How many playoff teams in your league? (1 Viewer)

[turnit643]

We changed from 6 playoff teams to 8 in our very competitive, longtime friends, 16-team league.

I didn't like the change when we made it. I voted against it because I thought half the league advancing was too NHL-ish, but now I think it's turned out to be a good thing.

It takes much longer to mathematically eliminate teams (because the cutoff is now usually right at 7-6 and there are always a mob of teams near that mark) and that does keep the interest/fun/effort factor high into the final weeks.

What do your leagues do?

(edit: changed title)

 

[turkishkamel]

5 teams make it. #4 and #5 play week 14. Championship week 16

 

[The Man With No Name]

12 team league- 4

14 team league- 4

 

[Andrew]

We changed from 6 playoff teams to 8 in our very competitive, longtime friends, 16-team league.I didn't like the change when we made it. I voted against it because I thought half the league advancing was too NHL-ish, but now I think it's turned out to be a good thing. It takes much longer to mathematically eliminate teams (because the cutoff is now usually right at 7-6 and there are always a mob of teams near that mark) and that does keep the interest/fun/effort factor high into the final weeks. What do your leagues do?

We increased ours from 4 to 6 in a 12 team league for that very reason. Plus our final wildcard spot is for the remaining team with the highest total points. So there are two ways to fight your way in, makes people work harder and makes the final regular season weeks more interesting.

 

[radballs]

I see what you're talking about regarding going from 6 to 8 teams but given that it is a 16 team league, I can easily see it being a good thing. It should keep potential playoff teams in it deeper into the season. With that large of a league, it's always a bit better to keep teams competing as long as possible before they throw the towel in.

 

[Texican]

12 team league - 6 go to the playoffs

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Ten teams: 4

Ten teams: 6

 

[KellysHeroes]

8 out of 12... Keeps owners competitive for a couple extra weeks

 

[Limp Ditka]

8 out of 12... Keeps owners competitive for a couple extra weeks

My 12 league team does it this way too.Not only does it keep them competitive for an extra coupld of weeks, it keeps them coming back year after year.You'd also be suprised how often low seeded teams make serious playoff runs.We pay something for best regular season record and regualr season points to take some of the pain away in the case of a higher seed getting knocked off in the playoffs.

 

[Warhogs]

We used to have 4 of 12 but switched to 6 of 12 this year. Top 2 teams get a bye in week 1 of the playoffs and top 4 teams finish in the money so the top 2 teams are guaranteed to finish in the money.

 

[Utter Chaos]

13 team league

6 make playoffs

Week 14: 6 v 3 and 5 v 4 (1 and 2 get byes)

Week 15: semi-finals

Week 16 + Week 17: two week championship

Week 14 to 17: All non-playoff teams compete for booby prize. Highest 4 week total wins.

 

[fsufan]

10 teams

6 make playoffs

division winners get first round bye

 

[CYP]

10 team league - 6 make it. We did this because really it gives everyone their money's worth. The top 6 make the playoffs, the bottom 4 also make the playoffs but this is for the toilet bowl. Keeps everyone interested right up until our championship week and makes it fun for everyone.

 

[WampusCat43]

4/12. Very tough. And right now, I ain't one of the 4.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

8 out of 12... Keeps owners competitive for a couple extra weeks

ours too, without byes though...plus the losers from Weeks 14 and 15 keep moving through until Week 16, they just drop down into the Toilet Bowl bracket....everyone enjoys the season that much longer. And where you end up at the end of the year determines where you can pick from next year (we have a priority drafting slot mechanism set up where teams get to pick their drafting slot for the following year, works great)

 

[NinerK]

We used to have 4 of 12 but switched to 6 of 12 this year. Top 2 teams get a bye in week 1 of the playoffs and top 4 teams finish in the money so the top 2 teams are guaranteed to finish in the money.

