Dark Tower College Bowl Mania!

[NeedfulKings]

Updated link for the 2023 contest below - get in the game!!!! In an effort to recycle this thread through the coming years (and save our fine archive folks some work) this will be the general thread for this and subsequent Bowl Mania contests.

https://fantasy.espn.com/games/college-football-bowl-mania-2023/group?id=29195dab-bdf1-337c-abdd-1ab2fba087a4

Bowls will be announced Sunday afternoon/evening.

Mode: Confidence (make sure you select this mode!)
Password: roland

Get in the GAME!!!!!!

Last year's trophy - RUBE is the defending champ!
http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/996/medium/IMG_22991.jpg

[BedOfRoses]

I'm in! :D

[Lurker]

Yeah, I'll try it for the first time!
I couldn't get it to register me last year, but this year no problems. That's a good sign, eh?

[Garrell]

Trying again...

[ajw2910]

Took three tries to get my picks saved but I think I’m in!

[Lurker]

Geez. 44 games? Is this an everybody gets a trophy for college kids mentality?
A bowl game at Fenway Park? For real? One at Yankee Stadium? The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl? A Mayo Bowl?
My favorite must be the Taxslayer Bowl.

Still rolling on the floor.

[NeedfulKings]

Took three tries to get my picks saved but I think I’m in!

I don't see your entry in the Palaver Gunslinger area. Are you sure you're in? If so, under what name?

[NeedfulKings]

Geez. 44 games? Is this an everybody gets a trophy for college kids mentality?
A bowl game at Fenway Park? For real? One at Yankee Stadium? The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl? A Mayo Bowl?
My favorite must be the Taxslayer Bowl.

Still rolling on the floor.

So true! Not a fan of the new-look Bowl Mania site either. Gettin' too old. :)

[divemaster]

Ok; I'm signed in! Will make picks later.

[Merlin1958]

:ny-yankees-baseball

[ajw2910]

Took three tries to get my picks saved but I think I’m in!

I don't see your entry in the Palaver Gunslinger area. Are you sure you're in? If so, under what name?

I think it’s under Tony67hunting

[NeedfulKings]

Took three tries to get my picks saved but I think I’m in!

I don't see your entry in the Palaver Gunslinger area. Are you sure you're in? If so, under what name?

I think it’s under Tony67hunting

Got it. Blaine from the Pigskin contest. Variety is the fruit of life! :) Good luck, mate!

[NeedfulKings]

9 - Nine. Only nine players so far. That's a 1 in 9 chance of winning. Why not join and make it 1 in 10 - still great odds!!!

GET
In
THE
GAME!

First Bowl game is Friday MORNING!!!!

[Jon]

With all new players every 4-5 years, how the hell do you folks keep track of college ball?

[NeedfulKings]

With all new players every 4-5 years, how the hell do you folks keep track of college ball?

I don't. This contest is pretty random to me, but it makes it a lot more fun watching the games!

[Lurker]

What I don't get is this stuff - "Quarterback Sean Clifford announced on Friday that he will return to Penn State for a sixth year.

Due to the complications presented by COVID-19 during the 2020 fall season, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all fall athletes. That allows Clifford to return to Penn State for a second redshirt senior season."

A sixth year? Why do they even allow fifth years?

[divemaster]

A "redshirt" year means a year you didn't play. Or only played under a de minimus amount of snaps. That way, a developing scrub doesn't lose an entire year just by taking a few snaps in garbage time. So that accounts for "five years" of eligibility: one year on the bench and four years playing.

The NCAA is generally crediting the "COVID" year as a redshirt year for everyone. It was such a weird situation that a number of players who never would have played under normal circumstances got playing time and, more importantly, a number of would be stars might have played past the de minimus amount to count against their eligibility time, but then COVID (or COVID protocols) benched them for basically most of a season, no fault of themselves. Allowing that to be considered a redshirt year was seemed as a fair deal for those players.

[Lurker]

Oh, ok. I guess I kinda see that sitting out a year playing. Sort of. And I guess Covid is a good excuse for an extra year since most schools didn't have in person attendance.

But at some point don't they have to graduate. I mean six years? The guy should have a Master's.

