Where did the time go?
It seemed like just last week where we handed out Las Vegas Odds for the 20 members of the 2008 NFL ATS Pick 'Em League. That was at the end of August. Now we are at the beginning of December. Just as the NFL is currently separating the pretenders from the contenders, our league is doing the same.
The goal for the NFL is the Super Bowl. Our goal is the Top Four. That is where the money is. The girls and fame will surely follow. Or not. Stress on the latter with this group.
So, with just four weeks to go and 64 games to pick, let's take a look at how members of our group have done, and what chances they have of finishing in the top four.
THE PRETENDERS CONFERENCE
THE DAVE SHULA DIVISION
20) Matt Barnes (88-104) - High Point: Week One (4th Place) - Low Point: Current
This is a tremendous surprise. Since week one, Barnes has spiraled downward faster than Derek Anderson's trade value. Barnes has been in 16th or worse place every single week after week one, which is almost mathematically impossible. Not sure what happened, but it is obvious he could never get a grasp on the majority of teams. In other words, he pulled a Braylon Edwards, and completely dropped this season. The only thing he has to play for is a shot at .500. In order to reach that mark he will have to go 40-24, an average of 10-6 each week to reach that mountaintop.
19) Curtis Kummerer (91-101) - High Point: Week Two (4th Place) - Low Point: Current
Curtis shouldn't be in this division but mis-stepped in week eleven and forgot to get his picks in. It happens to the best of us, but really cost Curtis any shot at the money. He has stayed true to the Browns, as he is one of the few Browns fan to pick the lovable losers every single week. Curtis only needs to go 37-27 to get to .500, which is not that big of a stretch at all. Can he get there? Well, he will need to channel his inner-Ken Dorsey and make things happen the final four weeks.
18) Jake Young (92-100) - High Point: Week Five (15th Place) - Low Point: Week Three (20th)
It has truly been a tough year for Jake. Brett Favre goes from Green Bay to New York. The Packers are sitting at 5-7 while the Jets are leading the AFC East. Meanwhile Jake has never gotten a chance to stand on solid ground in this league. Give him credit, despite his losing records, Jake always has gotten his picks in and always provides comments each and every week. A 36-28 run over the final four weeks, an average of 9-7 each week, will put him at .500 and possibly save this season from being a total loss.
THE NORV TURNER DIVISION
17) Sara Normand (94-98) - High Point: Week One (4th Place) - Low Point: Week Five (19th)
Sara has not watched a single down of NFL football this year, so her spot in the Norv Turner Division is probably not that big of a surprise. All is not lost however. Due to her travels in Dublin, Ireland, Sara has not had to watch a single down of Cleveland Browns football as well, which is a tremendous plus. While Sara does not have too much of a chance of finishing in the money, she is in a tight race with her father Jeff for family pride.
16) Andrew Braverman (94-98) - High Point: Week Two (1st Place) - Low Point: Current
This one got out of hand in a hurry. On a steady decline since week ten, Braves now finds himself at his lowest position out of the entire year. A reasonable explanation might have been delivered in my mailbox yesterday as the 2008 AJB Holiday Collection CD made its way to Tiffin. The process of creating the '08 edition of this classic holiday favorite could have taken his attention off of the NFL for a couple weeks. At least his Bears are doing well. Oh whoops, my bad.
THE ART SHELL DIVISION
15) Bart Borer (96-96) - High Point: Week Eleven (10th Place) - Low Point: Week Five (20th)
For those of you who do not know Bart Borer, then you have no reason to be surprised at all by Bart's .500 record. However if you are like me, you find yourself scratching your head in amazement. In 12 of the 14 weeks, Bart has not picked seperate games. Instead, he either takes all the road teams, all the favorites, all the home teams, etc. Somehow he has found himself hovering .500 throughout it all. Last year Bart stopped making picks the last few weeks, so all he needs is ten wins to improve on his 2007 mark.
