ESPN's Streak for the Cash

RedCoyote · Post Post #0 (isolation #0) » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:36 am

Streak for the Cash

Does anyone else play this? I'm a pretty casual sports fan, but I do this on my phone for fun. Essentially, for those that aren't aware, it's a game run by ESPN where you're given a series of matches/contests/sporting events (popularly known as "props"), and asked to make a pick as to what you think will happen. Some of them are straight up, just asking which team will win and which will lose, but there's many other types of situations in there. Individual sports like Boxing, MMA, Tennis, Swimming, etc, where you're predicting how a fight may end or which country will take the top spot. More "exotic" sports like Cricket, Cycling or Curling. Sometimes you're asked if a team/player will win by a set number of points or games if they're a heavy favorite. Occasionally they throw random non-sports related stuff in there like Oscar predictions, political elections, etc.

The goal is to string together a number of wins (a streak of wins), and keep it running. It's insanely hard to keep your streak alive. Once you lose, you're back to square one. Everyone starts fresh at the beginning of the month regardless of where you are. The goal is to have the highest streak at the end of the month. If you do that, you win $20,000. Usually this is in the upper 20's-lower 30's. I've been playing off and on for about as long as I've been here at MS and the biggest streak I've ever got is 8. I still remember it, too. I lost it on an MMA match that was supposed to be a lock, lol.

Anyway, just curious if there was anyone else that played this. If there's any interest, we can keep a thread going about it and whine about it.

RedCoyote · Post Post #4 (isolation #1) » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:37 am

Well, cool. A couple of you then. I just made a group called "mafiascum.net" if anyone wants to join. I'm currently rocking a W2, which is about my high for this month, lol. My general strategy is to just sheep what's popular until I get around 3/4 and then be a little more thoughtful with my picks.

RedCoyote · Post Post #8 (isolation #2) » Sun Jul 13, 2014 2:45 pm

It gets dispiriting. I wish I was better at it.

Also, I don't know if it's the app or if it's my phone, but ~10% of the time it won't notify me after my prop is finished, which is a real drag because I inevitably miss some I want to pick.

RedCoyote · Post Post #10 (isolation #3) » Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:42 pm

Don't tell me you got suckered into the "Icelandic Soccer League" prop!

Fun fact, the ~3 days before the All-Star game (in the USA at least) are supposed to be the least sports days of the year. All of the big four (NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL) aren't playing.

RedCoyote · Post Post #23 (isolation #4) » Fri Jul 18, 2014 9:34 am

In post 21, AGar wrote:DAMMIT IROQUOIS NATIONALS.

So I totally win if I go like 25 straight wrong picks, right?

I often wish that they'd do a biggest loser prize because I swear I can get L5+ without even trying. Imagine if I tried to lose!

RedCoyote · Post Post #25 (isolation #5) » Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:37 am

The sheep seem to say the WNBA western conference is as good as the NBA western conference. Sounds good to me.

RedCoyote · Post Post #27 (isolation #6) » Tue Jul 22, 2014 2:39 pm

F this game...

RedCoyote · Post Post #32 (isolation #7) » Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:04 pm

When it gets late in the month, I tend to slack until the next month starts. Especially in the summertime when it's seemingly all baseball. I don't follow baseball as closely as I used to, and the Astros certainly don't make the prospect any more appealing, lol. I have faith in the owner's long term plan though.

RedCoyote · Post Post #38 (isolation #8) » Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:37 am

Do you do any wagering, Llama? You and DDD seem like y'all know your stuff.

RedCoyote · Post Post #40 (isolation #9) » Fri Aug 01, 2014 8:18 am

I agree! Then I went and blew it on Tiger Woods...

RedCoyote · Post Post #43 (isolation #10) » Tue Aug 05, 2014 2:35 pm

W5 on Mariners. I'm going all the way this month. I can feel it. Papa needs a new radiator for his car after some clown got into an accident with me this afternoon and sped off.

RedCoyote · Post Post #49 (isolation #11) » Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:03 am

Broke my PB with Arsenal beating Newcastle United this morning. Sitting on a W12. When you get to double digits... it's such a rush. I'm going for a couple of hockey picks this afternoon. Wish me luck!

Also...

NCAA Women's Tournament - 1st Rd (#16 St. Francis BRK @ #1 Connecticut): What will be the GAME RESULT?
9:05 PM
ESPN2

NCW
#1 Connecticut: Wins By 50+ Points
Any Other Result

Whoa, looks like a football prop.

RedCoyote · Post Post #50 (isolation #12) » Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:38 pm

Well, nevermind. Hockey, man... damn hockey...

RedCoyote · Post Post #52 (isolation #13) » Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:40 pm

Wolfing my current W12 with the Nets pulling off a win or single digit loss. They kept the margin to 7 last game and Atlanta looked worse for the wear from it. I think the Nets may actually take one.