Current Lines

Monday, October 31, 2011

NFL Contest- Week 8

Week 8 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is done with two casualties.

The Saints came marching in and stomped on Very Josie and lightning36's hearts. How do you lose to the Rams for goodness sake? I guess a huge horseshoe was surrounding the St. Louis sports teams this week.

We're down to just three. Good luck to the trio!

Ironman 
Grange95
Inside Man 

MLB Picks- Season Wrap-Up

Another MLB season is in the books, with the Cardinals coming out of no where on the final turn and nosing out the Rangers at the wire to take the title.

As heartbreaking as it was to watch my second favorite team get within a strike (twice) of winning it all (gotta catch those fly balls Nellie), the news that my favorite team, the Astros, have announced that they are bringing the entire coaching staff back next year just blows. I guess 50 games under .500 is considered an acceptable season in Houston. Plus they'll be moving to the AL West within two years. Book it.

After a rough start on my picks, I was able to recover from an early $200 deficit and finish in the black to the tune of $145. That's close to a 10% ROI, which as Neo will tell you, beats a lot of stock picks over the last 6 months. Plus I kept my winning streak going for one more season.

Below is the final tally.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $144.55
Current Bankroll         $1,644.55

I hope you enjoyed following along. Thanks for reading.

Don't despair, spring training starts in four months!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

NFL Picks, October 30th

There are a couple of games on the schedule today that are worth a look.

$11 @ 11/10 on New Orleans (-13) over St. Louis
The Rams have been outscored 58-10 in their last two games. The Saints have won 5 of their last 6 games, including a 62-7 beat down of the Colts last week.

$11 @ 11/10 on Detroit (-3) over Denver

The Lions are 3-0 on the highway this season. The Broncos have lost 3 of their last 4, with their only win over a bad Miami team. And they were lucky to win that one.

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $203.00
Current Bankroll          $2,203.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 8

Week 8 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is here! Picks are below.

Good luck!

lightning36  - New Orleans
Ironman  - NY Giants
Grange95 - NY Giants
Very Josie  - New Orleans
Inside Man  - Houston

College Football Picks, October 29th

There are a few games on the menu today that look promising.

$11 @ 11/10 on Oklahoma State (-14) over Baylor

I hate to go against the home town team here, but the Cowboys are averaging almost 49 points a game and Baylor hasn't been able to slow down, much less stop, a quality opponent the last two seasons.  They surrendered 55 to Texas A&M in their last game. With Robert Griffen at the helm for the Bears, this could be a real track meet.


$11 @ 11/10 on Texas Tech (-15) over Iowa State

Texas Tech is averaging over 43 points a game. Iowa State gives up 36 a game. Plus the Cyclones QB, Jared Barnett is making his first start, so you can expect a turnover or two.


$11 @ 11/10 on Arkansas (-10) over Vanderbilt

The Hogs are 2-0 versus ranked teams and are averaging almost 38 points a game with their high octane passing attack. Vandy has lost three conference game in a row by an average of 19 points.


$11 @ 11/10 on Wisconsin (-7) over Ohio State

The Badgers arrive fresh off a crushing loss to Michigan State last week, and boy are they pissed! Wisconsin is averaging 47 points a game and only gives up 13. Ohio State has lost two of their last three games.


Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $226.00
Current Bankroll          $2,226.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Friday, October 28, 2011

World Series Game 7 Pick

Congratulations to the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals!

A little premature you say? Maybe, but I don't think so.

Last night's Game 6 was certainly entertaining and exciting. It wasn't great baseball (one blog I read commented that it looked like something you would see in a Dominican Summer League game), with dropped pop ups, booted ground balls, bad throws, base running errors, etc. But, in the end, the Rangers were within one strike of winning the title and couldn't close the deal.

It was a devastating loss. Can you imagine the feeling in the Texas clubhouse as they walked in to see the plastic sheeting being torn down and the Ginger Ale put away?

D-E-V-A-S-T-A-T-I-N-G.

