The Postseason Report
Gentlemen – In a regular season that was like no other, the FMFL ended up finishing right around where it usually does, with the final playoff spot at $1,100. There were some severe dips in leaguewide performance in the second half of the season, but in the final week a handful of winning wild card bets put the overall league total back into positive dollars.
Here’s a breakdown of how the league did as a whole each week:
Week 1: +$4,700
Week 2: +$1,200
Week 3: +-$700
Week 4: +$1,300
Week 5: +$4,900
Week 6: +$200
Week 7: -$1,800
Week 8: -$2,800
Week 9: -$4,800
Week 10: -$2,400
Week 11: -$6,000
Week 12: -$2,000
Week 13: +$5,600
Week 14: +$1,800
Week 15: +$300
Week 16: -$2,300
Week 17: +$5,800
That’s a cumulative total of +$3,000.
Disclaimer: The following is a completely biased report of the 2020 FMFL season. The views, opinions, and observations that follow are those of the Executive Director and are completely subjective.
East Division
Boss Hardigan
Current Total: $2,200
Winning Percentage: 0.603
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Tampa Bay – Won
Recap: The Boss stumbled a bit in December after he enjoyed a sizable lead on the rest of the league for the first three months of the season. He still won the East, but fell short of the overall prize. He’s a franchise that might be due in the postseason.
Grade: A
Chris B. Corey
Current Total: $1,700
Winning Percentage: 0.591
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 11 – Pittsburgh – Won
Recap: Another solid year from CBC, who had a few tough weeks in the second half but his winning wild card bet always kept him in playoff position.
Grade: A-
Judge Smails
Current Total: $0
Winning Percentage: 0.446
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Baltimore – Won
Recap: Fitting that the Judge ends the season at even money. In the second half, his highs were never too high and his lows were never too low. He was consistent but never sparked to make a playoff run.
Grade: C+
Mr. Marbles
Current Total: -$600
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 13 – Kansas City – Lost
Recap: A losing wild card bet ultimately doomed Mr. Marbles from being relevant this season. Though his winning percentage landed right at .500, his money management could use some work.
Grade: C-
OJ
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.525
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Cleveland – Lost
Recap: The Juice edged close to playoff relevancy for most of the second half of the year, but then took the road less traveled in Week 17, losing his wild card bet.
Grade: C
Patrick Bateman
Current Total: $2,000
Winning Percentage: 0.561
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – LA Rams – Won
Recap: Bateman made a late charge at Boss Hardigan for the East Division crown, but came up just short. His consistency makes him a franchise to be feared in the playoffs.
Grade: A
T-Ferg
Current Total: -$1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.439
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Seattle – Lost
Recap: T-Ferg dipped around midseason and then never put it together in the second half of the year. He’s happy to turn the page to 2021.
Grade: D
The Big Hurt
Current Total: $1,400
Winning Percentage: 0.583
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Did Not Use
Recap: The only franchise not to use his wild card bet took a conservative, smooth road in the second half to get to the postseason. This can only mean one thing: his inevitable meltdown is coming.
Grade: A-
North Division
Babe
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.529
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 4 – Arizona – Lost
Recap: Babe showed signs of life at times in the second half of the year, but his sluggish performance in the first two months was too difficult to overcome.
Grade: C
Bud Fox
Current Total: $2,600
Winning Percentage: 0.523
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Green Bay – Won
Recap: Bud Fox never strayed from the top of the North Division, and when he looked vulnerable, he won $1,000 in Week 17 to win not only the division, but the Overall Regular Season Title.
Grade: A+
Don Mattingly
Current Total: $1,600
Winning Percentage: 0.492
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Green Bay – Won
Recap: Don Mattingly was another franchise that benefitted from a strategy of holding onto his wild card bet and then making a statement in Week 17. The least decorated franchise in the history of the FMFL has a chance to finally win some money this year.
Grade: B+
Donnie Jeffcoat
Current Total: -$1,600
Winning Percentage: 0.432
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 12 – Arizona – Lost
Recap: Donnie was looking to turn the corner in the second half but got the opposite with his Week 12 wild card loss. He was a non-factor for the remainder of the season.