[RUBE]

You can continue to play after you graduate if you still have eligibility left. If fact, before the transfer portal that is how a lot of players would get to transfer. They would graduate and then "need" to get their masters elsewhere. That is how Russell Wilson went from NC State to Wisconsin.

[Merlin1958]

It appears that I have a "lock" on last place this year!!! LOL

[Lurker]

So, they just reset the numbering system because of the cancelled games?

I can't remember but I'm pretty sure I hade a 44 point game that is now worth 40 points?

[RUBE]

Yes, as games are canceled they shift the point values down. So if you had a game as 19 points but the game you valued as 18 gets canceled, your 19 becomes 18. We are down 4 so far so there were 44 but it only goes to 40 now.

[Jon]

Yes, as games are canceled they shift the point values down. So if you had a game as 19 points but the game you valued as 18 gets canceled, your 19 becomes 18. We are down 4 so far so there were 44 but it only goes to 40 now.




"Marty DiBergi: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: (pause) These go to eleven."

[Garrell]

Go Ole Miss

[Lurker]

Thanks

[NeedfulKings]

Looks like it's a 3-horse race for the win. It will all come down to taking risks and predicting your opponent's move.

Hats off to those who accumulated their points early on - foresight that games will be cancelled? I didn't see it coming, so many of my 40+ point games are long gone.

[RUBE]

Noone has any 40+ point games anymore. They shifted the points as games were canceled even if they already happened. The highest point game possible now is 38 since 6 games were canceled.

I made a few dumb picks that will probably end up costing me the win.

Thanks for hosting this. Win or lose, it is fun and it makes the bowl games more exciting to watch.

[Garrell]

This has always been my favorite contest we have. Someday I hope to win it as I love college football. I have other trophies from things here but this one would be my fav.

[RUBE]

Guess I should have paid more attention. I didn't realize LSU wasn't going to have a QB for this game. Congrats on the win Garrell.

[Garrell]

I switched yesterday. Go Wildcats!
Maybe if Cassel hadn’t got hurt, I could have wrapped up the trophy that always seems to elude me and I want the most.

[NeedfulKings]

Every bowl game - possibly minus the top four teams, seems to always have a lot of missing players. You really have to pay attention to roster changes. I'll try harder next year. Like a LOT harder, lol.

[RUBE]

I normally try to do so but there is a lot going on right now so it just slipped my mind.

[NeedfulKings]

I don't see any other mathematical outcome, so it looks like Garrell has clinched the win this year!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Go Georgia - roll that Tide! ;)

[Garrell]

ROLL TIDE
So excited to see the game Monday.

[Lurker]

Congrats!

[RUBE]

Garrell, Congratulations! ...and consolations.

[Garrell]

LOL, thanks.

[NeedfulKings]

Garrell, I hope you like the trophy - it's one of my favorites!

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/996/medium/IMG_09632.jpg

[Garrell]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220322/007dd596d24283e423b974d757f4c608.jpg
Sorry it took so long to post my winning trophy. Happy to finally win this one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NeedfulKings]

I've updated the link in the first post HERE (https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?23561-Dark-Tower-College-Bowl-Mania!&p=1251712&viewfull=1#post1251712)

Bowls will be announced today - I think the first game is the 16th, so get locked in early!!!

[Merlin1958]

:excited:

[NeedfulKings]

Only 5 players so far - our odds are looking good!!! GET IN THE GAME (see first post in this thread for the link).

[ajw2910]

I’m in!

[NeedfulKings]

First bowl game is Friday - currently, we stand a 1 in 9 chance of winning it all. Anyone want to make it 1 in 10? GET IN THE GAME!!!

[Garrell]

IN!

[NeedfulKings]

Contest locks at 8:30 a.m. pacific, 11:30 eastern time tomorrow (Friday) morning. Time's UP!!!!

[Garrell]

Killing it:)

[RUBE]

I am so mad at myself. I sat down and made all of my picks really quick. Then I went back and looked at the lines and picks from a few websites. I only changed one pick, that was from WKU to South Alabama. That did not go well.

[NeedfulKings]

Killing it:)

Whatever you're killing, I'm dying. :)


I am so mad at myself. I sat down and made all of my picks really quick. Then I went back and looked at the lines and picks from a few websites. I only changed one pick, that was from WKU to South Alabama. That did not go well.

