Sports Betting

While browsing I ran across a wiki page that breaks down sports betting. http://wapedia.mobi/en/Sports_betting
Judging from the writers perspective he does not live in a state where sports betting is legal, such as Nevada.
Growing up in Nevada allowed me to grow up with a unique perspective in relation to all gambling activities, not just sports related. That perspective is of course to treat gambling as entertainment.

If someone wished to pursue gambling for more than simple entertainment, this wiki breaks down a lot of the slang and lingo often heard around sports books and or bookies.
The one thing to keep in mind is this: Most sports bettors are overall losers as the bookmakers odds are fairly efficient.

Week 7 Recap

Chargers - 37
Chiefs - 7
Pick: Chargers
Spread: Chargers -4.5

Colts - 42
Rams - 6
Pick: Colts
Spread: Colts -13.5

Bengals - 45
Bears - 10
Pick: Bears
Spread: Bears +1.5

Packers - 31
Browns - 3
Pick: Packers
Spread: Packers -8.5

Steelers - 27
Vikings - 17
Pick: Steelers
Spread: Vikings +4.5

Patriots - 35
Bucs - 7
Pick: Patriots
Spread: Patriots -14.5

Texans - 24
49ers - 21
Look for Singletary to have his guys fired up for this game coming off their bye week. With a healthy Gore they should keep it close.
Pick: 49ers
Spread: 49ers +3.5

Jets - 38
Raiders - 0
Pick: Jets
Spread: Raiders +6.5

Bills - 20
Panthers - 9
Pick: Panthers
Spread: Bills +6.5

Saints - 46
Dolphins - 34
Pick: Saints
Spread: Saints -6.5

Cowboys - 37
Falcons - 21
Pick: Falcons
Spread: Falcons +3.5

Cardinals - 24
Giants - 17
Pick: Giants
Spread: Giants -6.5

Eagles - 27
Redskins - 17
Pick: Redskins
Spread: Redskins +7.5

Week 7 Picks

Another week of football is finally upon us, I dread tallying up my win/loss record so I am going to put that off for now.

Chargers @ Chiefs
Chargers -4.5
Normally this would be an easy game for the Chargers, Arrowhead is never an easy place to play, but the Chargers usually don't struggle against the Chiefs. Not so sure about this week, the Chiefs have been playing well and the Chargers have not. Just going to have to pick the more talented team and hope for the best.
Pick: Chargers
Spread: Chargers -4.5

Colts @ Rams
Colts -13.5
Colts get healthy during their bye week and now get to play the Rams. Colts are one of the few teams who never play down to the level of their opponent, as the Rams are about to find out.
Pick: Colts
Spread: Colts -13.5

Bears @ Bengals
Bengals -1.5
Look for the Bears to put up 35 points in the first half and then watch their second sting offense put up another 21 in the second half. OchoCinco will be crying on the sidelines.
Pick: Bears
Spread: Bears +1.5

Packers @ Browns
Packers -8.5
If the Browns cannot get consistent pressure on Rodgers there are in for a long day.
Pick: Packers
Spread: Packers -8.5

Vikings @ Steelers
Steelers -4.5
A lot of points to lay on the Steelers who are notorious for playing down to their opponents, hopefully they can play up to the Vikings and get to Favre.
Pick: Steelers
Spread: Vikings +4.5

Patriots @ Bucs in London
Patriots -14.5
Patriots get to go to London and play the Bucs. The favoritism the league shows them ridiculous.
Pick: Patriots
Spread: Patriots -14.5

49ers @ Texans
Texans -3.5
Look for Singletary to have his guys fired up for this game coming off their bye week. With a healthy Gore they should keep it close.
Pick: 49ers
Spread: 49ers +3.5

Jets @ Raiders
Jets -6.5
Jets looked horrible on the west coast last year. Aside from a few flashes in the Eagles game the Raiders have always looked horrible. Give the edge to the Jets and their running game, but don't see them covering the spread.
Pick: Jets
Spread: Raiders +6.5

Bills @ Panthers
Panthers -6.5
Kudos to T.O. for keeping his mouth shut this long, obviously looking forward to leaving Buffalo and signing with a contender next year.
Pick: Panthers
Spread: Bills +6.5

Saints @ Dolphins
Saints -6.5
A lot of people are predicting the Saints to slip up here after trouncing the Giants last week. Dolphins played the Colts close and lost in the 4th quarter. The saints defense won't allow the Dolphins to control the clock as long as they did against the Colts. I see too many similarities with the Patriots team that went to the SB undefeated to pick against the Saints here. Dolphins don't have the players to keep pace with the Saints.
Pick: Saints
Spread: Saints -6.5

