[stupac2]

I don't have an experience or advice for you.  But you raise an interesting, more general question.  Do most people enjoy watching the game more when they do not know the outcome? 

Personally, I find all games very stressful to watch unless we are leading by a gargantuan margin.  When I rewatch the game knowing the outcome I enjoy it much more.  I'm able to focus on watching the  strategy and tactics of individual plays and to analyze what the coaches are doing.  This is more true if we have won the game, but even if I know we lost the game I think I get more out of watching it after-the-fact.

When I watch a game live, my main focus is whether we are going to win or lose.  When I watch it after-the-fact, my main focus is on the game of football.

My wife absolutely thinks I am crazy.  "Why would you want to watch the game a second time?  You know how it turned out!"  She probably reflects the majority view--that it is the excitement of the competition that is the main attraction of the game.   But that very excitement makes it hard for me to appreciate the finer parts of the game while they are happening.

Anyone else feel this way, or am I really on an island by myself?

I've read that there are studies showing that spoilers don't meaningfully affect people's enjoyment of things, I'm not aware of any research specifically regarding sports but I'd buy it. Although for me it would be more like "let's see how we won!" and then "well I don't want to watch us lose."

[stupac2]

I don't have an experience or advice for you.  But you raise an interesting, more general question.  Do most people enjoy watching the game more when they do not know the outcome? 

Personally, I find all games very stressful to watch unless we are leading by a gargantuan margin.  When I rewatch the game knowing the outcome I enjoy it much more.  I'm able to focus on watching the  strategy and tactics of individual plays and to analyze what the coaches are doing.  This is more true if we have won the game, but even if I know we lost the game I think I get more out of watching it after-the-fact.

When I watch a game live, my main focus is whether we are going to win or lose.  When I watch it after-the-fact, my main focus is on the game of football.

My wife absolutely thinks I am crazy.  "Why would you want to watch the game a second time?  You know how it turned out!"  She probably reflects the majority view--that it is the excitement of the competition that is the main attraction of the game.   But that very excitement makes it hard for me to appreciate the finer parts of the game while they are happening.

Anyone else feel this way, or am I really on an island by myself?

I've read that there are studies showing that spoilers don't meaningfully affect people's enjoyment of things, I'm not aware of any research specifically regarding sports but I'd buy it. Although for me it would be more like "let's see how we won!" and then "well I don't want to watch us lose."