The Strategist, Little Tuna and Roxy Trot take the early lead. The Strategist and Little Tuna tie for first with 1 Correct Home Team Pick. Roxy Trot is in third due to Home Team bye week.
Among the rest of the field, Big Tuna and Jimmy V have first tiebreaker over one other Analyst and 1 Correct Home Team Pick each.
B-Reezy, The Bookie, and Sponge Mom net 1 Correct Home Team Pick.
Craft Brew, Wise O., and Atwork bring up the rear.
Standings after Leg 1 of Fibonacci Stakes V
Tiebreakers
Tiebreakers after Leg for Fibonacci Stakes V
Bye weeks for Home Teams are grayed out (Table 2).
Atwork: Packers*/Chiefs/Seahawks
B-Reezy: Chiefs*/Panthers/Bills
Big Tuna: Saints*/Steelers/Seahawks
Little Tuna: Chargers*/Chiefs/Saints
Craft Brew: Rams*/Patriots/Chiefs
Roxy Trot: Bears/Patriots/Chiefs
Jimmy V: Patriots*/Bears/Rams
Sponge Mom: Bears*/Patriots/Rams
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs/Panthers/Packers
The Strategist: Panthers*/Chiefs/Bears
The Bookie: Steelers*/Bears/Packers
* denotes home team
** denotes Fibonacci Pick
Interview with Big Tuna winner of the Players Haters Preakness:
The Bookie: What was your strategy to win this grueling race?
Big Tuna: Picking 3 is impossible. So I found a strategy. Voodoo and Sacrifices.
Spit Box:
(1) Winning isn’t everything but it beats anything that comes in second.
(2) It’s my turn to win. Or at least get a trifecta.
(3) Hopefully I can get some bonus points in the next couple weeks!
(4) Go Superman Go!
(5) Good luck!
The Results Are In:
Atwork: Packers*/Chiefs/Seahawks
B-Reezy: Chiefs*/Panthers/Bills
Big Tuna: Saints*/Steelers/Seahawks
Little Tuna: Chargers*/Chiefs/Saints (1 point)
Craft Brew: Rams*/Patriots/Chiefs
Roxy Trot: Bears/Patriots/Chiefs (1 point)
Jimmy V: Patriots*/Bears/Rams
Sponge Mom: Bears*/Patriots/Rams
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs/Panthers/Packers
The Strategist: Panthers*/Chiefs/Bears (1 point)
The Bookie: Steelers*/Bears/Packers
The Analysts have submitted their papers and claimed their Home Teams to start the race. The Claim Box for Fibonacci Stakes V is:
Claim Box for Fibonacci Stakes V
Slate of Games
Slate of Games for Fibonacci Stakes V
Superscript 1 next to Home Team means the game is played internationally (Leg 3).
The slate of games for Fibonacci Stakes V includes an unprecedented 10 head-to-head competitions this month (the first tiebreaker in the race).
In Leg 1, the front stretch, we kick off the Fibonacci Stakes with three head-to-heads: Little Tuna seeks to super charge Wise Orangutan, Craft Brew looks to quaff down Big Tuna, and Atwork aims to pack up Jimmy V.
In Leg 2, the clubhouse turn, The Strategist makes a scratching post of The Bookie, and Wise O. flings poo at Craft Brew in their second head-to-head competition.
In Leg 3, the backstretch, Atwork packs up for the road to Wise O., Roxy Trot eagle eyes Big Tuna, and B-Reezy pours a pint of Craft Brew.
in Leg 4, the far turn, Wise O. eyes his chances to hawk a Trifecta from the Strategist.
In Leg 5, the home stretch, Little Tuna re-enacts the 1994 AFC Championship game with The Bookie.
Home teams owned by an Analyst are in bold. The team at the left is the visiting team; the team at the right is the host (playing at home). There is yet another record number of featured games: five Thursday games (including two on Thanksgiving), five Sunday nights, and two Monday nights.
Four teams earn a bye week during the month. Bye weeks diminish the potential for bonus points since the Home Team may not be picked two weeks in a row.
