U.S. patent application number 12/384438 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-07 for system and method of predicting outcome of sporting events.
Invention is credited to Tanner Guidroz.
Application Number | 20100252998 12/384438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42825525 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100252998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Guidroz; Tanner |
October 7, 2010 |
System and method of predicting outcome of sporting events
Abstract
A system and method of conducting games of chance in conjunction
with a plurality of regularly-scheduled sporting events between
competing teams for determining winners of the game based on the
highest number of score points during a playing season allow the
game participants to predict the probability of selected teams
winning during one of the scheduled sporting event. The probability
scores awarded by the game participants are stored on actual game
cards or entered into a computer memory, so that at the end of the
season, the game participant with the highest score wins the
game.
Inventors: |
Guidroz; Tanner; (Covington,
LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEATY LAW FIRM, LLC
365 CANAL STREET, Suite 2410
NEW ORLEANS
LA
70130
US
|
Family ID: |
42825525 |
Appl. No.: |
12/384438 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3276 20130101; A63F 3/081 20130101; A63F 3/0615 20130101;
A63F 1/04 20130101; G07F 17/3288 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20060101
A63F001/00 |
Claims
1. A system of conducting a gaming tournament based on real
sporting events, the system comprising: a first set of game cards
having indicia thereon, said indicia comprising a means for
entering a plurality of players into the tournament, for
identifying real sporting event contestants during a season;
wherein the season is divisible into a succession of time periods;
for entering predictions within each time period based on a
probability score of a sporting event contest winners during each
of the successive time periods, for determining each time period
winners, wherein the players who correctly predicted probability of
the real time winners of the real contests occurring within the
corresponding time period receive score points corresponding to the
probability score entered into the first set of game cards by the
players prior to the scheduled sporting event.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a
second set of game cards having indicia thereon, wherein said
second set game card indicia comprises a means for entering winners
of a sporting event playoff period, for entering predictions within
each round of the playoff period based on a probability score
awarded by each player during each of the successive rounds of the
playoff period, wherein the players who correctly predicted
probability of the real time winners of the round of the playoff
period receive score points corresponding to the probability score
entered into the second set of game cards by the players prior to
the round of the playoff period of the scheduled sporting
event.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a third set of game
cards having indicia thereon, which comprises a means for recording
each player's score points during each successive time period
during a season.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a fourth set of game
cards having indicia thereon, which comprises a means for recording
each player's score points during a final championship game of the
sporting event season.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first set of cards is
provided with indicia thereon, which comprises a means for
predicting winners and probability score identified with each
predicted winner during, a playoff period of a sporting event
season.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the real sporting event is a play
season of the National Football League.
7. A method of conducting a gaming tournament based on real
sporting events, comprising the steps of: providing at least a
first set of game cards having indicia thereon identifying real
sporting event participants during a season, wherein the season is
divisible into a succession of time periods; entering a plurality
of players into the tournament; entering predictions within each
time period based on a probability score of a sporting event
contest winners during each of the successive time periods;
determining each time period winners, wherein the players who
correctly predicted probability of the real time winners of the
real contests occurring within the corresponding time period
receive score points corresponding to the probability score entered
into the at least the first set of game cards by the players prior
to the scheduled sporting event.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of providing
a second set of game cards having indicia thereon; identifying
winners of each round of a sporting event playoff period, entering
predictions within each round of a playoff period based on a
probability score awarded by each player during each of the
successive rounds of the playoff period, wherein the players who
correctly predicted probability of the real time winners of the
round of the playoff period receive score points corresponding to
the probability score entered into the second set of game cards by
the players prior to the round of the playoff period of the
scheduled sporting event.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of providing a
third set of game cards having indicia thereon, and recording each
player's score points during each successive time period during a
season.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of providing a
fourth set of game cards for recording each player's score points
during a final championship game of the sporting event season.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of predicting
winners and probability score identified with each predicted winner
during a playoff period of a sporting event season.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the sporting event season is a
seventeen-week game season of the National Football League.
