NFL Best Bets: Week 10 – 2012

by | Nov 6, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Gambling

Sure, when I go to Vegas, everything is normal, but the week after I leave all hell breaks loose.

“Books get destroyed,” screams the headline of a VegasInsider.com story that estimates gamblers took the city’s establishments for $7 million to $9 million over the weekend due to the success players had in betting favorites on parlay cards.

Nobody is going to feel sorry for Las Vegas sports books, however. Whether they lost $9 million or not, over time they’ll do fine. And they still did better than Tony and I did on our bets, which have been a struggle all season long.

I got a 2-2 for the week that probably would have netted a small profit with my success in nailing the upset of the week, Tampa over Oakland. It wasn’t a big spread, but the Raiders never should have been favored in that game, in my humble opinion.

Tony was 1-3, hitting only the Indianapolis win over Miami. So, for the season, Tony is a dismal 14-22 while I am a slightly even more pathetic 13-23.

So here’s your next chance to win money by doing the opposite of what we suggest… (more…)

ZB Notebook 11-1-2012

by | Nov 1, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

I didn’t fare well at the tables in Las Vegas last weekend so, while I was licking my wounds, I had plenty of time to follow the Sunday football games. Throughout the day and in the days that followed, what stuck with me is that there are a number of teams that have to be thinking about major changes, including potentially sacking their head coaches.

I wouldn’t have guessed heading into the season that Romeo Crennel in Kansas City would have topped my list. But not only did the Chiefs suffer yet another complete dismantling, this time at the hands of rival Oakland, but Crennel admitted after the game he had no idea why running back Jamaal Charles had just five rushes and eight total touches throughout the game.

Really? No idea at all? You are the head guy there. You have a certain  amount of say in stuff like that. If I was the owner of that team, I’m not sure I would have let Crennel out of the stadium without a better explanation.

There was talk of how the Raiders loaded the box against the run. Understandable. So throw Charles the ball. He is great out of the backfield too, isn’t he? When you’re having a bad day but the score is close your best players have to touch the ball.

It was a bad performance all the way around for an organization whose coach and general manager, Scott Pioli, are on the hotseat. But it was just one of many bad days for coaches.

Chargers ready to replace Norv Turner?: Heading into tonight’s game, perhaps the hottest seat of all belongs to Norv Turner, the oft-criticized head man in San Diego. The Chargers are being investigated by the NFL for the possibility that the team used stick ‘em in a game a couple weeks ago. If they don’t beat the Chiefs tonight, he might need some of that banned substance to hang onto his job. (more…)

NFL Best Bets: Week Eight – 2012

by | Oct 24, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Gambling

Hey, what do you know, I finally had a good week. I whiffed badly on Baltimore sticking with Houston, but got the rest of my games correct for a 3-1 mark. That takes me to a 10-18 record for the season AND it pulls me within a game of Tony, who has struggled less than me most of the year.

But last week was a disaster for my brother as he reeled off an 0-fer-four, dropping to 11-17 for the 2012 campaign.

Hopefully this is the sign of a turnaround for me. I’ve got a weekend in Vegas planned and I’d like to not go broke betting on the gridiron for real. Here’s hoping it continues: Here are the picks for week eight. (more…)

ZB Notebook 10-23-12

by | Oct 23, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

That Monday Night Football matchup between Chicago and Detroit was a barnburner.

Or not.

In one of the uglier games I’ve seen played in awhile, Detroit gave away opportunity after opportunity to take over the game in the red zone while Chicago took enough advantage early in the game to hold on for the win and continued sole possession of first place in the NFC North.

The Lions continued a pattern of playing putrid offense throughout the first three quarters and then making a mad dash at a comeback toward the end of the game.

Four turnovers in the red zone? Can’t win that way in the NFL. Matt Stafford looks lost for three quarters and Detroit has got to do something to get Calvin Johnson involved in games earlier. Right now that’s a bad team. (more…)

ZB Notebook 10-16-12

by | Oct 16, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

I think the wear and tear and stress and strain may be getting to Eagles coach Andy Reid. He was getting ready to follow up a hugely disappointing season when the tragedy of his son’s death struck during training camp. And ownership made no bones about the fact that a repeat of 2011 in 2012 would not be acceptable.

Reid looked incredibly tired and worn down by Sunday’s comeback loss to Detroit, barking more aggressively at officials than I recall him doing in the past. Now word has emerged that his embattled defensive coordinator Juan Castillo has been fired and there are even rumors that quarterback Mike Vick may be on the brink of losing his job.

I think the hotseat is getting hotter in Philly – and probably deservedly so, even in spite of the conference championship games and Super Bowl Reid has led the Eagles to since arriving in 1999. I ranked him the sixth most-likely coach to get fired in a preseason list. I’d say he could be as high as number three now – and owner Jeff Lurie may do him a favor.

Reid, frankly, looks tired and worn out. He is a great coach, but it might actually do him some good to take a page from the book of Jeff Fisher by taking a year off to catch his breath and get some sleep.

London Jaguars?: (more…)