Next season... need your opinions

[openSkies]

Next season is when we will be unveiling Fantasy Sports v3.6.1

At this time, there is a program being written to automatically update each game and score through the internet by the developer of Fantasy Sports. It may not be ready in time for next season.

Because it would be impossible to add and score each game for all 119 teams, we need to think of something else.

Our options are stated above in the poll. Here is more in-depth info on them:

(1) Top 25
We'll simply take the top 25 teams at the BEGINNING of the year, and input their games into the system only. It seems this would be the easiest way, because those teams will (more than likely) have the biggest following. (Could be based off the BCS or Congrove Computer Rankings).

(2) Vote
Everyone will decide which 25 teams to follow using a vote. Everyone will submit the 25 teams that they would like to predict for, and a poll will be made using everyones submittions. Everyone would then vote, and the top 25 teams receiving votes will be chosen (kind of like the Coaches Poll, yes?).

(3) Random
25 teams will be chosen using a randomization algorithm (to make sure it's fair). This could be bad, because who wants to predict the score of Temple vs New Mexico State?

(4) Conferences
Two teams will be selected from each conference (22 teams), as well as one independant (Notre Dame, I guess). For conferences with split divisions, one team from each division must be chosen.

You guys decide, because it is your board after all! Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or ideas.

[mountainman]

Matt, I have a question.

How are the fantasy picks going to be selected each week next season?

This season Eric chose the games. All who picked chose from the games on that list. Eric, I believe, did a good job in that his selections were national in scope while sprinkled with games that were not high profile.

How will the games to be picked be chosen this coming season and .... can the chosen games be interfaced with the game "update" program?

By the way, thanks .... the TV guys are making the television screen way too "busy" with all the stuff they have on there now. Can't watch the dag-gum game for watching the roll at the bottom of the screen while trying to get the score of another game. And to boot, they have added the stats of the games ......... geee whiz, just give me score, I'll get the stats later.

Just a little rant there.

[Spence]

When I ran the predictions last year I picked games I thought would be pretty good games. That is how Eric did it this year too. I don't know the best way, but I think I would like to hear some debate on the pros and cons before I vote.

[openSkies]

Mountainman, the way that we select games is what's up for questioning.

To my understanding (since I have not installed version 3.6.1 yet, and won't be able to for a couple months), the games are based off the teams in the database.

So if we have 119 teams in the database, then we'll have to input the game information and picks for each team (that's way too many). So instead, we're only going to add the teams that we WANT to pick.

How do we decide what those teams are, though? Do we take the Top 25, or do we vote, or what?

It may be possible that we can select only certain games each week. But again, how do we decide what games to choose?

I think coming up with a plan of standards right now would be the best way to go about it. Any more Qs?

[bama_girl]

i like the way eric did it. they were usually always really good match ups all over the board. and really tough to pick. he does his homework!

some of the teams, i had never even heard of and had to do a little research to make my picks and it was fun.

i'd let him do it again if he isn't too sick of it

mountainman, the extra stuff all over the screen is only getting worse every year. they are operating on the fact that everybody has a big screen i reckon

[mountainman]

Matt,

Let me try this another way .....

Once a selection method is decided upon .... will the same teams and their opponent for that week be on the pick list every week? (except for the random option I would surmise)

[openSkies]

Ah, I get what you're saying.

Yes, this would be a season-long decision. The teams will all be picked at the start of the year, through whatever method, and the picks will follow only those chosen teams throughout the season.

Like I said, I'm not 100% sure if this is how it has to be done, but I'd like to get everyones opinion before the "Oh Crap" time comes upon us.

Another thing to consider could be checking out each teams schedule for the year. Just because so-and-so is ranked #9 doesn't mean they play good teams.

[mountainman]

Yep, and these pre-season polls can get a little crazy sometimes.

[Eric]

For the picking game, I don't think that is the best way to go about it. For instance, if you do top 25, you'll end up with Cal vs. Sacramento State. There are just so many cupcakes that they play, it doesn't make it extremely challenging.

And if you do it at random, then you'll end up with Ball State, Florida International, and San Jose State, and other teams that regular college football fans don't have a lot of knowledge about.

If you do it by conference, then we won't give other conferences any exposure, we wouldn't be able to keep it on a national scene.

[Spence]

I think I like the conferences choice. 2 games from every conference. Except that during non conference play there would be more then two teams from each conference. I'm alright with that, just bringing it up.

Question; If their are going to be 2 games from every conference is their a way to make sure they are competitive games or would it be random?

[bama_girl]

that's my question too, it's more fun when it's tough.

[openSkies]

Eric, if we did it by conference, we'd select 2 teams from each conference. That way, all conferences are represented.

Looking through the miles and miles of code, though, it appears (repeat, APPEARS) that you can just select each game every week. The team stats won't be correct, but oh well.

[Jason G]

I know I really started coming on here very late in the game this past year so I may not have as much insight but I like the random idea. You would almost always have some close match-ups as well as those that are not. You would also probably have a good mixture consisting of top teams and lesser known schools as well as schools from different regions of the country.

It could give everyone a chance to learn about those teams they may not know much about, plus it would be tough, which I agree is more fun.

[mountainman]

That's a good point Jason G.

[..fanatic]

I have an idea. Each week, CFP lists its computer picks and its pointspread. I say you use it's closest games (i.e, those it picks to have a margin of the fewest points).

If there are a lot of 1 or 2-point games, we use those. Also, use the games it predicts as outright upsets. For instance, the Vegas line favors one team by 3 but the computer picks the other by 5.

This way, we're guaranteed to be picking tough games. And we're using info off your own website which is kinda good for you, too. Right?