The Grinder grinds out another profitable weekend of football betting.
Here’s the breakdown.
NFL Recap
I’d already logged four hours of time at the poker tables before the early game kicks off between the Seahawks and Titans.
I bought this one early in the week, getting Tennessee +13′ and Over 40.
Good moves, by game time it was 12/12′ and 41′.
Tennessee gets the ball first and runs nine minutes off the clock, ending with just a measly field goal. It was a prelude of what was to come. I can’t count the number of times I said to myself while watching the game, “THIS is why you’re 1-9, and about an hour away from being 1-0.”
It was an endless stream of poor coaching decisions and lousy execution by the players on the field.
Seattle leads at halftime 16-3.
My Over is looking shaky and I’m barely hanging on by a hook for the spread.
A 28 point third quarter puts the Over in the bank but the Seahawks are up by 20 and I’m facing a split with a loss on the spread.
The Titans close to within 13, a winner for me but anyone who didn’t buy early and got the hook on top of it is facing a loss.
And in fairness to them (and not to myself) if it ended up on 13 I was going to grade it as a Push.
But, with 43 seconds left on the clock, the Titans back doored SeaHag backers, and I’m 2-0 going into my last play of the day, Philadelphia -3.
The Eagles go up seven zip.
Then it’s 14 zip.
Then it’s 21-0.
The poker room does drawings on NFL Sundays.
Every time a field goal or touchdown is scored in the Raider’s game they give two players 100 bucks each.
A computer randomly draws a table number and a seat number and that person wins the hundred.
I’ve got a much higher financial interest vested in the football game I’m watching, and the poker game, so I don’t listen to the drawings.
Which is why I was surprised when one of the players at my table said to me, “They called your seat. You just won 100 bucks.”
I’m 2-0 on my bets.
I have a nice little profit on top of my starting poker stake and now the house drops an extra hundred on top of that.
And I’m up 21-0 in the Eagles game at Dallas.
What could go wrong?
I’ll tell you what could go wrong.
Philly 21-7.
Philly 21-14.
Philly 21-21.
Dallas 24-21.
Fly, Eagles Fly?
No.
Die, Eagles, Die!
Rat bastards.
The 2-1 day puts me at 10-5 for my articles for NFL picks. Still hitting at 67%, The Grail.
Next!
College Football Recap
No ground gained or lost, 2-2.
Missed with TCU/Houston Over in my article pick.
A couple of Red Zone turnovers took some points off the board but even if they’d scored touchdowns I don’t know if I could have gotten the number I needed.
Both teams played well below their averages on both offense and defense.
Was saved by a 2-1 day in the Forum.
I’m 18-19 on college picks in my articles, still slightly profitable with my forum picks added in.
Overall, It’s been a disappointing season as college football is where I usually make most of my money.
Only have one week left to try and improve my bottom line.
Regular Season Wins Update
Ole Miss has already cleared the hurdle of 8′, sitting at 10-1. That unit will be added to the bank account after the season ends this week with their game against Mississippi State.
That puts me at 19-19 for the regular season, with a chance to get above .500 with this week’s games.
As for my New York Giants Under 5′, well, the G-Boys, were up by two scores over the Lions for most of the game. But in the end they did what the Giants always do, found a way to lose.
They’re at 2-10.
They’ve lost six straight games.
They have five games left.
They have to go 4-1 to beat me.
This week they’re more than seven point underdogs on the Rd at 9-2 New England.
If the Patriots win as expected, the Giants would have to go in perfect 4-0 in their final four games.
I’m looking good to cash this ticket.
This week’s strategy: hope to get at least one game that qualifies for my best system, the NP Under, to help me close out the regular college football season.
I’m off now to start my handicapping process.
Good luck with your plays this week.
