Sun Belt a Mystery...
That was my best handicapping weekend this season, 4-1 vs. the spread, & no NFL picks at all. Home teams in CAPS, my picks listed first.
virginia tech(-9)34 WEST VIRGINIA 17
AUBURN(-14.5)48 south carolina 7
LOUISVILLE(-38.5)61 florida atlantic 10
notre dame(+3)49 PURDUE 28
arkansas state (-3)27 LOUISIANA-MONROE 31
As you can see, the only game I missed was Arkansas State against Louisiana-Monroe. I know basically nothing about the Sun Belt conference, and I guess it shows. I have been doing pretty well picking against ESPN's "Bottom Ten," however, (see the Louisville score, for instance) and the Bottom Ten is, um, well...DOMINATED by the Sun Belt conference. Now, Arkansas State HAD been in the bottom ten, but had posted two victories in which they scored 50+ points, and were no longer there. Perhaps now they will be back....
Meanwhile, I continue to take some pride in my non-picks. I considered taking Boston College and laying 38.5 vs. Ball State, but did not, and they FAILED to cover, 38-0. I also refrained from taking the Bucs and the Pats, and the Bucs failed to cover, while the Patriots actually lost outright....
I had almost blocked it out--my worst fears were realized as Michigan State choked in overtime and lost to Michigan. Of course, while I hoped for the best, this outcome did not surprise me. I don't know if I am truly superstitious when it comes to this rivalry, I am used to suffering at the hands of the Wolverines. It is probably the dynamic of being at the short end of this interstate rivalry that eventually turned me into a Mets fan. I had been one in the 80's, but that was because they had picked up two of my favorite National Leaguers [Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter] and then brought up Dwight Gooden. I think the first time I saw him pitch was in the '84 All Star game, where he struck out the heart of the AL order on nine straight strikes. Sorta' got my attention. In the '80's I had liked the Mets because they were good. While they did come around, I started rooting for them again in the late 90's for entirely different reasons. I was living in New York, but just couldn't bring myself to root for those damn Yankees. I think I had decided that following losers was indicative of good character, or at least a character builder. If the Spartans did not teach me this I think it was the Detroit Lions!
The baseball playoffs are upon us, and I am all geared up to root against the Yankees again. Unfortunately, my two favorite teams of those remaining are playing each other in the other bracket. I am much more of a Red Sox than a White Sox fan, but I have money on Chicago to win the Pennant. I got them at 9-1 back when they and the Orioles were off to their respective roaring starts. In the NL I have $$ on Houston to win the Pennant, I believe at 8-1. This wager came after their midseason surge, around the time they got within a couple games of the wild card lead. Last year I collected on the Cardnails at 10-1. I like to look for undervalued longshots.
If the Red Sox had not finally ended their drought last year I would definitely be pulling for them. I guess I still am, but my pride as a handicapper, not to mention the Southsiders' own losing streak has me pulling for the Pale Hose as well, as much as anybody is, I suppose. Ultimately though, I think I have to root for a repeat, because if the Angels can't get it done, one of these pair of Sox will have to beat the Yankees. I'm not sure the White Sox are up for it.
Nobody else seem to think they are ready for prime time either. They were only one game worse than the Cardnails at the end, and have homefield advantage for the AL playoffs, but seem to be taken less seriously than any playoff team but the Padres....
Where are the White Sox fans? I know I'm in Korea and what not, but this is the land of the cheap athletic jersey (bootleg or otherwise) and about all the Sox jerseys you'll see here are RED. Why not? Boston did just win the World Series of course, but Chicago got off to one of the best starts in recent memory, and you'd never guess it based on the gear people are wearing over here. Now, part of the problem may be that the only "name" Sox jerseys avalable here are Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan. That's why I haven't bought one. Some of these are really nice, but Jordan is a Chicago Bull. He was a basketball player. And while Bo Jackson was a legitimate major leaguer, I would still be more likely to pick up an Auburn throwback than his Sox jersey, especially the way they've been making me look like a handicapping genius this year. (Of course, so has Notre Dame and their long-suffering voodoo doll!) Hasn't anyone ever heard of Frank Thomas? The Big Hurt?? Maybe Harold Baines? I know Carlton Fisk is better known for his time with the Red Sox, but hey, you can get a Joe Namath L.A. Rams jersey, so what the hell?
