Recently I've received a lot of emails regarding the site, so I thought I'd take the time to give a few answers to your most common questions. Keep them coming, and thanks for all the positive feedback. As someone with a full time job, while also studying for a Masters degree in History, your kind words spur me on to keep adding new features and improving the content of the site
It also gets me through those moments where I'm sitting looking at a solid wall of picks, curled into a ball weeping because I've managed to mess something up in my HTML code.
Q: When are next week's picks up?
A: I usually leave the preceding week's picks in 'This Week's Picks' all of Tuesday. It seems right that we have last week's picks there for at least a whole day before we move on. Plus most experts don't pick until later in the week, therefore TUESDAY is when next week's picks will go up each week, however it will not have most expert's picks until Wednesday.
Q: What new features are you adding?
A: The most important new feature is the ability to compare each expert's home and road record for each team. This will give you a great idea of how reliable each analyst is in picking the games you can't decide on. I'd like to add more of these situational stats as we go on, while next year - and I know I mentioned this last year but this time it's true! - I'd like to add user picks to the site so that you can compare your scores with the experts.
I'd also like to add fan picks for each team, user polls for each game, against-the-spread picks, and a forum. All of these may or may not make it in before the end of the season, however I'm willing to say they'll definitely all make it in during the offseason.
Q: Can you add
A: I am always open to this. Ideally they would all be in by the start of the season, however if someone is working for a reputable company and picks every game on a national level, I'm more than happy to add them. The longer a season goes on, the more this can impact the stats, so I will only add pickers after week 6 in exceptional circumstances.
Q: Do you need any help?
A: YES! In all seriousness, the workload is high, however because of the improvements I made from last season to this one, it is manageable. I appreciate all of the offers of technical help, improvements to the site's html etc, and in time I may use some of the suggestions.
In the main I would just emphasise that it's important that the site is able to be updated regularly with the minimum of fuss, which is the case currently. Anything too technical could legitimately fry my brain and/or leave the site dependent on people with less time and effort invested in it, which I'm sure none of us want.
Q: can you send me your spreadsheets
A: I will consider this on an individual basis, however I am reluctant as the information takes a great deal of time and effort to collate, therefore I am wary of people using the Pickwatch data as their own. In the end, I keep this site free and easy to use for all, I think that should be enough for most people!
Q: You rule/Thanks for the site/Awesome job/keep up the good work
A: These emails keep me going. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to comment, email or follow Pickwatch on twitter. Good luck in all your picking leagues, let us know which experts you find most reliable!
Shaun