Grade: D
Gordon Bombay
Current Total: -$500
Winning Percentage: 0.478
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Tennessee – Lost
Recap: Gordon had a chance to win the division in Week 17, which was a bonus after a mediocre season. Unfortunately, his wild card bet wen the wrong way and he missed the playoffs entirely.
Grade: C
Kenny Powers
Current Total: -$2,100
Winning Percentage: 0.441
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Pittsburgh – Lost
Recap: Another tough campaign for Kenny Powers, who couldn’t put together winning weeks in 2020.
Grade: D-
Larisa Oleynik
Current Total: -$400
Winning Percentage: 0.458
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 15 – Kansas City – Push
Recap: Larisa was on the brink of making a run in December, but a fateful push on her wild card bet left her out of the mix once again.
Grade: C
Shecky
Current Total: -$3,600
Winning Percentage: 0.297
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Cleveland – Lost
Recap: On the bright side for Shecky, one more loss and he would’ve broken the record for lowest winning percentage in a single season. So he avoided that….
Grade: F
South Division
Chalky Studebaker
Current Total: -$900
Winning Percentage: 0.462
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Miami – Lost
Recap: Chalky remained on the outskirts of the South race until the final weeks of the season, but, alas, he couldn’t get a wild card jolt that would power him to the playoffs.
Grade: C-
Karl Farbman
Current Total: -$2,400
Winning Percentage: 0.382
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 11 – Kansas City – Lost
Recap: A terrible season for the 2019 champion who talked a big game coming into this year. After the first month of the season, he was so far out of the picture many forgot he was even in the league.
Grade: D-
Karl Hungus
Current Total: $1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.459
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 1 – Buffalo – Won
Recap: Hungus led the division for most of the first half of the year, but then sat in the back seat for much of the second half. He snuck into the postseason and now anything can happen.
Grade: B
Neon Boudeaux
Current Total: $1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.553
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Tampa Bay – Won
Recap: Neon blew his chance at the division down the stretch and was lucky to oust Waldo on a tiebreaker for the final playoff bid. One wonders if his early season wild card strategy was wise. He could have bundled it with another pick down the stretch and could have actually won something.
Grade: B
Rick Moranis
Current Total: $1,800
Winning Percentage: 0.508
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – LA Rams – Won
Recap: Rick was mugged by the rest of the South late in the year, but made a comeback in Week 17 to capture the division crown.
Grade: A
The Notorious ABT
Current Total: $0
Winning Percentage: 0.418
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 13 – Buffalo – Won
Recap: The ABT was another franchise that toyed with the idea of making a playoff run, but couldn’t put it together. His poor winning percentage is to blame.
Grade: C+
Thine
Current Total: $600
Winning Percentage: 0.473
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 5 – LA Rams – Won
Recap: Thine struggled to mount a challenge to the rest of the South when it mattered most.
Grade: B-
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Current Total: $1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.549
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Baltimore – Won
Recap: Waldo’s late season charge was all for nothing as just won more win would have gotten him into the playoffs.
Grade: B
West Division
Bayonnaise
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.489
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 10 – Miami – Won
Recap: There were weeks when Bayonnaise showed why he was once a feared franchise in the FMFL. Then there were weeks when he didn’t understand how time zones work.
Grade: C
Blossom Russo
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.439
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Kansas City – Won
Recap: Blossom dug herself a hole by not betting early in the year, and it was one she couldn’t get out of even though the West was within reach down the stretch.
Grade: C-
Kiko Garcia
Current Total: $1,000
Winning Percentage: 0.541
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Green Bay – Won
Recap: It looked like Kiko was waiting to turn it on until the final moments of the 2020 season. He did, but it was $100 short of the playoffs and $200 short of the West title.
Grade: B
Kimmy Gibbler
Current Total: $700
Winning Percentage: 0.544
Fines: $800
Wild Card Bet: Week 13 – Cleveland – Won
Recap: Kimmy had a chance at the West title in the final weeks if The People’s Champ faltered. He didn’t, so she’s left on the outside of the playoff picture.
Grade: B-
Luther Lavay
Current Total: -$2,000
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $1,400
Wild Card Bet: Week 4 – San Francisco – Lost
Recap: Luther had a .500 winning percentage, but racked up fines and lost his wild card bet. The combination torpedoed his 2020 season.