That was a ripoff game - the records did not fully reflect the competence of the Alabama team. Ugh!

[RUBE]

Wow. I went 0-5 in Friday's bowl games. 0-5! Luckily, we all did bad today so somehow I am still ahead. I won't be long if I don't turn it around quick.

[Merlin1958]

Fear the FROGS!!!!!!!!!!!

[RUBE]

Looks like it is down to me and Geaux Tigers (who I believe is Divemaster here) for the trophy.

[divemaster]

I checked the standings after the first few games; I was in second place.

I checked again after Christmas. I was in second place.

I checked again this past weekend. Holding in second place.

I checked again after Monday's games. Still in second place.

I guess I'm destined to be in second place!

[NeedfulKings]

Looks like it is down to me and Geaux Tigers (who I believe is Divemaster here) for the trophy.


I checked the standings after the first few games; I was in second place.

I checked again after Christmas. I was in second place.

I checked again this past weekend. Holding in second place.

I checked again after Monday's games. Still in second place.

I guess I'm destined to be in second place!

You never know!!!! I'll be nothing more than a bystander for the final game. Arguably, this contest is the most anticipated and the most frustrating. Best of luck, fellas!

[NeedfulKings]

Congratulations to RUBE!!!!

Quite an impressive win. This is RUBE's third Bowl Mania trophy (2019, 2015).

We will get you next year, brother!

[BedOfRoses]

Congrats, Rube! :thumbsup:

[Lurker]

Congrats!

[divemaster]

Congrats! I was rooting for Georgia to win big, figured they would win big, but the only chance I had to win this thing was to pick TCU on a Hail Mary. It went about as expected, lol.

[ajw2910]

Congrats!!

[Merlin1958]

Congrats!!

[Garrell]

Congrats!!!

[RUBE]

Thanks everyone. And thank you NeedfulKings for hosting.

[NeedfulKings]

Quite a delay, but trophy is in! We've had a few family matters that slowed things down, and our usual supplier moved warehouses, but never seemed to restock. So, we have a new supplier and I expect this will start going out next week. Thanks for the patience and congrats to the winner!

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/996/medium/IMG_22991.jpg

[NeedfulKings]

I've updated the first post (https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?23561-Dark-Tower-College-Bowl-Mania!&p=1251712&viewfull=1#post1251712) in this thread with the 2023 link.

Bowl games will be announced Sunday, December 3! The first bowl games will be December 16. GET IN THE GAME!!!

[BedOfRoses]

I'm in! :biggrin1:

[ajw2910]

In!

[divemaster]

Didn't I win this before? I think I did.

[NeedfulKings]

Didn't I win this before? I think I did.

Oh yes. You've got 2 wins, I've got 2 wins, and RUBE is the hall-of-famer with 3 wins!

[Garrell]

I'm in.

[Randall Flagg]

I believe I'm in.

[NeedfulKings]

I'm in.
Yep!


I believe I'm in.
Aye Aye, Captain!

We have 9 players so far - I expect 2-3 more. Get in the GAME!

[Randall Flagg]

Very comforting to be in last place.

[NeedfulKings]

Very comforting to be in last place.

This is arguably the most interesting contest. Based on points wagered by other Palaver contest members, you can root for your team to lose and actually gain ground.

[Garrell]

It is the funniest

[divemaster]

Rough day yesterday. 7 games, only picked 2 correctly. And burned off a bunch of potential points. Ouch!

[ajw2910]

Same for me…. Every year I play this I realize how much I don’t know about college football

[Garrell]

Had a good bowl day today.

[NeedfulKings]

Had a good bowl day today.

I haven't been able to say that a lot this season! Good job - contest aside, I hope my Oregon State team puts it to the Irish today! :)

[RUBE]

I have had three awful days of picks. Some I am mad at myself for changing my pick before submitting. Others I am mad at the team for blowing a lead. I think I will just cheer for who I want to win instead of who I picked from here on. Maybe that will be less nerve-wracking.

[divemaster]

Last night's Cotton Bowl was unwatchable. The first half had more punts than first downs.

In other games...Most of FSU's suit-up players have quit the team. Georgia could win by 50 if it wants to.

31 players on Texas A&M quit the team before their bowl game.

