Updated 10/1/25

There's another 6:30 am (PDT) game start this Sunday: Vikings vs Browns at London, England. You should consider making your pick on that game when you make your Thursday only pick. Otherwise, be prepared to be up and picking all your games before 6:30 am. After that game starts is obviously too late and will be a loss, and loss of your lowest points remaining.

The 'bye' weeks begin with Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay and Pittsburgh taking the Week off. Con bets will range from 16 down to 3 points. 

Not much imagination into this week's review, busy week with home issues piling up.

 

Book Rules:

     2025 Season Entry Fee: $180.
            Exactly $10.00 each week (in advance) for the full 18 Regular Season slates including Playoffs (if you make them). Bottom 4 Players are eliminated from the Playoffs
   32 Players x $180.00 = $5760.00

Just a reminder: You can re-submit your picks anytime before a game begins as long as the Picksheet hasn't closed yet... Any missed Thursday Night game (or any game before the Picksheet closes) will be counted as a loss and a loss of your lowest point value still available... Quickpicks (when necessary) will cover all day Sunday and Monday Night and it's final. A FULL week quickpick (incl. Thurs - Mon) is only available if Commish is notified in advance by email or text (it happens).

Other small tweaks...

The Player Picks and Weekly Standings pages will show the Monday Night Football tiebreaker scores as 'N/A' until all games are completed. That's because the tiebreaker score skews the standings by using the lowest MNF score to break ties too early. The tiebreakers will show before the Monday Night Football game is played if the tiebreaker could be a factor, guaranteed...

If  a Playoff slot is a tie on points and wins, the 'Season Standings' MNF Tiebreaker avg. will be used. It's good to be prudent on your TB number.

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Book Rules (cont...)

Weekly and Season Standings Are Based on Points:

Players assign each NFL pick a 'Confidence Point' bet. Highest confidence bet is worth 16 points, lowest is 1 point (if 16 games played that week). Points awarded for win, no points deducted for loss.

Missed Weekly Picks:

 If you can't get your picks in, for whatever reason, don't worry, you're covered, The Commish will enter a computer generated 'Quickpick' for you (except for final Week of the Season) and use your previous week's Tiebreaker . Please, don't use it as a season 'strategy'. You can still use the 'quickpick strategy', just push the "Random' Picks" button on the Website Picksheet'. If you're a 'Survivor/Margin' player you'll get a loss; unless you text me your Survivor/Margin pick(s) before the Picksheet closes. Just a reminder: Any missed pick prior to the Picksheet closing, that hasn't requested a Commish Quickpick, will lose the game(s) and the lowest confidence point amount(s) still available. Once the Pickheet closes, the Book is closed.

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Post Season Playoffs:

Two Post Season Superbowl Tournaments
Top 28 Regular Season Finishers Make the Playoffs

•   Superbowl 'A' Winner: $500.00*
  Superbowl 'B' Winner: $300.00

*Superbowl 'A' Winner (only) is awarded a Trophy.

Players choose their teams in order of their final Season standings, starting with 1st place and continuing until 28th place. Each player can select ONE team only and may choose from EITHER playoff pool.

All games subject to point spread. Spread winner takes spread loser's team. If the line is not on a 1/2 point by the day of the game, the favorite must give the underdog an additional 1/2 point. This is to eliminate possible point spread ties. 

First week playoff line is now locked in the first Tuesday before Wildcard weekend instead of Monday. Players have been able to get their team selections made faster lately so the 'Wildcard Weekend' line will have a better chance to settle out a little - before they're locked in,,

After the Wild Card games, check 'The Playoffs: Latest Line/Game Times' for the latest odds and watch the Brackets to track your team's progress.  

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Side Games:

Both Side Games are $20 Each and are Completely Optional.

Survivor Pool:

NO POINT SPREAD. STRAIGHT UP FINAL SCORE

Pick ONE team each week that you are sure will win. After two losses you're dead. You can use a team only ONCE all year, so you might want to look ahead in the schedule to see if you're picking the right spot to choose them (see NFL Team Schedules and Results link on main page). Survivor/Margin pools have a selection box on the Picksheet showing the teams you have already used. No tiebreaker. If there is more than 1 'Survivor', each will evenly split the pot. Even if you have 1 loss, you still get a full share. Just Survive, Bay-Bee!!

Tie Games are Not a Loss.

Missed or Duplicate Pick in Survivor is a Loss.

Both side games are optional participation. Payouts are based on total number of entries.

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Margin Pool:

NO POINT SPREAD. STRAIGHT UP FINAL SCORE.

Pick ONE team each week that you think will win by the largest margin of points over their opponent, and you get that number of points added to your season total. Lose, and that amount is deducted from your total. End of season tiebreaker is Total Wins. You can play a team only ONCE all year, so you might want to look ahead in the schedule to see if you're choosing the right spot to pick them (see NFL Team Schedules and Results link on main page). Survivor/Margin pools have a selection box on the Picksheet showing the teams you have already used. 

 The Margin Pool Ends After Week #17.

Missed pick in Margin Loses 10 Points (Doh! Penalty)

Both side games are optional participation. Payouts are based on total number of entries.

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Miscellaneous:

• *Check the time/date on bottom of 'Player Picks' page if you don't see your picks there. If the time/date is before you submitted your picks, newer picks haven't been uploaded yet. It's not automatic but I do strive to upload promptly...

The PayPal payment system has worked great and will continue, but I will accept checks as long as you don't mind waiting a 'lil longer for your winnings. I will also accept Zelle or Venmo payment. Email commish@rodbird.com or text and I'll send you my addresses for Zelle/Venmo account info. Be sure to choose Friends/Family payment option, otherwise they will deduct State sales tax. There's a link on the Book website that will take you to the Book PayPal account. It's completely separate from the Book, is on PayPal's website and is totally secure. 

 New NFL Season on a begins on a Thursday. This year it's the  Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, Sept 5th, 5:20 pm (PDT) on NBC. There's also a Friday Night Game on 'Peacock': Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, Sept. 6th @ 5 pm (PST).

You can use (or change) a nickname or alias instead of your full name. Just email or text me your change or fill out the New Player Sign-Up Form, and I'll update your new player name. That way if you're losing, I won't have to insult you by name in the Commish Comments.

 

The Website:

rodbird.com

Everything you need to play is located on the website. Check it out...

If I have forgotten anything, or you still have questions, contact me at:

commish@rodbird.com