Picks
Remember: Every Analyst has a bias for his or her Home Team and may NOT pick their Claimed team to lose. Analysts do not have to pick his or her Home Team to win, but Correct Home Team Picks remains the second tiebreaker. See the complete Fibonacci Stakes rules for more detail.
Email picks in private to The Bookie before each leg (week) of the Race. Thursday games are due by 2pm local times on Thursdays (flexible per The Bookie’s time in special circumstances). All three Picks are due on Saturdays at 2pm local times. No Picks for games after kickoffs are accepted.
Releasing and claiming a new Home Team before the start of a new Crown Race is optional. Mid-season, the order of Claims is determined by current Home Team playoff strength. The order then is:
1. B-Reezy (Jaguars, 12th AFC)
2. The Bookie (Falcons 10th NFC)
3. Little Tuna (Titans, 9th AFC )*
4. Roxy Trot (Eagles, 9th NFC)*
5. Atwork (Packers, 8th NFC)
6. Wise O. (Seahawks, 6th NFC)
7. The Strategist (Panthers, 5th NFC)
8. Sponge Mom (Bears, 4th NFC)
9. Jimmy V (Patriots, 2nd AFC)*
10. Big Tuna (Saints, 2nd NFC)*
11. Craft Brew (Rams, 1st NFC)
* The nfl.com playoff picture is operational: http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/playoff-picture. I applied tiebreaker rules when two Analysts have the same playoff seeding in the two different conferences. Titans have a worse record than the Eagles and Patriots have a worse record than the Saints.
If you choose to release your Home Team, the Analysts listed above you will Claim before you from all available Home Teams (including those released).
With a blistering 14 points in the final two legs of the Fibonacci Stakes, Little Tuna takes home her first purse of the season. With winning trifectas in three of five legs, she sets the record for the most points scored in a Fibonacci in league history!
From the middle of the pack, Big Tuna and Kal Krome surge for place and show. Big Tuna’s halos netted him 4 Correct Home Team Picks to edge Kal Krome by a beak (3 Correct Home Team Picks).
Little Tuna would have remained out of reach no matter what he chose to do, but Craft Brew finishes in fourth with 8 Trifecta points after making what most other Analysts agree was, chiefly, a unwise swap in the home stretch.
Speaking of, chiefly, bad decisions, The Strategist finishes in fifth (4 Trifecta points), one length ahead of The Bookie (3 Trifecta points, 6th) and Wise Orangutan (3 Trifecta points, 7th).
B-Reezy, who chiefly is responsible for the poor showing of the former front runners in the AoY competition, edges out Atwork in ninth, who chiefly gets a consolation prize for fooling B-Reezy into making a bad choice, chiefly, in Home Team.
The name of the game is to spot the contenders over the pretenders, so kudos to the Analysts with 3+ Correct Home Team Picks!
Trifecta Points
Standings after Final Results of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Tiebreakers
Tiebreakers after Final Results of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Bye weeks for Home Teams are grayed out (Table 2).
The Bookie: Rams*/Steelers*/Chiefs*
The Big Tuna: Saints*/Seahawks*/Patriots*
Little Tuna: Patriots*/Rams*/Seahawks*
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs*/Eagles*/Bills
The Strategist: Steelers*/Chiefs*/Eagles*
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Saints*/Steelers*
B-Reezy: Chiefs*/Saints*/Steelers*
Atwork: Eagles*/Chiefs*/Rams*
Craft Brew: Steelers*/Patriots*/Chiefs
Analyst of the Week
Kal Krome
Our Celebrity Analyst Roasters:
The Bookie: Kal Krome grew up in Alaska where hockey is the favored sport. So when moving to Washington and watching the Seahawks he was known to yell at the refs “That was icing!” Eventually he learned the penalties and watched the Seahawks commit many of them. When he joined the WFTL he felt he was ready to make educated picks. He occasionally has stumbled onto a correct trifecta but hastily picks himself up, brushes himself off and follows the next week with “what was he thinking?” Because of this he began to exaggerate about himself. So he changed his dog Jake’s name to Five Miles so he could tell everyone he walked Five Miles today.
Big Tuna: Umm. No. I believe that man would frighten Chuck Norris.
Little Tuna: Kal Krome mottos are: First Aide kit? “You mean duct tape!”
