Java Junkie's NFL Pool for 2024    (updated 08/10/2024)

Welcome to Java Junkie's corner of the NFL world. This Pool is in it's 36th season
This year's Pool selection will consist of five separate standard pools (Super Bowl Squares pool has been discontinued for lack of interest over the past several years):

• Weekly Pool
• Season Pool
• Survivor Pool (new this season, default pick scheme options included on the Default Pick Scheme Form)
• Margin Pool (new this season, default pick scheme options included on the Default Pick Scheme Form)
• Playoffs Pool

This season will have a separate Default Pick Scheme Form as the Pool Signup Form does not include options for a Default Pick Scheme.
If you chose not to sign-up with a Default Pick Scheme, you will receive the following default picks:
• Weekly Pool
• Teams: Random
• Confidence: Ascending (1-to-max)
• Monday Tiebreaker: 40
• Margin & Survivor Pools (in the following order until an available team found)
• 1st Away team available going down the picksheet
• 1st Home team available going down the picksheet

Note: An attempt to apply the default pick schemes early Tuesdays may be made, time permitting.

As in the past, this year's Weekly and Season Pools will be based on confidence points. The Playoffs Pool format for this season will be the same as last season (Margin of Victory). Each pool will require their respective entry fees. As always, once the season has begun, new players can join in on the Weekly Pool, as well as the Playoffs Pool (the Season, Survivor and Margin Pools will be closed to new entrants once the season begins).

You may choose to play in any one of the pools individually or opt to play in all five with the following exception; you must play in the Weekly Pool to play in the Season, Survivor and/or Margin Pools. The Weekly, Season, Survivor and Margin Pools will be running concurrently. If you choose to play in two or all four of these pools, they will be played from the same set of picks each week, no need to enter separate picks for each pool.

If playing in one of the season long pools (or paying for a full season of Weekly pool entries), you will also need to submit a Default Pick Scheme. The Default Pick Scheme options are included on the Pool Sign-up Form (only those default pick options available on the sign-up form will be allowed).

All players must use the Signup Form to be included in the pool (this includes returning players).
Use the Pool Signup Form to signup for the different pools. All players must use the Signup Form to be included in the pool.
This years Signup Form will consist of two portions (Pool Signup and Default Pick Scheme). The Pool Signup is mandatory, while the Default Pick Scheme is recommended, but optional.

*** Reminder: You can only signup once and only a single time (current limitation of the new Managment software) ***
                           (If you need to adjust your pool signups, you will need to contact me to do so ... I will make the necessary adjustments on your behalf)

If you are a new player, you need to be sponsored by a previous or current player (there is a field available on the Signup Form to enter the sponsor name).

As with last season, Pool fees will be due up front and must be received by the end of the 3rd week of the season to help make the pool management run more smoothly.

The Super Bowl 100 Squares Pool is being discontinued going forward due to lack of interest the past few years.

Now, On To This Year's Rules And Instructions

POOL ENTRY FEES (no changes for 2024)

Entry fees for each pool type are listed below. One point is equal to one dollar.

WEEKLY POOL (no changes for 2024)

This pool is run each week. The goal is to try and get as many points as possible based on the Confidence Points Method. The player with the most points wins. For weeks 1-16 the player with the least amount of points will receive the consolation prize of a free play for one of the remaining weeks. Games that end in a tie will score half the confidence points placed on the game. The Tiebreaker Method will be used incase two or more players tie for the most (or least) points.

Point Spreads will not be used in calculating winners or losers. Point Spreads are provided only as an aid in making your picks.
Point Spreads will be obtained on Tuesdays via the following web sites (as ordered); Pool program itself, Covers.com, USA Today NFL Odds or The Sports Network NFL Odds.