It reminds me of the Red Sox loss to the Mets in the '86 World Series (Buckner). That was also a Game 6, but you knew there was no way Boston was going to win Game 7. And they didn't. The emotional baggage Texas carries in to tonight's match, plus the favorable pitching match-up, gives the Birds a decided advantage.

LaRussa will start his ace, Chris Carpenter on short rest. Carpenter hasn't been overpowering in his two starts, but he has thrown the pill well and held the Rangers at bay. Washington shot all his bullets last night and is stuck with Matt Harrison for the most important game of the season. Harrison couldn't get me out right now. Remember the 16-7 lambasting the Cards laid on the Rangers in Game 3? Guess who started that game?

Does all this mean it's impossible for the Rangers to win tonight? Not at all.

The '75 Reds came back to win Game 7 over Boston after Carlton Fisk's walk off homer in Game 6, so it could happen.

But, don't bet on it!

$10 on St. Louis (Carpenter) over Texas (Harrison), -1.5 @ +$155

Carpenter is 1-0, 2.77 ERA in the Series. Harrison is 0-1, 7.36 ERA, and only lasted 3 2/3 innings in his start in Game 3. The home plate umpire tonight is Layne. The Rangers are 1-6 in games Layne has called and the Cardinals are 7-1. The home team has won the last eight Game 7s, with the 1979 Pirates the last team to win on the highway.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $129.05
Current Bankroll         $1,629.05

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

NFL Picks Contest- Week 8

Week 8 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is just around the corner, so be sure to get your pick in by Saturday at midnight (CDT). E-mail your pick to nfl.picks@ymail.com.

As I mentioned earlier, the rules change a little in Week 8. You can still pick from any of the teams, but you can only pick that team one time for the rest of the season. For example, if you pick Green Bay this week, they are "off the board" for you and you can't pick them again. I'll post which teams you have picked each week to keep someone from picking the same team twice and getting eliminated.

The contest ends when there is only one man or woman left. If there is more than one contestant left after Week 17, all survivors will recieve a tee shirt or sweatshirt with your favorite team's logo.

Good luck! Thanks for playing!

lightning36
Ironman
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

54 And Counting

As of today, I've spent fifty-four years on this rock.

It's been a good run thus far. Happy wife, happy kids, happy life!

We're going to a local Italian restaurant and will be joined by my younger sister and her family, plus my mother and uncle will be there. Should be a good time :)

Hope the next 54 go as well!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

World Series Game 6 Pick

It's expected to be a rainy night in Georgia St. Louis tonight when the Rangers and Cardinals meet for Game 6 of the World Series. A rainout would benefit the Cardinals, as they could pitch Chris Carpenter in Game 7 on short rest, instead of Lohse, who has struggled lately.

$10 on Texas (Lewis) over St. Louis (Garcia) @ +$105

Both pitchers have thrown well in the postseason, with Colby Lewis sporting a 1-1 record, with a 2.95 ERA, and Jaime Garcia at 0-2, witha 3.97 ERA. Garcia has been particularly tough at home, posting a 1.93 playoff ERA.

Lewis allowed only 1 run in 6+ innings against the Birds in Game 2, but was bested by Garcia, who threw 7 innings of shutout ball before the Rangers rallied for two runs in the ninth to steal a win.

Texas is 11-4 in their last 15 games on the highway and St. Louis is 13-5 in their last 18 at Busch. The home plate umpire tonight is Cederstroms, who is pitcher friendly. The UNDER is 14-3-1 in the last 18 games he has called. The Rangers are 20-6 with Cederstrom behind the plate, and the Cards are 3-7.

Add it all up and what you have is a close, low scoring game. Thus far, the Rangers have found a way to win the close ones. The Cardinals, not so much. If the trend (and the weather) holds, Texas should be hoisting the championship trophy tonight.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $139.05
Current Bankroll          $1,639.05

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Internet Poker Bill Discussed By Congressman Barton Of Texas

Congressman Joe Barton of Texas discussing the Internet Poker Bill earlier today.

