offline

Page: games

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:01:00 GMT

Page: testing_wizards

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:01:00 GMT

Group: offline

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:56:00 GMT

Posts from Handicappers on hiatus

Blog: Bookie Bill

Bookie Bill — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Blog: Prospectus

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:17:00 GMT

Blog Post: Fright Night's Bracket Breakdown: South Region

Fright Night — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:29:00 GMT

I finish my bracket breakdown in the South, where Tournament favorite North Carolina headlines an impressive group.

Most Intriguing Game: Clemson vs. Michigan - We have already been talking about this match-up on the forum. The Tigers come in reeling, losers of four of their last five games. The problem for Clemson has been defense. The problem being they haven't been playing any. Clemson allowed 80 points or more in three of those four losses. They allowed 73 points in the other. But Clemson can be dangerous when its pressure defense is working. Just ask Duke who the Tigers mauled 74-47. Michigan is led by its dynamic duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Simms. When those two are on target the Wolverines are tough to beat. This should be an exciting game between two teams that could make a run in the Tournament if they get hot.

Potential Blowout: Gonzaga over Akron - The MAC had one of its worst seasons in quite a while. The usually deep conference had some of the worst teams in Division I this year. The Zips played solid defense in a down conference but they aren't an offensive powerhouse by any means. That could spell trouble against a Zags offense that's been on fire since its loss to Memphis. Gonzaga has scored 80 or more points in six of its last seven games, topping 90 three times. It could be a long day for the Zips.

Possible Upset: Western Kentucky over Illinois - A lot of people are calling for this upset and for good reason. Western Kentucky got better as the season went on, while the Illini seemed to get worse. Illinois is one of the most miserable scoring teams in this tournament. Illinois has reached 70 points just once in its last 10 games but the Illini offset that by playing swarming defense. The Hilltoppers' A.J. Slaughter is a stud and with G Chester Frazier doubtful for this game, he may be too much for the Illini to handle.

Overrated: Oklahoma - I'm not that impressed with this Oklahoma squad. I know Blake Griffin is a stud but the Sooners guards are very vulnerable. I think the Sooners peaked too early this season. They are just 2-3 in their last five games and that's in what most people believe to be a down Big 12 conference this year. The Sooners' problems have been on the defensive side of the ball where they have allowed at least 70 points in eight of their last 10 games. I can see Morgan State giving OU all they want in the first round. If the Sooners get by that game, I don't expect them to go much further.

Sleeper: Arizona State - A lot of people including me have Syracuse beating the winner of the Arizona State/Temple game but whoever survives that match-up will be a very dangerous team. I'm going with the Sun Devils to take that game. James Harden is the kind of player who can lead a team to the Elite 8. The Sun Devils were inconsistent this year but when they play well Arizona State can beat any team in the country. Don't be surprised if ASU upends Temple and Syracuse and makes it to the Sweet 16.

Possible Cinderella: Morgan State - As I said above I really believe Morgan State has a chance to play with Oklahoma. I know it would be a huge upset but we've seen one or two of those before in the Tournament haven't we? The Bears are a very good rebounding team and only allow opponents to shoot 40 percent from the field against them. Morgan State played well on the road versus Ole Miss and Washington and upset Maryland, so they aren't afraid to take on the big boys. I know it would be a monumental upset but like I said crazier things have happened.

Fright Night's South Region Winner: North Carolina - There are a lot of things I don't like about the Tar Heels but they are too darn talented for me to leave them out of my Final Four. UNC better sure up its defense because teams like LSU, Gonzaga and Syracuse will give them all they want if they meet the Tar Heels. Still, if Ty Lawson is healthy this is the most talented team in the country. If Lawson doesn't play then it's a different story.

Blog Post: Fright Night's Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region

Fright Night — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:11:00 GMT

Today I break down the Midwest region which is home to the overall No. 1 seed in the Tournament, Louisville.

Most Intriguing Game: Ohio State vs. Siena - There are a lot of interesting games in this region but I went with the Cinderella Saints taking on the surging Buckeyes. Siena has top level talent led by Kenny Hasbrouck and Alex Franklin. They also played the toughest schedule in the nation this year. The Saints battled heavyweights Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pitt and Kansas. However, Siena lost all of those games. The Buckeyes come in hot, winners of five of their last seven games. This game features an explosive offensive team in Siena (77.7 PPG) against a stout defensive squad in the Buckeyes (61.6 PPG). The Saints won't be afraid of OSU but whether or not they can pull the upset remains to be seen.

