New England Patriots: Knocking on Seven's Door (Now with Happy Endings)
01-01-2012
, 08:19 PM
01-01-2012
, 11:05 PM
01-01-2012
, 11:13 PM
01-01-2012
, 11:38 PM
01-01-2012
, 11:50 PM
01-02-2012
, 01:24 AM
Quote:
I don't look at "better seeding" as "must win". It's certainly "nice win", but it doesn't compare to, say, what NYJ or TEN or OAK is facing this week. THOSE GUYS have their backs to the wall.
Here's some non-Patriots handicapping stuff, that I want to post but don't feel like venturing into the sewer known as the 2+2 Sports Betting Forum to do so:
When I was a teenager, I found a book in my local bookstore on sports betting. It was pretty useless, unless you needed basic things like teasers and money lines explained to you. But I always remembered one point the author made: "The best bet in sports is during the last week of the NFL season, where you find a team that is at home, getting points, and needs to win to make the playoffs." That makes total sense, so I couldn't wait until the last week of the season.
Unfortunately, either none of those teams were at home, or they weren't getting points. Oh well, I'll wait till next year.
And the next year. And the next.
I waited THIRTY YEARS before this spot finally came up (I guess oddsmakers aren't as stupid as we had hoped). This was last year, when the God-awful 6-9 Seahawks had a chance to win their division if they could knock off the 7-8 Rams. I didn't bet, but I watched with interest. Seattle destroyed 'em, and the world was shocked. Not me!
Well, I thought, I might have to wait another 30 years, but the next time this spot comes up, I'm betting it!
I only had to wait until the following year. Maybe.
The Bengals are getting close to 3 from Baltimore this week. I'm sure it would be closer to 6 if it weren't for the factors I've mentioned, but still. CIN is at home, and getting points...but do they need to win to get in? Not exactly. If they win, they're definitely in. If they lose, they can still get in, but it's nearly impossible.
They lead NYJ, TEN, and OAK by one game for the final spot. If CIN loses, they're almost certain to be involved in some sort of tie-break scenario, and they lose almost every single one (the only way avoid the tiebreaks would be if all three of those teams lost, or if OAK took the West while NYJ and TEN lost). CIN loses in a four-way tie, they lose in any three-way tie, and they lose a two-way tie to any of those teams except TEN. IOW, the only way they lose and still get in is if all three of those other teams lose, or if OAK takes the West and the NYJ lose.
So is this really a "back to the wall" game for CIN? They can still get in with a loss, but only if the planets line up for them. Do I throw my hat into the ring, or wait another 30 years?
EDIT TO ADD: BTW, I figure Mesko should play Karl, we need Ocho to play Ellis...unless Irving Fryar is available! Oh yeah, and Woodhead as Argyle. If you don't find this fun, you have no sense of joy.
Here's some non-Patriots handicapping stuff, that I want to post but don't feel like venturing into the sewer known as the 2+2 Sports Betting Forum to do so:
When I was a teenager, I found a book in my local bookstore on sports betting. It was pretty useless, unless you needed basic things like teasers and money lines explained to you. But I always remembered one point the author made: "The best bet in sports is during the last week of the NFL season, where you find a team that is at home, getting points, and needs to win to make the playoffs." That makes total sense, so I couldn't wait until the last week of the season.
Unfortunately, either none of those teams were at home, or they weren't getting points. Oh well, I'll wait till next year.
And the next year. And the next.
I waited THIRTY YEARS before this spot finally came up (I guess oddsmakers aren't as stupid as we had hoped). This was last year, when the God-awful 6-9 Seahawks had a chance to win their division if they could knock off the 7-8 Rams. I didn't bet, but I watched with interest. Seattle destroyed 'em, and the world was shocked. Not me!
Well, I thought, I might have to wait another 30 years, but the next time this spot comes up, I'm betting it!
I only had to wait until the following year. Maybe.
The Bengals are getting close to 3 from Baltimore this week. I'm sure it would be closer to 6 if it weren't for the factors I've mentioned, but still. CIN is at home, and getting points...but do they need to win to get in? Not exactly. If they win, they're definitely in. If they lose, they can still get in, but it's nearly impossible.
They lead NYJ, TEN, and OAK by one game for the final spot. If CIN loses, they're almost certain to be involved in some sort of tie-break scenario, and they lose almost every single one (the only way avoid the tiebreaks would be if all three of those teams lost, or if OAK took the West while NYJ and TEN lost). CIN loses in a four-way tie, they lose in any three-way tie, and they lose a two-way tie to any of those teams except TEN. IOW, the only way they lose and still get in is if all three of those other teams lose, or if OAK takes the West and the NYJ lose.
So is this really a "back to the wall" game for CIN? They can still get in with a loss, but only if the planets line up for them. Do I throw my hat into the ring, or wait another 30 years?
EDIT TO ADD: BTW, I figure Mesko should play Karl, we need Ocho to play Ellis...unless Irving Fryar is available! Oh yeah, and Woodhead as Argyle. If you don't find this fun, you have no sense of joy.
01-02-2012
, 01:49 AM
01-02-2012
, 05:39 AM
01-02-2012
, 11:27 AM
01-02-2012
, 03:51 PM
01-02-2012
, 07:10 PM