Honolulu's Howard Takata put his time to good use since retiring two months ago from the state Department of Health.

"I've been taking my parents here and there, doing the yard, and studying Pigskin Picks," Takata said.

Takata, of 'Ālewa Heights, picked 15 of the 16 NFL games correctly and won the tiebreaker to earn a trip for two to Las Vegas and $100 worth of Papa John's Pizza.

Takata, an offset pressman for 37 years before retiring, dropped off 15 entries at the Papa John's on Vineyard Boulevard.

On the winning ballot, his strategy was to pick upsets in games where the favorite was already in the playoffs.

Takata surmised those teams would not put in, or use their first-team players sparingly.

"With a lot of these teams with good records my hunch was to go opposite," Takata said. "The underdogs pulled through."

Takata, who turned 62 on Jan. 1, was stumped — as were many others — by Denver's home loss to Kansas City.

Takata won the tiebreaker — guessing the total offensive yards in the Buffalo-Indianapolis game — coming within 11 yards of the total.

The Las Vegas trip will be a treat for Takata, who already has one visit planned for next month.

"Now I'll have to plan another," he said. He planned to take his nephew who books Takata's trips online.

Takata said he has entered The Advertiser's Pigskin Picks contest, "ever since it started."