Falcons @ Cowboys
Cowboys -3.5
Falcons should pull out an easy win here if they don't get too distracted by the huge screen above them.
Pick: Falcons
Spread: Falcons +3.5

Cardinals @ Giants
Giants -6.5
Look for the Giants to get to Warner fast and often, it has been a proven recipe for success against the Cardinals. The defense is looking to unload on someone after being embarrassed by the Saints.
Pick: Giants
Spread: Giants -6.5

Eagles @ Redskins
Eagles -7.5
Look for the Skins to rally and win one for the skipper here. Zorn will likely be fired come Tuesday anyways, but he can go out a winner.
Pick: Redskins
Spread: Redskins +7.5

Week 6 Recap

Another exciting week down with some great games. The one week I choose to not go against the Eagles and the Raiders beat them, needless to say I won't make that mistake again. The Redskins VP claims Zorn will coach until end of the year, funny thing is it is not up to him. Norv Turner in SD is somehow still the coach, team dropped to 2-3 after a bye week to prepare and looked horrible against the Broncos.
Another rough week at the books for me, stupid Eagles.

Chiefs - 14
Redskins - 6
Redskins continue their downward spiral.
Pick: Redskins
Spread: Chiefs +6.5

Texans - 28
Bengals - 17
Bengals -4.5
When Schaub is hot the Texans roll.
Pick: Bengals
Spread: Bengals -4.5

Steelers - 27
Browns - 14
Steelers couldn't put the game away, or at least enough to cover the spread.
Pick: Steelers
Spread: Steelers -14.5

Vikings - 33
Ravens - 31
Old Man Favre pulls out another win although Flacco looked pretty sharp in the 4th quarter comeback attempt. What happened to the Vikings defense?
Pick: Ravens
Spread: Ravens+2.5

Jaguars - 23
Rams - 20
Jaguards continue to play down to their opponents. They just can't seem to play up against the better teams.
Pick: Jaguars
Spread: Rams +9.5

Saints - 48
Giants - 27
Saints show they are the team to beat in the NFC and likely NFL. Peyton and his Colts might argue with that.
Pick: Saints
Spread: Saints -3.5

Panthers - 28
Bucs - 21
Carolina kick starts their ground game to take pressure off DelHomme. Shame it took them this long to realize that is what made them great last year.
Pick: Panthers
Spread: Bucs +3.5

Packers - 26
Lions - 0
Lions are a bad team without Stafford under center. Packers could have ran up the score more if they wanted too.
Pick: Packers
Spread: Lions +13.5

Raiders - 13
Eagles - 9
Muhahahahahahahahahaha! Made my weekend.
Pick: Eagles
Spread: Eagles -14.5

Cardinals - 27
Seahawks - 3
Seahawks choose to not play against division opponents?
Pick: Seahawks
Spread: Seahawks -2.5

Bills - 16
Jets - 13
Sanchez should be glad his team actually forced overtime when he made more completions to the opposing team. Sad thing is racking up 300+ yards rushing and losing.
Pick: Jets
Spread: Jets -9.5

Patriots - 59
Titans - 0
To celebrate the shellacking Coach Fisher wears a Manning jersey to a charity event so he "knows how it feels to be a winner."
Pick: Patriots
Spread: Patriots -9.5

Falcons - 21
Bears - 14
Bears need to dump Ron Turner and get a coordinator that can improve Cutler and his tendency to struggle on the road.
Pick: Bears
Spread: Bears +3.5

Broncos - 34
Chargers - 23
Guess this makes it official that the Broncos are for real. If nowhere else, at least in the AFC West.
Pick: Broncos
Spread: Broncos +3.5

Week 6 Picks

After a quite eventful day last Sunday some teams are showing they can play every Sunday (Broncos) while others leave us scratching our hears (Steelers, Jaguars). Jets tenacious D was shredded in Miami, Raiders were compared to a scrimmage team and the Bengals took the lead in their division.

Chiefs @ Redskins
Redskins -6.5
Infighting has already started with the Redskins with players calling each other out and everyone calling out management. To top it off the players asked for a "vote of confidence" for their coach asking if he will end the season or not. With no vote coming I assume the answer is "only until the bye week." A loss here might make it sooner than that.
Pick: Redskins
Spread: Chiefs +6.5

Texans @ Bengals
Bengals -4.5
OchoCinco and Motorola teamed up to buy out the remaining tickets this Sunday to avoid a blackout. Bengals are rolling and hard to see the Texans keep up this game.
Pick: Bengals
Spread: Bengals -4.5

Browns @ Steelers
Steelers -14.5
Game couldn't come at a better time for the Steelers who finally get Polamalu back on defense. Look for him to make an impact this game.
Pick: Steelers
Spread: Steelers -14.5