• Each week, you have to pick a team you think will win for each game matchup.
• Then, you must rank your winning choices with a value of 1-Max number of games (you can only use a number once, so place the 'max' number on the game you feel will have the greatest chance of coming out in your favor, while placing the '1' on the game that you feel is the most likely to end up against your favor - the rest should be ranked somewhere in between).
• Next, enter a value for your Monday Night Tiebreaker. Enter the number of points you feel will be scored by the two teams combined for the game (the tiebreaker is closest to the total points).
• Should a game end in a tie (a rare event), half the Confidence Points are awarded for that game (treated as a tie).
• The Winner is decided by the total Confidence Points received. For each game you guessed correctly, you will receive the number of Confidence Points you entered for the game. If two or more players end up tied at the end of the week, the Weekly Pool Tiebreaker will be used to determine the winner. Should there still be a tie between players, then the pot for that position will be split accordinlgy.
• For weeks 1 through 16, a Consolation Prize of a free play, for a subsequent week, will be awarded to the player receiving the lowest Confidence Points for the week. The same tiebreaker rules apply as for the Winner, but in reverse.
• Picks are straight-up. Point Spreads are supplied for assistance only and not used to determine the winner.

Note: For missed weeks (picks not made prior to the deadline):

• Player's Default Pick Scheme on file will be used
• For Pre-paid Weekly-Only players without a Default Pick Scheme on file, the player will receive Random Picks for the week with 40 points for the Tiebreaker
• Weekly-Only players that have not pre-paid for the season will not be entered into the pool for the given week

Online Picksheets will be available on Tuesday for each week. Picksheets can be submitted in Advance by using the Picks-in-Advance option under the Java Junkie Extras menu pull-down. Also, for your convenience, hardcopy versions of the picksheets for the entire season will be made available for download. Both of these options should be available, via the Picks-In-Advance page, by Week 2 of the season.

Each Week an Excel Spreadsheet version of the Player Selections will be made available for download from a link on the Player Selections Page. This spreadsheet will allow you to track the standings as you enter scores for the week's games.

Don't have Excel! No problem, you can download the Excel Viewer, install it and then click on the 'For Excel Viewer' link on the Player Selections Page. When you install the viewer it will also install a browser plug-in. You will be able to enter scores and check the player standings. Note: You won't be able to save the results. You will need to re-enter the scores each time.

SEASON POOL (no changes for 2024)

This pool is run over the entire length of the regular season. Weekly confidence points scored are accummulated for weeks 1-18. Games that end in a tie will score half the confidence points placed on the game. The top three players with the most total overall season points win. The Tiebreaker Method will be used incase of ties for most points. The prize amounts are set according to the table below.

Note: For missed weeks (picks not made prior to the deadline), players will receive default picks based on the Default Pick Scheme submitted along with the Pool Sign-up Form.

SURVIVOR POOL (no changes for 2024)

• Survivor Pool will run 18 weeks this season.

This pool runs the entire regular season. As with the other pools, point spreads will not be used to determine winners or losers. The goal is to stay alive as the season progresses. The Tiebreaker Method will be used incase of ties. The rules for this pool are simple:

• Each week, you only have to pick a team who you think will win.
• If your team wins or ties, you're still in, if they don't then that's strike one. Three (3) Strikes and you are out for the ENTIRE Season.
• Sounds Easy enough right? The only catch is that once you pick a team, you CANNOT pick that team for the rest of the season.
• Picking a duplicate team...it's a strike. You are responsible for making sure you don't pick the same team twice, if you pick the same team twice you will receive a strike. If you already have two strikes and you pick a duplicate team you are out for the season. Note: Use the button available on the Picksheet to view the list of teams you have previously selected.
• Survivor Pool picks are made on the regular picksheet.
• Top prize goes to the last one standing; Second Prize goes to the second to the last standing; and Third Prize goes to the 3rd to the last standing.

Note: For missed weeks (picks not made prior to the deadline), players will receive a default Survivor pick (based on their Default Pick Scheme on file); otherwise, first available Away team going down the Picksheet followed by first available Home team).

Online Picksheets will be available on Tuesday for each week.