Potential Blowout: West Virginia over Dayton - Truth be told, it was hard for me to pick a blowout in this region. The Midwest has the best set of first round games in my opinion. But I could see this game possibly being an easy win for West Virginia. Dayton plays great defense but they are one of the most offensively inept teams in the Tournament. Because of that things could turn ugly if the Flyers have one of their long scoring droughts. This game could end up being like the UNLV/Kent matchup from a year ago when the MAC champions couldn't hit a shot in the first half and got blown off the floor. For those of you who haven't seen West Virginia play don't be surprised if they make a run in this tournament. They don't have many stars but the Mountaineers play well as a team.

Possible Upset: Cleveland State over Wake Forest - The Demon Deacons couldn't have gotten a worse draw. What a terrible matchup for a young Wake Forest team. Cleveland State is like a fly buzzing around that's impossible to kill. The Vikings slow the game down to a snail's pace and allow just 59.8 PPG. That could really frustrate a young Wake team that likes to get out and run. The Deacs have a big advantage in size down low so if Cleveland State is cold from the field, they won't get many second chance opportunities. Wake Forest is loaded with talent and may end up in the Final Four but this is a very dangerous first round draw for the Demon Deacons.

Overrated: Kansas - Bill Self did an amazing job with this young Jayhawks team. But I think they are overrated because the Big 12 was really down this year. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich give KU a nice 1-2 scoring punch but the Jayhawks struggle at times when that third scorer doesn't step up. And while Kansas has a good defense by the numbers, they really had trouble stopping people late in the year. The Jayhawks will be an elite team once again in 2010 but this year the defending champs could be exiting the Tournament early.

Sleeper: Boston College - This isn't a homer pick, I just really the make-up of this Eagles team. I'm big on guard play and I think the combination of Tyrese Rice and Rakim Sanders can take the Eagles a long way. BC shoots the ball extremely well but they need to play better on the defensive end if they are going to make a deep run in the Tournament. The Eagles have proven they can play with elite teams by beating both North Carolina and Duke. Rice is one of those players who can put a team on his back and if BC gets by USC in the first round I think they can do some damage.

Possible Cinderella - North Dakota State: I already mentioned that Cleveland State has a shot to pull the upset but another team to watch is North Dakota State. The Bison can flat out shoot the basketball, ranking third in the country in field goal percentage and fifth in scoring. They have a star player in Ben Woodside, who scored 23 PPG during the regular season. I already stated above that Kansas has had problems stopping people late in the year. If the Jayhawks continue to allow open looks, North Dakota State has the shooters to take advantage of that and pull the upset.

Fright Night's Midwest Region Winner: Louisville - I have to go with the Cards here. Until recently they haven't gotten the respect they deserve for what they did in the Big East this year. The Cards are sound in every phase of the game and have one of the best coaches in the country. I'm going with the 'Ville to come out of this region and cut down the nets in Detroit.

Blog Post: Fright Night's Bracket Breakdown: East Region

Fright Night — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:06:00 GMT

Let's take a closer look at the East Region, which is led by the physical Pitt Panthers and surging Duke Blue Devils.

Most Intriguing Game: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma State - The Cowboys have been playing great basketball over the last month of the season. Oklahoma State is one of the more exciting teams in the nation to watch due to its up tempo pace and reliance on the three-point shot. On the other hand, Tennessee has played the role of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. On some nights the Vols look like world beaters and other nights they can't get out of their own way. If the good Tennessee shows up for it should be one heck of an entertaining game to watch. Both of these teams average around 80 points per game and the matchup between versatile big men Wayne Chism and Byron Eaton will be a good one. The winner of this game could pose a serious threat to Pitt in Round 2.

