Macca

New page so here's the standings - the table updates itself every day or so ...

Big win to Liverpool last night ... and a big loss to Chelsea at home. The SBS game tonight Hull vs Arsenal - coverage starts from 11.30pm

Here's a classic comedy/western that's always worth another look see ...

A bit late but here's a free copy of the Sports illustrated NFL Preview edition (click on 'Novafile' then follow the links)

Ravens Packers KC

Yeah I ended up making the bonus weeks the odd numbered weeks from week 5 ... it gives a chance for people to catch up or even join in later on. It's 1 extra bonus week over last year although it does seem more than that. I reckon that settles the make up of the comp for now. The Rams record within the division has been very good in recent years and they do bounce back just when you least expect it - I've a feeling you might win against Seattle but I'm not a great tipster

Such is the nature of things, I probably won't be picking the Seahawks next week - they are at the Rams Anyway, the Steelers looked great ... Big Ben, Williams & Brown went lights out with some big numbers. And they've still got Bell to come back - they're very strong at RB and Ben is A class. Pittsburgh are going to be hard to beat if they can stay relatively healthy. Points tally in the comp 1 - JV7, Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_hell, DeeSpencer 0 - The usual bunch 2 points up for grabs this week .., weeks 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 & 15 are all also worth 2 points whilst week 17 is worth 3 points.

Wentz is the other big story along with Jameis Winston ... both looked impressive.

Also, the 'point after' is not as sure a thing as it was previously with the longer yardage ... although at that stadium (New Orleans), the 1 point conversion is a bit of a mulligan. I'm not sure we're going to see too many head coaches going for it in that situation but who knows? It might become a trend ... imagine doing it in a Super Bowl and having an incompletion? Now there's a 30 for 30 story in the making JV!

Gutsy call by the Raiders - going for 2 at that moment ... they might have a decent season. Dallas blow a chance to win with a field goal when their WR (Williams) doesn't even attempt to get out of bounds - players can lose track but that's still baffling. There were close finishes everywhere and that could be the theme for the whole season ... big win to the Pats without Brady - same for the Giants, Detroit, Vikes & the Ravens with Flacco back & firing. Miami should have won too. The Packers won a game we could have just as easily lost. Missed field goals a big factor again in a number of games. We do it all again tomorrow with a double-header.

We (West Ham) are now in 40 points mode already ... the amount of points needed to escape relegation Nah ... I'm not writing the season off yet but Slaven has a bit of work to do on a sieve-like defence. I don't reckon we'll have too much trouble scoring enough goals. Your Spurs were very good GV ... they dismantled Stoke completely. Interesting to see how Chelsea go at Swansea tonight but Man City are looking good.

If I could make a suggestion although you may have already thought of it - just for expediency's sake ... You could keep it at 3 picks each regardless ... otherwise people have to keep coming back 5 or 6 times apart from having to wait for their turn. You'll probably only get 6 or so participants anyway if we use the comp as a guide. We did something similar on the cricket thread and it took an age to finish (although it was a lot of fun) In the end we were quoting people to prompt them.

Think we talked about this a few years ago ... so far there are 6 participants in the tipping comp but the wins pool might be worth having as another interest on the thread ... however, receiving a point in the comp for taking out the "wins pool" adds another element. Others may not want a point being up for grabs going towards the comp but I'm happy to go either way. Even so, if there's one or more in the comp that doesn't want to participate then it would have to be just a bit of fun between the rest of us. The only issue is who goes first pick etc and then the configuration after the first round of picks ... anyway, I'm in if you can get enough starters.

The tip and catch by Harris was a great play - won them the game in the end. The Broncos have learned a lot from that SB loss to Seattle a few years ago ... their D swarms all over the offense of other teams to great effect. That last hit to Newton's head was vicious - but that's the sport (unless you're Tom Brady ) And Siemian looked ok ... early doors yet but his completion rate was decent.

They obviously targeted Cam by the looks of it ... in this league, opposition teams will zero in on even a perceived weakness. And yeah, that loose ball ... he'll be reminded about it. Constantly.

I listened to the game on & off (tunein) and will watch a replay of the game after the footy. Was that interception from Cam the game changer JV7? ... I know that Denver needed 11 plays to get it in from 23 yards. Denver might be thereabouts again with that D and they're going to be hard to beat at home by the looks of it. Their overall schedule isn't all that tough unless the Raiders & Chargers get amongst it.

