – the highest recorded number of away team upsets in the past 13 years. Although home-field gives an advantage for the win, away teams will typically present 3 to 4 opportunities for Seeder Redux or Player Hater points in the playoffs — provided the Analyst picks skillfully.

Upsets by Away Teams (Lower Seeds)
Upsets by Away Teams (Lower Seeds), 2002-2014

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Slate of Games | Super Trifecta Bowl III | Divisional Round

Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games

With compliments to CBS Sports, the Slate of Games for Super Trifecta Bowl III are:

Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games | Divisional Round
The Slate of Games for the Divisional Round of Super Trifecta Bowl III (2016-17)

Analysts may pick from any of the four games. Analysts whose Home Teams have been eliminated are free to pick any of the eight teams to win. Analysts with a Home Team in the Wildcard round may not pick against their Home Team, but do not have to pick that game.

As a game of skill, we provide a few links for Analysts to prepare their prognostication research:

Team Stats
ELO Predictions (fivethirtyeight.com)
Colleagues (other experts)

Trifecta Points

A trifecta (pick three correctly) is worth 2 points in the Divisional round for all Analysts.

Analysts whose Home Teams are playing in the Divisional round will earn 2 Playoff Victory point if their Home Team wins (NOTE: Analysts do not have to pick their Home Team in the trifecta to earn the Playoff Victory point).

Analyst who correctly pick Home Teams that are playing in the Divisional round may earn Reverse PCFecta points: 2 for the best defensive effort (lowest score by an opponent) and 1 for the best offensive effort (highest score by the Home Team).

In the Divisional Round, there are no Player Hater points possible (the two un-owned teams remaining play each other this week).

The following teams earn Seeder Redux points with a win: Texans (3 points), Steelers (1 point), Packers (3 points), and Seahawks (1 point).

NOTE: Points earned from picks will vary by Analyst. For example, if Wise Orangutan correctly picks the Packers to win, he earns 3 Seeder Redux points (3 total). If The Bookie correctly picks the Packers to win, she earns 3 Seeder Redux points, 2 Playoff Victory point, and up to 3 Reverse PCFecta points (8 total possible). If The Bookie does not include the Packers in her trifecta picks, a victory by the Packers will yield only the Playoff Victory point (2 total).

Upset Probabilities

Each year, ten playoff games precede the professional football championship game held in February: four wildcard, four divisional, and two championship games.

Since 2002, away team upsets have averaged about 3-4 per year (38%). In 2005 and 2010, 6 away teams (60%) upset the higher-seeded hosts – the highest recorded number of away team upsets in the past 13 years. Although home-field gives an advantage for the win, away teams will typically present 3 to 4 opportunities for Seeder Redux or Player Hater points in the playoffs — provided the Analyst picks skillfully.

Upsets by Away Teams (Lower Seeds)
Upsets by Away Teams (Lower Seeds), 2002-2014

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Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games | Wildcard Round

Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games

With compliments to CBS Sports, the Slate of Games for Super Trifecta Bowl III are:

Super Trifecta Bowl III | Slate of Games | Wildcard Round
The Slate of Games for the Wildcard Round of Super Trifecta Bowl III (2016-17)

Analysts may pick from any of the four games. Analysts with one of the top two seeds in each conference are free to pick any of the eight teams to win. Analysts with a team in the Wildcard round may not pick against their Home Team.

As a game of skill, we provide a few links for Analysts to prepare their prognostication research:

Team Stats
ELO Predictions (fivethirtyeight.com)
Colleagues (other experts)

Trifecta Points

A trifecta (pick three correctly) is worth 3 points in the Wildcard round for all Analysts.

Analysts whose Home Teams are playing in the Wildcard round will earn 1 Playoff Victory point if their Home Team wins (NOTE: Analysts do not have to pick their Home Team in the trifecta to earn the Playoff Victory point).

Analyst who correctly pick Home Teams that are playing in the Wildcard round may earn Reverse PCFecta points: 2 for the best defensive effort (lowest score by an opponent) and 1 for the best offensive effort (highest score by the Home Team).

In the Wildcard Round, 1 Player Hater point can be earned for correctly picking the Texans to beat Big Tuna’s Raiders, the Dolphins to beat The Strategist’s Steelers, or the Giants to beat The Bookie’s Opposite-of-Chicago.

The following teams earn Seeder Redux points with a win: Dolphins (3 points), Raiders (1 point), Lions (3 points), and Giants (1 point).

NOTE: Points earned from picks will vary by Analyst. For example, if Wise Orangutan correctly picks the Lions to win, he earns 3 Seeder Redux points (3 total). If B-Reezy correctly picks the Lions to win, he earns 3 Seeder Redux points, 1 Playoff Victory point, and up to 3 Reverse PCFecta points (7 total possible). If B-Reezy does not include the Lions in his trifecta picks, a victory by the Lions will yield only the Playoff Victory point (1 total).

Strategery

As we – the Clearinghouse and The Bookie – have invested money, time, and thought in our research to devise the best possible test of predictive skill, we must point out several considerations for the point system in place since last year:

1) Points in the early rounds are integral. If a Home Team is eliminated in the Wildcard or Divisional round, the Analyst will not be able to earn Playoff Victory or Reverse PCFecta points in later rounds. And, the base trifecta points for picking three correctly goes down each week.
2) Head-to-head competitions will make or break the Analysts strategy. For the second year in a row, Kal Krome and B-Reezy face each other in the wildcard round!
3) If an Analyst’s Home Team falters, be a proud player hater. New England is unowned! The other three un-owned teams are low seeds (3+) and yield Player Hater points plus Seeder Redux points with each correct pick to win.

In other words, it is not the Horse the Analyst rides in, but the Horse the Analyst rides out that may win the Trophy!

Upset Probabilities

Each year, ten playoff games precede the professional football championship game held in February: four wildcard, four divisional, and two championship games.

In the first year of the World Football Trifecta League, only 2 away teams upset their hosts (20%) – the lowest upset rate of the past 13 years. The Ravens upset the Steelers in the Wildcard round and the Colts upset the Broncos in the Divisional round. Three away teams lost close games on questionable officiating calls: Lions to Cowboys (flag|no flag), Cowboys to Packers (catch|no catch), and Ravens to Patriots (legal formation|illegal formation). In the Championship round, the Packers gave away the NFC Championship to the Seahawks with an onside recovery. It could have been 6 away team wins just as easily as it was 2.

Since 2002, away team upsets have averaged about 3-4 per year (38%). In 2005 and 2010, 6 away teams (60%) upset the higher-seeded hosts – the highest recorded number of away team upsets in the past 13 years. Although home-field gives an advantage for the win, away teams will typically present 3 to 4 opportunities for Seeder Redux or Player Hater points in the playoffs — provided the Analyst picks skillfully.

Upsets by Away Teams (Lower Seeds)
Upsets by Away Teams (Lower Seeds), 2002-2014

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