Hostrauser let me know he has too much on his plate to run a Bowl Game Pool this year, so I’ve decided to throw a pool together for anyone interested in playing. I’m sorry for the short notice, but I really didn’t realize time had gone by so quickly. For that reason, the first deadline only covers a few games, in order to give players a bit of breathing room to make picks. So even if people miss the first set of games, there’s still a reasonable amount of time to get ready and start picking and not lose out too much if you still want to jump in and play.

After the Game Open Announcement is posted, please post your picks indicating the Deadline group you are posting under. You’d probably make it a lot easier on me if you copy/paste each group with the bowl game name and opponents, and then just delete the team you aren’t picking to win. Please post them as I listed them. For instance, if you post “Lions, Tigers or Bears” I’m gonna have a hard time knowing who you’ve picked, since I’m not as keen on all the college teams mascots as I am in the NFL.


SCORING
I’ll be using the same scoring format as in the NFL pool, where at the end you get score based on the percentage of points you earned versus the total available points to earn.

Each correctly picked game will be worth 40 points, with the exception of the following:
Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl are worth 50 points if picked correctly. The BCS Championship game is worth 75 points if picked correctly.

Bonus Questions are scored as follows:
Point Spread guesses are worth 10 points maximum, minus the variance of your guess from the actual point spread of each game.
Final Total Points are worth 15 points maximum, minus the variance of your guess from the actual points scored in each game.


Deadline Clarification
For each deadline, you have up until Midnight Pacific time to get your picks in on that given day. Please also take note that the Bonus Questions are also broken up into two groups.

Official Game Open Announcement to follow:

The Game is Now Open For Picks

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Wyoming vs. Fresno State
St. Petersburg: Rutgers vs. UCF
New Orleans: Middle Tennessee State vs. Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State vs. BYU
Poinsettia: Utah vs. California
Hawaii: Nevada vs. SMU
Emerald: Boston College vs. USC
Meineke Car Care: North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Ohio vs. Marshall

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Kentucky vs. Clemson
Independence: Texas A&M vs. Georgia
Champs Sports: Miami (FL) vs. Wisconsin
EagleBank: UCLA vs. Temple

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Nebraska vs. Arizona
Humanitarian: Idaho vs. Bowling Green
Texas: Missouri vs. Navy
Armed Forces: Air Force vs. Houston
Sun: Stanford vs. Oklahoma
Insight: Minnesota vs. Iowa State
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Northwestern vs. Auburn
Capital One: Penn State vs. LSU
Gator: West Virginia vs. Florida State
Rose: Oregon vs. Ohio State
Sugar: Florida vs. Cincinnati
Cotton: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi
Liberty: East Carolina vs. Arkansas
International: South Florida vs. Northern Illinois
Papajohns.com: Connecticut vs. South Carolina
Alamo: Texas Tech vs. Michigan State

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: TCU vs. Boise State
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Iowa
GMAC: Central Michigan vs. Troy
BCS National Championship: Texas vs. Alabama

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. Point Spread for Rose Bowl
2. Final Total Points for Rose Bowl
3. Point Spread for Sugar Bowl
4. Final Total Points for Sugar Bowl

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. Point Spread for Orange Bowl
6. Final Total Points for Orange Bowl
7. Point Spread for Fiesta Bowl
8. Final Total Points for Fiesta Bowl
9. Point Spread for BCS Championship
10. Final Total points for BCS Championship

I can't run it, but I'll still play!

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Fresno State
St. Petersburg: Rutgers
New Orleans: Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State
Poinsettia: Utah
Hawaii: Nevada
Emerald: USC
Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Ohio

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Fresno State
St. Petersburg: Rutgers
New Orleans: Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: BYU
Poinsettia: California
Hawaii: SMU
Emerald: USC
Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Marshall

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Clemson
Independence: Georgia
Champs Sports: Wisconsin
EagleBank: UCLA

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Nebraska
Humanitarian: Bowling Green
Texas: Missouri
Armed Forces: Houston
Sun: Stanford
Insight: Iowa State
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Northwestern
Capital One: LSU
Gator: Florida State
Rose: Ohio State
Sugar: Florida
Cotton: Oklahoma State
Liberty: Arkansas
International: South Florida
Papajohns.com: South Carolina
Alamo: Texas Tech

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: Boise State
Orange: Georgia Tech
GMAC: Central Michigan
BCS National Championship: Alabama

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. 8
2. 61
3. 11
4. 57

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. 9
6. 59
7. 6
8. 68
9. 7
10. 56

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Fresno State
St. Petersburg: Rutgers
New Orleans: Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State
Poinsettia: Utah
Hawaii: Nevada
Emerald: USC
Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Ohio

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Clemson
Independence: Georgia
Champs Sports: Miami (FL)
EagleBank: UCLA

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Nebraska
Humanitarian: Bowling Green
Texas: Missouri
Armed Forces: Houston
Sun: Stanford
Insight: Minnesota
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Auburn
Capital One: Penn State
Gator: West Virginia
Rose: Oregon
Sugar: Florida
Cotton: Oklahoma State
Liberty: Arkansas
International: South Florida
Papajohns.com: Connecticut
Alamo: Texas Tech

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: TCU
Orange: Georgia Tech
GMAC: Central Michigan
BCS National Championship: Alabama

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. Point Spread for Rose Bowl: 14
2. Final Total Points for Rose Bowl: 34
3. Point Spread for Sugar Bowl: 11
4. Final Total Points for Sugar Bowl: 59