Weekend Football Picks

Another nice weekend of picks. Stanford, Clemson, Houston, Kansas State and the Jets all won and covered, and although Green Bay beat the Vikings, they didn't cover the 8 point spread.

All in all though, 5-1 is a good week. And it added $49 to the ol' bankroll :)

Starting Bankroll          $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                      $226.00
Current Bankroll           $2,226.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Monday, October 24, 2011

World Series Game 5 Pick

One of the main reasons I bet on baseball games is to make them more interesting to watch. Since I have a dog in this hunt (Rangers), I am enjoying the games regardless of whether or not I have any money riding on it.

That being said, I think the Cardinals should win Game 5 tonight. St. Louis is 8-1 in Carpenter's last 9 trips to the bump. CJ Wilson has not fared as well, posting a hefty 7.17 ERA in the playoffs. But, because I'm rooting for Texas, I would be torn if I bet against them and wouldn't be able to enjoy the game as much as I would by just sitting on the sidelines. So, I'm going to pass on tonight's game, but if I wasn't a Rangers fan, I would bet a few coins on the Birds.

I sure hope I'm wrong :)

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $139.05
Current Bankroll          $1,639.05

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 7 Results

Week 7 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is history. Wolfshead was MIA, which is a tough way to go out, but my understanding is that he was pitching cards in Atlantic City. So now we are down to five.

The rules change a little in Week 8. You can still pick from any of the teams, but you can only pick that team one time for the rest of the season. For example, if you pick Green Bay this week, they are "off the board" for you and you can't pick them again. I'll post which teams you have picked each week to keep someone from picking the same team twice and getting eliminated.

The contest ends when there is only one man or woman left. If there is more than one contestant left after Week 17, all survivors will recieve a tee shirt or sweatshirt with your favorite team's logo.

Good luck! Thanks for playing!

lightning36
Ironman
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

Sunday, October 23, 2011

World Series Game 4 Pick

Not much time before the first pitch, so I'll be brief.

$15 on the OVER (9 1/2) @ -$110, St. Louis (Jackson)/ Texas (Holland)

Did you see the game last night? Twenty three runs were scored and the starting pitchers for both teams tonight struggled in their last couple of outings. Jackson was roughed up in the NLCS for 11 runs in 6+ innings. Holland wasn't a lot better, giving up 7 runs in 7+ innings in the ALCS. The OVER is 5-1 for the Rangers home games and 6-1 for the Cardinals on the highway.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                    $154.05
Current Bankroll         $1,654.05

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks, October 23rd

Two games that look like good bets on today's schedule.

$11 @ 11/10 on Green Bay (-8) over Minnesota
The Pack is back and looking to return to the Super Bowl. The Vikings are struggling with a 1-5 start to the season.

$11 @ 11/10 on NY Jets (-2 1/2) over San Diego
The Jets are 3-0 at home. The Chargers are 1-1 on the highway. 

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                    $227.00
Current Bankroll          $2,227.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 7 Picks


Week 7 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is here. Picks are below.

Good luck!
lightning36 - Green Bay
Ironman - Pittsburgh
Wolfshead -
Grange95 - Green Bay
Very Josie - New Orleans
Inside Man - New Orleans

Saturday, October 22, 2011

NFL Picks Contest - Week 7


I still haven't heard from Wolfman. Where are you Wolfie?
Week 7 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is near. If you're listed below, be sure to e-mail your picks to me at nfl.picks@ymail.com.
Good luck!
lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

Friday, October 21, 2011

College Football Picks, October 22nd

$11 @ 11/10 on Houston (-20 1/2) over Marshall

The Cougars are averaging 47 points a game. Marshall is 1-3 on the road and 0-1 against ranked opponents.
$11 @ 11/10 on Clemson (-10 1/2) over North Carolina

Clemson is 3-0 versus ranked teams, North Carolina is 0-1 against top 25 schools. 
$11 @ 11/10 on Kansas State (-11) over Kansas

Kansas is surrenduring 54 points a game in conference play. Kansas State is 6-0.
$11 @ 11/10 on Stanford (-20) over Washington

Stanford's average margin of victory is 34 1/2 points a game. Washington is 0-1 against ranked opponents.






Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $187.00
Current Bankroll          $2,187.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 7

Week 7 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is near. If you're listed below, be sure to e-mail your picks to me at nfl.picks@ymail.com. As of Friday morning, I've only heard from Grange95 and Inside Man.
 Good luck!
lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Lederer And Duke Blasted Again By Negreanu

The feud between Daniel Negreanu and siblings Annie Duke and Howard Lederer have been going on for several years, so this is just the latest salvo. In a recent blog entry on his site, Daniel shared his thoughts on several subjects, but I thought his view on Annie Duke and her brother Howard Lederer were particularly entertaining. I used to think of Negreanu's digs as boorish, but now that the Professor and his cronies have stolen money from me, I now find his comments rather amusing.

Below are a few snippets.

Click here for the complete article.

(On electing Annie Duke to the Poker Hall of Fame)

"Later I was asked about Annie Duke's nomination. So I said something like, “For what? Robbing people at UB? Owing Russ Hamilton money and never paying him back? For stealing money from people at the poker table? For representing poker in the worst light imaginable when she was on Celebrity Apprentice? For all those things then yes."   

"I have no problem with what I said. I was asked a question and answered it honestly. That family has done enough damage to poker's reputation in the public eye, and I don't think it's OK to just let these things happen without some kind of response."

"So yeah: I don't like Annie Duke, I think some of the new EPT rules suck, and I think Howard Lederer and Ray Bitar are arrogant, incompetent, idiots. That about sums it up.... man that felt good!"

"That brother and sister duo were intimately involved in the two biggest scandals in our industry."

So, how do you really feel Daniel?

World Series, Game 2 Pick

Game 2 of the World Series is tonight in St. Louis, with the first pitch a little after 7 pm CDT. The Cardinals won a well played opener by a slim 3-2 score.

$15 on the UNDER (8) @ -$115, Texas/St. Louis

Colby Lewis starts for the Rangers tonight. Lewis tends to give up a lot of home runs at the smaller park in Arlington, so the larger ballpark in St. Louis should be beneficial to his game. Jaime Garcia toes the rubber tonight for the Cards, and brings a 2.55 ERA at home this season. Combined with another cold night, plus noting who's working the plate tonight, and I think the UNDER is the best play tonight. The main reason for the pick however is the home plate umpire tonight. Umpire Gibson's record this season is 21-9 for the UNDER when he's calling balls and strikes. Over the past 61 games, it's 42-13-6. That's a big strike zone there boys and girls, which means a low scoring game.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                    $141.05
Current Bankroll          $1,641.05

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

World Series- Game 1

The World Series begins Wednesday night in St. Louis when the Cards host the Texas Rangers for two games before the series shifts to Texas on Saturday. The Dallas sports scene has been on quite a run in the last year, hosting the Super Bowl, NBA Championship, and the World Series. Twice.

Game 1 starters are Wilson for the Rangers and Carpenter for the Redbirds. Wilson had a solid season, but has struggled in the playoffs, going 0-2 with a 8.04 ERA. Carpenter has been solid in the post-season, posting a 2-0 record and a 3.71 ERA. Wilson is one of several southpaws in the Texas rotation and St. Louis has not fared well against leftys, going 20-22 on the season.

The Redbirds are a slight favorite in the opener, but I think I'll pass on this one and see how both teams play in the cold conditions.

I think the Rangers will be happy to steal one game in St. Louis and if they do so, I think they'll win the series. However, if the Cardinals take the first two, it will be tough for Texas to recover from such a big hole. I think the Rangers best chance to win is in Game 2, but a Game 1 victory is certainly not out of the question with their explosive offense. And if they somehow steal them both, the series will end with a celebration in Arlington and won't return to Missouri.