Similar in our league; $120 entry fee and our Top 2 teams get a bye but go head to head for $100

 

[trader jake]

6 of 12 make playoffs

top team in each conference gets a bye week 14 while the other 4 teams play each other in round 1

 

[CrossEyed]

2 12-team leagues. Both have 6 playoff spots.

 

[turnit643]

That's interesting ... I didn't expect so many leagues to be 50%+ on qualifying for the playoffs.

To be more specific about ours, we're split into two conferences (4 from each make it). The top team in each gets a bye and the other 3 play in a round 1 3-way to see who moves on. Because of the bye, the top team in each conference is guaranteed a shot at some money (1st-3rd get paid.)

For those of you with the leagues that allow more than 50%+ into the playoffs, do you often have teams with losing records get in? That isn't a problem, philosophy-wise?

 

[JayMan]

8 out of 12... Keeps owners competitive for a couple extra weeks

ours too, without byes though...plus the losers from Weeks 14 and 15 keep moving through until Week 16, they just drop down into the Toilet Bowl bracket....everyone enjoys the season that much longer. And where you end up at the end of the year determines where you can pick from next year (we have a priority drafting slot mechanism set up where teams get to pick their drafting slot for the following year, works great)

Care to elaborate on this... sounds interesting... we go by the NBA-lottery-style for top picks but would love to explore other ways...

 

[Limp Ditka]

That's interesting ... I didn't expect so many leagues to be 50%+ on qualifying for the playoffs.To be more specific about ours, we're split into two conferences (4 from each make it). The top team in each gets a bye and the other 3 play in a round 1 3-way to see who moves on. Because of the bye, the top team in each conference is guaranteed a shot at some money (1st-3rd get paid.)For those of you with the leagues that allow more than 50%+ into the playoffs, do you often have teams with losing records get in? That isn't a problem, philosophy-wise?

To me, in H2H there's so much luck involved that I think some legit teams get eliminated from the playoffs when you narrow the field too much.In the 12 team baseball league I'm in, we had an 8 seeded team that finished at 8-12 win the whole thing this year. During the regular season, his team was 3rd or 4th in overall points, he just had bad matchups most of the year.His team was probably the best team and IMO deserved to win. I know that we have had a 7 seeded team win the whole thing in our 12 team football league.What I mentioned before is that it's all about keeping interest for as many people as you can for as long as possible. That's what keeps them coming back year after year is knowing that they have a chance and I hate hunting down new owners.

 

[turnit643]

(we have a priority drafting slot mechanism set up where teams get to pick their drafting slot for the following year, works great)

Care to elaborate on this... sounds interesting... we go by the NBA-lottery-style for top picks but would love to explore other ways...

I think I know what he's talking about - one of my fantasy baseball leagues does this. Instead of automatically being granted the first pick overall, that team gets to choose where they'd like to draft (some owners prefer to be near the end of the first round (if the draft is a snake) to get a higher 2nd round pick or to be in the middle of the round to avoid the large gaps between picks throughout the draft.) Then the next team gets to select their spot, etc.

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

We changed from 6 playoff teams to 8 in our very competitive, longtime friends, 16-team league.I didn't like the change when we made it. I voted against it because I thought half the league advancing was too NHL-ish, but now I think it's turned out to be a good thing. It takes much longer to mathematically eliminate teams (because the cutoff is now usually right at 7-6 and there are always a mob of teams near that mark) and that does keep the interest/fun/effort factor high into the final weeks. What do your leagues do?

Similar league...16 teams, bunch of buddies.We do a 3-week playoff with 7 teams...1 gets a bye, while 2 plays 7, etc.It is essentially the system Lamar Hunt has wanted for years now. Only give the team with homefield advantage the bye and allow another team in.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

(we have a priority drafting slot mechanism set up where teams get to pick their drafting slot for the following year, works great)

Care to elaborate on this... sounds interesting... we go by the NBA-lottery-style for top picks but would love to explore other ways...