Seeing we're on a new page I'll post up the games again ... a reminder that 7mate are covering tomorrow's game (10.30am) and then 3 games on Monday (Cinci @ Jets, Giants @ Dallas and then SNF - Pats @ Arizona)

Panthers Green Bay Giants

Garland & Dunn would be well known players to the FD's of other clubs ... a legacy of getting better is that certain players become excess to needs and therefore become real tradable players who may bring the club a decent return. Players want to play so it may not be the club trying to offload these types of players ... those type of players being told their chances might be limited could be the catalyst moment for those players possibly requesting a move. A few of our younger players may become targets too ... there are obviously a number of untouchables but we may end up trading quite vigorously to offset the lack of a first round pick in the draft. Taylor looks like he's got a real eye for talent and he may have his eye on a few players that may end up being drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round ... and if we want more draft picks in that area we'll need to trade in a clever manner. Trading up to picks 3 & 7 in last year's draft caught most by surprise but 3 off-seasons ago we were also creative in securing Tyson & Salem. I expect more of the same but we'll have to make the odd tough decision to be a real player. Even when we did the obvious in drafting Petracca & Brayshaw we used some creative thinking in the Frost trade (ANB & Oscar were drafted as a result) ... and in that same trade period we picked up Garlett at a bargain price (basically pick 61) Another important aspect to remember is that Goodwin was coached by Blight and Blight made some tough decisions on certain players before he coached his first game for Adelaide.

^^^^^ (up to date table) SBS game this week - Sat 9pm with a 9.30pm start ... Man Utd vs Man City. It's a pity the game clashes with the footy but the big derby could still attract a huge TV audience regardless.

These lines might help with the tips ... then again, they may not. Keep hearing that there's a number of road upsets in week 1 but I'll probably play it safe again, and fail. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the games.

7mate are covering the games again this season but 7mate is no longer a HD channel in Melbourne ... however, the channel is broadcast in HD in Sydney, Brisbane & Perth. Anyway ... 7mate are covering Friday's Panthers @ Broncos game whilst on Monday, 3 games will be telecast ... Cinci @ Jets (early), Giants @ Dallas (late) and Patriots @ Arizona (SNF) It's doubtful that the MNF games will be covered as they weren't covered last year .. haven't seen the listings as yet. That will probably be the pattern for the season although the Friday games may not last for the entire season.

Here are the rest of last season's playoff games - the Super Bowl is in 2 parts and has various participants mic'd up ... Patriots @ Denver AFC Championship Highlights Arizona @ Carolina NFC Championship Highlights Super Bowl Panthers vs Broncos First Half Mic'd up Highlights Super Bowl Panthers vs Broncos Second Half Mic'd up Highlights

I'm left wondering where the NFL will sit for us next year when the Demons are making a run at it in September Re the college games ... every year I get a little more interested but usually reserve my interest for the big match-ups. Losing for any of the top seeded teams can be diabolical with the record required to qualify for the top 4. And there's been a few big upset wins already.

It's that time of year again ... NFL is back and with it, the 'time-honoured' tipping comp ... hopefully we get enough starters so as we can do it again but 5 or 6 or more participants should get the job done. Last year's notable tipsters, hall of fame and the rules of the comp ... Final Tally 10 - Gorgoroth 9 - cowboy_from_ hell, JV7, DeeSpencer 7 - Macca Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 cowboy_from_hell/ pantaloons/ Gorgoroth Strafford Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 Dappa Dan DeeSpencer Gorgoroth ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell, Macca JV7, DeeSpencer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboy_from_hell/ Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 JV7/ pantaloons Gorgoroth/ Go the Biff Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 JV7/ cowboy_from_hell, Gorgoroth/ Macca DeeSpencer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rules of the 'Demonland' NFL tipping competition ... (the same as last year except a couple more bonus weeks have been added) * All participants are allowed 3 picks only in any given week but they must all be 'road' teams ... and anyone who correctly tips all 3 winners from their 3 picks receives 1 point (any number of people can win a point in any given week) * Bonus points are up for grabs in weeks 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 (2 points to all winners) whilst week 17 carries 3 points to any given winner. * No margins or correct scores are required - just the straight winners. * If you miss a week or come into the comp later on, there is no penalty. You just simply miss the chance to win points for that week or weeks. You can join in the comp at any time. * Your tips must be in before the start of Monday's games (AEST) ... or before the Friday game if you include that game. All 3 tips must be included in your post (editing your tips is strictly forbidden ) * The person (or persons) with the most points at the end of the regular season wins. For those out there who just read this thread, feel free to join in the comp. Putting your tips in usually takes a surprisingly small amount of time as there are normally a couple of obvious tips ... but those 'obvious' tips often have 'trap-game' attached to them So get your tips in Ladies & Gents ... the season kicks off next Friday (our time) with a rematch of last year's Super Bowl - Carolina @ Denver. All the week 1 games ...