Straight-up: pick the winner
In a straight-up football league, the selected team must finish with more points than its opponent. The margin does not matter: a one-point win and a twenty-point win both count as a correct selection.
If a football game finishes tied, Suite grades straight-up selections as pushes and awards zero points. Premier League uses a separate home-win, draw or away-win format, where a correct draw is a winning selection.
Against the spread: cover the handicap
A favorite listed at −3 needs to win by more than three points to cover. An underdog at +3 can win outright or lose by fewer than three and still cover. An exact three-point margin is a push for either side.
Consider this fictional matchup: Harbor −3 against Valley, with Harbor winning 24–22. Harbor wins the actual game, but its two-point margin is smaller than the three-point handicap.
| Pick | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor straight-up | 24 is greater than 22 | Win |
| Harbor −3 | 24 − 3 = 21; 21 is less than 22 | Loss |
| Valley +3 | 22 + 3 = 25; 25 is greater than 24 | Win |
What happens on a push?
Using that same −3 line, a 24–21 Harbor win would land exactly on the spread. Suite awards zero for the spread push. Confidence weights on a push are not transferred to another game.
Correct picks earn one point in equal scoring or their assigned weight in confidence scoring, subject to a configured Game of the Week adjustment. The spread determines correctness; the scoring method determines the number of points.
The grading line belongs to the league
Suite supports a configured line freeze or lines that move until kickoff. An early submission does not lock in a personal spread. All members are graded against the shared snapshot used for that game.
For example, if you chose Harbor while the screen showed −3 and the league’s eventual grading snapshot is −4, your pick is evaluated at −4. Commissioners should explain the line policy and freeze time before picks open.
Which format should your friends use?
Choose straight-up if the group wants a quick, familiar way to follow games. Choose spread picks if everyone enjoys the added challenge and understands lines can change. You can add confidence scoring to supported football leagues without confusing it with the spread.
For your first season, a clear format and a manageable slate are usually easier to keep up with than many extra rules. Ask the group what they want, publish your choice, and keep the weekly deadline visible.
Common questions
Does picking against the spread require a wager?
No. Suite uses spreads as a prediction format and awards league points. You can run the league entirely for bragging rights without wagering on games.
Is the line I see when I submit guaranteed?
No. Submission does not reserve a line. The league’s freeze policy determines the common grading snapshot.
Can Premier League players pick against the spread?
Suite’s Premier League format uses home win, draw or away win, rather than against-the-spread selections.