I think I know what he's talking about - one of my fantasy baseball leagues does this. Instead of automatically being granted the first pick overall, that team gets to choose where they'd like to draft (some owners prefer to be near the end of the first round (if the draft is a snake) to get a higher 2nd round pick or to be in the middle of the round to avoid the large gaps between picks throughout the draft.) Then the next team gets to select their spot, etc.

that's it...there have been a few times where teams change out of their "assumed" drafting position. Really makes the teams at the head of the line think about overall value of their drafting positions most times. The teams in our league really like it and it has promoted more preseason drafting slot trades (i.e., trading out of the second for an additional fourth-fifth pick) as well. Plus we are a 2 keeper league...anything after the third round is eligible, and players can only be kept for one additional year (keeps the player pool fresh with good talent each year).

 

[craigboy]

That's interesting ... I didn't expect so many leagues to be 50%+ on qualifying for the playoffs.To be more specific about ours, we're split into two conferences (4 from each make it). The top team in each gets a bye and the other 3 play in a round 1 3-way to see who moves on. Because of the bye, the top team in each conference is guaranteed a shot at some money (1st-3rd get paid.)For those of you with the leagues that allow more than 50%+ into the playoffs, do you often have teams with losing records get in? That isn't a problem, philosophy-wise?

8 out of the 12 teams in our leage make it. We have three divisions, the top two from each division and two wild card teams make it. We are in our 19th year and have only had a hand full of sub 500 teams make the playoffs over the years.We give large payouts for division winners (almost as much at the FB winner) we've always thought that winning your division is a better judge of how good your team is. In the playoffs one team can get lucky or the best team can just hit a fluke week and be out.

 

[Polish Hammer]

We have 2 7-team divisions. Top 4 from each make it.

 

[AcerFC]

12 teams, 6 make playoffs. All playoff teams get 50 bucks for making the playoffs and then payouyts to 1-4. We also have a $50 high score per week payout so there are a lot of ways to make some money back

 

[JayMan]

8 out of the 12 teams in our leage make it. We have three divisions, the top two from each division and two wild card teams make it. We are in our 19th year and have only had a hand full of sub 500 teams make the playoffs over the years.We give large payouts for division winners (almost as much at the FB winner) we've always thought that winning your division is a better judge of how good your team is. In the playoffs one team can get lucky or the best team can just hit a fluke week and be out.

I'm just looking for information... but having 8 out of 12 teams in - how can only a handfull (in 18 years) of teams with sub500 records make it in the playoffs?... Aren't the 7th / 8th place "by default" usually under 500?The 2nd paragraph - rewarding those division winners / playoffs can be fluke... are not the two main arguments for leagues that only let a minimal number of teams in the playoffs?Like I said - just looking for more info to work with...

 

[ImTheScientist]

12 teams - 4 playoffs

We aren't the NBA or NHL which like to reward being average!

 

[steviey]

8 out of 14. Play every team once and then playoffs start week 14.

 

[One]

14 team league, 8 teams make playoffs.

the #8 seed has won the league in 3 of the past 4 years.

 

[NinerK]

12 teams - 4 playoffsWe aren't the NBA or NHL which like to reward being average!

True. However, I think if you go to 6; those next 2 teams to qualify are only 1 game back or they may have the same record but scored a few less points than the #4 team....We just wento 6 team playoff in our 12 teamer and looking back over the last 5 years that would be the case. We ALWAYS had 2-3 teams just barely miss the playoffs. So opening it up but still rewarding the top 2 teams with a bye (we put them h2h for $100) gets more involved. It has a ripple effect as well. Ther's been more trades, more trash talk more everything as people know they will be in it after Week 10.Now, going to 8 out of 12 teams is pushing it; but I think the 4 team playoff system is on its way out.

 

[turnit643]

8 out of the 12 teams in our leage make it. We have three divisions, the top two from each division and two wild card teams make it. We are in our 19th year and have only had a hand full of sub 500 teams make the playoffs over the years.

I'm just looking for information... but having 8 out of 12 teams in - how can only a handfull (in 18 years) of teams with sub500 records make it in the playoffs?... Aren't the 7th / 8th place "by default" usually under 500?