I'm pretty sick and tired of commentators calling it "opt-out." Call it for what it really is: "Quit the team."

Nothing says "good team player" than someone quitting before the season is over. /s

You quit on your team in college, who's to say you won't quit on your team in pro? Eliminated from the playoff hunt? "Nah, coach, I'll just "opt out" for the rest of the season..."

Ok; rant over. I'm a huge college football fan and it just pisses me off to see bowl games relegated to glorified spring practice scrimmages because players quit.

[divemaster]

Most of FSU's suit-up players have quit the team. Georgia could win by 50 if it wants to.


I meant 60. My bad.

[Garrell]

Agree 100%. It definitely affects the games and how I pick. I moved the Georgia-FSU game to max confidence. Whether FSU got screwed or not, it shows what the team really was when it came to playing for the team. Georgia is the caliber they are because they get the team concept for the most part. Hopefully they fix the transfer time to after the bowls this coming season. That would help some.

[Garrell]

Anyone curious as to whom I am picking to win the CFP?
:sweat_002:

[RUBE]

Anyone curious as to whom I am picking to win the CFP?
:sweat_002:

I think we can guess.

[NeedfulKings]

With all of the options for players (not just Seniors) to change schools, prep for NFL, etc., it does create a watered down bowl system. Maybe the championship games will be less affected - and when they expand next year, maybe more games will be tolerable. Me? I'll just use a blindfold/dartboard method of picking winners next time. :)

[Garrell]

Sadly I have Michigan as winner, thought I had Washington. Go Huskies anyway.

[NeedfulKings]

Well, Garrell - regardless of who you picked:

Congratulations on the win, Garrell!!!!

This is Garrell's 2nd Bowl Mania victory (2021).

[RUBE]

Congratulations Garrell!

I assumed you would have Michigan so I swapped to Washington to try to catch up. That didn't work so well.

[Garrell]

Thanks was fun and so happy to win my favorite contest we do. My 2nd one (March Madness) is around the corner.

[divemaster]

Thanks was fun and so happy to win my favorite contest we do. My 2nd one (March Madness) is around the corner.

Congrats. This is my favorite contest as well. Always a bunch of fun.


Congratulations Garrell!

I assumed you would have Michigan so I swapped to Washington to try to catch up. That didn't work so well.

I don't follow Big-10 all that much, and the Pac-12 might as well be on Mars as far as I'm concerned. I picked Washington b/c I figured passing offense would win out. I had no idea that all Michigan had to do is run off-tackle and pick up 30, 40, 50 yards at a time. It seems the concept of "tackling" is completely foreign to the Huskies.

[Lurker]

Congrats!

[Bev Vincent]

My son-in-law is a U. Mich. grad from a family of Michigan supporters. He was at the Rose Bowl this year with his parents (that was quite a game). His father and brother were in Houston last night for the final game. They're all quite happy with the outcome, needless to say.

[BedOfRoses]

Thanks was fun and so happy to win my favorite contest we do. My 2nd one (March Madness) is around the corner.

Congrats, Garrell! That was an exciting end to this year's contest! :rock:

[divemaster]

Thanks was fun and so happy to win my favorite contest we do. My 2nd one (March Madness) is around the corner.

Congrats, Garrell! That was an exciting end to this year's contest! :rock:

I know, right? The trophies for this contest are awesome. Kudos to Needful Kings for hosting this and providing the trophies each time. That's not cheap.

[Garrell]

Thanks was fun and so happy to win my favorite contest we do. My 2nd one (March Madness) is around the corner.

Congrats, Garrell! That was an exciting end to this year's contest! :rock:

I know, right? The trophies for this contest are awesome. Kudos to Needful Kings for hosting this and providing the trophies each time. That's not cheap.

Yep. Thank you so much!

[NeedfulKings]

Thanks everyone! And a special acknowledgement to Bev for visiting the thread. I have to admit we kinda geeked out to see him post. :)

[Bev Vincent]

Thanks everyone! And a special acknowledgement to Bev for visiting the thread. I have to admit we kinda geeked out to see him post. :)

It's not something I'm generally interested in, but my son-in-law was terribly invested in the outcome. I was glad to see Michigan pull it off in the Rose Bowl, especially when things looked so dire late in the game.