If you are looking for how to play NFL Pick ‘Em, we have you covered. NFL Pick ‘Em is a popular game where participants predict the results of NFL games each week. Whether you’re new to the NFL or a seasoned football fan, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play and improve your chances of winning.
How to Play NFL Pick ‘Em? How does it Work?
So, if you have never played before, a common question when it comes to how to play NFL pick ‘em, is how does it work? It’s actually pretty straight forward. The primary goal is to guess or predict the winner of as many games (NFL) as you can in a schedule week. Most pick em formats run from Thursday Night Football through the Monday Night Football games for that schedule week. The player who picks the most winners is the overall winner. If there is a tie, then a tie breaker for the total points scored in the last game on Monday Night is the standard tie breaker used.
How Do You Enter a Pick ‘Em Contest?
The easiest way to enter a pick ‘em contest is to join an online pool. All of the major sports platforms like Yahoo, NFL.com, and ESPN run them. You can also use printable pick ‘em sheets to have office mates or friends and family fill out. Some pools you enter are free while others will charge an entry fee that goes into a prize pot to be paid out to the winner. Make sure if you are signing up for an online pick ‘em game you know what type you are getting into.
What are the Best Strategies for Picking Pick ‘Em Winners?
There are several actions that you must do if you are serious about winning your pick ‘em contest. These include researching the teams, analyzing the matchups, considering the spread (even if your contest is straight up), and staying updated with the latest news.
1. Research Teams:
- Injuries: Check for key player injuries. A team without its starting quarterback, for example, is at a significant disadvantage.
- Home/Away Records: Teams often perform differently at home versus away.
- Recent Performance: Look at recent games to gauge form.
2. Analyze Matchups:
- Offense vs. Defense: Teams with strong offenses might struggle against top defenses, and vice versa.
- Historical Data: Some teams historically perform better or worse against certain opponents.
3. Consider the Spread:
- Even if you’re not picking against the spread, understanding it can give you insights into which games might be closer than others.
4. Stay Updated:
- Follow NFL news, especially closer to game day. Last-minute changes can affect outcomes.
What are the Common Formats for NFL Pick ‘Em Games?
The three main formats for NFL Pick ‘EM games are: 1 – Straight Up, 2 – Confidence Pool, and 3 – Survivor pool.
- Straight Pick ‘Em: Simply pick the winner of each game.
- Confidence Pools: Assign a confidence level to each pick, usually from 1 to 16 (for a full NFL week). Higher confidence means you’re more certain about that pick.
- Survivor Pools: Pick one team each week to win. You can’t pick the same team twice, and if your team loses, you’re out.
NFL Pick Em Sheets for the 2024-25 Season
If you are looking for blank NFL Pick Em sheets for the 2024-25 regular season, we have several for you to use below. These are all for straight pick em but have the tie breaker worked into the sheets for you to use. All of the different types of NFL schedules for 2024-25 are up for you too.