Barstool The Dozen Trivia Season 5 Preview Part 3: Predictions & Odds

CoachDay
Feb 7
5 min read

Before you get too deep into this, make sure to go back and take a look at Part 1 & 2, which will help you get to know more about the teams. For those ready, let's get into Part 3 with the predictions & odds. This season will be, of course, unique with a new schedule of February to June and a new playoff format. The other big question mark is: will there be another live show before the Final Four in Boston? Hopefully, for us dozen fanatics, there will be.

Now, the next inquiry is: what will the regular season look like? Will each team be held to a maximum or minimum number of matches? Or will it be business as usual with whoever wants to go any given week? For those new to the league, Ziti is notorious for scoffing at the regular season, while The Experts look to take on any match they can. Quick math: if the season ends in the last week of May, we are looking at about a 16-week regular season. If a team is required to play at least once every 2 weeks, that would be roughly 8 matches per squad.

Now onto the new playoff format: the top 6 seeds will receive auto bids, with the 7-10 seeds playing in an NBA-style play-in tournament.

After the last two seeds are settled we will then have a double-elimination style tournament to get down to the Final Four, this is similar to say the College World Series format.

This news is exciting for us fans, as it allows our favorite squads redemption chances, and we get more trivia, which is a win, plain and simple. The new dynamic also creates a bit of a tough situation when predicting a champion, as we have no data to use as evidence. All of the teams, new or old, same or different, are walking into an unknown this season. Either way, let's first take a stab at the individual awards, then into team predictions. For individual awards, I will undeline my prediction but give a top three frontrunners.

Most Improved Player:

Rudy Junda – Former ROTY, we know the potential is there. He is coming off of a statistical disaster of a season, but the new digs will be kind to him in 2025.
Rone – Now, he has never been a bottom-tier player or anything, but I think the nerves of new fatherhood have been calmed with random wiki dives, thus newfound knowledge to take control of The Yak "bad boys."
Rico Bosco – A horrendous season in 2024, but it's all in the past. He is a former champion in the league and is ready to lead his new team.

Rookie of the Year:

Hannah Montoya – She may win this one by default as of now. Though I think she will earn it in the long run on Uptown Balls.
Liam Blutman – Too much knowledge to sit on the sidelines for another full Dozen season. He had a couple of call-ups last year; he is ready for a full-time gig.
Jon Gruden – You could see it in the live event; he has the itch for the league. If Compton is out, he may be the best fit to fill in.

Captain of the Year:

Big Cat – He knows how to manage the game and his team, massaging the host in the right spots, and has the clutch gene for The Yak.
Nick Turani – His leadership is put to the test every time out, basically herding cats with Frank & KB on the squad. No other captain could keep this squad focused.
Marty Mush – YES, I know his shortcomings have been there, but in year two, he will show a new leadership style and get The Ice Dogs in the hunt.

MVP:

Glenny Balls – This dude is lethal, a point merchant, and can steal better than most of the league. He will be ready to take on anyone.
Dana Beers – Already showed in the season opener that he has prepped this offseason and is ready to take the Ponies to the next level.
Brandon MF Walker – Yes, it could be the year of Walker, someone who feels he can win it all. He will be hungrier than ever.

Now, let's go into some team odds:

To make the playoffs (1-10 seeds):

Ziti -300
The Experts -275
Booze Ponies -250
Frankettes -225
The Yak -225
Uptown Balls -150
Mostly Trivia +150
Team Minihane +175
Gen XYZ +200
Chicago +325
The Ryders +450
MacroDosing +500
The Ice Dogs +650
Charity Case +750
Foreplay +2500

Championship odds:

Ziti +225
Booze Ponies +275
The Experts +350
Uptown Balls +400
Frankettes +550
The Yak +900
Mostly Trivia +1500
Team Minihane +2000
Gen XYZ +3000
Chicago +3500
The Ryders +4500
MacroDosing +7500
The Ice Dogs +10000
Charity Case +12500
Foreplay +2500000

Okay, now that we have the odds out of the way, let's make a Final Four & Champion prediction. Then, let's get this thing going and watch some great trivia. Jeff D. Lowe always puts together a great season and finds a way to get past at least one scandal (who knows what that could be this season...maybe Compton? Or his potential replacement?).

Final Four Picks:

Ziti – This team is too balanced to not make it back here. Now, I will say the one major question is the fatigue stemming from their previous championship run last season. They still look poised to make a repeat performance.
The Experts – Brandon Walker is going to will this team back to the Final Four. He won't let them fall, and with double-elimination on the board, this furthers his chances.
Frankettes – Another team I believe will benefit the most from the double-elimination. They are so balanced with their obscure knowledge that it's tough to see them lose twice before the Final Four.
Uptown Balls – Another extremely balanced team. This does put a lot of pressure on rookie Hannah to show out, but I'm betting she does fit in nicely with the boys.

Championship Match:

Frankettes vs. Ziti

Both of these teams thrive in live events. Dave being in Boston gives him extra juice to ride into the finals...until he faces Frank, and suddenly the crowd (Dave’s home crowd) turns on him and the Snack Boys. This leads to Nick, Frank, and KB running away with it in a championship victory, 16-6.