It should be an exciting and high scoring World Series, with no Yankees, Phillies, or Red Sox in site.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                      $141.05
Current Bankroll          $1,641.05

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Weekend Football Picks

The past weekend of football was as good as it gets. My picks of Stanford, LSU, Okie St, SMU, Chicago Bears, and NY Jets all covered for a perfect 6-0 weekend and added $120 to the ol' bankroll.

SAH-WEET!

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                    $187.00
Current Bankroll          $2,187.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Monday, October 17, 2011

NFL Picks Contest- Week 6 Results

Don Shula and the '72 Dolphins
Week 6 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is history. The final six showed why they're the best of the bunch, with all six advancing to Week 7. Like the 1972 Dolphins, they were perfect. Nice job everyone!

lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

NFL Picks, October 17th

Monday Night Football comes from the "Big Apple" tonight. I think there's some value in betting the Jets in this AFC East match-up.

$11 @ 11/10 on NY Jets (-7 1/2) over Miami
The Jets are 2-0 at home. The Fish are 0-4 on the season with only one of their losses less than 10 points.

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $177.00
Current Bankroll          $2,177.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

MLB Picks, October 16th

Congratulations to the back-2-back AL Champion Texas Rangers, who beat the Tigers into submission last night to the tune of 15-5. The down side is that it only leaves one game on the menu today.

$15 @ -$105 on the OVER (8 1/2) Milwaukee (Marcum) vs St. Louis (Jackson)

Marcum has surrendered 12 runs in 8+ innings of playoff pitching against the Cards and D-Backs. Jackson hasn't exactly been an all-star against the Brewers this season, giving up 14 runs in 20 innings on the bump. The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings between the two clubs in Milwaukee.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $126.75
Current Bankroll          $1,626.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

NFL Picks, October 16th

$11 @ 11/10 on Chicago (-3) over Minnesota
"Da Beearsss" are 2-1 at home this year and the Vikings are 0-2 on the highway.

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $167.00
Current Bankroll          $2,167.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 6 Picks

Week 6 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is here with only six of the original 14 prognosticators left. Here are the Week 6 picks.

lightning36- Green Bay
Ironman - Green Bay
Wolfshead- Pittsburgh
Grange95- Green Bay
Very Josie- Pittsburgh
Inside Man - Green Bay

Rumor has it that Josie consulted Waffles for her pick. I guess she figures that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Good luck everyone! Thanks for playing!

Friday, October 14, 2011

College Football Picks, October 15th

Four games on the schedule today that I like.

$44 @ 11/10 on Stanford (-20) over Washington State

The Cardinal is 5-0 this season, with their closest win by 26 points. Washington State has dropped 2 of their last three games.
$44 @ 11/10 on Oklahoma State (-7 1/2) over Texas


OSU is the #1 scoring offense in the country, ringing up over 51 points a game. The Longhorns can be scored on, which Oklahoma proved last week by ringing up 55 on the Horns. 
$11 @ 11-10 on SMU (-1 1/2) over Central Florida


June Jones has brought the Mustangs back to respectability. The Ponies have won four straight, including a 40-33 win over TCU. Central Florida has dropped two of their last three games.
$11 @ 11/10 on LSU (-16) over Tennessee


LSU is giving up a miserly 8 points per game in SEC play. The Vols are starting a freshman quarterback. That can't be good. 

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                        $67.00
Current Bankroll           $2,067.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

MLB Picks, October 14th

Just one game on the docket today as the Cards and Brew Crew hook up for the final game of the series to be played in ol' St. Louie.

$10 on the OVER (7 1/2) Milwaukee/St. Louis @ +$100

Grienke surrendered 6 runs in 6 innings against the Redbirds in his first start of the series and is prone to struggle on the highway at times. Garcia was worse in his start against the Brewers, giving up 6 runs in only 4 innings of work.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $116.75
Current Bankroll          $1,616.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

NFL Picks Contest- Week 6

Week 6 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks is upon us. Please remember your picks are due by midnight CDT Saturday night and can be e-mailed to nfl.picks@ymail.com. With over half the field gone, the first place tee shirt is practically in your hands, so don't blow it!

