NBC Sports Predictor Awards First-Ever $50k Grand Prize
NBC Sports Predictor has awarded its first-ever $50,000 Jackpot prize for Premier League Pick ’Em, after three users finished Matchweek 32 with a perfect score of 50 points by correctly predicting the exact score of all five featured matches. Monday’s final match between Arsenal and Newcastle was filled with tension and drama as the top prize changed hands. When the final whistle blew, three entrants had earned a split of the $50,000 Jackpot, plus the top-3 guaranteed prizes for the matchweek. The winners -- “ahmad” from Virginia, “dembo” of New York and “MADZMIKE” from Illinois -- won $17,300 apiece.
NBC Predictor has evolved since user “wvupng” almost took the $50,000 for himself in the first week of competition during Matchweek 19. The Louisiana native didn’t complete the perfect week, but still took the $1,000 consolation prize for himself. In the meantime, over 800,000 entries were submitted to Premier League Pick ’Em over 14 matchweeks so far, with Monday resulting in the first-ever perfect scores.
In Matchweek 32, there were more close calls to win the $50,000 Jackpot than at any previous point this season. Heading into the final match, there were 10 users with four perfect predictions eligible for the top prize. User “jensman” was the only one to predict a 1-0 Arsenal win, and watched his Jackpot dreams disappear with an 83rd-minute goal from Alexandre Lacazette.
Users on social media were empathetic towards “jensman,” who was in sole possession of the potential $50,000 Jackpot for more than 60 minutes of the match. One user said he was “gutted” for his fellow Pick ‘Em player.
When the final whistle sounded, it was the most profitable day in history for NBC Predictor users. 595 players finished with 38 points, earning themselves $1.27 each. 174 players finished with 40 points, taking home $5 apiece. A whopping 72 players finished the week with 44 points (no small feat), and they were rewarded with $20.49 apiece. But of course the real prize lives with our three perfect score predictors, who reached the 50 point summit and will deservedly be walking away with $17,300 each!
The top prize was a first for Premier League Pick’Em, but it may not be the last this season. There are six more opportunities to win before the Premier League campaign concludes. The $50,000 Jackpot is eligible to be won EVERY matchweek, and now that perfection has been achieved, the goal seems more attainable than ever to the tens of thousands of Premier League fans playing nationwide.