Potential Blowout: Florida State over Wisconsin - The Badgers play the type of slow down style that can be a thorn in their opponent's side come tournament time. But the problem here is FSU doesn't mind getting down and dirty either. Florida State is a defensive minded bunch as well, allowing teams to shoot just 38.6 against them this season. I think the Seminoles are one of the toughest teams to match up with in this tournament. They have a bevy of athletes who are big and long. That allows them to cover a lot of ground on the defensive end. And Toney Douglas is primed to explode on the big stage. The public is backing FSU big but in all reality, they probably should be.

Possible Upset: VCU over UCLA - In the alphabet soup game, the underdog has a legitimate shot to pull an outright upset. VCU is a tough, defensive minded basketball team led by quick point guard Eric Maynor. The Rams are also a good rebounding team and allow opponents to shoot just 39 percent against them. UCLA is surprisingly weak on the defensive end of the floor this year allowing teams to hit 45 percent against them. The Bruins do lead the country in field goal percentage and have started running more over the last month. The battle between guards Maynor and Darren Collison will be worth the price of admission. VCU has a real chance here but the only bad thing is this seems to be the "in vogue" upset pick and those rarely pan out.

Overrated: Duke - The Blue Devils are very well coached and possess three good players in Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer. The problem I see with Duke is they lack the depth to make a serious championship run. If two of the Blue Devils big three players are off, they have problems scoring. And very few teams in the country rely on the three-point shot as much as the Blue Devils. If they have a bad night, Duke is very vulnerable due to their lack of a strong inside presence. If Duke has to play Texas in the second round, it could be another early tournament exit for the Blue Devils.

Sleeper: Texas - The Longhorns were terribly inconsistent this year but they still have a lot of talent. Those kinds of teams can be dangerous in a tournament format because they get a second life after a disappointing regular season. If you look at the Longhorns bracket, it sets up for a possible run to the Elite 8 if they play up to their potential. Texas has been better offensively since Dogus Balbay took over at point guard but they still suffer from scoring droughts and mental lapses on defense. The Horns have a favorable first round match-up with Minnesota and they can certainly play with Duke, Villanova and UCLA if they are on top of their game.

Possible Cinderella: Portland State - The Vikings are a very dangerous No. 13 seed. Portland State has the one major ingredient needed to pull off a big upset: Good guard play. Jeremiah Dominguez and Andre Murray can both play and will present a big challenge for Xavier. The Vikings also shoot the ball well. They shot 45 percent from the field and 38 percent from long range this year. Portland State gave Washington and Baylor all they could handle on the road earlier this year, so Xavier will need to bring its A game against the Vikings.

Fright Night's East Region Winner: Florida State - This is a tough region for me to pick. I really like Pitt, Florida State and Villanova. But like I said I think the Seminoles are a very dangerous team. I'm going with Douglas to have a huge tournament and for the Seminoles to come out of what I think is a very tough region.

Blog Post: Fright Night's Bracket Breakdown - West Region

Fright Night — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:36:00 GMT

Now that the brackets are out I will be breaking down each region over the next couple of days with my predictions. I would love to hear feedback from you guys on how you think these regions will play out. Let's start out West where UConn and Memphis headline a group with a lot of offensive firepower.

Most Intriguing Game: Washington vs. Mississippi State - This has a chance to be a very entertaining game. For the second year in a row an SEC team caught fire and stole a tournament bid. The question is: Can the Bulldogs keep the magical run going? Jarvis Vanardo is playing great ball right now and will pose a challenge for Jon Brockman in the paint. Isaiah Thomas leads the Huskies potent three-guard attack that will no doubt try to turn this into a track meet. This could be a wild one.

Potential Blowout: Purdue over Northern Iowa - I love the Missouri Valley but this was a down year for the conference. You need to look no further than Bracket Buster weekend when Northern Iowa and Illinois State were demolished my MAAC schools Siena and Niagara. Both Valley teams looked slow and unathletic in those games. Normally this would be a great spot to take the Panthers catching nine points. But the Boilermakers have too many athletes for Northern Iowa to handle. Don't be surprised if this one turns ugly.

Possible Upset: Utah State over Marquette - This is a bad draw for Marquette. Utah State can really slow the game down and take the air out of the ball. Marquette likes to get up and down the court and I really see Utah State frustrating the Eagles by playing tough defense. Utah State also hits 40 percent from behind the arc so if their shots are falling, Marquette will be going home early.

