In the sports betting world, it is often said that the Preseason of the National Football League is reserved for the most degenerate of gamblers. And to those that stay away from it, I say good for them, but really I do think thee is a strategy in the madness that pays better than the NFL regular season. Lets break it all down, shall we? Before I start, I will state that I think the preseason is a waste of time. (From a fan's point of view) It has become a four week summer school more or less for the draftees that had finished their university experience, or lack of...
But from the eyes from a bookie, there is room for profit.
The OVER on last nights game! I liked the first half.
A month to thin the herd.
There will be only one cut this NFL season and it will involve 37 players give or take from each team. That adds up to 1184 players, 480 of which get one more audition. One more week to be a team player. However, that does not mean every team will need all that time to determine who needs to go.
Besides the faux degrees, never in the history of football have we had so many players in the sport. What percent of division I football academics make it to the professional level, let alone a practice squad? How many years did the average first round pick develop at the college level? How many young players actually follow a nutrition based diet and a balanced work out regimen? What makes a team a team? What motivates a player that already has a multi million contract in the bag, his his prime motivation to play 100% or play conservatively to avoid injury. At the end of the day, football is brutal.
What defines a coach?
What powers does the coach have? All or is he the sub to the GM? What kind of crew was summoned to man the team?
Coordinators. Physicians. Trainers. Nutritionists. Assistant to the traveling secretary? They all make or break the team.
Why are these things important? Why are they not? What have we forgot?
Yeah, I can rant, but there are always things to consider.
My summed up theory to NFL Preseason is Coach Psychology. Not one is the same. Each team has different needs. Figure them out and determine if the team is doing enough to fix the problem. That being said, it all starts with a hunch.
Today's Odds: VegasInsider
Atlanta @ Miami
Minnesota @ Buffalo
Washington @ Baltimore
Jacksonville @ New England
Denver @ Chicago
Philadelphia @ Green Bay
New Orleans @ Cleveland
Friday's Games:
Pittsburgh @ New York Giants
Tampa Bay @ Cincinnati
San Francisco @ Kansas City
Saturday's Games:
Tennessee @ New York Jets
Dallas @ Los Angeles Rams
Oakland @ Arizona
Sunday's Games:
Detroit @ Indianapolis
Seattle @ San Diego
You Gotta Bet Some To Win Some
I would like to get a weekly sportsbetting thread going that will track participants predictions. Maybe? Not as sure as how to start it, or what style to base it on, but I think it would be fun. The rules would be to stake a value, say 5 units, on X-team with the spread. Over/Under and First Half bets are fair game.
So I will start with today's games...something like
4Units on First Half New England Patriots -1.5 (McDaniels has that kind of ego that likes to win the small things)
2U First Half Atlanta -1 (Betting against Cutler theory)
1U First Half New Orleans -1 (Coaching theory)
2U First Half Cowboys
1U Cowboys/Rams OVER 37
2U First Half Kansas City
1U Det/Indy OVER 37
.5U 1H Cincinnati -1
2U Oakland/Arizzzona OVER 37
.5U 7-Team Parlay:(1H Atlanta, 1H Saints -1, Patriots -3, Packers -1, Det/Ind OVER 37, 1H Chiefs -1.5, Oak/Az OVER 37)
16 Units in play. BOL
Predict only the games that you feel sure of. Please do not treat this as a heads or tails board, nor feel obligated to bet on every game.