Current Lines

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 31st

One game on tap tonight in the NHL that looks promising.

$10 on Calgary (-1 1/2) @ +$205 over Colorado
The Flames are 1-2 at home while the Avs are a perfect 0-4 as roadies. Colorado was shut out 3-0 at Vancouver last night and have been outscored 11-1 in their last 3 games. Back to back games are hard to win at this level.

Starting Bankroll                  $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                             ($3.75)
Current Bankroll                    $996.25

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 31st

There are quite a few games on the college docket tonight, but only one worth investing a few sawbucks.

2 units on Nebraska-Omaha (+$145) over IUPU-Ft. Wayne
The Mavericks are 7-16 this season, but an even 4-4 when eating home cookin'. The Mastadons (a truly great nickname) are 1-11 when putting in windshield time, and have lost 7 of their last 10 overall. They've lost 5 straight ATS.

Starting Bankroll                       300 units
Profit/Loss                              (24.75) units
Current Bankroll                     275.25 units

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

Good luck!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 30th

One game on the ice looks promising.

$20 on Chicago (-1 1/2) @ +$240 over Minnesota
The Blackhawks are red hot right now, jumping out to a 6-0 start. The host Wild is 3-2-1 this season and 3-1 on their home ice. They played last night while the Windy City bunch rested. Advantage Chicago.

Starting Bankroll                  $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                             $16.25
Current Bankroll                 $1,016.25

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 30th

Three college games on today's schedule are worth a look. 

4 units @ 11/10 on Towson (+1 1/2) over Old Dominion
The visiting Tigers are 10-12 this season and 6-7 on the highway. The Monarchs are bad both at home and on the road, posting a 2-17 record. Perhaps they should find somewhere else to play.
3 units on Wright St (+$135) over Detroit Mercy
The hosts beat Detroit Mercy on their home court last week 64-62, so why not at home. The Raiders are 8-2 at home while the Titans are 3-6 on the road.
2 units on South Carolina (+23) over Florida
The 12-7 Gamecocks have only lost one game this season by more than 23 points (24 to St. Johns), and are 3-3 on the road. The Gators are 16-2 and a perfect 10-0 at home. They've also won 8 straight, but 23 is a big number to overcome. Look for the Gamecocks to cover.

Starting Bankroll                       300 units
Profit/Loss                              (23.45) units
Current Bankroll                     276.85 units

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

Good luck!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 29th

Several games on the ice tonight that are worth a look.

$10 on Ottawa (-1 1/2) @ +$200 over Washington
The Senators are 3-1-1 and 1-0-1 at home this year. The visiting Caps are 1-3-1 and winless in 2 road games.
$10 on Detroit (-1 1/2) @ +$195 over Dallas
The Red Wings are a pedestrian 2-2-1 thus far, only slightly better than the Stars 2-3-1 record, but Dallas played last night. Teams playing back to back games struggle.
$15 on Minnesota (-1 1/2) @ +$170 over Columbus
Another case of a team playing on consecutive nights. The Blue Jackets beat the Stars last night to improve to 2-3-1. The Wild is 2-2-1 and 2-1 on home ice.
$15 on Tampa Bay (-1 1/2) @ +$185 over Florida
The Lightning are off to a good start with a 4-1 record, 3-0 at home. The Panthers are quite the opposite, starting with a 1-4 record and have dropped 4 straight.

Starting Bankroll                  $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                              ($6.00)
Current Bankroll                    $994.00

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 29th

There are a couple of college match ups that look profitable.

3 units @ 11/10 on Indiana St. (+12 1/2) over Wichita St.
The visiting Sycamores are 13-7 and have won 4 of 10 on the highway. In their last 13 games, they have covered 11 times. The Shockers are 19-2 and a perfect 13-0 at home, so an ISU win would truly be "shocking," but they should be able to hang close enough to cover the spread.
3 units @ 11/10 on Mississippi (-3) over Kentucky
The Rebels are 11-0 at home and have won 9 of their last 10 overall. They are also 6-2 ATS in their last 8, and have won all three home conference games by an average of 11 points. The visiting Wildcats are 13-6 (2-3 on the road), are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games.

Starting Bankroll                       300 units
Profit/Loss                              (23.15) units
Current Bankroll                     276.85 units

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

Good luck!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 28th

Only one game on the NHL menu that's worth a peek.

