Handicapping the tob action

The Betting Window Is Closed

Based on past performances, bloodlines, an evaluation of previous reviews and assumptions we've made about which books the judges will think make them seem cool, we have handicapped the 2008 Morning News Tournament of Books.

We'll announce the winners and prizes shortly. Thanks to all your wagers and our matching donations we raised enough money to buy 5076 new books for underprivileged kids. Thanks to everyone and congratulations to Junot Diaz whose The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao has won the 2008 Rooster.

Pre-Tournament Odds + Win Pool

On Chesil Beach 5/2 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao 5/2 Then We Came to the End 3/1 Tree of Smoke 7/2 Run 9/2 The Savage Detectives 5/1 Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name 7/1 Remainder 7/1 What the Dead Know 9/1 The Shadow Catcher 10/1 An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes... 10/1 New England White 12/1 Ovenman 20/1 You Don't Love Me Yet 20/1 Petropolis 28/1 Shining at the Bottom of the Sea 35/1

190 320 240 160 90 80 90 80 100 10 100 20 50 50 70 40

Results That Matter

By the way, we were right on the money, predicting a victory for The Road last year. In 2006 we had the winner, The Accidental, listed as an 8/1 longshot. So you know, even though the Tournament Chairman used to be a partner at CP and Susan created the rooster logo, we're not privy to any inside information about the event.

The Winners

Ten winners were selected at random from all the folks who bet on the winning book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Michael Rottman
Amy Rea
Cheryl Barr
Michael Katz
Susan Chun
Joshua Dumas
Stephanie Gray
Scott Simpson
James Crossley
Asa Hopkins

Each will receive the book of their choice from the tournament, a couple 3packs of Field Notes Brand Memo Books and some other goodies. Thanks to everyone for betting and helping us buy a ton of books for kids. See you next year!

Making Book

Each bet costs $10 and all the money bet will go to First Book, "a nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books."

At the conclusion on the TMN 2008 Tournament of Books we'll choose ten people at random who have backed the winning novel and send them each a huge prize package. Details on that to come, but don't worry it'll be worth it.

Aside from the fact that your book has to win (there is no Place or Show betting) maybe backing a favorite might not necessarily be your best bet. If only a few people are on a longshot and it wins they're each more likely to be the random prize winner. Of course there's no rule against laying down $10 on each novel and covering the entire field. Here's some more betting advice from ToB Commissioner Kevin Guilfoile.

Confess

The first step in getting a handle on your gambling problem is to confront it. Use this handy graphic to make your admission and link it back to this page.

Your $10 = $100

We'll match up to $1000 worth of wagers and so will each of the super-cool companies listed below. Shouldn't your super-cool company be on this list? Write and she'll hook you up.

Coudal Partners
37signals
Metafilter
Happy Cog
Iconfactory
Core77
Daring Fireball
Emma
Business Brickyard
eight6
skinnyCorp

Bottom Line

Each $2.50 we raise buys one kid one book, so your ten bucks buys four. With these matching donations however, your $10 wager has the power to buy up to 44 new books for underprivileged kids.