Decaffeinated coffee? “You mean bitch tea!”
The Wise Orangutan: I have had plenty of opportunities to roast Kal Krome over the past two years, so I will just wish him happy holidays and thank him for the past two years. Besides, who knows when I will need to find a funny farm to pasture The Bookie and Little Tuna.
The Strategist: Kal has taken this derby thing wayyy too seriously. He even has the best horse name! But he needs to stop getting his picks from his actual horses…yes, it’s a “horse” race but…umm…it’s football (with people).
Craft Brew: Bookie (in drivers seat). “Kal krome. Check to see if my rear blinkers are working?”
Kal krome ( behind car). “Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. ”
B-Reezy: You sure know how to pick them!!!
Atwork: You’re such a nice guy to have faith in the Hawks these last years Kal Krome but I think it’s time to pick one of the superior birds as shown by this season!
The Results Are (Coming) In:
The Bookie: Rams*/Steelers*/Chiefs*
The Big Tuna: Saints*/Seahawks*/Patriots* (8 points)
Little Tuna: Patriots*/Rams*/Seahawks* (8 points)
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs*/Eagles*/Bills
The Strategist: Steelers*/Chiefs*/Eagles*
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Saints*/Steelers* (8 points)
B-Reezy: Chiefs*/Saints*/Steelers*
Atwork: Eagles*/Chiefs*/Rams*
Craft Brew: Steelers*/Patriots*/Chiefs*
As we thought last week, no Analyst has been eliminated in the Fibonacci Stakes yet… The base Trifecta is worth 5 points and with 3 Fibonacci bonuses an Analyst can earn 8 points total to overtake the current leaders. But, but, but…
The leaders, Little Tuna and Craft Brew, have an advantage with this week’s slate of (only) 6 games. A reminder to the other Analysts: if you have the same picks as the leaders, you will be boxed out of the winner’s circle! If the Analysts wipe out, Little Tuna coasts to a win.
That said, the race is quite a mess and The Clearinghouse begins with a disclaimer… I think this is correct!
The front runners:
Little Tuna: Although Little Tuna leads by 1 Trifecta point, Craft Brew is in a dead heat for first place. The only way for her to have a guaranteed win is to take the same three teams as last week for 8 points total. If Little Tuna changes even one team and Craft Brew comes from behind to tie her in Trifecta points, he will win due to a tiebreaker advantage (note: assuming both keep their Home Teams, see below!). They both have the Seahawks and Patriots from last week, they both have 3 Correct Home Team Selections, and they both have 6 Fibonacci bonus points. If Little Tuna tries to box out Craft Brew by taking the same three teams (i.e., adding the Steelers to her list), Craft Brew will gain an extra Fibonacci point in a winning trifecta and then win the Fibonacci Stakes based on the third tiebreaker: most Fibonacci bonus points during the race. On the other hand, if Craft Brew does not earn a trifecta, then Little Tuna beats every other Analyst if she gets a Trifecta worth any value.
Craft Brew: Whereas Little Tuna has to defend against Craft Brew on her heels and the rest of the field far behind, Craft Brew really only needs to focus on beating the front runner. If he gets a winning trifecta and ties or takes the lead over Little Tuna, he wins. Thus, the Trifecta is his main concern. Added note to Craft Brew: Holding the same three teams will prevent Little Tuna from boxing you out. Conversely, swapping out the Steelers for any another team gives Little Tuna an advantage if she keeps the Patriots or takes more Fibonacci bonus picks.
The laggards:
While Little Tuna and Craft Brew have to strategize against each other, the bottom of the field cannot win unless neither front runner get a Trifecta. Starting at the bottom of the field, where the scenarios are easier:
Atwork: Lucky you, no need to send your picks this week! You must take Eagles, Saints, Steelers again for 8 points and a possible 9 points total. To win, however, you need help: the Patriots must also lose and all other Analysts must not exceed 9 points total AND no more than 3 Home Team Selections. Atwork is 3 lengths behind in the AoY, so the Fibonacci may be the best play for more purse this year!