13. A method of conducting games of chance in conjunction with a
plurality of regularly-scheduled sporting events between competing
teams for determining winners of the game based on the highest
number of score points during a playing season, the method
comprising the steps of: issuing to participants a first set of
game cards that identify a plurality of teams participating in a
playing season of scheduled sporting events to be played during a
specified time and that include blank delineated spaces that
correspond to pre-selected fields of information for the entry of
indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical probability score
of the competing teams for each event; receiving from the
participants prior to the specified time, game cards that have the
delineated spaces marked with indicia corresponding to the
predicted numerical value of the probability scores of winning of
selected competing teams for each of the events; entering the
predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the
competing terms indicated on the cards into the memory of a
programmed digital computing device in association with a unique
data entry transaction code; entering the actual numerical score
value totals from each of the scheduled sporting events into the
memory of the digital computing device; employing the computing
device to identify the data entry transaction code of the
probability score predictions of each participant; storing the
total numerical value of probability scores awarded to each
participant during the specified time of the playing season; and
selecting a winner of game based on the highest numerical value of
the probability score awarded to a player.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of issuing
a second set of game cards for entry of numerical value of the
probability score that include blank delineated spaces that
correspond to pre-selected fields of information for the entry of
indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical probability score
of the competing teams during plays of a playoff period, for
entering predictions within each round of the playoff period based
on a probability score awarded by each player during each of the
successive rounds of the playoff period.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of issuing
a third set of game cards for entry of numerical value of the
probability score point awarded to each game participant during
each successive time period during a season.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of issuing a
fourth set of game cards for entry of numerical value of the
probability score points selected by each participant to each
competing team during a final championship game of the sporting
event playing season.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first set of game cards
contains delineated spaces for entering the numerical value of the
probability score points for more than one sporting event to be
played during the playing season.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a system and method for
predicting the outcome of sporting events, and more particularly
the outcome of professional football games.
[0002] It has become a favorite pastime of sport enthusiasts to
engage in some type of prediction game that allows a more
knowledgeable participant to win a game by correctly predicting the
outcome of one or more sporting events during a season. The gaming
methods can be either fantasy methods or outcome-based methods.
Fantasy methods may involve such steps as conducting a selection
draft for actual athletes, for instance NFL players, to compose
their respective fantasy teams. For each week of scheduled NFL
games, the fantasy league teams are paired in head-to-head
competition, and each team's weekly score is calculated based on
the statistical achievements of the NFL players/units for that
week. The scoring system allows the fantasy teams to receive a
certain amount of points for touchdowns and another set amount of
points is awarded for other activities, such as passing. However,
the outcomes of NFL games, in terms of who wins and loses, have
little or no bearing on fantasy scoring; usually, only individual
players' performances affect fantasy scoring. Regardless, the
winner of each fantasy league weekly pairing is determined by
whichever of the two fantasy teams receives the higher cumulative
score.
[0003] The steps of predicting the outcome of a player's
performance change each week, while the fantasy players compile
win-loss records. Then, after several weeks of competition, some of
the fantasy teams, in reward for having the league's best win-loss
records, will advance to a fantasy league playoff. The fantasy team
that wins the fantasy playoff is declared the league winner and is
awarded a predetermined financial prize. The size of the prize
largely depends on the amount of fees paid by each player as a
condition of fantasy league entry.
[0004] Outcome-based methods involve predictions of the outcomes of
real sporting contests, and a player is rewarded for making the
most correct predictions. Some methods call for predicting the
outright winners of contests, some call for predicting teams to
cover point spreads published for contests and yet other methods
call for predicting contest scores. The players with the highest
aggregate number of correct picks over a given timeframe, be it a
week or an entire tournament season win. The amount of the prize,
if the game involves financial remuneration, depends on the number
of players in the game. The prizes may be awarded weekly or at the
end of the season.
