For the past couple of years a few Sports Lore friends have made their weekly NFL predictions. Using the prevailing point spread at press time, or in our case, the time to pick. Individual football savvy was put to test. Each participant had their own way of choosing a team. Chef Mike probably follows football more then any of the participants. He is a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Eagles, and a yearly player of fantasy football. He relies on his inside knowledge.

Jen watches what those around her do, and picks the opposite team. That and follows football in general. It is a different type of knowledge.

Tom uses his knowledge and puts little thought into his picks. That is not quite right. There is quick thought that he just does not dwell on. It works for him.

Mike looks to the sky. If you do not believe me look at his picture. The answers, you see, are on the ceiling. Quite often the ceiling knows.

Jerry follows the game, and the statistics of it. It is an ever changing, week by week, art that serves him well.

So the games began and the race for the most correct picks starts. At the end of week one Chef Mike leads by one win over Jen. She is one win over Tom who is one win over Jerry. As it turns out Jerry in one win over Mike. So in terms of wins it goes in order 9,8,7,6,5. This may be a long football season.

Week Two...Jerry gets the first double digit wins of the season with eleven. This leaves him, Jen and Tom even. All with a .500 average. Chef Mike ponders how he can go from nine wins to the week low of six wins in seven days. He finds breathing room that on any given dayany team, well you know the rest.

Week Three..This week leads to a three way tie. Chef Mike, Jen and Tom all had six correct picks. Right behind them was Mike with five. Jerry gave them breathing room and only had three right. For the time being nobody is 50-50 on the picks. However, there are many more weeks ahead.

Week Four...Jerry and Mike march back in with nine correct picks. Last were Chef Mike and Tom with five. Jen was right in the middle of it. She had seven, and got back up to the .500 mark.

Week Five..Mike had ten games correct. The second contestant to hit double digits. Actually the week was good for most. All, but Chef Mike, had as many right as wrong or even above in the right column. Chef Mike only had four correct predictions, and wonders where his mojo went.

Week Six...Not a good week for anybody. So we will not talk about it. Yet two, that being Mike and Jerry, hang above the .500 mark.

Week Seven. After the dust from the games this week only Mike and Jen remain at the halfway mark of right and wrong. Next week the game pickers hope will change that.

Week Eight.Actually who cares about double digit right picks, and being at .500. Chef Mike sets a new record by getting only one right. Some thought is given to taking the sharp knives out of the chef's kitchen. However, we all realize it is just in fun, mostly.

Week Nine..What is wrong with these football teams?. Don't they know about the point spread? Actually Jen does all right and gets more correct picks then not. So she is above the halfway mark again. Can she hold onto it?

Week Ten.For Jen the answer is NO! Chef Mike is on a rebound with a 9 and 7 week, but there is much ground to be made up. For now the total season scoring is close. Nobody is bragging, but "hey" this is for fun.

Week 11.All did well on their picks. Well most all did. Mike must have changed ceilings because he was the only one to fall short of a good week. Despite that all, well most, perhaps some; could see .500 again. Picking by points is not easy. All too often the winning teams have been losing to points. I tried to explain this to my wife. Especially how often that half point comes into play. Not being a football fan she found it stupid as there is no such thing as a half a point in football. Trying to explain it was leading to a stupid argument so I shut up. To her this meant she won. The next time I needed it I l left the toilet seat up. When she asked why I pointed out years ago you made the point then when I go the bathroom the toilet seat must go up and down. So when I leave it up only a half point is made. Meaning you only made half a point, which is the difference in out bathroom game. Meaning half points can make a difference in football games also. I never tried that argument again.

Week 12.Steelers given three points never got on the scoreboard. Didn't they win a Super Bowl last year? Picking with the points is frustrating. However, Chef Mike, is doing well again. Then again he had no place to go but up.

Week 13...Up is exactly where Chef Mike is going. He reached double-digit highs and soared above the rest. His mojo is back. Now all he needs is about a five-week extension of the regular season. There is still hope somebody will reach at least the halfway mark again. If not it is all in fun. As long as you try to explain half points to your spouse.

Week 14..The gridiron clouds have risen and games become about as predictable as point spreads allow. Everyone had a pretty good week. With a 11-5 week Jen is now back at the mid mark. At this point all are close behind. Plenty of time for everybody to go up on correct picks.

Week 15..Well most everybody. A great week for all but Chef Mike. However he is a survivor, and I did mention that fantasy football quirk of his earlier. I should say we now have two Sports Lore buddies above the mark. That being Jen and Mike. Only good is in the future for all.

Week 16.So much for future good for all. I should have said for some. Chef Mike did very well and is no longer in last place. Jen hung in there and now remains the only one with more right then wrong. I, not others, think her new beautiful baby son is helping her with the picks. Not that I am superstitious or anything like that. It is only just a game, with spreads that include half points.

Week 17.It's done now. The regular season is over. To my mind they were all winners for trying. To Jen's mind it was fun, and by the way "She won". The guys got together to buy her a bottle of wine she likes to drink. Unlike me they had no clue as to the source of her expert picking. I purchased a little football for the baby. Someday I may want his advice on picks.

Things were not much different in the post season games. They were pretty much evenly divided on who they thought would win. So back and forth it went. Among them will be some teasing, but it is good-natured. Next year will be a new football season. With new ideas, and perhaps strategies. Only time can tell that. One thing will change. In the past if one of them forgot to send in picks I would make the choices for them. This seldom worked out for them. So from now on Webmaster Jerry will go to a random website for choices.

Meaning two things. I may go in on the pickings. Even if last with these folks I am in good company. Also, once more, Jerry and I ask you to join in on the fun. If you do not want your picture used just send your picks. We will say so and so, name, from wherever; picks these. It is real simple to do. Jerry sends out the prevailing spread points a few days before the game via e-mail. You respond, and on we go. Any questions just contact us through the website. If you want to do this with a group of friends that is great. Just let us know.

Just give it a thought, please. The most important people to us are the readers. We want to make you feel we are accessible to you. I also thank very much Chef Mike, Jen, Tom, Mike and Jerry for supporting Sports Lore. More so for being friends to Jerry and myself.

Care to join us?

Mike Toone
Sports Lore - Editor