B-Reezy: As he is wont to do, B-Reezy will have to weigh the chance to win the Fibonacci versus the chance to defend his AoY crown. Unlike Atwork, B-Reezy cannot end in a tie with Little Tuna. He must also keep the same three teams — Chiefs*/Saints*/Steelers* — and hope not to end in a tie with other Analysts because his Home Team has yielded a dismal 0 Correct Home Team Selections. With 10 points, the one Analyst he beats in a tie is…
Wise Orangutan: Wise O. has 3 trifecta points, but due to taking the Seahawks and Eagles last week (who play each other this week), he can only reach 10 points total. He will lose in most tie scenarios, so none of the other Analysts need to concern themselves with his picks–and all can expect a bizarre pick if Wise O. wants to win the Fibonacci Stakes rather than the AoY… in other words, Go Bills!
The contenders:
The other Analysts with 3 or 4 trifecta points and the opportunity to earn 8 points this week:
One of the bizarr-o aspects of this little game is that Analysts rarely have the same three picks! Surprisingly, every Analyst not named Wise O. who has 3 Trifecta points can earn 8 points this week and not worry about being boxed out. However, if the Fibonacci Stakes ends in a tie at 11 points among the Analysts who had 3 points to start Leg 4, the order of strength is:
The Bookie: The Bookie has a head-to-head tiebreaker over Big Tuna, 3 Correct Home Team Selections, and 6 Fibonacci bonus points. If her same three teams win and the front runners lag, she wins the Fibonacci Stakes. If the race ends in a tie of less than 10 points, she will still have her head-to-head advantage over Big Tuna and advantages over Kal Krome provided she keeps the Rams in her winning Trifecta.
Big Tuna: With the loss to The Bookie, Big Tuna has to avoid a tie with The Bookie. His Home Team plays The Strategist’s Home Team this week, and that will determine the tiebreaker between the two. If he expects the Saints to beat the Panthers this week, he can keep the Saints and play for a tie with The Strategist. Other than The Bookie, Big also holds advantages over all other Analysts who can reach 10 or more points this weekend.
Kal Krome: Kal Krome has only 2 Correct Home Team Picks, so he trails The Bookie and Big Tuna in a tie. He can win with the same three teams as last week if the Patriots and Chiefs also lose. He beats the Wise O. in a tiebreaker due to head-to-head competition.
Leaving….
The Strategist: In third place currently with 4 Trifecta points, the Strategist has a couple of options provided that Little Tuna and Craft Brew fail to close out the race. With the same three teams, she reaches 12 points and wins outright. If she shoots for 11 points, she has to find a combination that does end in a tie with The Bookie, Big Tuna, or Kal Krome–all three have more Home Team Picks at this time. Her Panthers play Big Tuna’s Saints this week, so if she expects the Panthers to win, her primary threat is The Bookie because Kal Krome had the Saints last week (he will either lose with the Saints or have to change his pick).
AoY Eliminations:
At this time, only Kal Krome can be eliminated before Week 13 in the Analyst of the Year Competition. If The Strategist earns 1 more Trifecta and Kal Krome does not, he will be down by 5 Trifectas with only 4 weeks remaining.
Little Tuna and Craft Brew make their play for the lead heading into the brutal fifth leg of the Fibonacci Stakes!
Coming out of the far turn, Little Tuna successfully calls the complete Fibonacci Trifecta: 3 base points plus 3 Fibonacci bonus points. She moves into the lead with 9 total Trifecta points.
Only one length behind, Craft Brew bags the 3-point base Trifecta plus 2 Fibonacci bonus points for 5 points in the fourth leg. He holds second with 8 total Trifecta points headed into the home stretch.
Trailing the leader by five lengths, The Stategist holds at 4 total Trifecta points in third place.
Trailing the front runner by six lengths, four Analysts give chase with 3 Trifecta points. The Bookie and Big Tuna are in a dead heat for fourth place with 3 Correct Home Team Picks and 6 Fibonacci bonus points each–but The Bookie holds the advantage with a head-to-head victory. In sixth, Kal Krome follows with 2 Correct Home Team Picks and 6 Fibonacci points, plus the head-to-head advantage over Wise Orangutan in seventh.
