Friends in Fútbol,
We dipped our toes in last year with World Cup and UCL pools. You were like "GIVE US MORE."
Welcome to our first full-on FÚTBOL SZN. Three EPL pools. Two Champions League pools. INFINITE FUNFUEGO.
If you haven't joined us yet, GET IN >>
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POOL 1: EPL SURVIVOR
How it works: Pick one club to win OR draw. Losses eliminate you. Can only use each team ONCE. Last person standing wins!
Prizes: $2,000 (25 places paid).
The schedule: Starts Aug. 11 (EPL Matchday 1). One pick per Matchday. Two picks in Matchday 19 if we make it the distance. Usually there's one Matchday per week, though there are a few exceptions.
Commish's big question: Will you need to pick relegation-zone clubs in order to win it all? If this thing lasts 16-19 Matchdays vs. 10-15, that's a HUGE difference with respect to implied strategy in the early going.
POOL 2: EPL PICK'EM (HALF 1)
How it works: Pick the outcome of each Matchday's 10 matches. $500 bonus EVERY matchday if you go a perfect 10/10. Runs during Half 1 (Matchdays 1-19).
Prizes: $1,000, plus any 10/10 bonuses (20+ places paid).
The schedule: Starts Aug. 11 (EPL Matchday 1). If y'all love it, we'll consider doing another Pick'em pool for Half 2.
Commish's big question: How aggressive should you be in picking draws? Statistically speaking, picking draws is a raw deal. BUT, to go a perfect 10/10, you almost certainly need to pick a few draws (and nail them).
POOL 3: EPL ONE-AND-DONE (HALF 2)
How it works: You must pick each club once and ONLY once. You earn the points your pick earns (3 for wins, 1 for draws). Runs during Half 2 (Matchdays 20-38).
Prizes: $1,000 prizes (15 places paid).
The schedule: Starts Jan. 13 (first Matchday of the second half). One pick per Matchday until it's two picks in Matchday 38. (Plan ahead!)
Commish's big question: Is the winning path conservative or bold? Conservative would be to go with the crowd each week - including those matchups of two relegation-zone clubs that feel like an opportunity to steal a point - but the moment a big favorite loses, that puts EVERYONE who picked that club behind the 8-ball. So do you zag every Matchday, or just a few and hope you nail the timing?
POOL 4: UCL BRACKET
How it works: Pick who'll advance from the Champions League Round of 16, then fill out a classic bracket for the Final 8.
Prizes: $2,000 (25 places paid).
The schedule: Starts Feb. 13 with the first Round of 16 matches. The Final 8 Bracket will be due April 9.
Commish's big question: Boldness was rewarded in this pool last year... is that the move again? Almost nobody predicted a Milan Derby in the 2022-23 semis (AC Milan vs. Inter Milan). But our champ in the inaugural year of this pool did.
POOL 5: UCL FINAL PROPS
How it works: 20-25 fun multiple choice questions about what'll go down in the Final. Most correct answers wins.
Prizes: $1,000 (15 places paid).
The schedule: Occurs during the UCL Final on June 1.
Commish's big question: AM I INVITED TO YOUR UCL FINAL VIEWING PARTY? (Just like with the Super Bowl, Props make this stuff way more fun. We did this pool last year and it was a blast.)
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WE'RE ON AN UNSTOPPABLE PATH TO THE GREATEST FÚTBOL EXPERIENCE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN
Any day now, Zlátan is going to join us. If you don't believe Commish, then you haven't been here long enough.
Join us for our first full SZN of soccer pools. Go down in history as an OG. Your grandkids will find you way cooler someday because of this.
Questions? Suggestions? SCALDING HOT PREDICTIONS? Just comment on this post. Commish and GM are real, Bud Light Lime-drinking humans and we read and reply to every comment/email.
Yours in show dives,
The Commish
@Sportsfan90 1 year, 9 months ago
I look forward to taking the Szn pitch I enjoyed the Men’s World Cup pool we did so this should be fun
Reply