I’ve got important website news to tell you. Effective today, all fantasy sports – fantasy baseball, fantasy football and fantasy hockey – is splitting off from MyOfficePool.ca and getting its own home on the Internet at the more appropriately named, DraftBuddy.com.

The reason for the move is because, well, it is time. Our flagship product is and always will be the Cheatsheet Compiler & Draft Buddy fantasy baseball and fantasy football draft tools. The football version is 10 years old if you can believe it. Where has the time gone?

I somewhat regret putting the CC/DB at MyOfficePool.ca a few years ago when I needed a home for them, but MOP was active and I didn’t relish the idea of maintaining two websites.

They truly deserve a site in their own name though. I wouldn’t still be doing this today if it wasn’t for the success of the Compiler and Draft Buddy. I’d be back doing accounting, likely, the thought of which sends a chill up my spine.

More importantly (I couldn’t help myself from taking a dig at accounting), since we’ve ramped up our fantasy sports coverage in the past year thanks in large part to the contributions of Dave, Rick, John, Iain, Craig and others, now is as good a time as any.

What does this mean? Simply, if you’re thinking the Compiler, Draft Buddy or fantasy sports information, head over to DraftBuddy.com. Note CheatsheetCompiler.com also works, but DraftBuddy.com got the nod given it is shorter and catchier.

If you’re thinking office pools like we’ve always had here, come to MyOfficePool.ca. If you want to play fantasy football, try Fantasy Throwdown. Maybe you’ve noticed the new images with links at the bottom of the page?

That is my (and by my, I mean ours to share) fantasy network. Yep, good thing I didn’t want to maintain two separate websites…

Updated Login, or “Why Doesn’t My Password Work Anymore?”

What else does this mean? Well, first off, your old login doesn’t work anymore. Sorry, but my hands were tied on that one. I installed some new member management software on DraftBuddy.com and one major benefit is that it tied together our forums and blog software so everyone could have a single username across each.

The downfall was that it couldn’t import your current passwords since they are encrypted (i.e. I can’t read them). Your existing username will work across both DraftBuddy.com and MyOfficePool.ca, but the password had to change.

To solve this, for now, try the get password box at DraftBuddy.com to retreive your password. Then you can login on that same page and update your password.

Failing that, email me with the password you’d like to reset your account to, and I’ll do that for you.

Send Your Feedback, Lend Us A Hand

What else does this mean? That is the bulk of it. Soon links to fantasy content at MyOfficePool.ca, including stat and player pages, should redirect to the same page at DraftBuddy.com. If you notice any flaws in this whole process with dead links or what have you, then please let me know.

We are continuing to try to expand our fantasy sports coverage for baseball, football and hockey. If you want to help contribute, then shoot me an email. If you have ideas to improve our fantasy sports content, Compiler, Draft Buddy or otherwise, then I want to hear about that too. I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head but as with all of us, only so much time on my hands. Your help and/or voice will help prioritize and make some of these ideas reality.

Thanks for listening. The next big thing on the agenda of course is the baseball version of the Cheatsheet Compiler & Draft Buddy. Coming soon, to DraftBuddy.com!

About five weeks into the 2009 NFL season, if you would have polled the sports world about which 4 teams would make the final 4 with a shot at the Super Bowl, the Saints, Colts, and Vikings would have been very popular choices. The New York Jets would not have been so high on that list but due to the strong play of Mark Sanchez and Darelle Revis the Jets are one win away from the Super Bowl. These teams will square off in domes this weekend to ensure good weather and great football.

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts (stats)

These two teams met in Week 16 of the regular season as the Jets ended the undefeated run of the Colts. Peyton Manning and the Colts regulars only played half of that game but it was very tight when they made their exit.

Mark Sanchez and the Jets still led a few scoring drives and won the game. Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene have been awesome as they have carried the Jets in the postseason offensively. Mark Sanchez is not playing like a rookie and seems to have grabbed hold of the reins for rookie coach Rex Ryan. Revis has shut down both Chad Ochocinco and Vincent Jackson so far this postseason as well as a very long list of players in the regular season and very well may be the best defensive player not named Charles Woodson. He has a tough task this week as Reggie Wayne is one of the best. The Jets head to Miami after a low scoring defensive win.

Prediction: 21 – 20 Jets

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (stats)

Just as everyone predicted early in the season, the Vikings and Saints will meet for a trip to the big one. Brett Favre faces off against Drew Brees. The Vikings are coming off a monster performance in which they completely dominated the Cowboys with great defense and explosive offense. Sidney Rice has emerged as one of the top receivers in the league.