B-Reezy trails the leader by seven lengths (2 Trifecta points total), while Atwork runs in ninth with 1 Trifecta point. Though in contention, both Analysts will need a clutch sprint down the home stretch to win the Fibonacci Stakes.
Trifecta Points
Standings after Leg 4 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Tiebreakers
Kal Krome holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Wise Orangutan. The Bookie holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Big Tuna.
Big Tuna, The Bookie, Little Tuna, and Craft Brew have an advantage with 3 Correct Home Team Picks during the Stakes.
Tiebreakers after Leg 4 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Bye weeks for Home Teams are grayed out (Table 2).
The Bookie: Rams*/Steelers*/Chiefs
The Big Tuna: Saints*/Seahawks*/Patriots*
Little Tuna: Patriots*/Rams*/Seahawks*
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs*/Seahawks*/Eagles
The Strategist: Steelers*/Chiefs*/Eagles
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Saints*/Steelers*
B-Reezy: Chiefs*/Saints*/Steelers*
Atwork: Eagles*/Saints/Steelers
Craft Brew: Steelers*/Seahawks*/Patriots
Analyst of the Week
The Strategist
Our Celebrity Analyst Roasters:
The Bookie: The Strategist is a modest Analyst, with much to be modest about.
Lately she’s had delusions of adequacy.
She thinks she could win a trophy this year!!
You’ll never hear her say “it’s only a game” she’s more likely to say “if winning isn’t everything, why do we keep score???
Big Tuna: Goes up to the microphone. Blushes furiously. Giggles and says, “Pretty!”
Little Tuna: The Strategist has to live with Wise O. I don’t believe in kicking a horse when it’s down.
The Wise Orangutan: I would roast The Strategist, but if I were to describe the analytical genius in action, it would be an embarrassment to those of us who trail in the AoY competition. I mean, maybe there is some benefit in reading predictive analytics and expert picks every week, but what is the point when you are like a ninth-level, ninja pop psychologist who can divine which team “wants it more this week” just by looking at the teams on the schedule…
Kal Krome: What kind of strategist is The Strategist? I’ve met the Wise O?!?
Craft Brew: Happy Birthday Matt!! Do you know how the strategist was able to supply and buy your diapers when you needed to be changed When you were a baby? By taking your uncles money stash from under his mattress! When we were kids. ! LOL!!
B-Reezy: The Queen of Lies and Deceit has assimilated the memory of her winning the Analyst of the Year trophy obviously.
Atwork: even the crickets are quiet. Shhh
The Results Are In:
The Bookie: Rams*/Steelers*/Chiefs
The Big Tuna: Saints*/Seahawks*/Patriots*
Little Tuna: Patriots*/Rams*/Seahawks* (6 points)
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs*/Seahawks*/Eagles
The Strategist: Steelers*/Chiefs*/Eagles
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Saints*/Steelers*
B-Reezy: Chiefs*/Saints*/Steelers*
Atwork: Eagles*/Saints/Steelers
Craft Brew: Steelers*/Seahawks*/Patriots (5 points)
With seven Analysts at 3-4 Trifecta points, most Analysts will be able to win the Fibonacci Stakes in Leg 5. This week a base trifecta is worth 3 points and the maximum is 6 points with 3 Fibonacci bonus picks. That means the largest lead anyone can open is 7 points (The Strategist). If an Analyst falls behind by 7 points, the Analyst will be forced to take the same teams in Leg 5 to overtake the leader.
In Leg 5, the base trifecta is worth 5 points and the maximum trifecta is worth 8 points with 3 Fibonacci bonus picks. However, the Slate of Games for Leg 5 pits 6 Home Teams against each other. If two teams from Leg 4 picks by an Analyst play each other in Leg 5, the Analyst will have to change at least one pick and will have a maximum of 7 trifecta points in Leg 5.
Also, beware the Box Out! If two Analysts have the same picks, the Analyst with more points or better tiebreakers blocks the opponent down the homestretch!
Eliminations:
At this time, only Atwork can be eliminated before Leg 5 and only if The Strategist earns 6 points to take a 9 point lead over him.
B-Reezy is in a precarious position if The Strategist takes an 8 point lead, but he may still come from behind if the Stakes ends in a photo finish (tiebreakers).