Ravens @ Vikings
Vikings -2.5
The Vikings gave up 400 yards of offense to the Rams and Jared Allen was silent the whole game. Don't see the Ravens racking up yardage and Allen always plays better at home. The difference will be how quickly and how often the Ravens can get to Favre. Peterson will get some yardage, but favre will make the difference and I see the Ravens beating him up here.
Pick: Ravens
Spread: Ravens+2.5

Rams @ Jaguars
Jaguars -9.5
Not sure what to expect here. Jaguars always play division opponents tough and non-division opponents horrible. Imagine the Jags will put up a fight at home, but won't win big.
Pick: Jaguars
Spread: Rams +9.5

Giants @ Saints
Saints -3.5
Give the edge to the Saints playing at home in a dome here. Should be game of the week.
Pick: Saints
Spread: Saints -3.5

Panthers @ Bucs
Panthers - 3.5
Think the Bucs might pull out a win here. Have no faith in the Panthers this season even with them being much more talented than the Bucs. If Panthers win it should be close, but Panthers do play division games tight.
Pick: Panthers
Spread: Bucs +3.5

Lions @ Packers
Packers -13.5
Still trying to figure out why they are giving the Pack so many points here. Lions have been playing teams tough and keeping games close.
Pick: Packers
Spread: Lions +13.5

Eagles @ Raiders
Eagles -14.5
Gonna have to go against my pledge of betting against the Eagles every game here. Can raise spread to 22 and it wouldn't matter much.
Pick: Eagles
Spread: Eagles -14.5

Cardinals @ Seahawks
Seahawks - 2.5
Seahawks home field is arguably the toughest place to play in the NFL. Division games take it a notch above that. Normally might look for a letdown after the Seahawks pounded the Jaguars last week. With the Cardianls coming to town look for them to be super hyped and ready to knock off the defending division champ.
Pick: Seahawks
Spread: Seahawks -2.5

Bills @ Jets
Jets -9.5
Jets defense was embarassed on Monday night. Look for them to rebound here with a great performance against a poor offense, even on a short week.
Pick: Jets
Spread: Jets -9.5

Titans @ Patriots
Patriots -9.5
Billy has never lost a home game when they lost the previous week. The close loss to Denver must really sting. Titans won't put up much of a fight to stop that. Titans are hungry for their first win, but it will likely come against one of the worse teams in the league. Jeff Fisher needs some time off, it appears the death of McNair in the offseason is getting to him.
Pick: Patriots
Spread: Patriots -9.5

Bears @ Falcons
Falcons -3.5
Falcons are favored after trouncing the 49ers last week and playing at home. Look for the Bears to be sharp coming off a bye week rested. Bears in an easy rout here.
Pick: Bears
Spread: Bears +3.5

Broncos @ Chargers
Chargers -3.5
Chargers are favored coming off a bye and playing at home. Broncos had an emotional game last week which might lead to a lackluster performance here. I think they'll come out sharp due to playing on Monday night, the extra day will help get them focused.
Pick: Broncos
Spread: Broncos +3.5

Vikings - 38
Rams - 10
Pick - Vikings
Spread - Vikings -9.5
Vikings defense allowed 400 yards against one of the wrost offenses in the league.

Cowboys - 26
Chiefs - 20
Pick - Cowboys
Spread - Chiefs +8.5
Boys needed overtime to squeak out a win against the Chiefs.

Panthers - 20
Redskins - 17
Pick - Panthers
Spread - Redskins +3.5
Two horrible teams that were predicted to be much better this year. Tough game to watch.

Buccaneers @ Eagles
Pick - Bucs
Spread - Bucs +14.5

Giants - 44
Raiders - 7
Pick - Giants
Spread - Giants -15.5
Ginats players referred to this game a s a scrimmage. Wonder why they allowed a touchdown if it was that easy...

Browns - 6
Bills - 3
Pick - Bills
Spread - Bills -6.5
Game should have ended in a tie, neither team deserved a win here.

Bengals - 17
Ravens - 14
Pick - Ravens
Spread - Bengals -8.5
Good game. Ray Lewis was fined $25k for two different infractions. Bengals showing they are for real.

Steelers - 28
Lions - 20
Pick - Steelers
Spread - Steelers -10.5
Steelers looked horrible and Lions looked like they are improving.

Falcons - 45
49ers - 10
Pick - 49ers
Spread - 49ers -2.5
Niners got behind early and kept making mistakes. Going to be a long bye week in SF.

Broncos - 20
Patriots - 17
Pick - Patriots
Spread - Patriots -3.5
Orton is playing with the confidence Brady used to have. Amazing what a coach can do.

