What a wild and crazy weekend in college and pro football.
In New Orleans the “Who Dats” and the bags over the heads were coming out again but the Saints made the comeback and got the win in OT. It would have been lights out for their season, but it could already be that now.
Cleveland was down 25 points on the road in Tennessee in the third quarter and somehow made a never-before-seen road comeback to win the game. Incredible! In the late NFL game the Bengals looked like the Pats and New England looked like Cincy in a 43-17 blowout, saving the house a ton of green.
Sunday morning in the sports book there is usually a lengthy line but after the wild and crazy Saturday late games you had no problem getting to the window to make a lay down.
Last week in my college plays East Carolina cost me. I will never lay a big number like that again no matter how easy it looks. As my dad would tell me, if it looks easy it’s usually not.
I will never forget the first Sunday he took me down to the smoke house on South 4th Street in Steubenville, Ohio, to make his $5 parlay on some games. We went in and then through another door into a new world that I never knew existed, there were chalk boards, big boxes of “sangwichies” (free), soft drinks and betting windows.
He made his parlay, we had a “sangwich” and in leaving this big guy with a cigar just as big says, “Hi, Bennie, who’s the kid?” “That’s my boy Dick,” says Dad. We took a little walk, he hands me a $2 bill and says don’t bet with it, save it. Then he gets into a brand new shiny red “caddie.”
Another guy comes out of the smoke house and says, Hi, Ben, who you like today?” I don’t remember what my dad said but this guy gets into some beat up wrecked piece of junk car. Bennie looks at me very serious and says the big guy in the “caddie” owns the place and the other guy was in betting with the big guy. A lesson to be learned.
College
FRIDAY
Wash St. +17 at Stanford: The Cardinal have played five games and all them have gone UNDER the total. The Cougars from Pullman put up 59 points last week but that was vs. California who plays no defense. UNDER.
SATURDAY
Texas +15 vs. Oklahoma (at Dallas): The Longhorns have no offense, averaging just 13.5 PPG in their last four games. Sooners will be in a nasty mood after losing to TCU last week and look to avenge last year’s 36-20 loss to the Horns. OKLA/UNDER (separate plays).
N’western +3 at Minn: Last year these two played a super game with the Golden Gophers winning 20-17. More of the same this year. Both can play defense, and the last two games by the Wildcats make you want to stand up and yell if you are a NU fan. NORTHWESTERN/UNDER (separate plays).
Alabama -9.5 at Arkansas: The Tide coming off monster game at Ole Miss last weekend while the Razorbacks had a week off to get ready for this season maker. Razorbacks can put points on the board and just may catch a down Alabama team. ARKANSAS.
Oregon -3.5 at UCLA: The Bruins got caught with their pants down last Saturday when looking ahead to this huge revenge game. They lost late to Utah, 30-28, ending their hopes for an undefeated season. But they have been wanting Oregon and now it’s here. Bruins lost last year in Eugene, 42-14. You might want to play the money line as well. UCLA.
USC -2.5 at Arizona: Last week Arizona beat Oregon in Eugene to stay undefeated at 5-0. Before that they could not cover against UTSA, Nevada and California. Last week USC lost as a 12 point chalk at home vs. Arizona State. Different this week. USC.
Miss +2.5 at Texas A&M: This is the game I was talking about earlier and I will be going out ASAP to make my bet. In basically a no brainer the Aggies come off a crushing loss in Starkville, getting crushed by Miss State 48-31. Ole Miss comes off a gut wrenching win in Oxford beating the Crimson Tide 23-17 with a late INT in the end zone, A&M will be my key team in all parlays. TEXAS A&M.
Last week: 6-1 Season: 26-17-1
NFL
SUNDAY
Last Sunday my NFL play went down with the Cardinals QB but that is how the pink league works. There are two games this week that I just love.
Chargers -7 at Raiders: The 0-4 Raiders at home off a bye week. No pressure here since they are going nowhere in a hurry but this looks to be their week. These two split last year with the Raiders getting the win in Oakland and the Chargers the nod in San Diego. RAIDERS.
Giants +3 at Eagles: The Eagles beat the Giants in New York last year, lost to the G-men in Philly. Let’s turn it around this year on national TV. EAGLES.
Last week: 0-1 Season: 5-3
Racing
The Breeders’ Cup is right around the corner. The two days of championship racing will be Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and there will be several seminars around the city with the first being at Palace Station. Your humble race bettor and color man will co-host with Ralph Siroco from the super popular Race Day Las Vegas radio show and legendary Handicapper Professor Gordon Jones.
The three of us along with ex-jockey agent Paul Truitt, who will be asking questions, will all be wearing bullet proof vests while going over the races. The seminar begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the Palace Station race book. It is free along with food and drinks.
If looking to make an early bet on the Breeders’ Cup or the Kentucky Derby just go over to the Wynn race book. Johnny Avello has the future book wagering up and going strong. You can find some sweet prices. We always list their futures at gamingtoay.com.
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Follow Richard on Twitter @SabesBet. Contact Richard at [email protected].