Overrated: UConn - If there is a more undisciplined, sloppy team in college basketball than UConn I haven't seen them. I am not questioning the Huskies talent by any means but I've seen a lot of things from this team over the last month that I don't like. Throw in the loss of Jerome Dyson and I won't be shocked if UConn exits the tourney sooner than expected.

Sleeper: Texas A&M - Read above. The Aggies must get by BYU first but if they do, they match up very well with UConn because of their match-up zone. UConn gets into a bad habit of settling too much for long range shots and neglecting its big men when teams play zone against them. If they do that against the Aggies, A&M could be headed to the Sweet 16.

Possible Cinderella: Cornell - A possible Cinderella is a team that could pull off a shocking win. In this region that team might be the Big Red. I really like Missouri and I don't see them getting upset here but this game represents a huge contrast in styles. And as we've seen many times in the Tournament, if one team can slow down an opponent that likes to run and can also hit some shots, they have a chance. Cornell is a smart team that could frustrate the Tigers if they are cold from the field early on.

Fright Night's West Region Winner: Memphis - I think the Tigers have a pretty nice road to get out of this region. Missouri plays a similar style as Memphis but I give Calipari's boys a big edge on the defensive side. And as I stated above, I wouldn't be surprised to see UConn get upset. I really like Memphis' chances of returning to another Final Four.

Blog: JB Sports

JB Sports — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:08:00 GMT

Blog: Fright Night

Fright Night — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:06:00 GMT

Blog: Genie

Genie — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:16:00 GMT

Blog Post: Football Picks: The Mush's Week 11 NFL Fades

Tommy Rider — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:55:00 GMT

The Mush is feeling good after his perfect 5-0 week.

Well, The Mush is in high spirits after evening his record on the season with a blistering 5-0 week. He's now 23-23 for the year and a strong 7-3 with his best bets. I have a feeling he's in for a tough week but we'll see. Here are The Mush's picks in the NFL for Week 11:

Colts -9 (Best Bet)
The Mush has been riding the Colts for the past few weeks and that trend will continue on Sunday. Mush thinks the Texans have packed it in and that Indy is finally playing like we all expected they would before the season. "Did you see the Texans last week with that stiff quarterback? That guy is terrible and the last time he faced the Colts he blew the game all by himself. Colts roll." The money is pretty split on this game at the moments, with 53 percent of the people siding with Mush.

Fade The Mush: Texans +9

Cowboys -1
No doubt about this one. I would have killed myself if Mush wasn't on his favorite team this week. Obviously Mush and I strongly disagree on what direction the Cowboys are headed. The Redskins will probably be on my card this week but Mush is backing the Boys. "The Cowboys are going to go on a run now that Romo is back. This will be a different team on Sunday. You'll see." Apparently Romo is going to be coaching and playing defense in Mush's cockeyed world.

Fade The Mush: Redskins +1

Eagles -9
The Eagles have to take to the road after a tough defeat last week against the Giants. This could be a letdown spot for Philly but Mush isn't buying that theory. "How are the Bengals going to score? The Eagles will blitz that high school quarterback all day long. This one is easy money fellas." Not surprisingly, close to 80 percent of the bets are coming in on the Eagles.

Fade The Mush: Bengals +9

Dolphins -10
It's hard to argue with Mush's "Fade the Raiders" philosophy seeing they are a team in disaray. This week Al Davis took the playcalling duties away from OC Greg Knapp and Mush thinks that's even more reason to bet against Oakland. "Who is going to be calling plays? Al Davis? That guy doesn't even know his own name. Fade the Raiders and win money. It's that simple." Right now 60 percent of the people agree with Mush's theory.

Fade The Mush: Raiders +10

Season Record: 23-23
Best Bets: 7-3

Blog Post: Sports Betting Preview Show (10/30/08) - LISTEN NOW!

Tommy Rider — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:19:00 GMT

This week's edition of the Sports Betting Preview Show is now up and ready to go. In this week's show, Tommy Rider, Matty O'Shea, The Godfather Marco D'Angelo and Vegas-Runner discuss the following topics:

--The start of the NBA season and how we approach it gambling wise

--Games of the Week (Florida/Georgia, Texas/Texas Tech)

--Bad Beat of the Week

--E-mail Question of the Week

--Exclusive Weekly Selections (Matty on Fire!)