[0005] However, the present inventor is not aware of any existing
game in which its players are required to select winners every week
based on the actual game played each week by sport teams. The
present invention contemplates provision of such an outcome-based
method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a method of predicting an outcome of a sporting event
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a set of
playing cards that allow players to record their predictions in a
structured manner.
[0008] These and other objects of the invention are achieved
through a provision of a system and method of conducting games of
chance in conjunction with a plurality of regularly-scheduled
sporting events between competing teams for determining winners of
the game based on the highest number of score points during a
playing season. Each participant is issued four sets of different
cards that are either real cards or virtual cards stored on a
computer. The cards have delineated spaces for entry of the names
of actual teams that play during a regular playing season. Blank
spaces are provided for entry, by the game participants, of the
numerical value of the probability score that the player awards to
each team the player believes would win during a scheduled game.
The player with the highest numerical value of the probability
score point collected during the playing season wins the game. At
the election of the game administrator, fees may be collected for
participation in the game of chance, with the prize awarded to the
winner drawn from the collected fees.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like
parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exemplary blank weekly playing card for use in
the method of the present invention when predicting the outcome of
one week in a 16-game NFL championship.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a weekly playing card filled by a first player
using the method of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a weekly playing card filled by a second player
using the method of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a weekly playing card filled by the first player
for use in the method of the present invention when predicting the
outcome of one week in a 14-game NFL championship.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a weekly playing card filled by the second player
for use in the method of the present invention when predicting the
outcome of one week in a 14-game NFL championship.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a game card filled by the first player for
playoffs of an NFL championship.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a game card filled by the second player for
playoffs of an NFL championship.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a game card filled by the first player for Super
Bowl of an NFL championship.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a game card filled by the second player for Super
Bowl of an NFL championship.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a total score card filled with the score points
for the season of the first player.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a total score card filled with the score points
for the season of the second player.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10
designates one of the playing cards for use in the system of the
present invention. The card 10 can be a real card made or paper,
carton, etc. or it can be a virtual card that a player sees on a
computer screen if the game is played on computer or through the
Internet. Each player or a team of players is issued a first set of
cards with indicia thereon that contains a table for each week of
the playing season. The front face of the card 10 is provided with
various indicia suitable for use with a pre-selected sporting
event. Assuming that the sporting event is a professional football
tournament, the card has a title line 14 indicating the week of the
tournament during a regular playing season.
[0022] The NFL league currently consists of thirty-two teams in the
United States. The league is divided evenly into two
conferences--the American Football Conference (AFC) and National
Football Conference (NFC), and each conference has four divisions
that have 4 teams each. The regular season is a seventeen-week
schedule during which each team has one bye week and plays sixteen
games. This schedule includes six games against a team's divisional
rivals, as well as several inter-division and inter-conference
games. "Bye week" refers to any week during the regular season in
which a team does not play a game. Each NFL team will have one "bye
week" during a normal season; this is placed on the schedule
between Week 3 and Week 10.
[0023] The indicia on the card 10 comprise a table consisting of a
plurality of rows and columns that are used by players for entering
their predictions. The table has blank delineated spaces for
entering predictions by the players of the game tournament. The
first line in the table is divided into two parts: blank space 16
for entering the name of the player and space 18 for entering the
number of games left during a playing week. The time period is one
of the successive time periods, into which a regular playing season
is divided.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary entry of "Player A" in space 16
and "# of games 16" in space 18. The upper part of the table
contains four columns; the first column 20 contains the names of
the NFL teams; the second column 22 contains originally blank space
for the score of the actual game that is played between two teams;
originally blank third column 24, wherein a player enters the
numerical value of the probability score the player awards to a
particular team winning the head-to-head game during that period in
the season; and originally blank fourth column 26 is filled in with
the numerical value, or number of points awarded to the player for
the predictions made in column 24.
