SPORTS PICKERHow it works
Start the pool
Choose the NFL, name your pool and pick how it locks: at the first kickoff of the week, or game by game.
Invite your people
Send the invite by email or text. Players without an account can still play; you enter their picks for them.
Watch it play out
Scores come in live. Standings, the week winner and the trash talk chat update on their own.
The rules
Scoring
One point for every correct pick. Most points at the end of the season wins.
Locks
Picks lock at the week's first kickoff, or at each game's kickoff if you prefer. Nobody can change a pick after it locks.
Hidden picks
No one sees anyone else's picks until they lock, the commissioner included. That keeps it fair.
Tiebreaker
Everyone predicts the Super Bowl's total margin. Closest guess breaks a season tie.
Every pool includes
Live scores
Results and standings update every few minutes during games.
Trash talk chat
Each pool has its own chat with stickers, GIFs and @mentions.
Reminders
Email and phone notifications before picks lock.
Works on any phone
Add it to your home screen like an app. Nothing to download.
Questions
What does it cost?
Playing is free for every player. The person running the pool picks a Pool Pass ($15 for one pool for the season, up to 150 players) or Commissioner Pro ($49 a year for as many pools as you like).
Can I join in the middle of the season?
Yes. A pool can start any week. Standings count from the week you start.
What if someone forgets to pick?
Players get reminder emails and phone notifications before picks lock. The commissioner can also give one player a late pass.
Can we play for money?
You can list a buy-in and give players Venmo, Cash App or PayPal buttons that pay you directly. Sports Picker never holds the money. Keep cash pools within your local rules.
From the blog
How to Run an NFL Pick'em Pool: A Commissioner's Checklist
Everything a first-time commissioner needs: choosing a format, setting lock times, handling late picks, tiebreakers, prizes and keeping the group chat fun.
StrategySurvivor Pool Strategy: When to Use the Best Teams
How to think about a survivor pool: saving strong teams, avoiding the most popular pick, planning ahead with the schedule, and what changes with strikes and double-pick weeks.
FormatsConfidence Pool vs. Straight Pick'em: Which Should Your Group Run?
The difference between a confidence pool and a straight pick'em pool, how each one scores, and which kind of group each one suits.
FormatsAgainst the Spread Pick'em Explained (No Betting Required)
What a point spread is, how covering and pushes work, how over/under picks are graded, and how to run an against-the-spread pool with friends without anyone placing a bet.
Your own leagueHow to Run a Pick'em Pool for Your Rec League or Local Team
Run a pick'em pool for a league ESPN does not cover: a rec league, a high school, a club team or a new pro league. Getting the schedule in and keeping scores up to date.