Grade: D
The Beard of Zeus
Current Total: -$600
Winning Percentage: 0.463
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 14 – Tennessee – Lost
Recap: The Beard was coming off a gangbusters 2019 season, so this poor performance left something to be desired.
Grade: C-
The People’s Champ
Current Total: $1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.522
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Green Bay – Won
Recap: It got a little shaky in the last two weeks as The Champ’s lead in the West disappeared. His Week 17 bet put him over the top and into the playoffs, where he is the only former FMFL Champion in the field.
Grade: B+
Yaz
Current Total: -$2,600
Winning Percentage: 0.382
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Las Vegas – Lost
Recap: Yaz’s second half took a severe downturn and was punctuated by a -$1,000 effort in Week 17.
Grade: D-
2020 Final Wager Tracking
2020 Final Winning Percentages
2020 Final Wild Cards
Week 16 Recap: The Playoff Chase
East Division: Patrick Bateman’s chances at winning the East took a big hit with a -$500 week. Boss Hardigan still leads this one, but The Big Hurt is $600 behind, and Bateman is $900 back. Both TBH and Bateman have their wild card bets. Chris B. Corey still has a shot, but will need others to stumble (or play it conservative). OJ with a miniscule chance since he still has his wild card bet.
North Division: Bud Fox holds the biggest division lead going into the last week, but this race could be the most intriguing. Bud leads Don Mattingly by $900 and Gordon Bombay by $1,500. However, all three still have their wild card bets left. Bud also in contention for the overall, so a lot to consider in how he plays it.
South Division: Neon Boudeaux is out in front with Karl Hungus $300 back. Rick Moranis has the opportunity to disrupt this race, as he’s the only one with a wild card bet available. Waldo Geraldo Faldo is still in it, too. Thine is not mathematically eliminated from the division race, but his chances are slim.
West Division: Another poor week for The People’s Champ has Kimmy Gibbler in the lead via winning percentage tiebreaker with one week left. TPC will surely use his wild card bet, and so will Kiko Garcia, who is $400 back. The West is in danger or sending just one team to the playoffs unless there are some big moves in Week 17.
Overall Title: Boss Hardigan clings to the lead here, but it will come down to who plays their wild card bets (Bud, TBH, Bateman) or if they play them at all. Several have the chance to catch him, while those in contention without wild card bets (Neon, CBC, Hungus) want things to burn in order to have a shot.
Wild Card Race: Similar to the overall, there are still many franchises that will pin their fate to a wild card bet. Right now, $800 is the final spot.
Winning Percentages Through Week 16
Week 15 Recap: The Playoff Chase
East Division: Over the last two weeks, Boss Hardigan has lost $1,000, which has opened the door to a wild race for the division crown with just two weeks left. Patrick Bateman looks like he has the best chance of surpassing him, and he still has his wild card bet. Both The Big Hurt and OJ also can make a big move with a winning wild card.
North Division: It’s a three horse race in the North, as Bud Fox continues to hold the lead and also still has his wild card bet on the shelf. He leads both Don Mattingly and Gordon Bombay by $900, but Donnie and Gordon can still pull the wild card trigger as well.
South Division: A surging Neon Boudeaux has taken over the lead in the South. Rick Moranis now has a $400 deficit to make up, but only he and Chalky Studebaker have their wild card bets. Karl Hungus, Waldo Geraldo Faldo, and The Notorious ABT are also ready to pounce in the final two weeks, so this division’s wide open.
West Division: The People’s Champ has held the lead for awhile but it has dwindled once again. Kimmy Gibbler trails by just $300, and Blossom Russo and Kiko Garcia are just $600 back. The Champ still has his wild card bet, as does Kiko.
Overall Title: As mentioned above, Boss Hardigan’s stumble has made this interesting, with Patrick Bateman, Bud Fox, and Neon Boudeaux all on his tail.
Wild Card Race: The last spot right now is at $700 so there are many franchises that can make a run in the final two weeks, and plenty of wild card bets still out there. There’s a four-way tie just $100 off that cut line.
The Midseason Report
Gentlemen – With nine weeks down and eight more to go, this odd COVID-riddled 2020 season has proven to be fruitful for the FMFL. Most franchises are doing well, with the bulk of the league still with a good chance to make a playoff run. Only 12 of the 32 franchises have used their wild card bets, which means there should be a lot of movement in the second half. There are a few standouts, and also a few disappoints, noted below.
