Not so fast, Analysts! Down the back stretch, the Analysts largely hold positions after a disappointing week among the Home Teams.
The Strategist still holds a one length lead with 4 Trifecta points total.
Six Analysts trail with 3 Trifecta points. Big Tuna now holds second place based on 3 Correct Home Team Picks. The Bookie and Craft Brew vie for third place with 2 Correct Home Team Pick and 4 Fibonacci bonus points. Little Tuna in fifth with 2 Correct Home Team Picks and 3 Fibonacci points, followed by Kal Krome in sixth over Wise Orangutan in seventh place due to their head-to-head competititon.
B-Reezy trails the leader by 2 lengths (2 Trifecta points total), while Atwork runs in ninth with 1 Trifecta point.
Trifecta Points
Standings after Leg 3 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Tiebreakers
Kal Krome holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Wise Orangutan.
Big Tuna gains an advantage with 3 Correct Home Team Picks.
Tiebreakers after Leg 3 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Bye weeks for Home Teams are grayed out (Table 2).
The Bookie: Rams*/Saints*/Steelers*
The Big Tuna: Saints*/Seahawks*/Patriots*
Little Tuna: Patriots*/Rams*/Seahawks*
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs/Saints/Seahawks
The Strategist: Steelers*/Chiefs/Saints
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Saints*/Steelers*
B-Reezy: Chiefs/Saints/Steelers
Atwork: Eagles/Chiefs/Rams*
Craft Brew: Steelers*/Seahawks*/Saints*
A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel on his pants, a peg leg and a parrot on his shoulder. The bartender says, Hey, you’ve got a steering wheel on your pants.”
The pirate says, “Arrr, I know. It’s driving me nuts.”
The Results Are (Coming) In:
The Bookie: Rams*/Saints*/Steelers*
The Big Tuna: Saints*/Seahawks*/Patriots*
Little Tuna: Patriots*/Rams*/Seahawks*
Wise Orangutan: Chiefs/Saints/Seahawks
The Strategist: Steelers*/Chiefs/Saints
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Saints*/Steelers*
B-Reezy: Chiefs/Saints/Steelers
Atwork: Eagles/Chiefs/Rams*
Craft Brew: Steelers*/Seahawks*/Saints*
The Analysts are tearing up the track around the clubhouse turn!
Every Analyst earns a trifecta in Leg 2Â of the Fibonacci Stakes. The Strategist clings to a one length lead with 4 Trifecta points total.
No less than six Analysts have earned 3 Trifecta points. Big Tuna and The Bookie are in a tie for second place based on 2 Correct Home Team Picks and 2 Fibonacci bonus points each. Kal Krome, Little Tuna, and Craft Brew vie for fourth place with 1 Correct Home Team Pick and 2 Fibonacci bonus points. Wise Orangutan falls into seventh place with 1 Correct Home Team Pick and 1 Fibonacci bonus point.
B-Reezy trails the leader by 2 lengths (2 Trifecta points total), while Atwork — who was forced to pick an entirely new slate of winners — runs in ninth with 1 Trifecta point.
Trifecta Points
Standings after Leg 2 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Tiebreakers
Kal Krome holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Wise Orangutan.
Tiebreakers after Leg 2 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Bye weeks for Home Teams are grayed out (Table 2).
The Strategist and Wise Orangutan take the early lead on the front stretch of the 5-week long Fibonacci Stakes IV.
Most Analysts suffered a loss when the Seahawks failed to take flight in Seattle. In the middle of the pack, Big Tuna, Little Tuna, and Atwork contest third place with 1 Correct Home Team pick (each).
The remaining Analysts are checking the batteries on their calculators!
Standings after Leg 1 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Tiebreakers
Tiebreakers after Leg 1 of Fibonacci Stakes IV
Bye weeks for Home Teams are grayed out (Table 2).
The Analysts have selected their Home Teams to start the fourth annual Fibonacci Stakes. The entrants are:
Analysts and Home Teams for the Fibonacci Stakes IV
Slate of Games
Slate of Games for the Fibonacci Stakes IV
The slate of games for Fibonacci Stake IV will live up to its billing as the Race that separates the pretenders from the contenders after five Analysts dump their prior Home Teams for current playoff challengers. Will the Analysts redeem their horse senses in the second half of the year?
During the long month, we have five head-to-head clashes between the Analysts’ Home Teams: Seahawks v. Cardinals (Leg 2), Saints v. Rams (Leg 4), Panthers v. Saints (Leg 5), Rams v. Cardinals (Leg 5), and a battle of titans to end the Stakes with the Eagles @ Seahawks on Sunday Night (Leg 5).