Click Here to Listen Now!

Blog Post: Rider's NFL Whispers (10/29/08)

Tommy Rider — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:25:00 GMT

Will Bill Parcells and the Dolphins regret passing up on Matt Ryan for Jake Long?

Not much going on this week guys. The phones have been kind of dead. Here is what I was able to scrape up from the people I talked to around the NFL:

--I wrote in this column a couple of weeks ago that Carson Palmer could be shut down for the year and that appears to be the case. Another quarterback that could be done in 2008 is the Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck. From what I'm hearing, Hasselbeck's back isn't improving much and if it doesn't get better in the next week or two, his season will likely be over. The team isn't a Super Bowl contender and its not going to risk the long-term health of its franchise quarterback. Look for Seneca Wallace to be the starter for the rest of the season if Hasselbeck can't go.

--San Fran has finally made the switch to Shaun Hill at quarterback and this could give the team a bit of a boost on offense. If you remember I wrote this summer that the veterans on the 49ers felt like Hill deserved to be the starting quarterback. Hill played solid at the end of last year and a lot of the players thought he should have gotten the nod over J.T. O'Sullivan. I don't think anyone other than Mike Martz thought that O'Sullivan could play in the NFL. Hill better give it his all though or Mike Singletary might tell him to hit the showers like Vernon Davis, a move he is being applauded for around the league.

--Reports out of Arizona have Cardinals coach Ken Wisenhunt saying Tim Hightower could replace the declining Edgerrin James as the starting running back at some point this season. I broke down film of Hightower in college and even though he played at Division I-AA Richmond, I was very impressed with him. I had Hightower listed as one of my deep sleepers in this year's draft. It's obvious that The Edge is finished and while Hightower is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry right now, I really think this kid could be a solid NFL running back. From the people I talked to, there is a general consensus that the Edge is all done.

--The most interesting thing I heard this week was a criticism of Bill Parcells. While everyone is stroking The Tuna for making Miami more competitive this season, the NFL Insider I spoke with brought up an interesting point. Matt Ryan is being talked about as one of the best rookie quarterbacks ever and a future star. Yet, Parcells and the Dolphins passed on him with the first overall pick in the draft. "They blew it. They really blew it. Everyone you talk to thinks Ryan has all the skills to be the next superstar NFL quarterback. Parcells passed that up to take Jake Long. Long looks to be a good player but you can find other Jake Longs. You can't find a lot of franchise quarterbacks and that's something Miami hasn't had since Dan Marino retired. For all the gushing the media down in Miami is doing over Parcells, they forget to mention he may have passed on the next John Elway."

Blog Post: College Football Picks: Week 10 Dogs with Bite!

Tommy Rider — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:32:00 GMT

Michael Smith and the Hogs will run away from Tulsa on Saturday.

It's hard to believe we are already in Week 10. The college football season is almost over. I guess it's time to get ready for college hoops. These leans went 3-2 again last week, including two more outright winners with Duke and Rutgers. Over the last five weeks, these underdogs have gone 3-2 or better each time, with six outright winners. Here are some dogs with bite for Week 10:

UConn +4
The entire world is going to be on West Virginia this week but I think the Huskies have a real chance of pulling off the upset at home. First off, UConn is one of the best home teams in CFB. They rarely lose there and I'm still not sold on West Virginia with that idiot Bill Stewart running the show. The Huskies have a tough defense and will be looking to avenge an embarrassing loss last season in Morgantown. This is a classic November game that the public usually gets hammered on.

Duke +7.5
What is going on with Wake Forest? Last week against Miami Riley Skinner only attempted eight passes for the entire game. I'm not sure what kind of offense that's supposed to be. Duke has been a solid underdog play this year and I'm going to keep riding them here. David Cutcliffe is doing a great job with the Blue Devils and they have a shot to reach a bowl a game this year. I just can't lay more than a touchdown with a Wake squad that's having trouble scoring 10 points a game.

