By the time you’re reading this, you may have already received an email letting you know that the 4^th annual Carder Motors Playoff Payoff football pick’em contest on Connect-Bridgeport is under way. And that email likely led you to a link to this story.

 

The good news is that if you’re already registered to Connect-Bridgeport and are already signed in, all you have to do is click the “Playoff Payoff” logo on the news or sports page (or CLICK HERE) and you will be taken to the games. If you’re not signed in, sign in and do the same.

 

For those not registered, all it takes is a few seconds to click the icon at the top of the page that says “Sign Up.” The process can be completed in less than a minute.

 

Once done, you’re ready to get started on a competition that not only allows you to prove that you can back claims of knowing football, but if you’re good enough to crack the top 25 you’ll be in line for weekly prizes and final prizes well over $1,000. For the first time in the competition’s history, those playing will be looking to unseat a new champion.

 

Bridgeport’s Kevin Carbacio won last year’s event. He finally ended the two-year reign of fellow city resident Hugh Gainer. Gainer, however, was no slouch last year as he finished second in the competition among nearly 300 that registered by mere percentage points. Carbacio has already said he will be back to defend his crown.

 

Those who sign up will notice a full slate of high school games for week one. Barring the dropping of a contest due to a scheduling error on our end, 20 games are featured – most of which are from the area, but some from a statewide basis as well.

 

The weekly winner will once again receive a gift certificate from either Mountaineer World or The Mountaineer Grille. Results of the contest will be posted each Tuesday with another story that will include the overall winner as well as those in the top 25. In the event of a tie, a blind draw will determine the winner.

 

Each Tuesday at noon, the picks for the following week will also go live. Although the initial week will consist of only high school games, there will eventually be a steady diet of local prep and Big 10 Conference high school football games, college football (featuring WVU, the Big 12 and top 25 matchups among others), games from the Mountain East Conference and plenty of NFL games.

 

Individuals can make their picks for Friday’s games and can change them until 6 p.m. Friday. Games that are listed on Saturday and Sunday can be entered and changed as many times as necessary until 11 a.m. each day of the picks.

 

For those that have a bad week, or for individuals who don’t register for week one or even week two and think it’s going to cost them, it’s not a problem. Just as the first three years, the worst two weeks of the picks will be eliminated from the final standings. What that means is that if you have missed the first week or even the first two, it will not count as long as you pick the remainder of the weeks. Even if you begin picking after the first three weeks, you will still be eligible for weekly prizes that will be awarded.

 

A sensational set of prizes have been and continue to be arranged. This year, however, the overall winner will be able to choose their prize among the three that are up for grabs.

 

This year's winner will have the choice of an overnight golf package at the Lakeview Resort in Monongalia County. Along with the overnight stay, this prize also includes two rounds of golf with a cart, dinner and breakfast. Other prizes include an assortment of area gift cards, which currently include gift certificates to Mia Margherita and Meagher’s Irish Pub, both located at Charles Pointe. Once again, there will be a $500 gift card from the Meadowbrook Mall up for grabs.

 

It’s time to get started. It’s time to not to just tell people that you know football; it’s time to prove it.