Bowl Pool 2015 - First game preview

Welcome to the Bowl Pool 2015.  The games begin today, and there are six games going on, so we are going to be off to a fast start.  Turnout was a little lower this year than last year, as we had a total of 44 entries versus the 56 we had last year.  That makes the total prize money of $220.  Since we didn't make it to 50 entries this year, I'll only be paying out 2 places.  The winner will get $165, and 2nd place will get $55.  That's still pretty good.  I'll be pretty happy if I actually win that.

For me, the fun of the pool is the fact that I have a reason to watch some of these games.   A lot of the time, I would probably totally ignore some of these games, actually, most of these games.  There are a total of 42 games this year versus 39 from last year.  Honestly, there may have been even more bowl games, but the site I used only listed 42.  These games grow like weeds.

From the looks of things, people weren't too enthusiastic to wager a lot on the games today.  The game with the most points wagered on it today is the New Mexico Bowl, and that is only 16th in points.  The others are way down the list:  The Camelia Bowl is next at 26th, followed by the Las Vegas Bowl at 36th, and then the three lowest points totals in the whole pool as the other three games (New Orleans, 40th, Cure, 41st, Celebration, 42nd).

The first of the game of the day could not be any more irrelevant to most people.  The Celebration Bowl kicks off the Bowl season, and if the picks are any indication, most people don't know what to make of this game, nor do they care.  The distribution of the picks is:  Alcorn State (28 picks, 6.89 points average), North Carolina A&T (16 picks, 7.44 points average).  This is one of the new bowls this season, and if you watch any of it, you are a better person than I am.  The median pick for this game is Alcorn State for 1 point.  The website I use didn't even bother posting a point spread for this game, and they usually have a point spread for everything.  That's how off the radar this game is.  Honestly, I'm not even sure what state Alcorn State is in, and for all I know North Carolina A&T is a corporate team consisting of AT&T road crews.  As if you needed more proof that this game means nothing, it has the lowest points wagered on it, and it's not even close.  There is only 312 points wagered on this game.  The next lowest is 586 points.  I guess it's a good way to ease our way into the Bowl season.

For those that are worried about whether I got your picks, here is a list of the picks that I have in the pool.  I won't be accepting any more since games already started:

Adam E.

Ally H.

Ashley D.

Becky H.

Brad R.

Brent E. #1

Brent E. #2

Brent S. #1

Brent S. #2

Brett W.

Chris L.

Craig G.

Damien R. #1

Damien R. #2

Dan D.

Dave M.

Dustin B.

Dylan B.

James R.

Jay H. #1

Jay H. #2

Jay H. #3

Jim W.

Klei R.

Mandi W.

Marc R. #1

Marc R. #2

Matt N.

Michelle L. #1

Michelle L. #2

Mike S. #1

Mike S. #2

Mike W.

Nichole W.

Pete J. #1

Pete J. #2

Ray R.

Roth W. #1

Roth W. #2

Ryan W.

Sally R.

Scott H. #1

Scott H. #2

Tim N.

I'll have some more info on the later games and updated scores throughout the day.  I'll probably take a few breaks.

Good luck to everyone!!!!!