2017 Playoffs Are Here!

Click here for Playoff Scoring, Instructions and Rules for 2017!

Here we go Swamis! This is what it’s all about; the path to glory is set and here’s what you need to know to take you to the promised land:

Scoring for the playoffs take on an enhanced points system due to the enormous importance compared to regular season games and the higher difficulty of choosing a winner between two playoff-caliber NFL teams. You choose your picks as you normally do, however points are awarded as shown above in relation to the outcome of each playoff game.

Wins are Points:

Once the playoffs begin, all players carry their regular season wins into the playoffs, where they are converted to “points“.

Each playoff game, including the Super Bowl will have the usual point-spreads and each player will pick games as usual (*with exception to two finalists: see Swami Bowl notes below).

Points for Wins:

Just as shown in the image above, the points awarded to the outcome of each game is as follows:

You predicted the favorite to win?:

1. They win and beat the spread: 2 Points
2. They win the game, but didn’t beat the spread: 1 Point
3. They lost the game: uh oh– 0 Points

You predicted the underdog to win?:

1. They win the game: 3 Points
2. They lose the game, but beat the spread: 2 Points
3. They lose the game, nor did they beat the spread: 0 Points.

As you can see, there are only 3 outcomes that can occur.

The points are balanced by their impact in the NFL Playoff race. (i.e. The Underdog winning a game is a biggest gamble in any contest in any sport, thus the points are 3-to-zero).

The Favorite winning and covering is worth 2, a 2-point difference over the losing pick.

The other scenario involves the spread being the win factor (aka “Spread Win”) and just like the regular season, it’s a 1 point difference with the underdog spread “winner” getting 2 points, and spread “loser”, 1 point.

Confused? Just follow the point chart above–it’s easier than this written explanation anyway.

Playoff Draft:

Each player’s standings at the conclusion of the Regular Season, determines their Playoff Draft position, with the player who finished 1st choosing from all of the Playoff teams, which they predict to win the Super Bowl.

The 2nd Place player will choose 2nd, from the remaining pool of playoff teams, and so on.

Depending on the number of players, the remaining teams will be available to go back up to the #1 player and follow down to the 2nd place player.  (In the case of having a low number of players, amendments have been made to this format in the past to weigh toward / reward the 1st and 2nd place players, unless the point difference is very close between all players in the pool).

**For this season there are 10 players. Since there are 12 playoff teams, players will select 1 through 10 and the 1st and 2nd Place Players will get an extra pick at 11 through 12.

The player whose drafted team wins the Super Bowl is awarded 11 points.

2017 Playoffs Draft Order:

Swami Bowl:

All players who have the possibility of becoming Swami going into the Super Bowl are in the Swami Bowl.

The Swami Bowl is decided when the Super Bowl is decided; the player who has the most points at the end is crowned Swami.

Swami Bowl important notes:

*The 2 players whose drafted teams are in the Super Bowl have their picks predetermined for the Super Bowl and have no spreads attached to the game. The other players without the 2 drafted teams playing in the Super Bowl will make picks with spreads as usual.

*Player(s) who are in the Swami Bowl but do not have their draft team in the Super Bowl itself, can only gain the regular amount of points for a win; 3, 2, 1, or 0. (Only the player whose drafted team wins the Super Bowl is awarded 11 points.)

*In the event of a points tie, the playoffs tiebreaker remains: (1) Super Bowl Winning Team, (2) Regular Season Wins, (3) Total number of correct Locks (4) Head-to-head weekly records of the tied players.

Good Luck to ALL!