Good luck and thanks for playing!

lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Endless Summer Ends . . . Finally!

Our last 100 degree plus day was almost two weeks ago (102F), so I'm calling summer officially over. I penned a couple of "whine" posts in the past few months, complaining how hot and dry this summer was.

"Do you have any numbers to back up your claims?" you ask.

"Why yes, yes I do. Let's take a look, shall we?"

Most consecutive days over 100 degrees:

43 days in 1980.
This year- 49 days.

Most days over 100 degrees:

Average- 16 days
Previous record- 63 days in 1980.
This year- 90 days

And my favorite!

Most days over 105 degrees:

Average- 4 days
Previous record- 12 days in 1980
This year- 32 days

Whew! I'm glad that's over.

MLB Picks, October 13th

I like both home teams in their games today, but there's too much chalk on them both. With the Tigers and Verlander at -$160 and the Cardinals and Lohse at -$135, I'll take a pass on both and see what tomorrow brings.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $116.75
Current Bankroll         $1,616.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

MLB Picks, October 12th

The NLCS game today presents an interesting match-up as the aces for both teams square off.

$10 on St. Louis (Carpenter) over Milwaukee (Gallardo), -1.5 @ +$155

Carpenter is 2-0, 0.38 ERA in his last three starts. He threw a gem at the Brewers on September 7th, shutting them out. Gallardo is 7-8, 4.05 on the highway this season, and is 1-3 versus the Redbirds.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                    $126.75
Current Bankroll          $1,626.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Monday, October 10, 2011

NFL Picks Contest- Week 5 Results

"Oh, the humanity!"

Week 5 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks contest was the week that separated the men (and woman) from the boys.

With the VaGiants letting one "slip" away (see what I did there?), we had almost half of the remaining field disappear faster than a chocolate chip cookie at a pot party. When the "smoke" cleared (oops, I did it again), here's who was left standing.

lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man

Congratulations!

MLB Picks, October 11th

Only one game today, as the NLCS has a travel day with the series shifting to St. Louis.

I like the Tigers in Game 3 of the ALCS. Fister has a 0.47 ERA in his last three starts, all wins. The Rangers start Lewis, who has a 5.50 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. However, Lewis' lastest outing against the Rays was impressive. Couple that with the fact that Texas is white hot, winning 5 straight playoff games and 19 of their last 22 overall, including regular season games, and I think I'll keep my money in my pocket today.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                    $126.75
Current Bankroll          $1,626.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Weekend Football Picks

Another profitable weekend of football has come and gone. The good news is that I went 5-2 on my picks. The bad news is that both of my losses were larger bets, so I finished the week end only $6 ahead.

*Sigh*

Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $67.00
Current Bankroll          $2,067.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Dead Assed Last (Almost)

We had eight runners show for Tin Man's $5 NLHE Tourney (plus $1 bounty) last Friday. From left to right on your radio dial were Bluffin' Bev, Big Daddy, Josh, Edie, Philly Phantic, Lil' Annie Okie, Tin Man, and your humble scribe.

Out of the eight, I finished seventh.

I lost a little over half my stack to Big Daddy when I got him all-in on the turn with his trip queens versus my broadway straight. Of course the river paired the board giving him a boat. ARG!

My next big hand was against Josh and Edie. I open shoved my final $45 (4 1/2 BB) with A-K. Josh though awhile before calling with his final $35 with A-Q, and Edie also called for her final $35 with A-3. I leaned over and whispered to Tin Man, "I think that three's gonna get me."

Sure enough the flop had a three in the window. The turn, three. The river, another three, giving Edie quads and knocking me down to one BB. I pushed my next hand (K-9) and paired my 9 on the flop, but a J on the turn and an A on the river paired both my opponents and sent me to the rail.

The $2 buy-in cash game went well and I cashed out with a $6 profit, making me even- steven for the night. No big hands really, although I did push Bev of a better hand with a large river bet to take down a nice pot.