Here’s a breakdown of how the league did as a whole each week:
Week 1: +$4,700
Week 2: +$1,200
Week 3: -$700
Week 4: +$1,300
Week 5: +$4,900
Week 6: +$200
Week 7: -$1,800
Week 8: -$2,800
Week 9: -$4,800
That’s a cumulative total of +$2,200.
Disclaimer: The following is a completely biased report of the first nine weeks of the FMFL. The views, opinions, and observations that follow are those of the Executive Director and are completely subjective.
East Division
Boss Hardigan
Current Total: $2,800
Winning Percentage: 0.750
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Tampa Bay – Won
Recap: The Boss has lived up to his name in the first half of the season. He has a big lead on the rest of the FMFL and is in a position to challenge the league records for best regular season finish and best winning percentage. He’s firing on all cylinders.
Grade: A+
Chris B. Corey
Current Total: $500
Winning Percentage: 0.591
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: CBC started off the year strong and has slumped in the last few weeks. He’s still in position to make a move for the playoffs, especially since he has his wild card bet in the back pocket of his Louis Vuitton slacks.
Grade: B
Judge Smails
Current Total: $0
Winning Percentage: 0.429
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Baltimore – Won
Recap: The Judge has found his footing as of late and used his big bet to get back to even money with eight weeks to go. Considering his winning percentage thus far, that’s a win.
Grade: B-
Mr. Marbles
Current Total: -$100
Winning Percentage: 0.444
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Mr. Marbles has been a little up and down, but hasn’t had crazy swings one way or the other. Though the division title is probably out of the question, he could make a playoff push.
Grade: C+
OJ
Current Total: -$100
Winning Percentage: 0.486
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Juice has clawed back towards even money and has set himself up for a run in the last two months of the season, but the postseason field is likely to be crowded.
Grade: C+
Patrick Bateman
Current Total: $1,500
Winning Percentage: 0.645
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: In any other season, Bateman would be enjoying a comfortable lead. This year, he’s trailing Boss Hardigan by $1,300 and it looks like he’s the only East franchise that can challenge him in November and December. Regardless, Bateman is sitting in a good spot.
Grade: A
T-Ferg
Current Total: -$1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.400
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Seattle – Lost
Recap: A mediocre start to the season didn’t sink T-Ferg, but his wild card loss and -$1,000 Week 9 did. There’s still time, but he’ll need to turn it around in a hurry.
Grade: D-
The Big Hurt
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.556
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: A strong winning percentage and a steady hand at the wheel in the first half has The Big Hurt ready to pounce over these next few weeks. Most seasons TBH has faded in late autumn, but some years he has surprised down the stretch….
Grade: B
North Division
Babe
Current Total: $0
Winning Percentage: 0.556
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 4 – Arizona – Lost
Recap: Despite losing his wild card bet in Week 4, Babe had gotten back on the right track before a -$500 Week 9 performance.
Grade: C+
Bud Fox
Current Total: $900
Winning Percentage: 0.524
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Bud Fox is in the lead in the North, but he has seen a sizable advantage whittled down to next to nothing with eight weeks left. There are lots of wild card bets still out there in the division. Will he play possum or strike first?
Grade: B+
Don Mattingly
Current Total: $800
Winning Percentage: 0.527
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Donald has hung around, winning little bits here and there all season. He suddenly finds himself just $100 back of the North lead. Could this be the year he captures his first ever division title?
Grade: B+
Donnie Jeffcoat
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Donnie hasn’t risen above +$500 or below -$500 this season, and his even performance is reflected in his winning percentage. The North Division is still within reach if he can get hot.
Grade: C+
Gordon Bombay
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The savvy veteran is a franchise to watch in the second half. He sits just $600 off the lead in the North and he has been here before.
Grade: B
Kenny Powers
Current Total: -$2,400
Winning Percentage: 0.300
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Pittsburgh – Lost
Recap: Kenny slid down the standings over the last few weeks. His -$1,000 hit in Week 9 might have stuck a proverbial fork in his 2020 season.
Grade: F
Larisa Oleynik
Current Total: $100
Winning Percentage: 0.474
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Larisa is also right in the thick of it and could go one way or the other this season, and it could come down to the use of her wild card bet.
