Online Gambling: College Football Bowl Games and Notre Dame Overhyped
written November 27, 2009 by John Kelly
SORRY CHARLIE.....
That's sorry, as in poor or pitiful or pathetic. Those adjectives best describe Charlie Weis, the outgoing football coach at Notre Dame (official announcement to be made Monday, November 30).
Weis was a disappointment in every aspect of his job. His teams played poorly, his strategy was suspect, his interviews were arrogant and his results were substandard.
After Notre Dame lost at home to Connecticut last Saturday, Charlie Weis now owns a lower winning percentage (.573) than the overrated Tyrone Willingham and the overmatched Bob Davie.
What's worse, Weis lost as many home games (14) as Willingham and Davie combined. Davie was 24-7 at Notre Dame Stadium while Willingham was 11-7.
Against the pointspread, Weis was a money-burner for Notre Dame supporters. During Weis' tenure, a faithful bettor who backed the Fighting Irish in every home game lost 21 of 32 decisions.
The search is on for the next football coach in South Bend. It's guaranteed Notre Dame will find someone better than the overhyped, overconfident and overweight Charlie Weis. After all, they can't do much worse.
LET'S GO BOWLING.....
Credit Northwestern football for its 8-4 overall record, 5-3 Big Ten mark and 3-0 run in November.
Athletic teams at Northwestern University historically struggle to compete in the Big Ten, a conference dominated by state universities with huge enrollments and massive athletic budgets. Northwestern, the only private school in the Big Ten, has the smallest student body in the 11-member conference. The school traditionally stresses academics over athletics. Northwestern's higher set of academic standards, especially its entrance requirements, lessens the chance of success in men's football and men's basketball.
Northwestern serves as my barometer for the quality of play in the Big Ten. If NU posts a winning conference record, one can assume the Big Ten Conference is experiencing a down year. Simply put, when NU excels, the rest of the Big Ten is suffering.
Over the past decade, Northwestern football has earned a bowl berth four times, in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2008. In those four seasons, NU's fellow Big Ten members seriously underachieved in the postseason.
Here are the numbers to remember: Big Ten teams were 6-18 against the spread in years when Northwestern participated in a bowl game. NU is bowl-eligible this season, so I'll be ready to fade Big Ten teams when the bowl numbers first appear in early to mid-December.
I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, BUT.....
Saturday's schedule was ridiculous. The top three teams in the country played virtual scrimmages against overmatched foes. Florida, Alabama and Texas defeated Florida International, Chattanooga and Kansas by a combined score of 158-23. That's shameful.
"THE SHRINK" RULES.....
Ken Weitzner is a documented 22-10-1 after 33 selections on his Internet radio program titled "Winning Wednesdays." Weitzner's winning rate of nearly 70% is a testament to his 30-plus years of gambling experience and his vast network of well-informed contacts.
SHOW AND TELL.....
SHOW AND TELL.....
Sports handicapper Adam Meyer last week substantiated his status as a high-roller by producing a pair of big-money tickets on Bowling Green -10.5 over Akron.
Meyer, who operates a sports service through his website (www.adamwins.com), was in Las Vegas competing in the Fifth Annual Money Talks Invitational, a high-end handicapping contest held at Hooter's Casino Hotel.
The slick 37-year-old handicapper, based in Fort Lauderdale, eliminated Dave Hochman to advance to the semifinal round of the event. Meyer won five of his seven tournament selections.
During the one-hour radio broadcast of the tournament, Meyer unveiled (with bodyguards present) a pair of betting tickets featuring five-figure wagers. Meyer wagered $55,000 on Bowling Green at the M Resort and $33,000 on Bowling Green at Wynn Las Vegas.
Down 10-9 at halftime, Bowling Green rallied to win and cover, 36-20.
HOLMES V HOWARD.....
Local ESPN radio personality Paul Howard is set for his one-on-one basketball challenge against former WNBA player Sequoia Holmes Tuesday night here in Las Vegas.
Howard, 32, is a six-footer with average basketball skills. He's the epitome of a recreational player. Howard will struggle with the younger, quicker, more talented Holmes.
The 23-year-old Holmes, a 6'1" guard who starred at UNLV from 2004-2008, played 17 games for the Houston Comets in the 2008 season. Her skill set is tailor-made for a game of one-on-one. Holmes can drive to the basket, hit a mid-range jumper or launch from 20 feet and beyond.
In most cases, I would prefer the male basketball player over his female counterpart. In this case, however, my money is on the filly.
THE LAST WORD.....
Gamblers don't need money, they need winners. If you pick winners, you'll have money.
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