The Most Picked Teams in LMS (and Why That’s Risky)

Published on June 14, 2025 (Last updated: June 15, 2025)

Every LMS league has its "herd week" — where half the players back the same team. A strong favourite, a plum fixture. Everyone piles in. And sometimes, it goes horribly wrong.

The Herd Mentality Trap

Let’s say 40% of your league picks the same team. If they win, great — you all live another week.
But if they lose?

Carnage.
Half the league wiped out in one go. A gift for the quiet few who backed someone else and played it safe.

This is the danger of following the crowd — you’re not just betting on a win. You’re betting everyone else is right too.

Famous Fails from LMS History

  • Man City 2–3 Crystal Palace (2018):
    Zaha and Townsend combined to crush a thousand spreadsheets.

  • Liverpool 0–1 Burnley (2021):
    Ended a 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield — and a lot of LMS runs with it.

  • Chelsea 2–5 West Brom (2021):
    A shock result that punished early-round overconfidence.

The pattern? The more nailed-on it looks, the more dramatic the fallout.

So, Should You Avoid the Obvious Picks?

Not always. Sometimes the safest choice is the right one. But here’s the trick: if you’re going to back a crowd favourite, make sure you’ve:

  • ✅ Checked their midweek commitments

  • ✅ Looked at recent results (not just the table)

  • ✅ Considered alternatives

  • ✅ Accepted the risk of a wipeout

In LMX, we show you past pick data — so you can spot herd trends, dodge them if you fancy, or brace for impact.

Playing against the grain can be risky. But sometimes, that’s how you survive when everyone else goes home.

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