$10 on Los Angeles (-1 1/2) @ +$220 over Vancouver
The Kings are 1-2-1 on the season, but all but one of those are road games and they are coming off a 4-2 road win over Phoenix. The Canucks are 2-2-1 (1-1 on the road) and lost 4-1 at San Jose yesterday. Back to back road games are tough, especially since the players aren't in shape yet because of the strike.

Starting Bankroll                  $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                              $4.00
Current Bankroll                  $1,004.00

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

Good luck!

Happy Birthday!

With her "Elvis Dad" at a Halloween party.
To my "little" girl, who turns 24 today.

She's currently a senior at Tarleton State, majoring in Psychology. She finished her internship last semester and is currently working as a research assistant at the school. She graduates in May and then starts to work on her Masters and Doctorate.

Local college using her for their advertising last month.

So, Happy Birthday from one proud papa :)

Basketball Picks, Jan 28th

I don't see anything that I like on today's short schedule, so I'll take a seat on the bench and hope for better match ups tomorrow.

Starting Bankroll                       300 units
Profit/Loss                              (23.15) units
Current Bankroll                     276.85 units

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

Good luck!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 27th

A couple of games in the NBA and one college game that are worth a peek.

4 units 11/10 on Miami (-3 1/2) over Boston
The Heat is 10-9 on the highway this season, and have won their last 4 overall. The Celtics have dropped 6 straight games. At home this season, they have won 13 times in 22 tries.


4 units @ 11/10 on Oklahoma City (-3) over LA Lakers
The Okies have won 8 of their last 10 and are a tidy 15-7 on foreign soil. The Lakers have dropped 7 of 10 and are a pedestrian 13-10 at the Forum.


3 units @ 11-10 on Michigan St (+10 1/2) over Indiana
The Spartans are 17-3, the Hoosiers 17-2. In recent games ATS however, MSU is 4-2 while IU is 1-6. Look for the Spartans to cover.


Starting Bankroll                       300 units
Profit/Loss                              (17.85) units
Current Bankroll                     282.15 units

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

Good luck!

Hockey Picks, Jan 27th

One game on the Sunday NHL menu that's worth a nibble.

$20 on Tampa Bay (-1 1/2) @ +$230 over Philadelphia
The Floridians are skating well thus far, posting a 3-1 record and are 2-0 at home. The visiting Flyers have stumbled out of the gate as evidenced by their 1-3 start. They've dropped both of their road games.


Starting Bankroll                  $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                            ($42.00)
Current Bankroll                   $958.00

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

Good luck!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 26th

Two games look like good bets on today's NHL docket.

$15 on Chicago (-1 1/2) @ +$200 over Columbus


The Blackhawks are off to a quick 4-0 start, with three of those wins on the road. Thus far they have outscored their opponents 17-10. Columbus is 1-2-1 this season and 0-0-1 at home. They have been outscored 9-1 in their last two outings.

$10 on San Jose (-1 1/2) @ +$195 over Colorado
The Sharks are 3-0 (1-0 at home), outscoring the enemy 15-7. The team from the Rockies is 2-1 and 0-1 on the highway.


Starting Bankroll                 $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                           ($62.00)
Current Bankroll                   $938.00

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 26th

Several games look good on a full schedule of basketball.

3 units on East Carolina (+$110) over UTEP
The Pirates are 12-6 this season and a stellar 10-1 at home. The Miners are 10-7, but only 1-5 in enemy territory.
 

2 units on Loyola-Chicago (+$160) over Detroit-Mercy
The 12-7 Ramblers are 6-2 when eating home cookin'. The Titans are 12-8, but don't travel well when they leave the Motor City, posting a 2-6 record as roadies.


2 units on Appalacian St. (+$450) over Davidson
The Mountaineers are only 8-10 this season, but play a better brand of basketball at home, posting a 6-2 record. They have won 5 straight at home. Vegas has underestimated this team all season, as the Mountaineers are 10-3 ATS. The visiting Wildacats are 12-7, but only 4-5 on the highway.


3 units @ 11/10 on Toronto (-3, 1st half) over Cleveland
The host Raptors are 11-9 when sleeping in their own beds. The Cavs are 6-20 when traveling. Toronto has won 4 of the last 5 between the teams.


