Lowest score wins
Points are bad. The player with the fewest points is doing best.
Rules
How Points Are Bad works
Predict football scores, collect points for how far away you are, and try to finish with the lowest score in your leagues.
Predict the score
For each selected fixture, choose the exact scoreline you think will happen.
1-1 is banned
You can predict any scoreline except 1-1. It is the classic safe prediction, and Points Are Bad does not reward sitting on the fence.
Deadlines lock at kick-off
You can add or edit a prediction until the match kicks off. After that, it is locked.
Fixture selection
Which fixtures do I predict?
You do not predict every match. Two fixtures are pre-selected for you from each competition in every game week.
Where possible, the two fixtures will be played at different kick-off times or on different days. This means each fixture may have its own prediction deadline.
Different kick-off times
For example, Championship selections might include one Saturday 12:30pm match and one Saturday 3pm match.
Different matchdays
Premier League selections might include one match on Saturday and another on Sunday.
What counts as a game week?
A game week is a recognised round of league fixtures. A weekend game week may run from Friday to Monday, while a midweek game week may run across Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cup weekends, isolated rearranged matches, and periods where only a small number of league teams are playing will not normally count as a separate game week.
Scoring
How points are worked out
You score one point for every goal you are away from the actual result. Add the home team difference and away team difference together. The lower the score, the better.
Actual score
2-1
Your prediction
2-0
1 point
You got the home team right, but were one goal out for the away team.
Actual score
3-1
Your prediction
1-1
Not allowed
1-1 is banned, so this prediction cannot be submitted.
Actual score
0-0
Your prediction
2-1
3 points
You were two goals out for the home team and one goal out for the away team.
Missed predictions
What happens if you miss one?
If you miss a fixture, you receive forfeit points. For the season edition, this is the greater of 3 points or the total number of goals in the match.
Example: if a match finishes 4-2 and you missed it, you would get 6 points.
Leagues
Play by competition
Each competition has its own leaderboard, so you can play in the Premier League or Championship.
Mini leagues also sit within competitions, so your standings stay relevant to the leagues you have joined.
Good to know
You can edit predictions
Change your mind as often as you like before kick-off.
More fixtures open ahead
You will usually have upcoming fixtures available to predict in advance.
Late joins are allowed
Players can join later, but missed fixtures may still count as forfeits.