Five teams go on bye weeks during the month, limiting the opportunities to select these teams two weeks in a row: Patriots (Leg 1), Steelers (Leg 1), Chiefs (Leg 2), Eagles (Leg 2), and Panthers (Leg 3). With three head-to-heads in the final Leg, only 6 games are open to pick in Leg 5 of the Stakes — we anticipate some heated exchanges between the Analysts in the home stretch!
There also are several un-owned teams that compete two weeks in a row: Broncos (Leg 1 and 2), Texans (2 and 3), Bills (4 and 5), and Jets (4 and 5). These un-owned teams may be selected two weeks in a row for the Fibonacci bonus trifecta points.
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 are over a half dozen featured games, including three Sunday night games of the week (subject to change), two Thursday night games, and three Monday night games.
Picks
Remember: Every Analyst has a bias for his or her Home Team and may not pick the sponsored team to lose. Analysts do not have to pick his or her Home Team to win a trifecta. *Bonus* trifecta points are earned for picking the same team two weeks in a row. See the Fibonacci Stakes Rules for more information.
Email three picks to The Bookie before each leg (week) of the Race. The first picks are due on Saturday, November 4.
The Test of the Computations reveals a first-time winner!
B-Reezy romps to an easy victory after earning four trifectas in five weeks, including the last three legs of the Fibonacci Stakes. His 14 points bests his next closest contender by 7 points. The second-year Analyst breaks maiden* in the WFTL!
Little Tuna (7 points) dusts off her Analyst of the Year trophy and regains her form from last season to spring into second place down the homestretch. The Bookie (5 points) edges out Atwork (5 points) with her solid tiebreaker resume.
In fifth, Big Tuna (4 points) bests Wise Orangutan by a length (3 points).
At the back, Kal Krome Atwork takes seventh over The Strategist.
Trifecta Points
Final Standings of Fibonacci Stakes III
Tiebreakers
Final Results of the Tiebreakers of Fibonacci Stakes III
*Breaks Maiden: When a horse or rider wins for the first time.
The Bookie: Dolphins*/Cowboys/*Patriots
Big Tuna: Cowboys*/Seahawks*/Rams*
Little Tuna: Cowboys*/Seahawks*/Raiders
Wise Orangutan: Chargers*/Seahawks*/Patriots
The Strategist: Rams*/Seahawks/Bears
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Cowboys*/49ers*
B-Reezy: Cowboys*/Seahawks/Raiders
Atwork: Vikings*/Seahawks*/Bears
Base trifecta is worth 5 points in the final leg of the Fibonacci Stakes.
* Denotes Fibonacci bonus picks (none possible in Leg 1).
Race Day Notes:
For the next 8 weeks I will ask each of you to reflect on your strategies and how they are working.
Our third muse will be from B-Reezy.
B-Reezy: “Hmmm. Each week I witness my lead grow stronger and the taste of near victory becomes more and more sweet, as it becomes evident that I will be crowned Analyst of the Year. An event long prophesied in the annals of fantasy lore. Your attempts at upheaval have been, at best, minuscule and they show to be ever more pathetic as the end draws nigh. Learn your hymn’s of praise for your new master, for they shall soon be warranted.”
The Results Are In!
The Bookie: Dolphins*/Cowboys/*Patriots
Big Tuna: Cowboys*/Seahawks*/Rams*
Little Tuna: Cowboys*/Seahawks*/Raiders (7 points)
Wise Orangutan: Chargers*/Seahawks*/Patriots
The Strategist: Rams*/Seahawks/Bears
Kal Krome: Seahawks*/Cowboys*/49ers*
B-Reezy: Cowboys*/Seahawks/Raiders(6 points)
Atwork: Vikings*/Seahawks*/Bears
Down the homestretch, B-Reezy finishes at a blazing gallop and distances himself from his followers. Little Tuna adeptly trails the frontrunner to notch her first trifecta of the Fibonacci.
The rest of the field stumbles on a bad trip over the unique picks designed to avoid the Box Out by B-Reezy.
** Trip: The course followed by a horse and rider during the running of a race and describes the “trouble” encountered. A horse that had a “good trip” did not encounter any unusual difficulty. A “bad trip” might involve racing wide, or being boxed in by other horses.
Mathematically speaking…
In the end, there was no way for any other Analyst to overtake B-Reezy as he scored a 6-point trifecta to add to his 3 point lead (8 points was the maximum possible in leg 5 of the Fibonacci Stakes).
Visitors: Rules for the Fibonacci Stakes can be found in the menu under Quaternary Crown.
In the final calculations of the Fibonacci Stakes, allall but one Analyst (see #7 below) remains in contention for The Winner’s Circle. With 5 base trifecta points and 3 bonus trifecta points at stake in Leg 5, an Analyst can come from behind to win with 8 points and as few as 5 points.
