Welcome to the recap for my contests held over the weekend. Instead of doing posts for all three contests to summarize the week and who's still alive, I've packed them into this single post.

This Week in American Football, A Recap

This weekend was a humbling reminder (for me at least) at how hard football games are to predict. My betting challenge is now over due to my losses and my poor Detroit Lions let me down once again with a loss against the struggling Cowboys.

Here are some things we learned this week in the NCAA:

  • Notre Dame is a real contender and they have an easy upcoming schedule
  • Ohio State is now the clear favorite to reach the NCAA Playoffs from the Big 10
  • Alabama can beat any team in the country by 50 points 
  • The targeting penalty is not being called consistently and young athletes and teams are being punished for it 
  • Every team is just an injury away from having their playoff hopes and dreams crushed. We saw this happen with Clemson who now looks like they have fallen from being a contended to win the National Championship to a team preparing for an early bowl game
  • Washington may finally be playing like the contender experts were predicting. 

Here are a few things we learned in the NFL:

  • Nothing is predictable in the NFL
  • Ties need to end! 
  • The Browns are much better but are still gifted at finding ways to lose games late
  • The Bears are somehow now the favorite to win the NFC North after looking like the last team in the division before the season
  • The Patriots are still the Patriots
  • The Steelers need Le'Veon Bell back on their team 
  • Corey Davis is a legitimate #1 WR
  • What did you notice this weekend? Comment below

Now here's a summary of the action in my three contests:

100 SCR NCAA Survivor Contest 

This week in college football it was all about close calls. We had Michigan nearly getting upset by Northwestern, Clemson having to hold off Syracuse, and Ohio State coming from being in Happy Valley to knock off Penn State in the final seconds of the game. We did not lose many players, as we still have 13 left competing for the 100 SCR prize.

  • Who is Still Alive? @heyimsnuffles, @robbijg, @izge, @thesportsguru, @pete, @potplucker, @broncofan99, @tadas, @bamamama, @chops316, @news, @swolesome, @thebull (mistakingly left off earlier)

50 SCR NFL Survivor Contest 

The competition that has been the most exciting and fastest moving has definitely been the 50 SCR NFL Survivor Contest, which is now down to just two players after @peman85 lost with the Steelers. Here are the two remaining players and their picks so far (meaning they cannot pick these teams again):

  • Who is Still Alive? 
    • @Pete (Chargers, Seahawks, Broncos)
    • @BoatSports90 (Packers, Eagles, Broncos)

30 SCR Second Chance American Football Contest 

In the brand new 30 SCR Second Chance American Football Contest, we had 33 entrants who selected a college and NFL team to win this weekend from a short list of difficult games. In this contest, each participant is allowed one loss before being knocked out, and that saved most of the pool as nearly everyone lost one of their two picks. We had three knockouts (players that lost both games), 17 players who lost one game, and just 13 who correctly guessed both of their picks. Those knocked out include @mateonav53, @liuke96player, and @kaybee123. Thank you all for playing!

The most popular pick in this pool was the Pittsburgh Steelers, who failed to beat the ravens. Many players were saved by Oakland squeaking out a victory over the Browns in overtime.

Make sure to check my blog next week on either Thursday or Friday morning for week 2 of this contest.

Make sure to submit your picks this week for each contest if you're still alive. The college contest will be released on Wednesday, the NFL contest on Thursday, and the Second Chance contest will be posted on either Thursday or Friday morning. Good luck and thank you for playing and for your support. Good luck!