#bcb 2017

In Betlandia, Joe Klueh has been relieved of his Cubs hat curse. He took it from worst to first, winning on the final day of the bet thanks to his savvy Bracketology—and so he has the honor of selecting this year’s crown for Cale Drange, who barely outpaced the returning Matt Robshaw for Bet ignominy in this eighth edition. Sadly, Middle-of-the-Road Cale is no more.

Returning Back-to-Back Bet Champion Todd Pitman was unable to achieve the vaunted three-peat, but remains lossless in eight Bet appearances—the only contestant with such success. Mike Smith and Matt Robshaw have each not lost in three bets apiece, while Joe Schweigert and 2013 Champion Ben Levinger each have two appearances without a defeat. Of note: John Heydinger (a/k/a “Snoke”) ran the entire post-Wild Card Bet on auto-pilot, choosing the home team, their starting pitcher, and a final score of 4-3 for every single Game Pick, and the team with home field advantage for every Bracket Pick and Re-Pick—and he was a threat to win this whole thing, until right there at the end, when he wasn’t. But still, a third place finish... Not bad for a giant, evil hologram, who may or may not be a Sith Lord.

So that—as they say—is that, and another Big League Ballcap Bet is in the books. We’ll see you next year, when Todd promises the theme won’t be so... forced.