UPSET CHALLENGE OVERVIEW
UPSET CHALLENGE: THE GAME
The RotoExperts.com Upset Challenge gives you an opportunity to predict the three most unlikely outcomes during each week of the NFL’s regular season schedule. Taking the biggest risks with the most unexpected winners each week can net you the most points in any given week and overall throughout the season.
Each week during the NFL regular season, each NFL team is assigned an “Upset Value” based on the odds of them pulling off an unexpected victory. Values are calculated and determined by the RotoExperts.com staff. Each NFL game is carefully evaluated, and both teams in each game are assigned values in comparison to other NFL games on the schedule for the week. Values are directly tied to the amount of games played in a given week. So if no teams are on a bye, teams will have an Upset Value of anywhere from 1 to 32 points, because 32 teams are playing in that week.
Examples:
If Detroit is at Pittsburgh, and the RotoExperts staff determines that a Lions win would be the biggest upset of the week, the Lions are assigned an Upset Value of 32 points. Hence, the Steelers will be deemed to have the easiest chance to win that week, and will have an Upset Value of one point. If the Raiders beating Dallas is determined to be the second-most shocking upset of the week, Oakland would be assigned an Upset Value of 31 points, and the Cowboys would receive an Upset Value of two points.
All teams playing in the week will be evaluated for Upset Value and ranked accordingly until all teams are assigned an Upset Value.
Making Picks:
Each week, you must pick three teams to use in the Upset Challenge. If your team wins their game, you receive full credit for their Upset Value. So if you pick the Lions to beat the Steelers, and the Lions win, you receive 32 points. If the Jets have an Upset Value of 18 for beating the Giants, you receive 18 points if the Jets win. If the Jets lose, you receive zero points for making the selection. Every week, pick three teams to pull an upset or simply earn a victory, and if they win, you get full credit for the Upset Values assigned to them. If they lose, you receive zero points for the selection. If there is a tie, the team you selected receives half of their Upset Value for the given week.
At the end of the week, the Upset Values of your winning teams are tallied together to comprise your points total for that week. So if you picked Detroit (32), the Raiders (31) and the Jets (18), and the Lions and Jets win, you receive 50 points for the week. Your points are tallied together each week until you achieve a final regular season score after Week 17.
Picks must be made no later than five minutes before kickoff of any selected game. Once a game starts, that game is locked and is no longer eligible to be an Upset Challenge selection for that week. In the NFL playoff tournament, all picks must be made five minutes prior to the kickoff of the first Wild Card Game.
The Ultimate Upset Tournament
At the end of the regular season, a select number of participants, based on highest scores, will be chosen to participate in the Ultimate Upset Tournament. The selected participants will then have the opportunity to compete against other top participants for the right to earn the honor of being the Upset Challenge Ultimate Champion. At the beginning of the NFL playoffs, RotoExperts.com will assign each team an Upset Value, based on projected chances of winning the Super Bowl. Teams will be assigned a value from 1 through 12 at the beginning of the playoffs. If the Patriots are the favorite to win the Super Bowl based on the determinations of the RotoExperts staff, they will be assigned an Upset Value of one. If the Bills are determined to be the most unlikely team to win the Super Bowl, they will be assigned a value of 12. If the Colts are determined to be the second-biggest favorite, they will be assigned an Upset Value of two points.. If the Jaguars are the second most outstanding longshot, they will be assigned an Upset Value of 11.
You must lock in your THREE Ultimate Upset tournament selections prior to the beginning of the first NFL playoff game. Once the first playoff game starts, your selections are locked in for the entire NFL postseason. Each time your selected teams win a playoff game, you receive full credit for their Upset value Points. So if the Jaguars win their first two playoff games, you will receive 24 points. At the end of the NFL postseason, any wins by your three selected teams will be added together for your Ultimate Upset Tournament score. This will be added together with your regular season score. The team with the highest overall regular season and tournament score will be the Ultimate Upset Challenge Champion.
JOINING AND PLAYING THE GAME
Create Your Entry
To join, you must first visit the Registration page to create your entry. You can be the “Commissioner”, or creator of a group, and invite other users to join your league/group. When you successfully register, you will receive an activation e-mail. Follow the instructions to activate your account and create your league/group.
If you have received an invite from a league commissioner via e-mail, your invitation will contain a League Code. Simply follow the instructions in the e-mail and be sure to enter your League Code during your entry. As a registered user, you can also invite your friends to join the league. A commissioner creates a group, but is not the only person who can invite new persons into the group/league. Keep in mind that a group/league cannot contain more than 15 members, so consult your commissioner before you invite anyone else.
Customize Your Entry
On the My Profile page, you can upload an avatar to express yourself. Use your favorite photo or image, and it will appear on your league’s main page. You can also create or edit your nickname, and change your password at any time.
Make Your Picks
The Submit Your Picks page is where you will enter your three “Upset Choices” each week. Teams are assigned a value from lowest number (easiest chance of a victory) to highest (most unlikely chance of a victory) depending on the number of teams playing in that week. Home teams are listed on the left, away teams on the right. Simply click on the three selections you like the most and hit the “Submit” button. Use the “Clear Picks” button if you made a mistake or change your mind and want to start over.
The RotoExperts Staff will offer inside tips and advice on which teams to pick each week. An “Upset Preview” will be made available for each game, which will also reflect the recommended pick for each game. Weather conditions will be provided and made note of where applicable.
Each week, the teams that win from your selections will have their Upset Values added together for your total score for the week. If your team loses, you don’t receive any points for that selection. In the event of a tie, your selected team receives half of the Upset Value projected for that week.
Points and Standings
On the League Ranking page, you will be able to view your total points for the week and overall ranking. You can also view the names and avatars of other teams in your group. You can view your points by week and see where you rank in the overall Upset Challenge standings.
Rank the Teams and Trash Talk!
On the Ranks This Week’s Team’s Page, you can sound off to your league on the games of your choice. Put your boldest picks on the board and start trash talking! You can vote for the three biggest upsets of the week, and then tell the group why YOU are going to be right! Pick any game on the right and enter your comments in the space provided. Your comments will appear on the Submit Your Picks Page for everyone else in the group to see. The comments will also appear on the View Poll Results page. No one will miss your commentary! Make it official, then say “I TOLD YOU SO!”
Feedback
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