Cardinals - 28
Texans - 21
Pick - Cardinals
Spread - Texans +5.5
Cardinals squeak a win out at home.

Seahawks - 41
Jaguars - 0
Pick - Jaguars
Spread - Jaguars +1.5
Wow. Just wow.

Colts - 31
Titans - 9
Pick - Colts
Spread - Colts -3.5
Someone has finally figured out how to slow down Peyton Manning...they gave him a bye week.

Dolphins - 31
Jets - 27
Pick - Jets
Spread - Jets -1.5
If what most people predicted as being a defensive game the team with the ball last won. The wildcat is still a gimmick, you have Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown in any scheme and they will rack up yardage.

Week 5 Picks

A few exciting games this week to offset the amount of what appears to be lopsided games. A few match ups should reveal more about some teams who really have not shown much.
Week 5 and I am still excited, maybe it is because the Bears look Super Bowl bound.

Vikings @ Rams
Vikings -9.5
Steven Jackson is one of two runners to rush for 100+ yards on the Vikings defense in the past three years. He might do that again, but it will be in a losing effort. Can't wait to see a good supporting cast around him again. Vikings will continue to be over-hyped as they win an easy one.
Pick - Vikings
Spread - Vikings -9.5

Cowboys @ Chiefs
Cowboys -8.5
A possible upset here for the Chiefs. Todd Haley is known for getting his teams to play as a big underdog and the Cowboys are far from playing up to their potential.
Take the Boys with the win but the Chiefs with the spread.
Pick - Cowboys
Spread - Chiefs +8.5

Redskins @ Panthers
Panthers -3.5
Losing coach buys himself job security for a little bit longer. In case of Redskins coach Zorn that might only be a few days. Panthers home field is the difference here.
Pick - Panthers
Spread - Redskins +3.5

Buccaneers @ Eagles
Eagles -14.5
McNabb is 0-4 against the Bucs in his career and I don't see that changing. Going for huge upset here and taking Bucs.
Pick - Bucs
Spread - Bucs +14.5

Raiders @ Giants
Giants -15.5
Whether or not Eli plays the Giants will pound the ball rushing and will walk away with an easy win.
Pick - Giants
Spread - Giants -15.5

Browns @ Bills
Bills -6.5
I think the Browns left everything they had on the field against the Bengals. Someone forgot to tell them to go back and get it. See the usual Browns return for this game.
Pick - Bills
Spread - Bills -6.5

Bengals @ Ravens
Ravens -8.5
Ravens have nice home field advantage here, hopefully the refs are more lenient with them this time.
Pick - Ravens
Spread - Bengals -8.5

Steelers @ Lions
Steelers -10.5
With Stafford out that eliminates any chance this game might be close. Pittsburgh's new bruising back will help Steelers build a lead and keep it. Might be another game where Lions opponent puts up 40+ points.
Pick - Steelers
Spread - Steelers -10.5

Falcons @ 49ers
49ers -2.5
If the Falcons were at home they would be an easy pick. I like hat Singletary has done with the Niners and it's hard to pick against them when they play at home against a team that has traveled across country.
Pick - 49ers
Spread - 49ers -2.5

Patriots @ Broncos
Patriots -3.5
The best game of the week in my opinion. Look for it to be a close game with Tom Brady making the difference in the 4th quarter.
Pick - Patriots
Spread - Patriots -3.5

Texans @ Cardinals
Cardinals -5.5
Curious as to why the Cardinals are favored by 6 points. The only logical reason I see if they are coming off a bye week, but with few injuries that shouldn't be a major issue. Last team with ball wins this game.
Pick - Cardinals
Spread - Texans +5.5

Jaguars @ Seahawks
Seahawks -1.5
Seahawks have one of the toughest home fields to play in and the return of Hasselback should make this interesting. Think the combination of a hot Garrard and Jones-Drew overwhelms the Hawks.
Pick - Jaguars
Spread - Jaguars +1.5

Colts @ Titans
Colts -3.5
if the Titans go to 0-5 it could be devastating considering 11-5 was not good enough to make a wild card last year in the AFC, unless you won your division. Colts share the division with the Titans though so that doesn't not look viable. I want to root for the Titans and the Colts have to lose sometime, but Peyton always steps up his game when nationally televised.
Pick - Colts
Spread - Colts -3.5

Jets @ Dolphins
Jets -1.5
Rex Ryan was the mastermind of the Ravens defense that shut down Miami and its wildcat attack in the playoffs last year. His has his Jets playing just as well as that Ravens team. If Sanchez can avoid throwing the ball to the other team the Jets should win easily.
Pick - Jets
Spread - Jets -1.5