virginia tech(-9)34 WEST VIRGINIA 17
AUBURN(-14.5)48 south carolina 7
LOUISVILLE(-38.5)61 florida atlantic 10
notre dame(+3)49 PURDUE 28
arkansas state (-3)27 LOUISIANA-MONROE 31
As you can see, the only game I missed was Arkansas State against Louisiana-Monroe. I know basically nothing about the Sun Belt conference, and I guess it shows. I have been doing pretty well picking against ESPN's "Bottom Ten," however, (see the Louisville score, for instance) and the Bottom Ten is, um, well...DOMINATED by the Sun Belt conference. Now, Arkansas State HAD been in the bottom ten, but had posted two victories in which they scored 50+ points, and were no longer there. Perhaps now they will be back....
Meanwhile, I continue to take some pride in my non-picks. I considered taking Boston College and laying 38.5 vs. Ball State, but did not, and they FAILED to cover, 38-0. I also refrained from taking the Bucs and the Pats, and the Bucs failed to cover, while the Patriots actually lost outright....
I had almost blocked it out--my worst fears were realized as Michigan State choked in overtime and lost to Michigan. Of course, while I hoped for the best, this outcome did not surprise me. I don't know if I am truly superstitious when it comes to this rivalry, I am used to suffering at the hands of the Wolverines. It is probably the dynamic of being at the short end of this interstate rivalry that eventually turned me into a Mets fan. I had been one in the 80's, but that was because they had picked up two of my favorite National Leaguers [Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter] and then brought up Dwight Gooden. I think the first time I saw him pitch was in the '84 All Star game, where he struck out the heart of the AL order on nine straight strikes. Sorta' got my attention. In the '80's I had liked the Mets because they were good. While they did come around, I started rooting for them again in the late 90's for entirely different reasons. I was living in New York, but just couldn't bring myself to root for those damn Yankees. I think I had decided that following losers was indicative of good character, or at least a character builder. If the Spartans did not teach me this I think it was the Detroit Lions!
The baseball playoffs are upon us, and I am all geared up to root against the Yankees again. Unfortunately, my two favorite teams of those remaining are playing each other in the other bracket. I am much more of a Red Sox than a White Sox fan, but I have money on Chicago to win the Pennant. I got them at 9-1 back when they and the Orioles were off to their respective roaring starts. In the NL I have $$ on Houston to win the Pennant, I believe at 8-1. This wager came after their midseason surge, around the time they got within a couple games of the wild card lead. Last year I collected on the Cardnails at 10-1. I like to look for undervalued longshots.
If the Red Sox had not finally ended their drought last year I would definitely be pulling for them. I guess I still am, but my pride as a handicapper, not to mention the Southsiders' own losing streak has me pulling for the Pale Hose as well, as much as anybody is, I suppose. Ultimately though, I think I have to root for a repeat, because if the Angels can't get it done, one of these pair of Sox will have to beat the Yankees. I'm not sure the White Sox are up for it.
Nobody else seem to think they are ready for prime time either. They were only one game worse than the Cardnails at the end, and have homefield advantage for the AL playoffs, but seem to be taken less seriously than any playoff team but the Padres....
Where are the White Sox fans? I know I'm in Korea and what not, but this is the land of the cheap athletic jersey (bootleg or otherwise) and about all the Sox jerseys you'll see here are RED. Why not? Boston did just win the World Series of course, but Chicago got off to one of the best starts in recent memory, and you'd never guess it based on the gear people are wearing over here. Now, part of the problem may be that the only "name" Sox jerseys avalable here are Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan. That's why I haven't bought one. Some of these are really nice, but Jordan is a Chicago Bull. He was a basketball player. And while Bo Jackson was a legitimate major leaguer, I would still be more likely to pick up an Auburn throwback than his Sox jersey, especially the way they've been making me look like a handicapping genius this year. (Of course, so has Notre Dame and their long-suffering voodoo doll!) Hasn't anyone ever heard of Frank Thomas? The Big Hurt?? Maybe Harold Baines? I know Carlton Fisk is better known for his time with the Red Sox, but hey, you can get a Joe Namath L.A. Rams jersey, so what the hell?
posted by roQQ | 6:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home