San Diego State +3
The Aztecs are bad but Wyoming is in an entire different world of being bad right now. I have to go against the Cowboys just on principle here. The only team they should be favorite against is Washington State. While both of these teams stink, at least San Diego State is still trying, which is why I think they get the win here over a Wyoming team that's given up on the season a long time ago.

Arkansas +6.5
Now Tulsa is laying almost a touchdown on the road to an SEC team? Give me a break. This is going to be a classic case of SEC power dominating this game. Michael Smith will run for at least 200 yards on that saggy Tulsa defense. Arkansas is a much improved team from earlier in the year, losing its last two games by a combined three points. Tulsa's passing attack may look great against North Texas and they will score some points here but the Golden Hurricane is making a huge jump in class in terms of speed and athleticism. I like the Hogs to win this game outright.

Pitt +5.5
The old Stache. Last week I advised taking Rutgers because that was the kind of game that makes Dave Wannstedt a terrible coach. Little did I know the Scarlet Knights were going to score 54 points and blow Pitt out of the water. But just as last week was a perfect spot to go against the Stache, this is a perfect spot to back him. Notre Dame is extremely overvalued because they beat up on a high school team last week. While I think the Irish are much-improved from a year ago, I see these two teams being even so I'll take the 5.5 points in what could be an upset in South Bend.

Blog Post: College Football Picks: Week 9 Dogs with Bite!

Tommy Rider — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:24:00 GMT

Tommy Rider believes that No. 1 Texas is going down this week.

I usually do this earlier in the week but I have been slacking off lately. These are just opinions but they have done pretty well over the last three weeks, going 3-2, 3-2 and 4-1. Here are the underdogs I think pack some bite for Week 9:

Rutgers +10
This is a Stache special. Why is Dave Wannstedt such a bad coach? Because of games like this one. Pitt is playing well and Rutgers has struggled this season. So this should be an easy win for the Panthers, right? Not so fast. I can see Pitt coming out flat in this game. That is where the coaching comes in. The Panthers won't be mentally prepared to handle a team they should beat and because of that, I think there is a good chance Rutgers can stay within this number. Like I said, this game is made for Wannstedt to screw up.

Duke +10.5
Some teams don't make good double-digit favorites. Vanderbilt is one of those teams. Since 2003, Vanderbilt has been a double-digit favorite five times and they are 2-3 over that span, with one cover by a single point. Also, this is a bad spot for Vandy. They just played a couple of emotional SEC games and have more on deck. Plus, the pressure is on them right now because they need one more win to be bowl eligible. Programs like Vanderbilt aren't used to that kind of pressure and I think they will have a tough time with an improved Duke squad this Saturday.

SMU +12
I'm going to keep riding the Ponies here. SMU had a chance to beat both Tulsa and Houston but blew leads in each game by being outscored 35-3 in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs aren't good yet but they are getting better, particularly on offense where freshman quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is coming on strong. If there is one thing you can do against Navy it's pass the football. This should be a high-scoring game but I see SMU's offense doing enough to cover the high number.

Colorado +24.5
I've seen this happen too many times to teams in CFB. Teams that are National Title contenders before the season and then drop a couple of games in a row to pretty much ruin their season. Now comes lowly Colorado. Missouri should get back on track at home against the Buffs, right? I'm not so sure. I think it's going to be awfully tough for Chase Daniel and the boys to rebound after the butt-kicking they took last week at the hands of Texas. Remember, we aren't talking about just winning the game here, we're talking about covering a 24.5 point spread. I just can't see it happening. I like the Buffs to keep this game close and I wouldn't be shocked at all if Missouri falls for a third week in a row.

Oklahoma State +12
If there is a game where Texas may not be sharp mentally, I think this is the one. The Horns just played two huge games against Oklahoma and Missouri. Now they have to face a dangerous Oklahoma State squad that's playing lights out right now. If you read my blogs over the summer, you know I thought the Cowboys had a shot at a New Year's Day bowl because I love Zac Robinson and that offense. However, what's shocked me is the play of their defense. They don't have great statistical numbers but OSU held both Missouri and Baylor - two explosive offenses - in check. As I said on our podcast this week, I believe Robinson to be the best dual threat quarterback in the nation and that includes Tim Tebow. I think Robinson busts on the National scene this week and leads Oklahoma State to an upset over the No. 1 Longhorns. Hey, why didn't I make this play my Underdog Game of the Month? lol

Blog Post: Football Picks: The Mush's Week 8 NFL Fades

Tommy Rider — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:51:00 GMT

If you want your wallet to look like George Costanza's, don't follow The Mush.

