| Maybe you've been playing fantasy sports for a | | | | most common league options below. You will want |
| while and you've been asked to play in your first | | | | to weigh the options and the cost amongst a few |
| Confidence Pool. Or perhaps you're new to | | | | of the providers. There are some good websites |
| fantasy sport games entirely. In either case, a | | | | out there that offer Free Confidence Pools. You |
| Confidence Pool is actually a pretty interesting | | | | just have to do a search for them. |
| way to bet on games. We say "bet" because | | | | Confidence Pools usually allow each team owner |
| you're picking a team to win each of each week's | | | | to discard a certain number of bad week's worth |
| games, though you are not actually placing a | | | | of picks per season (say, your lowest 2 weeks |
| wager. | | | | out of the 16 weeks). These are often referred |
| The game is pretty simple. In a standard | | | | to as "Drop Weeks." This feature allows you to |
| Confidence Pool, you're asked to pick the winners | | | | forget about the week when you were heading |
| of each NFL contest for the week (yep, all 16 | | | | out of town and didn't read up, and it helps to |
| games; less during bye weeks). Then you weight | | | | brighten your spirits after an unusually bad week. |
| each pick with a number of confidence points | | | | Another common option is to not rank weekly |
| between 1 and 16 (where higher is better). You | | | | straight-up winners, but rather rank winners |
| can't re-use a number, and you must use all | | | | against the spread. This tougher option requires |
| numbers. When the team you picked to win | | | | that if the Broncos - Raiders spread is 6 points (in |
| actually wins, you get the points you assigned to | | | | favor of the Broncos in this case), you'd have to |
| that game. | | | | pick whether the Broncos will win by 6 or more, |
| Scoring and Payouts | | | | or win by less than 6. You'd then assign |
| So how do scoring and payouts work? Many | | | | confidence points to that pick as you would a |
| pools will collect an entry fee. That fee is collected | | | | normal pool. |
| from all participants and dispersed in the form of | | | | Finally, does your pool allow "autopicks" to be used |
| weekly and/or season prizes. The weekly winner | | | | when the owner does not make picks for the |
| is the person whose coin flips yielded the most | | | | week? Autopicks allow the computer to use your |
| points from correct picks (as close to 136 points | | | | default decision-making system, such as to pick all |
| as possible). Those rankings are tabulated | | | | favorites, ranked in descending order by the point |
| throughout the season to determine standings | | | | spread. If your pool closes the opportunity to |
| within your league. You can win one week to win | | | | make picks at the start of the first game and |
| money, and you can also win the aggregate | | | | you are busy sleeping off your Saturday night's |
| scoring for the season. | | | | drinks, at least you are playing that week. |
| This kind of award structure means that even | | | | Winning |
| rookie confidence poolboys can compete with | | | | If you've read this far, you deserve some advice |
| experts. Even a novice who uses the "animal | | | | on how to win your Confidence Pool. Beyond the |
| strategy" can pick the best during any given | | | | obvious (which is to make sure to assign points |
| week. (The "animal strategy" is whereby you pick | | | | according to your confidence), every confidence |
| the winner as if it were a cage battle in the | | | | league player should be aware of the major |
| wilderness. For example, in a game pitting the | | | | factors that affect winning in the NFL: injuries, |
| Chicago Bears versus the Philadelphia Eagles, the | | | | weather, home-field advantage, team matchups, |
| Bears win every time. Of course, this strategy | | | | and coaching matchups. Studying all of this |
| has a few pitfalls: see "Detroit Lions" or on the | | | | information for every game can be tedious for |
| other end, "Arizona Cardinals.") | | | | the non-NFL-aholic, but there are many websites |
| Variable League Settings | | | | and experts that will offer predictions for each |
| A good fantasy sports site will allow pool | | | | game. It's worth checking with these websites if |
| commissioners to pick from a wide variety of | | | | you don't have time to do the research yourself. |
| customizable settings. We'll address a few of the | | | | Best of luck! |