B-Reezy has positioned himself for the homestretch, but needs a trifecta with at least one Fibonacci bonus to cross the finish line unchallenged.
Beware the Box Out! If an Analyst with more points has the same three picks, there is no way to overtake the Analyst in the lead to start the homestretch!
Below are the most likely scenarios for the final leg of the Fibonacci Stakes:
B-Reezy (8 points) shows the lead with three full lengths between him and his closest challengers. He needs only 6 points (one same pick from Leg 4) to put the rest of the field out of reach. He has the weakest Tiebreakers, however, and will lose in every head-to-head tie with the other Analysts.
The Bookie (5 points) has the strongest Tiebreaker portfolio and will beat nearly every other Analyst in a tie (she cannot tie with Little Tuna). She can run for 8 points (same three picks as Leg 4) and race only B-Reezy or Atwork at the finish line. If she runs for 5 points (no Fibonacci bonuses), she could let Wise Orangutan slip past on the outside rail.
Atwork (5 points) has a weak Tiebreaker set, so his best chance is for B-Reezy and The Bookie to falter while picking up a trifecta of 7 points in value. Big Tuna chases one length behind, but the fish has a weaker Tiebreaker set at the moment.
Big Tuna (4 points) is the first of the Analysts who can win only ifB-Reezy fails to get a trifecta. In addition, he has a weak Tiebreaker portfolio and may need to put clear distance between himself and the last challengers.
Wise Orangutan (3 points) has a modest Tiebreaker resume and can beat Big Tuna and Atwork at the line. He needs B-Reezy and The Bookie to spit the bit in the homestretch if he hopes to stand in the winners’ circle.
Little Tuna, Kal Krome, and The Strategist (0 points) need all of the above Analysts to fail to Pick Three and then also to Let ‘Em Ride (take the same three teams as last week) in order to win. If one or more end in a tie with B-Reezy, the strength of Tiebreakers as they stand currently comes in this order: Little Tuna, Kal Krome, The Strategist, and B-Reezy.
Three Analysts had both the Cowboys and Vikings last week. Those Analysts have to choose between the two teams or two other teams. That limits their point totals for this week to 7 points — effectively eliminating The Strategist. The Bookie and Atwork, currently contesting second place, are also limited to 7 points this week and 12 points total in the Fibonacci Stakes.
Will B-Reezy’s “good trip” come to a sudden halt or will the wily long-strider claim a Crown with his season-long strategy?!!?
***** SCENARIO UPDATE AFTER PICKS AND TNF *****
The Strategist was eliminated before the homestretch as she could not Let ‘ Em Ride (pick the same three teams) out of the far turn (Leg 4).
B-Reezy boxes out Little Tuna and eliminates her from the Fibonacci Stakes. Both Analysts have the same Picks, so they advance or fall back together.
After another dramatic ending that is ill-measured by the W-L column, Atwork fails to advance on B-Reezy down the homestretch after the Norsemen struggle to plunder the Texas Marshals. He has been eliminated.
Five Analysts remain in contention heading into the early games on Sunday….
***** SUNDAY EARLY GAME SCENARIOS *****
Game of the Day: Bills at Raiders
All of the Analysts not named B-Reezy who picked the Seahawks need the Bills to beat the Raiders. If the Raiders win, B-Reezy boxes out the field with the exception of The Bookie.B-Reezy’s (and Little Tuna’s) homestretch run of course hinges on the Raiders win and/or Seahawks loss. The Bookie right now has the open lane since she did not take the Seahawks, but her Dolphins must beat the Ravens at home.
***** SUNDAY LATE GAME SCENARIOS *****
1. Big Tuna’s and The Strategist’s last ditch Ram-ming down the homestretch is gunned down by the Patriots.
2. The Bookie faces mortality as the Ravens deal a deathblow to the Dolphins in the final push.
Only one Analyst appears to be within Charg(er)-ing distance of the frontrunner B-Reezy. B-Reezy can box out Wise Orangutan with a win by the Raiders, or he can trot across the finish line with a loss by the Chragers or the Seahawks. Wise O. needs a good trip down the homestretch with wins by the Chargers, Bills, and Seahawks if he hopes to close the distance!
***** SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME SCENARIOS *****
B-Reezy continues his sprint to the finish line of the Fibonacci Stakes. The Raiders secured his quote, dominance, unquote, over the league in Year 3 after the Wise Orangutan trips over his Home Team selection from the 1978-79 professional football season (!).
Heading into the SNF, B-Reezy wins with a Seahawks victory or loss, while Little Tuna shows legs and may come from behind to place in the Fibonacci Stakes if the Seahawks win.
