Record, Week 6: 3-2
Overall Record: 15-22
Total Outlay, Week 6: $300.00
Total Winnings, Week 6: $381.80
Gain, Week 6: $81.80
Overall Loss: $389.58
OK, this is a small start to digging out of a hole. I was right in at least one thing: The Patriots-Saints game turned out to be as great a shootout as Broncos-Cowboys. And without that last-minute touchdown pass by Tom Brady, I would not have won the Over 50.5 on that game, which finished 30-27. As for Covers' Power Rankings, it was right on the Chiefs -8 but was wrong on the Jets -1 (the Jets lost to PIttsburgh 19-6). I don't know if I should continue to track it.
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I think it's time to finally give you the reason and genesis behind these Anti-Picks. It really started when Father and I took a vacation to Las Vegas together. It just so happened to be the first weekend of March Madness, the college men's basketball tournament. I have heard that there is no better to place to watch all the games going on simultaneously (let alone wagering on those games) than in Vegas, specifically the cathedral-like fussilade of big screens in the sportsbook in Caesar's Palace, which we just so happened to be staying in. Also, ever since I got hooked into making my brackets, I wanted to see if I could put up or shut up when it comes to going whole hog and actually betting money on these tournament games.
Not that it would be my money. When we got into our room for the first time, Father asked me if I had any money to bet with. He then gave me $1,000. I didn't really want to use his money, especially knowing that my brackets have never won any pool I've been in; what's to say that my performance won't be just as shitty when just wagering on games? But I really didn't bring any cash with me to Vegas, so although I think I said I didn't need his money, I took the money, all of it. Pretty soon, I went downstairs and perusing all the lines. I took the bus to the nearest library from the Strip to print out advanced statistics, thinking that was the edge to solve the oddsmakers. And Wednesday evening I finally laid my -- well, Father's -- money down on the tourney.
And then I got my ass handed to me. It didn't help that I spent a lot of money on multi-leg parlays, and that all of them were upsets of high seeds by low seeds, but regardless, I lost bet after bet after bet. My most memorable beat was Xavier in the second round eventually losing to Ohio St. This was the game where the Buckeyes overcame what appeared to be an insurmountable deficit and hit a three off a missed one-and-one by the Musketeers to tie the game and send it to overtime, where they won. I picked Xavier +8 with the thinking that they would win the game outright. With that miracle three to tie, Ohio St. went on to win by ... 8. I could have used the emotional boost by nailing an upset, but I wound up with a push, just getting my money back.
I lost that grand Father gave me. This was my worst nightmare, following my dream of being in Vegas during The Best 72 Hours In American Sport and actually betting, and losing just about everything. Losing money in Vegas isn't anything new; the money I pissed away, however, was a cold slap in the face.
And yet I can't help but bet. I always think I can beat the odds. I just don't think I can repeat what I did in Vegas and lose my shirt -- well, lose Father's shirt. And so I did what I saw a couple other people do and blog about what bets I would make if I was in Vegas and had money. The term "Anti-Pick" is supposed to be a hook, but there is some truth there. If I am so bad at picking games, it stands to reason that anybody who does the opposite will make a fortune. I started doing this on MySpace several years ago, and after it shut down its blogging feature to become a de facto music website, I decided to move it here.
So now you know.
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Better get on with it:
1) Chicago-Washington Under 49.5 (I think I read one guy say that this definitely was going to go Over. I will Anti-Pick in order to post this Anti-Pick) $50
2) New England -3 1/2 (I don't see how they lose to the Jets, especially at home. Also, Covers' Power Rankings say they should beat the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS! BY 7. Best Bet this) $100
3) Dallas +2 1/2 (Covers say Philadelphia should lose only by half a point. So why are they projected as the favorite? Not only should I Best Bet this Against The Spread. ...) $100
4) Dallas M/L +126.5 (... and then give some side money on the Cowboys winning Straight-Up) $50
5) Kansas City -6 1/2 (They're playing at Arrowhead, now officially recognized by The Guinness Book Of World Records as The Loudest Stadium On Earth. The opponent, the Houston Texans, will start Case Keenum. No offense to Case Keenum, but he ain't no Peyton Manning. Triple Best Bet this) $150.
No parlays this week. Good luck!
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