Brees has found an explosive big play guy of his own in Reggie Bush, who had a monster game last week and will be a force as a pass catching back in this matchup. Brees, Bush, Favre, Rice and Adrian Peterson should all provide plenty of offense in this game but it will be the defense that decides it. Jared Allen and the Williams pair, Pat and Kevin, will be just enough to get the Vikes into the big game. Brett Favre will make an attempt to end his career with a second ring.

Prediction: 31 – 21 Vikings

Survivor Pools

Last week we announced a winner – I mean winners – in the original survivor pool. Technically speaking, we were down to just two still standing and they agreed to split $1,400 of the $1,634 payout, and play for the rest.

Well, that didn’t last long. haysie and knarf67 went into the first week of the playoffs with $234 on the line and both picked the New England Patriots… and promptly finished off that pool with their joint elimination. Each get a trophy and half the cash. Congrats guys, on the 17-0 run in the regular season!

Over in the second half survivor pool, we had five make it through the regular season and advance to the playoffs. After a wildy unexpected Wild-Card Weekend, we lost darosa7 and wizardz99sk who each picked the Pats.

Now it is just cneilson, Gerri Attrics and H(o)(o)ter, who all picked the Dallas Cowboys, still alive and competing for the $627 at the end of the rainbow. And, they can’t pick the Cowboys this week or the rest of the playoffs. I love it when we get to playoff survivor, because you really need to think ahead with these picks.

NFL Playoffs Pool

Is it just me or is this the busiest time in MyOfficePool.ca history? Last weekend we also kicked off the annual NFL Playoffs Pool, with an excellent turnout of 52 entries. Thanks to everyone who referred the pool to friends and family to up our numbers.

In terms of results, we had some impressive performances! … from a few people anyway. Only three, yep, just three, got a perfect four-for-four on their picks. It was a tough week with the Pats and Cincinnati Bengals getting upset, plus most people picked the Green Bay Packers who I think went from dog to fav and back to dog at one point on the Vegas line. That was one crazy game that trumped all the rest by a country mile in terms of entertainment.

Anyway, chrispyne takes the early lead with 18 points by earning 5 bonus points for predicting the Arizona Cardinals to win by exactly 6. Defensive TD in overtime, that is just how you expected that one to play out, right Chris?

debbieblows and mroliversson hold down second place with 16 points and it looks like we have seven people who got three out of four games correct to closely trail our top three players. For as lopsided as a couple of those playoff games were, it seems like most everyone in the top 10 got some bonus points working for them.

And then after that, there are a whole bunch of us who hit 50% of the picks, or 25% (ugh, including yours truly) or 0%. It was apparently slightly easier to hit zero-for-four instead of four-for-four, as we have six entries with that infamous distinction.

In terms of predicted Super Bowl winners, here is how all of our pool entries stack up:

Notably absent, the Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets are still alive in the post-season. The rest of the picks are pretty spread out, with a near even split between two AFC teams to win the big game. Needless to say, this pool is still pretty wide open. After this weekend will be a lot more telling who is in the running for the money.

Enjoy the games this week!

We have a winner – I mean winners – in the original survivor pool!

We still haven’t crowned a champ, but we have an agreed upon split of the proceeds between our last two standing in the pool, haysie and knarf67. They are each going to take $700 from the $1,634, and then continue to play for the $234 through the playoffs. So, one person will get the trophy, both guys get some cash and everyone is happy.

Well, maybe not everyone. Here is my deep thought for DonS and Eugenius in the original survivor, and paulkney in the second half survivor: Regardless of having a playoff berth on the line, do you think maybe when a high strung rookie head coach decides to bench his stud WR (who near single-handedly won games for them this year) and top TE, that he might have a bit of a mutiny on his hands? Maybe they’ll fold like an old lawn chair with the likes of Kyle Orton to Jabar Gaffney being the offensive threat? Maybe not the best team to back in a survivor pool?

Of course I’m talking about the Denver Broncos, who knocked out our three aforementioned survivor pool participants. Ah heck, I’m not trying to be hard on you guys. In Week 17 anything can happen. Plus a run of 16 straight weeks (or nine in paulkney’s case) would have got it done most years in survivor. But not this year.

As mentioned, we have just two alive in original survivor and we’re down to five in the second half pool. So, we are going to the playoffs, baby!

Wild-Card Weekend is this week and both pools are still active. Get your pick in before the first game on Saturday. That is the New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals with a 4:30 Eastern start.

You’ve definitely got to plan ahead in this one, because once you pick a team – and presumably you’ve picked a winner – then you can’t pick them again in the playoffs. So if you think the Green Bay Packers are going to make a run all the way to the Super Bowl, then don’t pick them this week.