14) Jeff Normand (97-95) - High Point: Week Three (4th Place) - Low Point: Week Twelve (16th)
At the beginning of the year if you would have asked me where Jeff would finish, I would have bet a couple C-Notes he would be right around .500. In this instance Jeff reminds of Jerry Seinfeld. He wins some, he loses some, but in the end it always evens out. Even though Jeff would have to completely go off in order to finish in the money, he does have a three game lead over his eldest daughter, Sara, for family bragging rights. Maybe that small victory will help ease the pain his Browns have given him this season.
13) Chris Rapking (98-94) - High Point: Week Four (6th Place) - Low Point: Week One (16th)
Las Vegas gave Rapking long-shot odds of finishing in the top four, and while it appears he may not receive a check at the end of the season, Rapking has been impressive all season long. After getting off to a sluggish week one start, Rapking has found himself consistently in the middle-of-the-pack. He might not have the best week record, but he never has the worst. Just think of what his record would be if he wouldn't pick the Bengals every single week??
12) Michael Grothaus (100-92) - High Point: Week Two (1st Place) - Low Point: Current
How can a person with 100 wins be in the Art Shell Division? The reasoning is two-fold. One, the league as a whole has been impressive. Two, we are talking about Michael Grothaus. He belongs in this division. Grothaus could easily be in the top four, but he tends to forget a week or two and the next thing you know, he is in 12th. At the beginning of the year Grothaus was getting his picks in, winning games, and on the verge of collecting some cash. Now, he is coming off a week in which he forgot to send in his picks, giving him a 5-11 record and a spot in this division. Let's face it, Grothaus is Art Shell.
THE CONTENDERS CONFERENCE
THE MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER DIVISION
11) Brad Bursa (101-91) - High Point: Current - Low Point: Week Nine (20th)
Bursa has fought his rear end to get in this division. He is the anti-Michael Grothaus. One who didn't give up when things weren't going so well. He has earned it. Now, if he finishes strong he could do the unthinkable and win some money. The biggest thing to keep an eye out with Bursa will be how he does down the stretch with his wedding day looming on December 27th. Yours truly is overly excited for it, so I can't even begin to fathom how Bursa is doing.
10) Kevin Hunt (102-90) - High Point: Week One (4th) - Low Point: Week Six (15th)
In true Hunt fashion, he has been all over the place this season. Up, down, right in the middle. You name it, Hunt has been there. The odds on favorite to win it all is currently eight games out of the money. However flash back one year ago, when Hunt won 33 games the final three weeks to claim second place. He will more than likely need a repeat performance this time around to get some cash. If he fails, then Hunt could place blame on the lack of wins Maxine Hunt has produced. It appears just as Jimmy Clausen and Charlie Weis are tied at the hip, the same can be said for Kevin and Maxine.
9) Ryan Polito (103-89) - High Point: Week Eleven (7th Place) - Low Point: Week Two (16th)
The lone Steeler fan. Mr. Knowledge Dropping. Polito has been consistently good, but not consistently great. He came in brash, like any Steeler fan would in a league full of Browns members, and claimed he would take the crown in 2008. While things have not gone exactly the way he would have liked, he still has time to crack the top four. He will get zero sympathy if he does not however, because his Steelers are well on their way to yet another Division crown. I do wonder his thoughts on a potential Bill Cowher to Cleveland situation?
8) Shane Kline (103-89) - High Point: Week Four (2nd Place) - Low Point: Week Seven (11th)
Shane has been in the top half of this league every single week minus one. In just his first year in the league, Shane has proven his football knowledge. It shouldn't surprise, as was mentioned in the league preview, how much of a competitor Shane was in intramural football. Even though we are powerless in the playing of the NFL games, it does say something about those who refuse to lose. Shane is one of those guys. It seems he has the power to will himself into the top four.
