With the NFL season winding down, I was forced to come up with another way for our readers to win some of the great items we have in our prize vault. For those of you who have been playing Beat the Blogger, you know the drill. Each week I'll post several games and their corresponding point spreads. From there, you pick your winners factoring in those point spreads and sit back and see how many picks you got correct. If your total is higher than the Blogger's (ie..me) and is the highest among all of the other entries, you win an authentic signed 8-by-10 photo featuring stars such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Gale Sayers, Drew Brees, Marshall Faulk, Santonio Holmes, DeAngelo Williams and others.

While the game has only consisted of NFL matchups in the past, the new version will feature College Bowl games, NBA games, College Basketball, NHL and basically anything else you can wager on. The other new twist is that I'll only list 10 matchups each week. But of these 10 matchups you can designate one matchup as your "Doubler" with that matchup earning you you a bonus point if picked correctly. So if for example you pick eight games correct but one is your "Doubler" you would score a nine for the week. Just remember to designate your "Doubler" or you won't receive the bonus point. The other new feature will be if any player can pick all 10 games correctly, they will win two authentic signed 8-by-10 photos. 

Each Thursday (Wednesday this week), that week's Beat The Blogger matchups will be posted right here on the 7th Inning Stretch Blogzone. I will always list the start time of the first game of the week so remember to get your selections posted 1/2 prior to the start of the first game to be eligible to win. Then check back to see how you did and if you were able to Beat The Blogger and win.

This Week's Matchups                                      You Make The Call

College Football
Jan. 3 UConn -5 vs Buffalo
College Football
Jan. 5 Texas -9 vs. Ohio St.
College Basketball
Jan. 3 Pittsburgh at Georgetown
Jan. 3 Ohio State at Minnesota
NFL
Jan. 3 Atlanta -2 at Arizona
Jan. 3 Indianapolis -1 at San Diego
Jan. 4 Baltimore -3 at Miami
Jan. 4 Philadelphia -3 at Minnesota
NBA
Jan. 3 Denver vs. New Orleans
Who will score more points?
Carmelo Anthony (Denver) or Chris Paul (New Orleans)
Jan. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland
Which team will lead at halftime?
Lakers or Blazers

Don't forget to factor in the point spreads if given and don't forget to indicate your "Doubler" to earn an extra point if correct. The first game for this week starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3 so make sure you get your picks posted no later than 10:30 a.m. to be eligible to win. Good luck and Happy New Year.