I'll join this one and UCL soon.
Hey, yeah, I been seeing the headlines, didn't realise you'd be affected -- of course you know I was just horsing around, no one should prioritise sports over real life. Politics is messy wherever you go, but it affects us in the South a lot more I suppose. Hope all is all right, we'll welcome you back to UCL of course (and here).
By the way, the Champions League this season will be a real mess due to the new format, I don’t even know how relevant it will be to make money bets at this stage.
I think the prediction pools are always going to be a sort of revolving luck door. Especially when score differences on outcomes award extra points. So if you consistently put in your picks, add a dash of daring here and there, you'll eventually come out on top somewhere. Last season out of nowhere I took home a nice prize from AFCON how? By picking many 1-0 scores. No real research, just dumb luck.
The new format is definitely less viable for underdog outrights. You're seeded from your league position, and highest seeds play lowest seeds after. A pity for me and my style. Hope Bundesliga doesn't follow through with Super League in the end (but money talks loudest).