Yeah, that seemed a bit odd to me too. We've had exactly one team with a 6-7 record qualify in 12 years. It's always been 7-6 and occasionally 8-5 at the bottom end.

We aren't the NBA or NHL which like to reward being average!

Maybe "Playoff teams - does more = better?" would have been a better title to start this thread, that's what I was originally looking for. That seems to be the choice each league makes ... Fewer playoff teams = more pride in being in the exclusive group, more emphasis on winning in the regular season, avoids rewarding mediocrity, etc.More playoff teams = more teams involved down the stretch, more interest over the full course of the season, more hope, etc.

 

[AcerFC]

12 teams - 4 playoffsWe aren't the NBA or NHL which like to reward being average!

While I understand what you are saying, there is no reward for a team that starts off 0-4 or 0-5. Their season may as well be done. By adding two more spots, these teams can make trades and pick ups and try to get back in the race. The first year our league champ went 0-6-1 and came back with some great trades. the second year we had a guy start 0-7 and came back because of trades. They were both 6 seeds. All Im saying is that I would be miserable in a league that i was out by week 6. I myself am in a 2-4 hole right now so I made 4 trades in the last week

 

[One]

Just wondering...

How often has your #1 seed won the league?

 

[Kleck.]

10 teams6 make playoffsdivision winners get first round bye

I'm in a dynasty that does the same. I like it. Although we did have one year where the total points leader missed the playoffs.

 

[Kleck.]

Just wondering... How often has your #1 seed won the league?

In all my leagues together, throughout all the years I have been playing, it's easily under 50%.

 

[turnit643]

Our #1 seed has won 4 times in 12 years (the #1 has also finished out of the money in 4th place 3 times ). The bottom seed has won it twice.

We also had one season with the points leader missing the playoffs.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Just wondering... How often has your #1 seed won the league?

Actually in the 12 team league I've been talking about, the #1 seed has been ousted by the #8 in the 1st round probably 4 of the 7 years I've been in the league.Its a running joke in the league that its a good thing we pay out for best regular season record because its the last thing that team will be winning

 

[428143]

Depends on the payout structure. The playoff champ (6 teams out of 10) only receives 25% of the pot. The rest goes to high scorer/2nd place scorer/playoff runner-up/toilet bowl champ(4 team tourney for #1 rookie pick)/weekly high scorer /points against "champ"/etc...

All of these things help keep the luck involved in winning a 6 team playoff on the backburner/keep people not only heavily involved, but interested each week. Every week there is something to play for, regardless of your teams record.

 

[L5UT1ger]

The Super Bowl bracket is as follows:

Seeds #1 and #2 get a two week bye

Seeds #3 and #4 get a one week bye

Seeds #5 and #8* play one another with the winner playing #4, that winner plays #1, winner in super bowl, loser in consolation game

Seeds #6 and #7 play one another with the winner playing #3, that winner plays #2, winner in super bowl, loser in consolation game

#8 seed is determined by the total number of points scored of all teams not seeded 1-7.

The toilet bowl bracket is as follows:

#9 plays #12, the winner plays the loser of #5 and #8, the winner of that plays the loser of (winner of #6 and #7) and #3, winner is in the toilet bowl

#10 plays #11, the winner plays the loser of #6 and #7, the winner of that plays the loser of (winner of #5 and #8) and #4, winner is in the toilet bowl

I love #8 seed rule so that a team that has really bad luck with matchups can still qualify for the super bowl playoffs.

I also like the double elimation feel of the bracket, the encouragement it gives to continue participating and the importance placed on the regular season by giving byes. Those byes are huge.

Spots 1-3 pay $ plus the winner of the toilet bowl gets his or her entry fee back.

