Nemmers Scrum

Hello Footballers,

It’s only week 2 and I’ve already received more messages about this week being “hard” or “tricky” than I probably got in all of last season.  I think that’s a good thing, it means that we are all having to approach the picks in a new way.

This week is going to be super fun – with all 6 teams getting votes for “PowerPick”.  Somebody could win big, somebody could lose big.  We’ll just have to wait until the clock runs out on Monday night. That Monday Night game has a lot riding on it.  Too bad we’ll be watching Stanley Cup Hockey and won’t be able to see it. (Go Stars!)

Also, a little book keeping to clear up. I did have some errors in last week’s posting. In addition to the change in Dianne’s picks, I made errors on Charlie H and Charlie N.  Charlie H joins the ranks of those who had a perfect score in our first week.  Charlie N sadly falls to the bottom.

One other administrative note – in order to keep our contest aligned with the NFL season, I’m going to name our weeks with the NFL weeks, so even though this is really  our second week of competition, I’m calling it week 3.  We’ll stay that way so that it is easy to match a week’s picks with the NFL results.

This week’s picture is from the Mantooth clan’s support of the NAMI walk in honor of Andy Senn.  We went on a tour of our neighborhood last night to celebrate Andy and just enjoy being together in the twilight. There were good vibes all around. If you want to support NAMI and Mary’s efforts there’s still a chance.  Click here and donate to help Mary reach her team’s goal.

Happy Football everybody!!!  I hope your teams win, but since no one has the same picks as me this week, I hope you have at least one loss!

Hello Footballers!

We survived the first week of our pool (the second week of the NFL season) and everyone managed to get at least 1 game correct. Major props to Adam, John, Kevin, Margie and Violet for picking perfectly across the board.  Nice work!

Also, I had an error in Dianne’s picks for last week.  Please double check the standings and confirm that I had the right picks in the grid for you. I think I got a little trigger happy when I was formatting, so help make sure that you are represented correctly.

Speaking for myself, I really enjoyed how this format pitted players against each other, and think that will only get better as the weeks go on.  Violet sure enjoyed talking a lot of trash over the weekend. She learned that from her dad.

For week 2, here are the games to pick:

Rams v Bills  (both teams are undefeated!)
Packers v Saints (Sunday Night Game)
Chiefs v Ravens (Monday Night Game – both teams are undefeated)

Get those picks in by the end of the day Friday, and make sure to let me know which one is your power pick. Send me photos to share while you are at it. We’re off to a good start!

While we are waiting for photos to come in, I’ll share this picture of the crazy big double rainbow we saw down at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer.

Hello Footballers,

What a weird year it’s been.  Before we post the picks for NFL week 2 (week 1 of the scrum), we have some unfinished business to attend to. In the chaos that took over Casa Mantooth late in the 2019 season, it appears that we never had a post to celebrate last year’s winner.

So – CONGRATULATIONS!!!! to the 2019 Season Champion Paul Hergenrother! It was an impressive feat – going 13 weeks into the season and in the end besting Whoosie.  Well done to Paul!  I need to find the photo so that we can add him to the hall of winners.

Ok, now here we are in the weird and wild 2020. The picks for week 1 are in, and I do think it is going to be quite fun. Lots of head to head match ups, and on all 3 games we have power picks for both teams. Let the trash talking begin! I’ll go first – there’s no way the Rams will beat Philly – Fly Eagles Fly!

Have fun watching the games today!  When you send your picks for next week, I fully expect to see some photos of what people are up to. I think we are all missing seeing people, so it doesn’t have to be exciting, just send it!

Go Steelers!

Hello Footballers,

I may not be good at predicting the future, especially when it comes to the football pool, but I am confident in my prognostication that the scrum will carry to week 13. Both Paul and Whoosie picked the Browns.

So, that free’s us all up to watch the games of our choosing – or to read about Paul’s work – helping the fight against Gram-negative bacteria (or what we know as drug resistant infections).  Way to go, Paul!

Have a great weekend: Go Browns- or no.  Take your pick which side you are on but the outcome will be the same either way.

Cheers,

Emily

Hello Footballers,

With Oakland’s defeat of the Bengals and the Vikings squeak-out win over the Broncos, Paul and Whoosie remain in the hunt.  Although I’m betting that the comeback win of the Vikings from a 20-0 deficit may have been more excitement than Whoosie was hoping for.

This week, the Thursday night acme is Colts v. Texas, so get that pick in before kickoff.  Otherwise, by the end of the day Friday.

Good luck to you both.

Hello Footballers,

We may be down to only two players, but they are keeping it interesting for us.  A lot of times when we get down to only a few remaining scrummers, they all make the same pick for a few weeks and the rest of us are just waiting and waiting to see how it shakes out.  But, Paul and Whoosie haven’t picked the same teams except one time in the first 10 weeks.  That’s no different this week where Paul is pulling for Oakland over Cincy and Whoosie is cheering for the Vikings to beat the Broncos.

To my untrained eye, neither of these is a slam dunk. So, it’ll be interesting.

Good luck to you both!

Emily

Well hello Footballers,

What a week!! EVERYONE took a strike.  Weird things are afoot when the Dolphins have won two in a row.  So, farewell to: Adam, Charlie H, Stephanie, Gabe, Team Sherburne, and Kevin.  And, a “GAME ON” to Paul and Whoosie.  The stakes are high now, with just 5 weeks to go in the regular season.  Who will guess right longer.  Good luck to you both.

The Thursday night game is Steelers v. Browns.  If you want that game I need your selection before kick off.  Otherwise, by end of day Friday.

And, since no one sent in any picks this week, I am going to go with what was the best thing that happened in football….feast your eyes on the beauty of a TD run by Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson.

Hello Footballers,

I hope everyone is having a great week.  While I didn’t manage to make it to the Oakland game on Thursday, I am having a pretty good time here on the West Coast.  San Francisco was really great, and today is Seattle and the Northwest Chocolate Festival.  So much walking and eating!

Of our eight people left in the pool, it is an even split between the Colts (playing the Dolphins) and the Saints (against the flightless Falcons).  I don’t imagine anyone is too worried, but you just never know.

On a side note – y’all need to send pictures, or you are just going to get more of me.  Today’s is of me during a tour of the Tcho Chocolate factory in Berkley. They can make  make 1000 pounds of chocolate a day. That’s just crazy talk in the world of artisan chocolate….almost as crazy as how happy I was to get a picture even though I was wearing a hairnet.

Happy November Footballers,

In a week where Miami won and New England lost it is surprising that our pool ONLY lost 3 players. It was a weird one for sure. But, the pool is sad to say goodbye to Jim – who picked the Browns, Violet who was mercilessly betrayed by the Packers and Bill – who went d-o-w-n with the J-E-T-S.

That leaves us with just 8 people in the hunt.  Paul and Whoosie are still perfect.  With some tough matchups coming in the weeks ahead, not to mention running out of “good” picks…it’s only going to get harder from here on in. This is probably a good time to remind the remaining contestants to check their previous selections to ensure no duplicate picks.

The Thursday night game is Chargers at Oakland. I’m in San Francisco this week, so maybe I’ll go over to the game. But, more importantly – if you are going to select it this week, get your pick in before kick off on Thursday. Otherwise, by end of day on Friday.