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. Point Spread for Orange Bowl: 7
6. Final Total Points for Orange Bowl: 51
7. Point Spread for Fiesta Bowl: 7
8. Final Total Points for Fiesta Bowl: 49
9. Point Spread for BCS Championship: 11
10. Final Total points for BCS Championship: 45

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Clemson
Independence: Georgia
Champs Sports: Miami (FL)
EagleBank: UCLA

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Nebraska
Humanitarian: Bowling Green
Texas: Navy
Armed Forces: Houston
Sun: Oklahoma
Insight: Iowa State
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Auburn
Capital One: Penn State
Gator: Florida State
Rose: Oregon
Sugar: Florida
Cotton: Mississippi
Liberty: Arkansas
International: South Florida
Papajohns.com: South Carolina
Alamo: Texas Tech

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: TCU
Orange: Georgia Tech
GMAC: Central Michigan
BCS National Championship: Texas

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. 3
2. 51
3. 14
4. 53

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. 3
6. 45
7. 6
8. 54
9. 3
10. 37

Fresno State
Rutgers
Southern Miss
BYU
California
Nevada
USC
Pittsburgh
Marshall
Clemson
Texas A&M
Wisconsin
UCLA
Arizona
Bowling Green
Missouri
Houston
Stanford
Minnesota
Virginia Tech

Thanks for the invite and for hosting this Marianne

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Fresno State
St. Petersburg: Rutgers
New Orleans: Middle Tennessee State

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State
Poinsettia: Utah
Hawaii: Nevada
Emerald: USC
Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Ohio

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Wyoming
St. Petersburg: UCF
New Orleans: Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State
Poinsettia: California
Hawaii: Nevada
Emerald: USC
Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Ohio

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Kentucky
Independence: Georgia
Champs Sports: Miami (FL)
EagleBank: UCLA

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Nebraska
Humanitarian: Idaho
Texas: Missouri
Armed Forces: Houston
Sun: Stanford
Insight: Iowa State
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Northwestern
Capital One: LSU
Gator: Florida State
Rose: Oregon
Sugar: Florida
Cotton: Mississippi
Liberty: Arkansas
International: South Florida
Papajohns.com: South Carolina
Alamo: Michigan State

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: TCU
Orange: Georgia Tech
GMAC: Central Michigan
BCS National Championship: Alabama

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. 14
2. 32
3. 7
4. 42

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. 4
6. 33
7. 10
8. 41
9. 14
10. 37

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Fresno State
St. Petersburg: UCF
New Orleans: Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State
Poinsettia: California
Hawaii: Nevada
Emerald: USC
Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh
Little Caesars: Ohio

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Clemson
Independence: Texas A&M
Champs Sports: Miami (FL)
EagleBank: UCLA

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Nebraska
Humanitarian: Idaho
Texas: Missouri
Armed Forces: Houston
Sun: Stanford
Insight: Minnesota
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Auburn
Capital One: LSU
Gator: West Virginia
Rose: Oregon
Sugar: Florida
Cotton: Mississippi
Liberty: Arkansas
International: South Florida
Papajohns.com: South Carolina
Alamo: Texas Tech

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: TCU
Orange: Georgia Tech
GMAC: Central Michigan
BCS National Championship: Texas

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. 24
2. 62
3. 13
4. 51

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. 17
6. 49
7. 23
8. 45
9. 8
10. 52

Deadline 1: 12/18/09
New Mexico: Fresno State
St. Petersburg: Rutgers
New Orleans: Southern Miss

Deadline 2: 12/21/09
MAACO Las Vegas: Oregon State
Poinsettia: Utah
Hawaii: Nevada
Emerald:. USC
Meineke Car Care: North Carolina
Little Caesars: Ohio

Deadline 3: 12/26/09
Music City: Clemson
Independence: Georgia
Champs Sports: Miami (FL)
EagleBank: Temple

Deadline 4: 12/29/09
Holiday: Arizona
Humanitarian: Idaho
Texas: Missouri
Armed Forces: Air Force
Sun: Oklahoma
Insight: Minnesota
Chick-fil-A: Virginia Tech

Deadline 5: 12/31/09
Outback: Auburn
Capital One: LSU
Gator: Florida State
Rose: Oregon
Sugar: Florida
Cotton: Oklahoma State
Liberty: Arkansas
International: South Florida
Papajohns.com: Connecticut
Alamo: Texas Tech

Deadline 6: 1/3/10
Fiesta: Boise State
Orange: Iowa
GMAC: Central Michigan
BCS National Championship: Alabama

Bonus Questions Group A: Deadline 12/31/09
1. 3
2. 51
3. 10
4. 58

Bonus Questions Group B: Deadline 1/3/10
5. 5
6. 51
7. 6
8. 62
9. 6
10. 48

Auburn
Penn State
Florida State
Oregon
Cincinnati
Mississippi
Arkansas
Northern Illinois
Connecticut
Texas Tech
TCU
Iowa
Central Michigan
Alabama

Point Spread for Rose Bowl 17
Final Total Points for Rose Bowl 55
Point Spread for Sugar Bowl 14
Final Total Points for Sugar Bowl 52

Point Spread for Orange Bowl 9
Final Total Points for Orange Bowl 37
Point Spread for Fiesta Bowl 10
Final Total Points for Fiesta Bowl 69
Point Spread for BCS Championship 17
Final Total points for BCS Championship 45