Mega Bets

Super Bowl XLV and 2010 Sign Off

2/7/2011

Twilights Last Reaming!

Super Bowl XLV - Green Bay -2.5 and Over 44.5
It was a game of mistakes and errors. The miscues started even before the game. After initially being turned away at the gate and to the chants of "Jerry Sucks!" - approximately 850 fans with tickets had to be relocated. After the game started another 400 fans never did get their seats and were taken inside to watch the game on monitors.

Then, Christina Aguilera totally botched the National Anthem including skipping lines, singing lines twice and apparently its "twilights last reaming" Guess I've been singing it wrong all these years. Felt sorry for the lady doing the signing for the deaf. Wonder if she followed Christina or did it the right way? Either way - CA went well over the 1:54 - a good omen.

Its Super Bowl Week!!

2/1/2011

I needed some mental floss to clear out all the stupid factoids

America's biggest party spotlights its two most storied franchises (and most annoying fan bases - excepting perhaps the Cowboys and Jets). Between them - the Steelers and Packers played in 11
of the last 44 Super Bowls - a full 25% and won 9 (over 20%). After tomorrow that will be 10 wins in 45 Super Bowls. Amazingly - for as much success as these teams have had - they have never played each other in the playoffs. (If you want to win a bar bet - ask who was the last team to beat Vince Lombardi. Answer - a 4-9-1 Pittsburgh team. Green Bay had locked up a playoff spot an was playing their second and third stringers).

And these two versions are no flukes. They got here the old fashioned way - with their defenses. Pittsburgh had the number 2 defense this year while Green Bay finished fifth. The offenses were very good but not great as the Steelers were number 14th in yards per game and Green Bay 9th.

The Interminable Bye Week

1/25/2011

I got to get a life

Coaching Carousel Update:
OK - I have finally gone off the geek end. You know you are too deep into it when you start coming up with questions that the professional
writers hadn't come up with. In going over the new HCs for next year I saw that Mark Hudspeth was appointed HC for the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. Mark was passing game coordiantor at Mississippi State and prior to that was HC at Div II North Alabama (where he was replaced by Terry Bowden).

The question that no one seems to know is whether he is related to former Detroit Lions HC Tommy Hudspeth. Tommy was HC at BYU when in a flash of foresight stepped down so his assistant Lavell Edwards could take over. Great move for BYU.

Week 21- Championship Week

1/18/2011

Defensive Holding?? Are you kidding me????

Week 20 Results:
Baltimore +3.5 at Pittsburgh - I was robbed!! The Ravens jumped to a 21-7 lead by halftime due to two Pittsburgh turnovers deep inside Steeler territory. But the Ravens offense and Joe Flacco in particular were struggling all day. In the third quarter Pittsburgh returned the favor by scoring 14 points off 2 Raven's turnovers and the score was tied. The teams traded FG's in the 4th setting up the deciding drive.

With 2 minutes left Pittsburgh completes a bomb to the Ravens 4 yd line. Now - if the Ravens can hold and force a FG my trip to the Mirage to get the 3.5 might just pay off.

On 1st down Roethlisberger throws an incomplete pass. On second down the Ravens stuff the run - and there's a flag at the line. Excellent - this will be holding on the Steelers and it will be second and goal from the 14!! But noooooo - the call is defensive holding. I've been watching football for a long long time and seen way too many games - but I have never seen defensive holding on a running play!

Week 20 - Divisional Playoffs

1/12/2011

Mich fans are ripped about new HC Brady Hoke

College Coaching Carousel Update:

It's Hoke-a-Mania in Ann Arbor!!

In the most botched coaching search of the year - Michigan hired its man (sort of) going with Brady Hoke. After getting played by
Harbaugh and Les Miles the Weasels settled for a HC with a 47-50 overall record. Actually it's not a bad hire. UM will be solid again on defense though the offense will be reined in a bit. They will most likely return to the glory days of Floyd Carr going 9-4 and blaming the refs for all the losses.

Meanwhile Big Al tossed up an interesting choice from his sub - going with Paul Pasqualoni for HC of his beloved UConn Huskies.

Week 19 - Bowl Week Continues

1/3/2011

Does this sweet new lid negate the Big Al rule?

College Coaching Carousel Update:
OK - now the question is - Does the Big Al rule follow Randy Edsall?Maryland fired the ACC coach of the year Ralph Friedgen and replaced him with the Big East COY UConn's Randy Edsall. Great hire by the Terps. I was going to have Maryland on my do not bet list if they hired Mike Leach - but now I'm going to test the expanded Big Al rule and take a few shots with Maryland next year.

Clemson fans would love to have Big Ralph as their OC next year after HC Dabo Swinney cleaned house on the offensive side. I think Ralphie's like being the big guy (groan) and finds another HC gig.

Week 18 - Part 7

1/2/2011

The Doofus struggled to watch MSU yesterday

That was a disaster.

No sense talking about it - it will just relive it. Time to start watch Izzo work
his magic through the Big Ten and NCAA tourney.

The BBofG had a good day with the MegaBets but not in the pool. In the pool, I was hoping for a least one or two upsets but they didn't happen and now I am out of the money again.

The MegaBets went 2-0 though as:

Week 18 - Part 6

1/1/2011

O'Leary offers to help Richt scrub his resume

Central Florida +6.5 vs Georgia - In the Liberty Bowl - UCF and UGA's defenses reigned supreme. The Knights took the opening KO to the house only to have it called back on a block in the back.
After driving to their 43 UCF punted and downed the ball at the GA 3. The Dawgs had their longest drive of the day going 94 yds before stalling at the UCF 3 and kicking a FG. And that would be all the scoring until UCF's final drive of the first half when they got the tying FG.

Georgia took their opening drive of the second half for a FG too to lead 6-3. UCF got the only TD of the game midway through the 4th quarter and held on to win 10-6. With the loss UGA HC had his only losing season of his career between the hedges and his hot seat got ratcheted up a few notches. With the win UCF went 11-3 after never having had a ten season. UCF won outright while getting 6.5 WIN

Week 18 - Part 5

12/31/2010

The Heels defense was stout last night

North Carolina -1 vs Tenn - An instant classic and the best game of the bowl season so far. TN had abandoned the run game from the outset and QB Tyler Bray had a coming out party. Throwing for 312 yds, Bray had his third TD pass (out of 4) with 5 minutes left as the
Vols took the lead for the first time all night. But UNC blocked the
PAT keeping the Heels within a FG 20-17. Tenn had a chance to clinch the game when they got the ball back with 1:36 but they were unable to get a first down and punted the ball back with 0:36 on the clock.

Week 18 - Part 4

12/30/2010

The 'Boys defense was sky high for the game

OK State -4.5 vs Arizona - The Big Book of Guesses got an easy one last night as OK State demolished Arizona
36-10. OK State's first drive stalled but AZ fumbled the punt return at their own 26 and the 'Boys made em pay. Six plays later OK State was up 7-0 and the BBofG
8 game string of opponents scoring first was finally over. Arizona then drove to OK St 34 but blew it on 4th down. The 'Boys made em pay again with a bomb to a wide - I mean wiiiiiide open Justin Blackmon (who took it all in by running right in front of the goal line for about 40 yds
before stepping in). But AZ was not about to give in yet as they took their next drive to the house to close the gap to 14-7. OK St got a FG to end the 1st quarter and a 17-7 lead.