[0025] The upper part of the table also contains seventeen
horizontally divided spaces. Sixteen of the horizontal spaces in
the upper part of the table are provided with the names of two
teams who are scheduled to play during the first week of the
season. For instance, new Orleans Saints are scheduled to play
against Indianapolis Colts; Atlanta Falcons are scheduled to play
against Minnesota Vikings, etc. The score column is filled in with
the actual results of the game alter the game is played. The first
player is required to fill in the "Winner Points" column by
predicting the probability of a particular team winning during the
first week of the season.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates that Player A predicted that New Orleans
Saints would win the match with the Indianapolis Colts. Player A
estimated the probability of the New Orleans Saints winning the
game by inputting the highest number of points (16) available
during this round of the game. Player A also predicted that
Minnesota Vikings would win in the game with Atlanta Falcons with a
10-point probability. In the 16-point system of the prediction
system of the present invention, Player A awarded the lowest
probability number (1) to Baltimore Ravens winning in the game
against Cincinnati Bengals.
[0027] At the same time, Player B, using the table of FIG. 3,
predicted that the highest probability points (16) to Indianapolis
Colts in the game against New Orleans Saints; and the lowest
probability score (1) to Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning in a game
against Seattle Seahawks. It can be seen that the total number of
winner points during Week 1 of the seasons cannot exceed 136 for
any player according to the instant method.
[0028] After the results of the first games of the season become
available, the players are awarded points for correctly predicting
the winner and the ranking in the probability value. In the method
of the present invention, when any one player's probability value
matches the outcome of the actual event, the player is awarded the
exact number of points the player chose in the probability points.
FIG. 2 illustrates that Player A correctly predicted the
probability value of Minnesota Vikings winning against Atlanta
Falcons. The number of points chosen by Player A (10) in Column 24
is carried over to the column 26 as "points warded." The same step
is performed for every game. When the player incorrectly predicted
the winner, the player receives "0" points. Therefore Player A
receives "0" points for the prediction made in the game of New
Orleans Saints versus Indianapolis Colts, and receives nine points
in column 26 for correctly predicting the probability of Kansas
City Chiefs winning against Houston Texans.
[0029] By adding the points awarded in column 26, the total weekly
game points awarded to Player A is 75. At the same time, Player B
receives 95 total weekly game points based on the sum of points
awarded and recorded in column 26 of FIG. 3.
[0030] In addition to making the predictions on the winning team,
the players also have an opportunity of predicting the teams that
would advance to playoffs and Super Bowl in the AFC and the NFC
conferences. At the end of each regular season, six teams from each
conference play in the NFL playoffs, a twelve-team
single-elimination tournament that culminates with the championship
game, known as the Super Bowl.
[0031] The lower part of the table on the card 10 contains three
columns: the first column 30 (originally blank) is filled in by the
players with the names of the teams the player believes would
advance to the playoffs. FIG. 2 illustrates that Player A selected
Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots. Houston
Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and San Diego Chargers as the most
probable candidates from the AFC conference. Player A also selected
six teams from the NFC conferences, entering the highest possible
number of points (17), or probability score, in column 32 entitled
"possible points." Upon completion of the championship, Player A is
awarded the number of points that are entered in originally blank
column 34 entitled "points awarded" assuming that team went to the
playoffs or Super Bowl.
[0032] Based on the results of actual games, Player A receives "0"
points for predicting that Baltimore Ravens would have a chance of
advancing to the playoffs. Player B receives 17 points for
predicting that several teams, such as New England Patriots, San
Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys would have an opportunity to
advance to the playoffs.
[0033] The lower-most part of the table on card 10 is reserved for
predicting the names of the teams and possible winners in the Super
Bowl. Player A predicted that Baltimore Ravens would be the team
from the AFC division and New Orleans Saints from the NFC
conference. The maximum number of points in this part of the game
is 34. This number is entered in column 32.