I'm a huge Seinfeld fan to the point where 40 percent of my spoken language comes from Seinfeld episodes (The other 60 percent comes from movie lines). One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes ever is when George Costanza does the opposite of everything he normally does because every decision he's ever made has been wrong. As Jerry said, "If every decision you've ever made has been wrong, then the opposite would have to be right."

I have this friend who has been gambling for 20 years and I think he's collected twice in his whole life. Luckily, he offers other services that provide a steady income. I won't get into specifics but let's just say he doesn't fill out a tax return at the end of the year. This guy is such a pear-shaped loser, that he's become known as "The Mush" to those of us who know him best. You want to see square. The only time this guy bets an underdog is when it's one of those obvious underdogs like the Cowboys getting two-points at Philly or something like that. People often ask me, "How do you win at sports gambling." While I never give them this answer, the obvious response is "Fade The Mush." The funny thing is, this guy actually thinks he's a good gambler. I once asked him, "When is the last time you collected?" His response was, "I collect all the time. You are the jinx. Every time I tell you my plays, I lose."

So I called The Mush this week and he's agreed to give me all of his plays this NFL season so I can track them. I got to thinking and I figured, why not share these losers with the Pregame community? So every week I will call The Mush on Thursday and ask him his plays, then post them here. Like I said, this guy is a born loser.

Thanks to a late safety in the Giants game, The Mush managed to squeak out a 2-2 week, which included an easy win on the Titans as his best bet. As I looked over the card this week, I saw what I think is going to be a tough day for Mush on Sunday. Let's see if I'm right. Here are The Mush's plays for Week 8:

Ravens -9 (Best Bet)
This one surprised me a little bit but like I said, this is a tough card for a guy who bets the way Mush does. I understand the theory that the Ravens will shut down the Raiders but I'm not sure if I want to jump all over a team that struggles to score nine points, forget about trying to cover that number. That didn't discourage Mush. "At best the Raiders will score a touchdown. That means if the Ravens score 17, I win. Easy money." In a stunning upset, 76 percent of the people agree with Mush on this play.

Fade The Mush: Raiders +9

Bills -1
I actually thought this would be Mush's best bet. The Bills are flying high after beating the Chargers and now must travel to Miami to face a team with a losing record that just lost at home last week to the Ravens. What a surprise, they suckered Mush into this play. I think Miami wins this one but Mush disagreed. "What are they going to do? Run that college offense you like so much? Teams have figured that out. The Bills are the much better team here and unless Miami breaks out the Wishbone, they have no chance." The people chose Mush over me on this one, as 83 percent of the public is backing Buffalo.

Fade The Mush: Dolphins +1

Patriots -9
After dismantling the Broncos on Monday night, the Pats prepare to take on a suddenly red-hot Rams team, winners of two straight. A lot of people feel like the Patriots found themselves last week and not to anyone's surprise, Mush is one of those people. "Now that the Patriots have finally learned to live without Tommy...Rider, I think they are going to go on a run. Besides, I think you were holding that team back. The Cowboys laid down last week. The Rams still suck and it will show against the Pats." So far, 67 percent of the public is with Mush in believing the Pats winning ways will continue.

Fade The Mush: Rams +9

Redskins -7.5
The Skins haven't fared that well as a big favorite the last two weeks but that doesn't scare Mush at all. I think the Redskins will be a great dog play this year but I'm not sold on them as a favorite. I had them last week against Cleveland and while we might have won if Clinton Portis didn't fumble, it was still an ugly game. But according to Mush, it won't matter this week. "What's more likely to happen? The Lions win a game or you go 8-0 with your picks? I think we found out. Detroit will win one game this year and it won't be this week. Redskins roll." Not much of a surprise that 72 percent of the money is coming in against the Lions.

