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We're thinking about running an NCAA football bowl pick'em game here, and this post is to gauge interest in it. Also, we're thinking of two different formats, one which is fairly simple and one which is a bit more complex. The poll is to determine which format you folks would be more receptive to.

Of course responding to the poll or this thread will show us that you're interested in the game, but here are two formats we're looking at. Choose which of the two you would like to see done or which of the two you would be more likely to participate in:

A. A simple pick'em. Pick the winners of each game, no spreads involved, you get a point per correct pick. We'd have a typical tiebreaker question of course.

B. This one's a bit more complex. You pick the winners of each game, no spreads again, but this time, there's a twist. You must assign each game a "confidence level" based on how sure you are that the team you picked will win. For example, if there are 28 bowl games (not sure of the exact number), the game you are most confident you have picked correctly would get number 28, the next 27, and so on down to number 1 which you are the least confident in. In the final tallies, if you picked your #28 game correctly, you would earn 28 points for it, etc. If you're wrong, you get zero. This game adds a bit of spice in my opinion, but it would also take longer for folks to make their picks.

So which format would you like to see? Vote for the one you like better!

I prefer the simple method since I only follow a couple of college teams.

I was thinking the more casual fans would choose the simpler method, while the more hardcore fans (probably the guys who enetered valeogut's challenge every week) would choose the more complex method. Either way, I'll leave this up for a while as the bowls won't be fully set til after this weekend. Then we'll have time to get the game running.

I think you'll get more participation if you keep it simple.

That's what we're trying to find out...if it's only gonna be the few who posted in valegut's challenge every week and they want a more challenging challenge, then we'll do it that way. If we can get 30 people to play by keeping it simple, then that's the way to go.

BTW, where's your vote at?

I like the simple version with the spreads. I think picking straight up winners is usually a little boring but since bowls are supposed to be matchups of relative "equals," it might work out. I entered the NCAA challenge a couple of weeks but quite honestly, the complicated version is a little too much "work" for me. It might be really difficult for the score calculator, too.

There may be ways to "spice" the simple version. You might be able to assign bonuses. Let's say you assign 1 point to each bowl winner. Then there are bonuses like an additional point for picking the national champion. Two points for getting the highest scoring game correct or the most lopsided victory. Picking the biggest upset (according to the spreads). Just an idea.

On second thought, picking the winners of 28 different games is already quite a bit. Of course, if only the "diehards" will enter, I'm sure they won't mind making a few extra picks. Another one I like is pick the conference with the most bowl winners.

I'm interested I guess, but it would have to be the simple version (or a simple version with spreads if necessary) since college football gets NO coverage over here. It might be interesting to see how a know-nothing does compared to the sophisticates.

You've got the wrong Pick 'Em here. You should be waiting for the March Madness (college basketball) NCAA Tournament Pick 'Em. Those pools are notorious when it comes to "know-nothing's" winning it all. NCAA football is a little more predictable but I'd still look forward to seeing how you would stalk up against the competition. Some of the winning percentages I amassed in the weeks I entered were pretty sorry.

OK I'll do the March Madness as well! I did actually used to know a fair bit about college hoops, but that was 15 years ago. I assume schools like Duke, NC, NC State still have good programs.

You will get more participation by having us only pick winners, but it's MUCH more challenging (and equally more rewarding if you do well) to pick either against the spread or with confidence levels as you mentioned. I vote the latter.

I'm for this all the way. It is the way ESPN does it. Everyone is saying it is too complex and only die hards would play but wont only a die hard win? I think we should make the big bowls seprate and make them worth a lot so it all comes down to the end. Like if there is 28 bowls including the major 4 you do the 1-24 system and then make the 4 BCS Bowls in 6 point incaments. Like 24 is most certian then 18...12....6. I don't know how that would work but it sounded like a good idea at the time.

I voted for simple . . . I'm much too lazy to do more than that.

I dont know it isn't all that hard to pick the games and then ranke them by most certain to the least.

So far it's a dead heat. Personally I do like option B but I'm sure those who would play option B would also play if it we went with A, while those who prefer option A may not play option B if they feel it's too overwhelming or time-consuming. Oh, and I'll be calculating results, so if you only choose A because you think it'll be more work for me in B, don't worry about it. I have no classes during bowl season.