Good times with good people!

Till next time, win the flips.

MLB Picks, October 10th

The Rangers are the hottest of the four remaining teams, so I think I'll saddle up and ride this horse.

$10 on Texas (Holland) over Detroit (Scherzer), -1.5 @ +$160

Holland is 3-0, 2.37 ERA in his last three starts and is 4-0, 2.28 in his last four home starts. Scherzer had a good year, but has a 5.23 ERA on the highway. Texas has won four straight games and 18 of their last 21.
$10 on the OVER (8 1/2), St. Louis (Jackson) vs. Milwaukee (Marcum)

Jackson has a 4.85 ERA in his last three starts. Marcum has a 6.62 in his last three.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $100.75
Current Bankroll          $1,600.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

MLB Picks, October 9th

The Rangers are the hottest of the four remaining teams, so I think I'll saddle up and ride this horse.

$10 on Texas (Holland) over Detroit (Scherzer), -1.5 @ +$160

Holland is 3-0, 2.37 ERA in his last three starts and is 4-0, 2.28 in his last four home starts. Scherzer had a good year, but has a 5.23 ERA on the highway. Texas has won four straight games and 18 of their last 21.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $100.75
Current Bankroll          $1,600.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

NFL Picks, October 9th

I like a couple of home teams that are slight favorites today.

$11 @ 11/10 on Minnesota (-2 1/2) over Arizona
0-4. . . the Vikings are due!
$11 @ 11/10 on San Francisco (-2 1/2) over Tampa Bay
Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                     $47.00
Current Bankroll          $2,047.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 5

Week 5 of the NFL season is upon us with 11 contestants still in the running. Nice job. Your picks are below.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Memphis MOJO- NY Giants
John Mertz- NY Giants
lightning36- New Orleans
Ironman- New England
Wolfshead- San Diego
Old Blue Eyes- NY Giants

Grange95- Detroit
Very Josie- New England
Inside Man- Green Bay
Vegas Vic- NY Giants
80s Lady- NY Giants
 
My pick this week would be the NY Giants.

Friday, October 7, 2011

College Football Picks, October 8th

Five games that look promising on today's schedule.

$22 @ 11/10 on Georgia Tech (-15) over Maryland

Tech is averaging over 51 points a game and is undefeated. Maryland lost to Temple, not exactly a powerhouse, by 31 points before beating Towson last week.
$22 @ 11/10 on Nebraska (-10) over Ohio St.


Nebraska is coming off an embarrasing 48-17 loss to Wisconsin and should be fired up and ready to play. Ohio St has struggled offensively against decent teams, scoring on 13 points total against Miami and Michigan State. 
 $11 @ 11/10 on Baylor (-15 1/2) over Iowa St.


The Bears are averaging 47 points a game behind QB Robert Griffen, who has almost as many touchdowns as he does incompletions this year. Iowa St. is coming off a 37-14 shellacking by Texas last week.
 $11 @ 11/10 on TCU (-4) over San Diego St.


The Frogs are averaging 42 points a game. SDSU is coming off a 28-7 loss to Michigan.
 $11 @ 11/10 on Alabama (-28) over Vanderbilt


The Tide defense is giving up only 8 points a game and is winning by an average of 30 points per game. Vandy lost to South Carolina last week by 18 points.

 Starting Bankroll         $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                      $61.00
Current Bankroll           $2,061.00

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

MLB Picks, October 7th

Two more Game 5's today, both in the National League. One of the two looks interesting.

$10 on Arizona (Kennedy) over Milwaukee (Gallardo) @ +$140

Anytime I can get a pitcher that was 21-4 on the season (Kennedy) as a big dog, I'll take a bite. Gallardo won the first match-up, but at +$140, Kennedy is a good bet.


Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $86.75
Current Bankroll         $1,586.75

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 5

It looks like Week 5 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest could be an interesting one. There aren't any real "locks," so there should be a number of different choices and possibly a few casualties. Make sure you're not one of them!
If you're one of the eleven left on the list below, don't forget to get your Week 5 pick in by e-mailing them to nfl.picks@ymail.com.

