Northern Illinois Sports Beat: Pick'em Contests

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2008-09 NISB Weekly Basketball Pick'em Contest! We had a new addition to the NISB Pick'em Hall of Fame, as Hobie won on the final week with a point total of 63.

The pick'em contests are an important piece of journalism. Wait, huh? As you know, I pick the ten games each week. You do the research and the thinking, and while you do that, you get to learn about our high school basketball teams.

This year marked a new high for the number of participants, and we hope it gets better next year. Point totals for this year are linked here.

Again, thanks to everyone who participated, and we hope you'll join us next year!

NISB Pick'em Hall of Fame

NISB Football Weekly Pick'em 2004:   Kampy
NISB Football Weekly Pick'em 2005:   Davebil
NISB Football Weekly Pick'em 2006:   Kampy
NISB Football Weekly Pick'em 2007:   Thehulk66
NISB Football Weekly Pick'em 2008:   Kampy

NISB Final Football Challenge 2004:   Skyhawk
NISB Final Football Challenge 2005:   Sterlingwarriorfan
NISB Final Football Challenge 2006:   Sports Man
NISB Final Football Challenge 2007:   Thehulk66
NISB Final Football Challenge 2008:   Morrisonfan

NISB Basketball Weekly Pick'em 2005: Rocket53
NISB Basketball Weekly Pick'em 2008: Morrisonfan
NISB Basketball Weekly Pick'em 2009: Hobie

NISB Final Basketball Challenge 2008: Bigshot85

About the NISB Pick'em Contests

Are you a good prognosticator? Do you have a good feeling about who will win games before they are played?

Have you participated in the NISB Pick'em Contests yet?

The NISB Pick'em Contests are one of the best features of Northern Illinois Sports Beat. There are four yearly contests (beginning with 2009-10): The NISB Weekly Football Pick'em, the NISB Weekly Basketball Pick'em; and the NISB Final Football Challenge, as well as the NISB Final Basketball Challenge.

*The 2009 Northern Illinois Sports Beat Weekly Football Pick'em is the sixth edition, making it one of NISB's longest running features. These contests are always FUN and challenging. The contest will begin on Saturday, August 22, and end on Week 9.

*The Final Football Challenge is harder than the Weekly Pick'em because there are a lot more games to pick. Every playoff game involving an area team is to be picked by you, the picker. This contest begins the Monday after IHSA Pairings Night.

*The 2009-10 Northern Illinois Sports Beat Weekly Basketball Pick'em will begin its fourth edition in mid-November 2009. The contest runs up until the final week of the Class 3/4A regular season.

*After taking a one-year hiatus, the Final Basketball Challenge will begin on February 13, 2010. Participants predict regional and sectional winners, as well as state champions in each of the four classes.

In order to participate in the NISB Pick'em Contests, you have to be a registered user of the Northern Illinois Sports Beat message boards. Click HERE to register, if you haven't done so already. The contests will be run exclusively on the message boards.

Winners of the Weekly Football Pick'em, the Final Football Challenge, the Weekly Basketball Pick'em and the Final Basketball Challenge will have their screen name enshrined in the NISB Pick'em Hall of Fame.

The pick'em contests are not only entertainment value, but also a learning and news tool to inform people about the area's football and basketball teams. I hope you enjoyed them!