Fade The Mush: Lions +7.5

Jets -13.5
The Jets are almost a two touchdown favorite, despite losing last week at Oakland. I guess that shows the state of the Kansas City Chiefs right now. I'm not sure that the Jets should ever be this high of a favorite but the way KC is playing right now, I can't argue betting against them. Neither can Mush. "I'm just fading the Chiefs. Fade the Chiefs every week and you will win money." Well, it looks like 66 percent of the people are going to win money this week.

Fade The Mush: Chiefs +13.5

Mush's Season Record: 13-18
Best Bets: 4-3

Blog Post: Sports Betting Preview Show (10/23/08) - LISTEN NOW!

Tommy Rider — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:16:00 GMT

This week's edition of the Sports Betting Preview Show is now up and ready to go. In this edition Tommy Rider, Matty O'Shea, The Godfather Marco D'Angelo and Vegas-Runner discuss the following topics:

--The World Series from a gambling perspective

--Game of the Week (Giants at Steelers)

--Bad Beat of the Week

--Matty going off on The Godfather for "sucking"

--E-mail Question of the Week

--Exclusive Podcast selections from Pregame Handicappers

Click Here to Listen Now!

Blog Post: Rider's NFL Whispers (10/22/08)

Tommy Rider — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:37:00 GMT

Tommy Rider says Laurence Maroney can kiss New England good-bye after the season.

Below are some tidbits I've gathered from different sources. Keep in mind that I'm passing along this information. It's not my OPINION. If I want to add my thoughts after I post the info, I'll write it under "Tommy's Two-Cents." Also, these are RUMORS. A lot of media people and personnel guys hear things but media people, in particular, can't just publish everything they hear. That's where I come in. I'm not stating these things as fact, just buzz going around the league. If you don't like that sort of thing then you probably won't like this column. I have no favorites. If I hear something on Tony Romo, I will let you know about it. I will run this whispers segment once a week if you guys find it interesting and helpful.

--If you have been following this column, you know I've said more than once that Laurence Maroney has played his final game with the Patriots. Well, Bill Belichick made that official this week by placing Maroney on IR with a "shoulder injury." The truth is, Maroney is about as injured as I am. After that play against San Fran that I mentioned two weeks ago where he ran out of bounds instead of trying for the first down, Maroney sealed his fate in New England. Belichick has given him plenty of chances to get on board with the program but he just doesn't get it. So why put him on IR? Because now he won't be around the team, so the coaching staff doesn't have to worry about the "playful" Maroney distracting anyone. As expected, I've been told that Maroney's locker has already been cleared out and he will either be traded or released this offseason. Any way you slice it, he's played his last down in New England. I really wish I could tell you what Vince Wilfork once told us about Maroney but I don't want to start any trouble. I'll give you one hint, look at the picture at the top of this page.

One last thing about the Patriots. As expected, Rodney Harrison's career is over. I know someone who spoke to him personally and Harrison told him, "I'm all done brother."

--Speaking of running backs who have worn out their welcome, I'm told by a pretty informed NFL Insider that this is Larry Johnson's final season in Kansas City. As reported, the Chiefs tried to move LJ before the trade deadline but no team wanted him. However, expect that to change this offseason. Johnson will be moved before the draft and the NFL Insider I spoke to said the Steelers and Broncos are two teams likely to pursue the disgruntled back.

--For those of you waiting for the Colts to wake up, you could be in for a long wait. I spoke to an NFL scout and asked him about Indy's problems so far this season. His response? The team isn't very good. "I grade out the teams on how they play, not what their record is," he said. "Right now, the Colts are a one-win team. They have only played one good game all year. The defense is the same as its always been but it's magnified now because the offense isn't nearly as productive as it was in the past. The team looks old. The line can't block anyone, the receivers can't get open and Manning is out of rhythm to the point where he looks lost at times. They just aren't a very good football team."

--Don't expect an NFL team to ever do what the Seahawks did by naming a new coach and making the other guy a lame duck. That doesn't work when you are trying to lead players who make $20 million a year. His players don't respect him and you can see that he is just thinking about his next tee time. According to one I spoke to, "It's just a mess up there right now. How can Holmgren preach to his team not to quit on the season when he is quiting after the season? The players just aren't responding to him the way they used to. Internally the Seahawks know they made a mistake by keeping Holmgren on for one more year and at this point, they just can't wait for this nightmare season to come to an end."