Your pick must be in by midnight (CDT) Saturday night.

Good luck!

Memphis MOJO
John Mertz
lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Old Blue Eyes

Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man
Vegas Vic
80s Lady

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

MLB Picks, October 6th

"This one's for all the marbles."

" Win or go home."

"There's no tomorrow."

All are familiar quotes, but that's what the Tigers and Yankees are facing when they meet for Game 5 in the Bronx.

$10 on Detroit (Fister) over NY Yankees (Nova) @ +$145

Yeah, I know the Yankees hit Fister hard earlier in the series, but Fister has been lights out since arriving from Seattle. Paying almost 3-2, I'm willing to stick my toe in the water, just not my whole foot.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $72.25
Current Bankroll          $1,572.25

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

MLB Picks, October 5th

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers for punching their ticket to the ALCS. It looks like they'll have to wait a couple days to see who they will face for a chance to go to the World Series.

I don't see anything today that excites me too much. I kinda like the Phillies and Oswalt over the Cards and Jackson, but Jackson is 3-0 at home this year, so I think I'll sit on the bench and watch today.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                      $72.25
Current Bankroll          $1,572.25

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Monday, October 3, 2011

NFL Picks- Week 4 Results

I've had several readers tell me they're having problems leaving comments and I've tried to fix the problem. However, when it comes to computers, I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, and I can prove it! Please drop me an e-mail at nfl.picks@ymail.com if you are still having problems and I'll look into it again. Thanks.

Week 4 of the Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest is done with another casualty. "Two Minute Warning" had the final gun go off on him when the Iggles coughed up a big 'ol fur ball against the Niners, leaving us with 11 survivors.

John Mertz had a bit of a sweat with the Falcons, but they held on to edge the Seahawks. Everyone who picked the Packers felt pretty good by the middle of the third quarter.

If you see your name below, congratulations, you made to Week 5!

Memphis MOJO
John Mertz
lightning36
Ironman
Wolfshead
Old Blue Eyes

Grange95
Very Josie
Inside Man
Vegas Vic
80s Lady

MLB Picks, October 4th

Today's lineup features one game that looks interesting.

$10 on the OVER (9 runs) @ +$100, Milwaukee (Marcum) and Arizona (Collmenter)
Both starters have struggled of late. Marcum has a 6.62 ERA in his last three starts, and Collmenter isn't a lot better with a 5.50 in his previous three. The teams combined for 13 runs Sunday, so 9 isn't too much of a stretch.

Starting Bankroll         $1,500.00
Profit/Loss                     $72.25
Current Bankroll          $1,572.25

Action is considered dead unless both listed pitchers start.

All picks are for entertainment purposes only with no guarantees implied. Any money wagered is at you own risk.

Good luck!

Quad City

We had nine runners show at J-Dawg's Poker Extravaganza Wednesday nite. After a quick dinner, the cards were in the air a little after 7 o'clock.

From left to right we had Dealer Larry, Farmer Harry, J-Dawg, Glass Man, Cell, Ollie the Accountant, Stamps, Ray-Ray, and yours truly.

It was a night of big hands, with J-Dawg hitting quad sixes, followed by Glass Man's quad kings, both within the first five hands. Cell later hit quad dueces, but Stamps walked away with the High Hand Jackpot with quad aces. I folded an 8-4 of spades, only to see the 5-7 of spades on the flop and the 6 of spades on the river as I longingly looked at my straight flush laying in the muck. Oh well.

I was the big winner on the evening, cashing for a $32 profit in this $20 buy-in, dealer's choice limit game. Stamps walked away with an extra $22 in his pocket, with Cell and Ray-Ray both winning $15 each. Harry was the biggest contributor, losing $15, but just about everyone else at the table walked away a little lighter in the wallet.

A fun evening of poker while watching the final day of baseball's regular season on the tube. Fun times!

Till next time, win the flips!