THE BILL PARCELLS DIVISION
7) Justin Whelan (104-88) - High Point: Week Ten (1st Place) - Low Point: Week One (16th)
When we look back at the story of the 2008 NFL ATS Pick 'Em, Justin deserves to have his own chapter, foreward, afterword, etc. included. It's been something else to watch. He started out slow, but mid-way through went on one of the hottest runs ever in the short history of this league, as he had the best record each week for four consecutive weeks. It was enough to give him the top spot after nine weeks. Then, as fast as he rose, he fell, pulling this years version of a Matt Barnes going 3-11 in week ten to drop him completely out of the money. He hasn't been in the top four since, but with four weeks to go, Justin is trying to prove that how you finish is the most important factor.
6) Andrew "Chewy" Reinhart (104-88) - High Point: Week Five (3rd Place) - Low Point: Week Eight (11th)
We all saw this coming. Chewy can just flat out pick football games. The question was whether he could continue picking winners ATS style. The answer is unequivocally, yes. Throughout the season Chewy has provided Chew On This segments which typically talk about the offensive line and defensive line play of a variety of teams. His game comments unveil his game-day knowledge, letting everyone know about injuries and potential weather situations. He knows football. Four good weeks could very well be enough for some cash.
5) Brian Boesch (106-86) - High Point: Week Eleven (3rd Place) - Low Point: Week One (16th)
Probably the biggest Cleveland Indian fan amongst us, Boesch has shown great versatility by thriving in this format. He has said his one big goal was to simply just make the money. With four weeks to go, Boesch has a great chance to not only reach that goal but surpass it. Similar to Justin, Brian got off to a slow start, but by stringing consistently solid weeks together, Boesch finds himself just four games out of fourth place. That's just one game every week. NFL ATS Pick 'Em: helping dreams come true since 2007.
THE VINCE LOMBARDI DIVISION
4) Luke Florence (110-82) - High Point: Week One (1st Place) - Low Point: Week Ten (7th)
It's been a challenging year for us here at KOA. Chances of repeating on the 150-win success of 2007 were small, and honestly, not realistic. Mid-way through we got desperate and asked members of the BESS club to make picks for the entire week. We also attempted a Mother's Intuition Pick as well. Not the best ideas for someone trying to actually win. So, we got a little wiser, went back to making my own picks, and now we are in the Lombardi division. Just four games off last year's pace, it needs to be said that if 150 wins is NOT enough this year then so be it. Whoever tops that mark deserves the crown and the cash.
3) Devin Frank (111-81) - High Point: Current - Low Point: Week Seven (11th Place)
In all the years that we have been making picks for NFL games D-Frank has always been near the top. No changes here in 2008, Devin is well on his way to making some money. What has helped Devin, besides his ability to pick winners, has been luck. Yep, a little bit of luck. Twice, Devin has decided to take all road teams, and both times he has at least tied for the best record of the week. With the Buccaneers playing well, one would think things are going good for D-Frank. Don't forget ladies and gentlemen, he is an Irish fan.
2) Josh Florence (113-79) - High Point: Week Eleven (1st Place) - Low Point: Week One (20th)
Now this just doesn't make any sense at all. Josh comes into this league as a sub, gets handed the worst record after he missed the first week, and responds by going 13-2 the very next week. The rest has been history. It's been difficult trying to come up with a sports analogy, nearly impossible. It would be like the 12th man off the bench on an NBA team winning the league's MVP. Or the Browns winning a playoff game. Sadly, both analogies are accurate.
1) Alex Lucius (115-75) - High Point: Current - Low Point: Week One (11th Place)
What can be said that hasn't already been said? All Lucius has done is lead this group for the majority of the season. Nine weeks total. It's his trophy, his league, his championship to lose. His 115 wins are one ahead of the 150-pace yours truly put up last year. It was said going in that he was the only coach amongst us, and while it is not certain if he has used that coaching prowess to pick the winners, one thing is certain ... he is picking the winners, and often. More so than anyone else. Can he hold on with just 64 games to go? Stay tuned.
1 comment:
I was sincerely ready for the top 4 to be dubbed "The Butch Davis Division." I mean, at least 5-7.
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