 

[fsufan]

10 teams6 make playoffsdivision winners get first round bye

I'm in a dynasty that does the same. I like it. Although we did have one year where the total points leader missed the playoffs.

i run 2 leagues that uses this playoff format.one league is in its 8th year. The team with best regular season has only won the superbolw 2 times out of 7. the other league is in its 3rd year. The team with the best regular season record has never won it all. but we do have prize $ for division winners and best regular season record. just showing how much luck it takes to win the FF superbowl

 

[craigboy]

8 out of the 12 teams in our leage make it. We have three divisions, the top two from each division and two wild card teams make it. We are in our 19th year and have only had a hand full of sub 500 teams make the playoffs over the years.We give large payouts for division winners (almost as much at the FB winner) we've always thought that winning your division is a better judge of how good your team is. In the playoffs one team can get lucky or the best team can just hit a fluke week and be out.

I'm just looking for information... but having 8 out of 12 teams in - how can only a handfull (in 18 years) of teams with sub500 records make it in the playoffs?... Aren't the 7th / 8th place "by default" usually under 500?The 2nd paragraph - rewarding those division winners / playoffs can be fluke... are not the two main arguments for leagues that only let a minimal number of teams in the playoffs?Like I said - just looking for more info to work with...

It seemed funny after I wrote it too. I was wrong, there have been plenty of teams that make it with sub 500 records. (The handful I was thinking of were division winners with losing records which I think has happened twice in 18 years.)One really good thing about having many teams making it is it really cuts down on owners "giving up" on thier teams.

 

[rjb2112]

8 out of 12 make it.

Teams are rewarded with "Home Field Advantage" points going in to their playoff games based on how well they performed during the regular season.

 

[turnit643]

8 out of 12 make it.Teams are rewarded with "Home Field Advantage" points going in to their playoff games based on how well they performed during the regular season.

We toyed with a similar idea in the past but never instituted it. How do you do your "home field advantage" points? (what's a decent score in your games and how many home field points do you award?)

 

[rjb2112]

8 out of 12 make it.Teams are rewarded with "Home Field Advantage" points going in to their playoff games based on how well they performed during the regular season.

We toyed with a similar idea in the past but never instituted it. How do you do your "home field advantage" points? (what's a decent score in your games and how many home field points do you award?)

I tried it for the first time last year. I rank the 8 playoff teams rotisserie baseball style, from 1 to 8 in two categories. The categories are record and points scored. The top team in each category gets 8 points, second team gets 7 points, 3rd team gets 6 points... and so on. You can also earn 4 more points in your playoff matchup if you happened to beat your playoff opponent in the regular season (makes every regular season game really count).Last season it seemed to work well. There was a greater impact on the #1 and #2 vs. #7 and #8 playoff matchups. The lowest seeds typically had a 15-20 point deficit to overcome, while the middle seeds were much more evenly matched. The #7 seed was actually able to overcome a 20 or so point deficit two weeks in a row and make it into the title game, where he finally lost. For me it justifies putting 8 out of 12 teams in the playoffs because the lowest teams really have to earn it rather than knocking off the #1 with a fluke week.

 

[rjb2112]

8 out of 12 make it.Teams are rewarded with "Home Field Advantage" points going in to their playoff games based on how well they performed during the regular season.

We toyed with a similar idea in the past but never instituted it. How do you do your "home field advantage" points? (what's a decent score in your games and how many home field points do you award?)

BTW, 100 points would probably be considered a "decent score" in our league.

 

[thecardiackid]

8 out of 14. Play every team once and then playoffs start week 14.

same here - no bye weeks.also $$ for points, division titles, etc. but the big $$ is in the SB.

 

[NFLjunkie]

We have a 16 team league where we have 2 seperate playoffs

Top 8 teams play for the superbowl

Remaining 8 teams play for the loserbowl

we pay out to:

The 4 division winners

Winner of Superbowl

Loser of the superbowl

Winner of the Loserbowl

When our playoffs start in week 14 all the teams have a chance to win some money

Remember: "It's all in Good Fun, As long as I WIN"

 

[turnit643]

At one point in our history, we also had a "Best of the rest" Tourney for non-playoff teams. It wasn't a big hit - probably because the prize money wasn't significant enough.