Patrick Burton was brilliant when the field narrowed. His Canadiens ticket reached 440 and 7th in the NHL Playoffs for 245 points. In March, 10 correct picks carried him to Day 8 on Duke and 13th, worth 236.5.
The wider boards produced the mirror image. Seattle led an MLB card of 33 that finished 203rd with 49 points. Only 2 of 5 NBA win totals landed, worth 41 points and 209th, while a 77-point World Cup portfolio stopped at 206th with 45. Three bottom-quarter results sat across from two near-elite ones.
Ohio State gave the middle some structure, carrying college football to 52nd and 199 points, but golf's 104th could not halt a 26-place slide. The ledger reads 1407 points and 76th. Burton's peaks were real; they simply spent most of their value paying off the other end.