VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNITY PICK’EM 2026
PICK. PLAY. SHARE.
The Mashburn Zell Group | Real Broker is taking football season up a notch this year.
We’re bringing together clients, friends, family, and our Ventura County community for a season of weekly football picks, friendly competition and, of course, bragging rights — all while rallying support for Food Share of Ventura County.
No fantasy team. No draft. Just make your picks each week, follow the standings and see who comes out on top.
Free to play. Donations to Food Share are encouraged, never required.
KICKOFF: SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
WEEK 1 THROUGH THE NFL PLAYOFFS
READY TO KICK OFF?
MAKE YOUR PICKS. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Make the recommended $25 donation to Food Share and join our Community MVP roster. The best bragging rights this season might have nothing to do with your picks.
HOW VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNITY PICK ‘EM WORKS
Six simple steps. Zero football PhD required.
STEP 1
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE
Make the recommended $25 donation to Food Share or give what you can. Prefer to just play? Choose the free-to-play option.
Donation encouraged. Never required.
STEP 2
GET YOUR PRIVATE INVITE
After you donate — or request the free-to-play option — watch your inbox for your private CBS Sports invitation to join the league.
Invitations are sent separately within 24 hours.
That’s your ticket into the league.
STEP 3
CREATE YOUR FREE CBS SPORTS ACCOUNT
Follow your private CBS Sports invitation, sign in or create your free CBS Sports account, and join the Ventura County Community Pick’em 2026 league.
Free account. Quick setup. Then you’re in.
STEP 4
MAKE YOUR PICKS
Every game. Every week. You call it.
Pick the team you think will win each game before kickoff. No fantasy roster, no draft, and no football expertise required.
Pick by mascot. Pick by jersey color. We don’t care. Just get your picks in.
STEP 5
STAY IN THE GAME
Download Homeward Found for Pick’em reminders, weekly updates, winner announcements and a little friendly competition along the way.
Because remembering your picks five minutes after the deadline is a terrible strategy.
STEP 6
BRAG ACCORDINGLY
Follow the standings, celebrate the weekly winners, and see who comes out on top at the end of the season.
Trash talk is absolutely allowed and encouraged. Keep it friendly.
CHOOSE YOUR NEXT MOVE
Support Food Share, jump straight into the game, or get the answers you need.
PLAY FOR SOMETHING BIGGER
Food Share has long been close to our hearts. Pick’em is one more way to support their work in Ventura County.
JUST HERE TO PLAY?
No donation required. Request your private invite and join the fun.
Same league. Same bragging rights.
QUICK ANSWERS
Got a question before you play? We’ve got the basics covered.
Rules, deadlines, scoring + more.
BRING YOUR PEOPLE
BRAGGING RIGHTS ARE BETTER WHEN THEY’RE PERSONAL.
Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors. The more people playing, the better the bragging rights.
THE FINE PRINT. WITHOUT THE FINE PRINT.
Quick answers to the things you actually need to know.
DO I NEED A CBS SPORTS ACCOUNT?
Yes. All players need a free CBS Sports account before accepting their private league invitation. If you already have one, you’re all set. If not, create one and then return to your invitation to join the league.
IS IT FREE TO PLAY?
Yes, it is free to play Ventura County Community Pick’em. There is no entry fee. A $25 donation to Food Share of Ventura County is encouraged, but never required. Donations are made directly to Food Share and do not affect participation, standings or results. EMAIL SAMANTHA for your Pick em invite and password
HOW DO I GET MY PRIVATE LEAGUE INVITE?
Choose your route: donate to Food Share or request a free-to-play invitation by emailing [email protected]. Either way, we’ll email you your private league invite and instructions. Only league managers can send direct league invitations.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY CBS PICK’EM INVITATION?
Your private CBS Sports Pick’em invitation will be sent separately within 24 hours of your donation or request to play. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder. If you still don’t see it after 24 hours, email [email protected] and we’ll get you in.
CAN I JOIN AFTER THE SEASON HAS STARTED?
Absolutely. You can join the Ventura County Community Pick’em even after the season begins. You may have some catching up to do in the overall standings, but every week is a fresh chance to win weekly bragging rights—no matter when you join or how far behind you are.
Jump in anytime. A new week means a new shot at the win.
DO I ACTUALLY NEED TO KNOW FOOTBALL?
Nope. Pick the team you think will win each game. Pick by stats, mascot, jersey color or pure instinct. No fantasy roster. No draft. No football PhD required.
WHEN ARE MY PICKS DUE?
Before the start of each individual game. If you miss an earlier game, you can still make picks for games that haven’t started yet.
WHAT IF I MISS A PICK OR A WEEK?
If you miss a game’s kickoff, you won’t be able to make or change your pick for that game, but you can still pick any games that haven’t started. If you miss an entire week, that week will score zero.
Even if you’re late, get the rest of those picks in!
HOW DOES SCORING WORK?
This is Straight Up Pick’em: choose the team you think will win. No point spreads and no confidence points. The league is set for 16 games each week, and CBS Sports handles scoring and standings.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A TIE?
CBS Sports uses a Total Score weekly tiebreaker. CBS also handles scoring corrections and official standings.
HOW LONG DOES THE LEAGUE RUN?
The Ventura County Community Pick’em begins Week 1 on September 9, 2026 and continues through the NFL postseason. Game dates and times may change during the season, so check the official NFL schedule for the most current information.
ARE THERE PRIZES?
With Ventura County Community Pick’em there is no entry fee. No weekly payout. No season payout. We’re playing for weekly recognition, the overall season championship and, most importantly, bragging rights.
WHAT IF I HAVE A QUESTION OR NEED HELP?
We’ve got you. Contact the league commissioner and we’ll help you get back in the game.
READY TO MAKE YOUR PICKS?
Choose your route. Either way, we’ll see you on the leaderboard.
Just here to play? No problem. Request your free private invite →
Free to play. Donations to Food Share are encouraged, never required.
VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNITY PICK’EM
PLEASE NOTE: Ventura County Community Pick’em 2026 is a free community Pick’em league for entertainment purposes. No purchase, payment or donation is required to participate. Optional donations are made directly to Food Share of Ventura County and do not affect participation, standings or results. Participants must meet CBS Sports eligibility requirements, including having a registered account and being at least 18 years old or the age of majority in their state of residence, whichever is older. No gambling or wagering. CBS Sports is the platform used to host the private league; this campaign is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by CBS Sports.
Food Share of Ventura County is the charitable beneficiary of this independent community campaign. The campaign is organized by The Mashburn Zell Group and is not sponsored or administered by Real Broker.