Pick Six 2013
Just a note: Writing your picks in the comment section is NOT a valid entry. You must enter your picks using the form below or at this link. Feel free to discuss your picks here, but you must submit the form in order to enter the contest.
After a great first year of Pick Six on MGoBlog, we had a bit of a sophomore slump. I was too busy to write the weekly recaps and never got a system going for the great volunteers who were willing to take over that part of the job. I did update all the standings (you can find them at this link) but most people probably didn’t see them.
User BaldBill was leading for the last few weeks of the season with a great entry. In 5 of the 6 groups he picked the highest ranked team. His only downfall was picking Wisconsin (who ended up unranked) instead of Clemson or Texas in Group C. One mistake was all it took and he lost by one point to NYC Blue. NYC Blue picked the second best team from 4 groups and the best team (Georgia and Ohio State) from the other 2. Interestingly enough, he was the only one in the top 11 to not pick Alabama.
As usual, the unranked team you pick is very important. The top 50 is dominated by people who picked Notre Dame and a few Texas A&M picks. Remember that this year.
With a fresh new football season, we get a fresh start and this year will be better than ever. There will be weekly recaps and lots of fun discussion about the AP poll. So enter this totally free contest.
Here's how it works.
1. We divide the top 25 into 5 groups of 5 based on the preseason AP Poll: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, etc. For this year's poll, the groups are:
- A: Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford, Georgia
- B: South Carolina, Texas A&M, Clemson, Louisville, Florida
- C: Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Texas
- D: Oklahoma, Michigan, Nebraska, Boise State, TCU
- E: UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin, USC, Oregon State
2. Before the season starts you pick one team from each group, plus one unranked team. You're trying to pick the teams you think will finish highest in the final AP poll (after the bowl games).
3. Each week we'll try to update and publish the standings in a spreadsheet so you can track the progress of your teams. You get 25 points for having the #1 team, 24 points for the #2 team, on down to 1 point for the #25 team. Unranked teams get zero points.
4. The winner is the person with the most points (i.e. the highest ranked teams) after the bowl season. The midseason standings are only for entertainment purposes. Only the final AP poll counts.
5. And the grand prize? I will personally give the winner 10 meaningless (and now non-existent) upvotes.
That's it for the Pick Six: short, sweet and simple. The entry form closes before the first kickoff, so get your picks in now. Good luck!
August 29th, 2013 at 8:42 AM ^
Should be fun
August 29th, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^
Extremely convenient process. Well done!
August 29th, 2013 at 9:04 AM ^
Nice. I've enjoyed this. Here's what I picked:
A: Alabama - They are quickly climbing my personal Pantheon of Hate, but how do you pick against them?
B: Louisville - Easy conference + good team = good record/high ranking.
C: Florida State - I admittedly don't know much about non-Michigan teams, but it seems like there's been a lot of talk about the Noles lately.
D: Duh - Because I'm a homer. And Devin Gardner.
E: This was a tough one, but I went with Northwestern. Mostly because I have less faith in the other teams in that tier.
Unranked: Virginia Tech - Because I dunno, they seem to be a pretty consistent team.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:05 AM ^
On the outside chance that they switch divisions and go undefeated, I'm picking Slippery Rock to shock the world!
August 29th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^
A. Georgia -- I figured everyone would pick Alabama. If it works I look like a genius, otherwise I am just an idiot.
B. Louisville -- see Moleskin's reasoning
C. Oklahoma State -- Florida State has been underachieving for the last couple years. Same with Texas. To hell with Notre Dame. While probably smarter to go with the ESS EEE SEE team, I don't know which of them will do well, so i am going with OSU
D. Michigan -- Self Explanatory
E. Northwestern -- One of the 2 teams I think will beat Michigan.
Unranked -- Sparty -- The other team I think will beat Michigan.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
A: Bama....I didn't want to...but they are simply more talented than everyone and Georgia is too likely to stumble along the way because they are human
B: Clemson....Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins....can def. beat FSU....wanted to be different and not pick Louisville...also, if UL slips up, they should drop significantly
C: Oklahoma State....no idea here really....Big 12 defense sucks, OSU moves the ball, Texas is probably overrated because their D just blew last year....LSU has too many gauntlet SEC matchups and are a Les Miles dumb decision away from losing to Ole Miss(who now that I think of it, should have put in the top 25)
D: HAIL TO THE VICTORS VALIANT! HAIL TO THE etc.....Depth! SCREW NEBRASKA BECAUSE THEY ARE SORT OF RIVALS NOW! Homer, but honestly, are a good under the radar type team for anyone to pick, but Nebraska's schedule overall is pretty easy. Michigan.
E. USC...they are too talented, Northwestern has a very tough schedule. Not sold on UCLA either just yet. Wisconsin would be my second pick because Anderson is known for great running offenses, great line, and James White.
NR: Michigan State because I think the D will be good, schedule is favorable overall, and offense should marginally improve 3-4 points per game to overcome some tight games (NOT UM THOUGH!)....but I feel like Ole Miss wuold have been a good choice too.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
That was the reason I almost picked USC, but then I remembered that Lane Kiffin is still the head coach there. They had a really talented team last year and totally bombed.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
goes to 2012 poll which is closed (of course).
That being said - the integrated form works just right - thanks!
August 29th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed it now
August 29th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
August 29th, 2013 at 9:49 AM ^
A. Bama
B. Louisville
C. Oklahoma State
D. Michigan
E. USC
NR. Washington
August 29th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
Interesting. Is Washington a sentimental pick, or what makes you think they are going to finally emerge from their near-decade of failure?
August 29th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
- Alabama
- Louisville
- LSU
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Northern Illinois
Alabama still has the Saban train going, Louisville has a cushy schedule and starts off highly ranked, LSU will be good and get all the benefit of the doubt in the poll, Michigan has a pretty soft schedule and will finally be well rounded, I always seem to pick Northwestern here and NIU could be the (repeat) paper tiger as MAC favorites.
October 6th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
Curious how the standings look after week 6...
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