Unless of course you think everyone else is going to get dumped on their behind. Too many things to think about. Good luck to all of our participants. Its been a great survivor year, and we’re continuing on a little longer.

Enjoy the games this weekend!

The playoffs are finally set and things kick off this weekend with the Wild-Card games. The Cowboys dominated the Eagles last weekend to win the NFC East but will be tested again in Dallas this week as they play host to the Eagles one more time.

Also the Packers defeated to Cardinals to earn the number five seed but will again travel to Arizona to meet the Cardinals.

The Jets put a whoop on the Bengals to close out the year but the Bengals will also get a shot at redemption this weekend.

The Ravens make the trip to cold New England on Sunday in the other AFC playoff game.

New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (stats)

Yes, the Jets did throttle the Bengals in Week 17 but Cincy didn’t play their starters for long. The Jets, hungry for the playoffs, didn’t seem to care who they faced as they raced out to a big lead and rolled their way to the final playoff spot in convincing fashion.

Mark Sanchez was efficient and didn’t turn the ball over while Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene looked as good with the ball as they have all year. The Bengals may have the upper hand playing at home but I’m going with the upset here. The Bengals just haven’t played very well down the stretch and the tough Jets defense is going to stop them this weekend.

Prediction: 24 – 17 Jets

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (stats)

The Cowboys showed they are one of the teams to beat by thwarting the Eagles 24 to nothing a week ago. Tony Romo has played masterful the past month and a half and has led the surging Cowboys to their second NFC East crown in three years. Felix Jones is emerging as an explosive back that nobody wants to see in the open field.

Donovan McNabb didn’t play bad a week ago but couldn’t come up with enough plays to stay in the game. The Eagles won’t get shut out again but are just over matched when it comes to playing Dallas this season.

Prediction: 35 – 21 Cowboys

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots (stats)

Ray Rice and the Ravens had a very productive year on offense which is far from what we have come to expect from the Baltimore offense in past years. Joe Flacco has led a steady passing attack and has the Ravens in a position to make another deep run.

The Patriots lost all-pro receiver Wes Welker to a devastating knee injury leaving the rookie Julian Edelman to take his place. Randy Moss is still the main deep target for Comeback Player of the Year winner Tom Brady, but the Ravens defense may have the upper hand now. The lack of a solid defense this year and the Patriots get bounced early.

Prediction: 27 – 17 Ravens

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals (stats)

Aaron Rodgers has led the Packers back to a familiar place, just not somewhere they’ve been with him at the helm of the offense. Rodgers has had a monster year and looks to make the Pack a mainstay in the postseason. Donald Driver and Greg Jennings have also had great years with some help by Ryan Grant who seems to have bounced back this year.

Kurt Warner has led the Cardinals to back to back playoff appearances which I believe has never been done before. Warner wants back to back Super Bowl trips in what may be his last year. This game has all the makings of a shootout with these two great offenses, but defense will even the playing field as the Packers have been playing better on that side of the ball.

Prediction: 31 – 21 Packers

Last week: 11-5
Overall: 70-42

Happy New Year!

And then there were … 4 … in the original survivor pool. We lost mean1001 last week as he took the New York (didn’t play like) Giants who lost badly to the Carolina (peaking way too late) Panthers. That game went completely against what I and most people would have thought going in, with the Giants vying for a playoff spot and the Panthers expected to just play out the string.

Over in the second half survivor, we still have 6 alive after everyone slid through Week 16. The winning picks last week across both pools were the 49ers, Cardinals, Packers and Patriots, with each of those teams winning big.

Now, Week 17 is finally here, the last week of the NFL regular season. I’ve still been travelling around southern Ontario through the holidays. Visiting with the cable-less in-laws last week prevented me from watching a lick of football except for the Monday nighter at Shoeless Joe’s in Welland (nice place) with a fantasy championship on the line. Thankfully I pulled it out with the Vikings’ defense even though they did absolutely nothing through most of three quarters.

That said, I don’t have much opinion on who to pick this week in what is sure to be a crazy unpredictable week. Playoff bound teams are resting players. Sad sack teams have found new life (see: Browns, Bucs). For our 10 survivors, be careful, and make sure to get your pick in before kickoff on Sunday.

And as for the rest of you, the NFL Playoffs Pool is now up! You can join today, and change your picks next week if/when the teams/seeds change. I’ll update the picks form after the Sunday night game. Don’t forget to get in the pool though. Wild-Card Weekend starts next Saturday. Enjoy the games!