Prediction League rules for 2025/26 season.

[Brin]

It's that time again as we approach a new season. I have made the decision to run with the same format as last season as this went well. Here's a reminder of what the rules are:

Please note NO Millers fixtures are to be used throughout the season, not even for the 'Predict a Score'.


Predictions

1. The Prediction League (PL) will run from Saturday 2nd August 2025 to Saturday 2nd May 2026 and not for a specified number of weeks. If you miss any weeks for any reason, no one can be held accountable for this. This rule applies to everyone who enters before the new season starts so is fair across the board. This decision is final.

2. You will be choosing from 10/10 fixtures like last season. This is an easy concept to work from. Simply mark each game as a home win H, an away win A or a draw as X

3. The fixtures will be a chosen variation from: The Premiership, Championship, Leagues 1 & 2, National League, Scottish Premiership, FA Cup and the League Cup. This is in order to have a full 10 fixtures to choose from all on the same day. Easier to pick from and not running over several days. (No Friday nights or Sunday games some predictors might miss)

4.There will be a maximum of 5 draws allowed from your 10 predictions. If you want to gamble each week on 5 draws paying more points then go ahead but, that isn't always the case.

Hopefully, all the fixtures I post go ahead but, I will not be changing any once I have posted them. This is in case I am not able to make contact with anyone who may have posted early in the week, and they don't revisit the site until the fixtures have been played on the day and are unable to amend their predictions.


The Scoring of Points:
1. Each fixture carries the following scoring. You will receive 1 point for a home win, 2 points for an away win and 3 points if you predict a draw. This concept allows higher scoring if you successfully predict them correct, thus making the table more competitive.

2. The House Bonus.
For correctly naming 10/10 predictions, this will be rewarded with 20 bonus points. If this is not achieved, to make the chance of winning more appealing, if anyone is the weekly winner with 9/9 or 8/8 correct then, their score will be doubled. Anything less than 8/8 will not be permitted as this would just devalue the competition.

It will run with 2 points less for each postponed game. e.g.; If only 9 games are played with 1 game postponed, the full house bonus would therefore be 18 points and 8 games played would be 16 points. This is still hard to achieve but if won, it could make someone's score very profitable indeed.

3.Predict a score
Get this score correct and you will score 5 points but, only if you are the sole winner on the day. Should there be multiple winners then the score awarded shall be 3 points. Just simply predict the score only, from the randomly selected game I choose, this will be posted at the foot of the page below the normal ten predictions. If you predict a correct score draw, this will not mean you get an extra 3 points for the draw. The rollover will also continue for this season so, should it run over a few weeks then this will be a good payout for some.

4. The Jokers.
Again, two 'Jokers' will be allowed per person. One Joker MUST be played before 31st December 2025. You cannot carry it over to the New Year. Don't use it you lose it! You may play your second Joker anytime on or after the 1st January 2026 up to the final set of predictions on Saturday 2nd May 2026.

Any Joker played will only have their score applied after all the prediction scores have been tallied. It was previously duly noted and deemed unfair that someone playing their Joker, who has a mediocre week, can 'pinch' the weekly win bonus off someone who has had a good or great week. In other words you get to double your score playing your Joker but it does not apply to gaining the weekly win bonus should your score finish higher. The Joker only doubles your score and nothing else.

I will keep tabs on a weekly basis who has played their Joker and will look to keep others up to date who haven't so, they don't forget to use them in time.

5. Highest scorer(s)
Whoever this may be on the day, they will receive an extra 5 bonus points. This is on predictions only and does not include the Predict a Score bonus.

Should anyone use their Joker then they will double all their points on everything they scored if, they are a Weekly Winner = 5 points, Predict a Score sole winner = 5 points plus their Prediction score whatever that may be.

I know a lot of you have looked in from time to time but have not taken part. The main thing is, it is purely for fun as you pit your skill, wisdom, luck whatever you want to call it against so called fellow Managers/Pundits/ forecasters etc. The competition is open to anyone from any club.

It takes all of 5 minutes tops to copy and paste the fixtures and add your predictions and Predict a Score. Go on give it a go and look to be the new Prediction League Champion at the end of the season.

I've no idea just how many may wish to enter this coming season but, it was a great run right to the end last time which saw HK Milller rightly claim the crown with an amazing 418 points which was a new record! Who wants to challenge him and be top dog this coming season?

Anyone is welcome to join so I will cap it at 40 just in case we have a sudden interest this season. Wishful thinking but you never know. Good luck to all who do wish to take part. The first set of new fixtures will be posted shortly as some have already shown an eager interest to get this going.

The format will look like the example below:

Sat 2nd May 2025

Southampton v Wrexham
Middlesbrough v Swansea
Norwich City v Millwall
Oxford United v Portsmouth
Blackpool v Stevenage
Bradford City v Wycombe
Burton Albion v Mansfield Town
Doncaster Rovers v Exeter
Chesterfield v Barrow
Colchester United v Tranmere

Predict a score = Sheffield Utd v Bristol City ?-?

Good luck to all who wish to enter

Thanks, Brin.

[Brin]

Any feedback will be duly read and considered but using the same format, I think it will run smooth again so no need to tweak anything.

[caytonmiller]

That's a long read so I won't bother. Have you changed anything???

[Brin]

That's a long read so I won't bother. Have you changed anything???

No pal I haven't changed a thing from last season.

Now I understand you've been studying Bert Weedon's, Play with yourself in a day' book, how's it going? There are other football guidance books available you know.

[Lolmorgan]

That's a long read so I won't bother. Have you changed anything???

Wooden spoons have got bigger.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Wooden spoons have got bigger.

But the toilets are still miles away on the top floor

[CTMilller]

Looks good, Brin, and looking forward to the coming season!

[Brin]

Looks good, Brin, and looking forward to the coming season!

Cheers my friend, me too.

[caytonmiller]

Wooden spoons have got bigger.

Sh?t. Need a bigger display cabinet

[caytonmiller]

No pal I haven't changed a thing from last season.

Now I understand you've been studying Bert Weedon's, Play with yourself in a day' book, how's it going? There are other football guidance books available you know.

I have a new technique. I'm calling it. Cays Pinata pin.. I'm trailing it through august