[0034] The sum of the "Playoffs" and "Super Bowl" points is entered
in the "total Weekly Playoff and Super Bowl Points" line in column
34. Since both Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints lost during
Week 1 of the championship, the total number of Super Bowl points
for Player A is 85, while the total weekly playoff and Super Bowl
points of Player B (FIG. 3) is 102. It should be noted that Player
B, in the example shown in FIG. 3, correctly predicted the outcome
of the games during Week 1 six times based on the properly selected
names of teams that have a chance of advancing to playoffs.
However, Player B incorrectly predicted that Indianapolis Colts and
New Orleans Saints would advance to the Super Bowl. As a
consequence, Player B also receives "0" points in the Super Bowl
portion of the table on the card 10.
[0035] The same steps are repeated for all weeks during the season,
with the players betting on the chance or the teams' winning during
that week, as well as predicting the playoffs teams and the Super
Bowl teams. During Week 2, a player selects the winning teams on
the scale of 1 to the number of games played that week. The number
of possible playoffs points and Super Bowl points also reduces as
the strengths and weaknesses of individual teams become more
evident as the tournament progresses. For instance, during Week 2,
the maximum number of points for the Super Bowl section is 32,
during Week 3--30 points and so on. In every case, the Super Bowl
points are double the number of the playoff points.
[0036] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate how Week 4 is played, with the
possible number of points the "Winner Points" column being 14, the
playoffs possible points--9 and the Super Bowl possible
points--18.
[0037] At the end of 17 weeks, the players (or computer software)
calculate the total number of points a player was awarded during
the 17-week gaming tournament. The player with the highest total
points wins the game.
[0038] In addition to the weekly games, the players have an
opportunity to make predictions during the playoffs. FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrate the second set of cards with indicia containing tables
that are used in this step of the game using examples of Players A
and B. In this step, the players use the point-numbering system in
5-point increments, from 5 to 20. To qualify for playoffs, the
four-division champions from each conference (the team in each
division with the best overall record), which are seeded 1 through
4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record advance as the
winning teams. Additionally, two wild card qualifiers (those
non-division champions with the conference's best winning
percentages), which are seeded 5 and 6 advance to playoffs, as
well.
[0039] According to the NFL rules, the first round of the playoffs
is dubbed the Wild Card Playoffs (the league in recent years has
also used the term Wild Card Weekend). In this round, the
third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth seed wild card, and
the fourth seed hosts the Fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each
conference receive a bye in the first round, which entitles these
teams to automatic advancement to the second round, the Divisional
Playoffs, where they face the Wild Card Weekend survivors. Unlike
most tournaments, with a predetermined bracket, the second round of
the playoffs is "re-seeded"; the top seed always hosts the lowest
surviving seed, while the other two teams pair off. The two
surviving teams from each conference's Divisional Playoff games
meet in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games,
with the winners of those contests going on to face one another in
the Super Bowl. In case the number-one seeded team lost in the
Division Playoff, then the remaining lowest seeded team would get
to host the Conference Championship.
[0040] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a table 50 used during one of the
rounds in the playoffs, where eight teams play four games. The
upper part of the table 50 is divided into four columns, the first
column 52 has indicia of the names of the teams in a round of
playoffs when eight teams play in four games. The actual score of
each game is entered after the game in originally blank column 52.
Players A and B enter their predicted probability score in
originally blank column 56 "winner point," awarding each projected
winner team a probability number from 5 to 20 in 5-point
increments. In this example, Player A predicted a high probability
of winning to Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 20 points, Jacksonville
Jaguars 15 points, Washington Redskins 10 points, and Tennessee
Titans--5 points. Player B (FIG. 7) awarded the highest probability
number of point (20) to San Diego Chargers and the lowest
probability number of points (5) to Pittsburgh Steelers.
