Are incorrect confidence points subtracted?
An incorrect winner selection earns no base confidence points. You do not lose the value assigned to that pick from points already earned.
College Bowl Confidence Pool: Rules & Scoring
Put your confidence behind your bowl picks
Picking the winner is only part of a bowl confidence pool. Decide which games you trust most, assign your points, and follow the results with your group.
First 5 member entries free per contest, then $1 per additional member who submits picks. Paid by the commissioner.
Bowl game winner selections
Confidence values for each pick
Optional spread and win-margin bonuses
The format
What is a bowl confidence pool?
Members predict winners from the contest's bowl games and assign confidence values to their selections. Correct picks earn the assigned points. A game you feel strongly about can carry more weight than a difficult matchup.
- Check the games included in the contest.
- Use the available confidence values on your pick sheet.
- Review the league's bonus settings before making selections.
At a glance
What goes into a bowl entry
- Selected game winners
- Confidence assignments
- Next Level confidence selection
- Tiebreak prediction when enabled
Give more points to the picks you trust
Assign the available confidence values across your selections. The pick sheet tracks which values you have used. The Next Level selection uses the special point value set for that contest.
The game count and point values can vary. Follow your contest's pick sheet instead of a generic list of every bowl game.
Check whether bonuses are enabled
A league can use a spread bonus and a win-margin bonus. These are separate from the confidence points earned for choosing the winner.
For a spread bonus, a winning favorite must also cover the spread. The win-margin option asks you to select a range for the winning margin. Review the scoring displayed for your league; do not assume either bonus is active.
Agree on the plan before the games start
Choose the bowl contest, review its scoring, and send the invitation early enough for everyone to make picks. Ask members to check the game times and submit before the games begin.
When enabled, the bowl tiebreaker asks for a combined-score prediction for the championship game. The entry dialog tells members which prediction to submit.
Bowl picks and playoff brackets are different contests
A confidence pool assigns points to individual game predictions. A playoff bracket asks which teams advance from round to round. Check the event name when creating your league so your group gets the format it expects.
Plan your pool
Compare the formats, prepare an invitation, or read the guides before getting your group together.
FAQ
Questions before you start
Does the pool include every bowl game?
Use the selected games shown in your contest. Do not assume its game list or confidence values match another pool.
Can I set up this contest now?
The league creation page lists the events currently available to add. Choose from that list; a format described here may not be open for setup or picks yet. Check the contest page for its schedule before inviting your group.
What does it cost to run a pool?
The first 5 member entries in each contest are free. The commissioner pays $1 for each additional member who submits picks. Members who join the league but do not submit picks are not counted. The free entries reset for each contest.
Ready to run the league
Start the pool, invite the group
Choose from the events available for setup, name your league, and invite your group. Review the scoring and schedule together before making picks.