MARGIN POOL (no changes for 2024)

This pool runs the entire regular season. As with the other pools, point spreads will not be used to determine winners or losers. The goal is to end up with the most Margin of Victory points at the end of the regular season. The Tiebreaker Method will be used incase of ties. The rules for this pool are simple:

• Each week, you have to pick a team who you think will win by the greatest point margin.
• If your team wins, you collect the winning margin, but if your team loses, the winning margin is subtracted from your overall point total. Yep, negative points are a part of this pool.
• Margin Pool picks are made on the regular picksheet.
• Pool runs until the end of the Regular Season.
• Picks are straight-up. Point Spreads are not used.
• Zero Points are awarded for Tie Games.
• Sounds Easy enough right? The only catch is that once you pick a team, you CANNOT pick that team for the rest of the season.
• Duplicate picks will result in subtracting the Largest Losing Margin of all games PLAYED for the given week.
• Top prize goes to the player with the most Margin Points at the end of the regular season; Second Prize goes to the second to the player with the 2nd most Margin Ponts; and Third Prize goes to the player with the 3rd most Margin Points.

Note: For missed weeks (picks not made prior to the deadline), players will receive a default Survivor pick (based on their Default Pick Scheme on file); otherwise, first available Away team going down the Picksheet followed by first available Home team).

Online Picksheets will be available on Tuesday for each week.

PLAYOFFS POOL (changes for 2024)

• The Playoffs "Margin of Victory" Pool will include 6 Wildcard games.
• Note: An alternative Playoffs pool format Rank'em may be used if the MoV format code changes are not ready in time (more on this as the season progresses)

The Playoffs format will be the same as last year, what I call the "Margin of Victory" format. The format includes the Wildcard Games. As during the regular season, players will need to enter their picks for each round of the Playoffs. Here is a rundown on how the Playoffs will be played this season (be sure to drop me a line, if you have any questions on this method):

As was done last year, there will be no Penalty Points awarded for picking the wrong team (it was decided that the point differential between the guessed and actual is penalty enough.

    For each week, including the Wildcard Games:

• Pick the winner of every game + how many points the winning team will win by
• No Penalty Points for picking the wrong team (difference between outcome is penalty enough)
• Scoring:
• Winner Picked:
• Game Margin points - Your Predicted Points (positive value)
• Loser Picked:
• Game Margin points + Your Predicted Points
• The object is to have the LOWEST point total overall

    Example:

• Say San Francisco is playing Dallas in the first Wildcard game and you pick San Francisco by 3
• If San Francisco wins by 3, you get "0" points...the best possible for a game
• If San Francisco wins by 10, you would get 7 points (10 points minus your predicted 3)
• Now if Dallas wins by 3, you would get 6 points, you were off by 6 points (game difference of 3 + your predicted for San Francisco of 3)

Along with your entry for the Superbowl you will also enter your estimated total points to be scored. This value will be used as a Tiebreaker, if necessary.

This method seems to 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 whopping big amount, and have that team come through for you. We saw some pretty big spreads during some of the playoff games in previous seasons. Who knows, it could happen again.

A continued thanks to Paulk (pkostyz@home.com) for passing along his take on an exciting Playoff Pool format.

Picksheets for the playoffs will be ready the Tuesday following Week 18, just in time for the Wildcard games.

RULES FOR PLAY (changes for 2024)

• Hardcopy and Voicemail picks submissions may not be accepted at Managers discretion

Players must first fill-in and submit a Pool Signup Form to indicate which of the five pools they will be participating, along with a Default Pick Scheme, if required. Then prior to the season's start (Week 3 at the latest), players must submit the point fees up front to cover for the pools they have elected to enter. Once a Pool Signup Form has been received, the Pool Manager will send an email message with fee submission information to the respective participant.

Players are to submit picks according to the schedule below. Weekly/Season Pool players are to pick the winners of each game and assign a confidence point value based on the number of games for the week. Survivor/Margin Pool players should select their weekly Teams in the appropriate drop-down list provided. Playoff Pool players should follow the rules outlined in the section above. Point spreads are for reference only and will not be used in calculating wins or losses. All player's picks are entered into the system and posted to the web page prior to the week's first kickoff.