[0041] After the game is completed, the players or computer
software, if the game is played on a computer, calculates the total
number of weekly playoff game point and enters that number in
originally blank column 58 "points awarded." If the player picked
up the winning team the player receives 20 points, and for each
losing prediction the player receives "0" points. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 6, Player A received 15 out of possible 15
points, while Player B received 35 out of possible numerical value
of 50 points (FIG. 7).
[0042] The lower part of the table 50 contains columns and rows for
entering Super Bowl bets. The columns and lines are originally
blank, allowing each player to enter a team the player predicts to
be a winner in the AFC and the NFC conferences. The "possible
points" is 30 set by program so that a player can enter the
particular team he predicts will go to the Super Bowl. The third
column entitled "point awarded" is originally blank; it is filled
in by the player or computer software with the number of
probability score point of the correctly identified winner.
[0043] In the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, out of possible
numerical value of 30 of the probability score points, Player A
receives no points, while Player A receives 30 points for correctly
predicting New York Giants as being the Super Bowl champion. The
total number of points awarded to Player A for that round of
playoffs predictions, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, is 15,
while Player B received 65 points (FIG. 7).
[0044] The system and method of the present invention allow the
players to make another set of predictions by selecting the Super
Bowl winner. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
Players A and B are presented with a table 60 with the names of the
final teams imprinted thereon. Alternatively, the players can write
in the names of the playing teams. The method of this invention
assigns 50 point for correctly predicting the winner. In the
example shown in FIG. 8, Player A correctly guessed that the New
York Giants would become the winners, while Player B received no
point for predicting that New England Patriots would be the NFL
champions for the season.
[0045] Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a table 62 is provided for
tallying up the points awarded to each player during the 17 weeks
of the season. The upper part of Table 62 summarizes the points of
correct predictions for the weekly games, while the lower portion
of the table 62 sums up the points won by the player during the
17-week regular season, in addition to the 3 playoff games and the
Super Bowl. In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, Player
A receives 2514 total season points, while Player B receives 2760
season point. The player with the largest number of score points
wins the game.
[0046] The system and method of the present invention can be used
to play as a board game or as a computer-assisted game. Each
participant uses his/her knowledge of the teams to predict the
probability of a particular team winning against another team
selected by the NFL officials. The present invention gives an
opportunity to each participant to predict the outcome of future
games throughout an NFL season. The game may be played by
individual players and by teams of players.
[0047] If the game is played using a computing device, the computer
is programmed to follow the rules of the game identified above. In
this case, participants are issued several sets of cards with the
tables as shown in FIGS. 1-11. The cards have the same
identification of the players, the seasonal time period and
delineated blank spaces for the participants to enter their
prediction scores. The cards must be filled in and either submitted
to the game administrator or sent via the Internet to the game
administrator prior to the scheduled sporting event, such as the
weekly football game.
[0048] The game administrator receives from the participants the
game cards that have the delineated spaces marked with indicia
corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the probability
scores of winning of selected competing teams for each of the
events, such as weekly games during the NFL playing season. The
administrator then enters the predicted numerical value of the sum
of the final scores of the competing terms indicated on the cards
into the memory of a programmed computer in association with a
unique data entry transaction code given to each player.
[0049] After the weekly or playoff game is played and the actual
numerical scores values of each scheduled sporting event become
available, the administrator enters the played score results into
the computer memory. The administrator then directs the computer to
identify the data entry transaction code of the probability score
predictions of each game participant and to store the total
numerical value of probability scores awarded to each participant
during the specified time of the playing season. After the final
game of the season, such as the Super Bowl is played, the computer
calculates the total number of probability score points and
identifies the game winner.
[0050] Of course, the same inventive method could be used to
simulate the competition structure of other professional or
collegiate sports leagues, and the subjects of player predictions
could differ accordingly. The sporting events may be baseball,
basketball, volleyball hockey games, as well as other seasonal
sporting events. Furthermore, it is generally understood that
substitutions and equivalents for various elements set forth above
may be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the full
scope and definition of the present invention is to be set forth by
the claims that follow.
* * * * *