Grade: B-
Shecky
Current Total: -$1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.381
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Cleveland – Lost
Recap: Shecky’s season swiftly swung the wrong way on a missed extra point that doomed his wild card bet. He still has a glimmer of hope, but without his big bet, it will be tough.
Grade: D-
South Division
Chalky Studebaker
Current Total: $100
Winning Percentage: 0.444
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Chalky was plugging along and betting lots of games in the first half until his 0-for-5 Week 9 performance. Still, he’s within striking distance in the South and has his wild card bet available.
Grade: B-
Karl Farbman
Current Total: -$900
Winning Percentage: 0.389
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Farbman got off to a rough start and hasn’t fully recovered, spending most of the season way below $0. He’ll need to get some serious momentum in the second half or just hope for the rest of the South to burn.
Grade: D
Karl Hungus
Current Total: $600
Winning Percentage: 0.442
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 1 – Buffalo – Won
Recap: Hungus started the year on top of the world and then has slowly been brought back down to the rest of the division. He lost his division lead last week, but is just $100 back with eight weeks to go.
Grade: B+
Neon Boudeaux
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.513
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Tampa Bay – Won
Recap: Neon has wagered on a lot of games, but faltered in Week 8 when he lost a two-teamer. He’s in the mix for the division lead and the playoffs, but his wild card bet is gone so he’ll be rooting against the rest of the league.
Grade: B
Rick Moranis
Current Total: $700
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Even though he just lost $500, Rick leads the South and has his wild card bet, putting him in prime position for the second half of the season. His even winning percentage is nothing to write home about, but it’s gotten the job done so far.
Grade: B+
The Notorious ABT
Current Total: -$600
Winning Percentage: 0.389
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The ABT has struggled most of the year, but is starting to show signs of life as we round the turn. A winning wild card bet will be key to his postseason hopes.
Grade: D+
Thine
Current Total: $400
Winning Percentage: 0.455
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 5 – LA Rams – Won
Recap: Thine was another South franchise that surged in the first two months only to come back to the rest of the league. In a group of conservative betting franchises in the South, Thine’s potential for bold betting could separate him from the pack in the last eight weeks.
Grade: B
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Current Total: $600
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Baltimore – Won
Recap: Waldo’s ho-hum start is now forgotten, as he won $600 in Week 9 while the rest of the division crumbled. He’s right on the heels of division leader Rick with two months left.
Grade: B+
West Division
Bayonnaise
Current Total: -$600
Winning Percentage: 0.435
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: In his return to the FMFL, the ‘Naise hasn’t been able to capitalize on a decent beginning to the year and is searching for a turnaround in the second half.
Grade: D+
Blossom Russo
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.412
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Kansas City – Won
Recap: Blossom’s season prospects would be a lot better if she didn’t forget to bet one week. Instead, she’s on the outside looking in for the postseason, but there’s plenty of time left.
Grade: C-
Kiko Garcia
Current Total: -$500
Winning Percentage: 0.476
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: An uncharacteristic rocky start to the year for Kiko has the two-time champ searching for answers that will turn the 2020 campaign around.
Grade: C-
Kimmy Gibbler
Current Total: $400
Winning Percentage: 0.536
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Kimmy is within striking distance of the West lead and just as recent as last week was right on the heels of The People’s Champ. Her wild card bet is still out there, too….
Grade: B+
Luther Lavay
Current Total: -$800
Winning Percentage: 0.556
Fines: $700
Wild Card Bet: Week 4 – San Francisco – Lost
Recap: No bets one week and a losing wild card bet might have doomed Luther this year, but there’s still enough weeks remaining for him to get back into the postseason mix.
Grade: D
The Beard of Zeus
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.476
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Beard has slid down the standings in the last month, but given how he performed in the regular season last year, I wouldn’t count him out.
Grade: C-
The People’s Champ
Current Total: $1,300
Winning Percentage: 0.619
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: A great start to the season the TPC, who leads the West and can still use his wild card bet if needed. In a division filled with former FMFL champs, can he fend them off?
Grade: A-
Yaz
Current Total: $700
Winning Percentage: 0.556
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Yaz won $500 in Week 9 and finished off a solid first half of the year. He has The People’s Champ in his sights but also is in solid position for the playoffs.
Grade: B+
Midseason Winning Percentages
Midseason Wild Card Bets