Starting Bankroll                300 units
Profit/Loss                       (13.55) units
Current Bankroll              286.45 units

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

Good luck!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 25th

One game looks interesting on today's NHL menu.

$10 on Minnesota (+$120) over Detroit

The Wild bring a 2-1 record to the Motor City as they play their first road game of the season. The Red Wings are 1-2 and dropped their only home game to the Stars.

Starting Bankroll        $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                   ($52.00)
Current Bankroll          $948.00

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 25th

Only one game worth a peek on today's short schedule.

2 units on UW-Milwaukee (+$225) over UW-Green Bay
The host Panthers are 5-15 this season, but are 5-5 at home. The visting Phoenix from Green Bay are 10-10, but winless in 9 road outings.

Starting Bankroll                  300 units
Profit/Loss                          (11.55) units
Current Bankroll                 288.45 units

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

Good luck!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 24th

There are a couple of match ups on the ice tonight that look interesting.

$15 on Montreal (+$120) over Washington
The Canadians leave home for their first roadie of the season, fresh off an impressive 4-1 win over Florida. The host Caps are0-2 this season (0-1 at home) and have given up 10 goals in their 2 losses.
$30 on Buffalo (+$110) over Carolina
The Sabres are off to a quick start, posting a 2-0 record out of the gate. Carolina has struggled, going 0-2 and being outscored 9-2 in their first two games.
Starting Bankroll        $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                   ($40.00)
Current Bankroll          $960.00

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 24th

One game on the college basketball menu is worth a nibble.

4 units on Virginia Tech (+$170) over Virginia
The host Hokies are 11-6 overall, but 9-2 at home. The Cavaliers are 12-5, but have struggled on foreign soil, winning only once in five tries.

Starting Bankroll                  300 units
Profit/Loss                          (7.55) units
Current Bankroll                 292.45 units

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

Good luck!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Hockey Picks, Jan 23rd

Hockey season!

We've got a few games under our belt this shortened and compressed season. Look for a lot of injuries because of too many games, too close together as the season wears on.

$20 on Boston (+$115) over NY Rangers
The Bruins are off to a quick 2-0 start, including a 3-1 win over NY. The host Rangers are 0-2 (0-1 at home) and have surrendered 9 goals in the two games.
$20 on Columbus (+$150) over Phoenix
Columbus is coming off their first loss of the young season, a 4-3 decision to the Red Wings. The Coyotes are 0-2, with one of the losses at home, and have given up 10 goals in their first two outings.
Starting Bankroll        $1,000.00
Profit/Loss                      $0
Current Bankroll        $1,000.00

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 23rd

Only one game in the hoops world tonight that's worth a peek.

4 units on Cleveland St. (+$115)  over Loyola-Chicago
The host Vikings are 10-10 this season, but 9-1 at home. The Ramblers are 11-7 and 5-5 on the highway. Cleveland St has won 7 straight over the Ramblers.

Starting Bankroll                  300 units
Profit/Loss                          (3.55) units
Current Bankroll                 296.45 units

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

Good luck!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 22nd

Two games on the hardwood look like good bets.

3 units on Kansas St. (+$145) over Kansas
This should be a great game! The host Wildcats are 15-2 and on an 8 game winning streak. Not to be outdone, the Jayhawks are 16-1 and have run off 15 in a row. K-State is 12-0 at home this season, Kansas is 3-0 on the highway. The Jayhawks have won 18 of the last 21 between the two teams, but a 12-0 home team at 3-2 is hard to pass up.

3 units on Nebraska (+$165) over Illinois
The Huskers are 8-4 in Lincoln and are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 outings. Illinois is 14-5 this season, but has dropped 3 in a row and 5 of 7. Nebraska won here last year 80-57.
Starting Bankroll                  300 units
Profit/Loss                            2.45 units
Current Bankroll               302.45 units

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

Good luck!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Egg-citing News!

Lucki Duck indeed!
The Easter Bunny showed up early. Sometime this morning, a case filled with Reese cups and Cadbury chocolate eggs fell off a truck passing by our office. There was a total of 276 packages of candy, along with the display inside the box.

Dang I'm full :)

NFL Picks Contest - Results and Updated Standings

MOJO is back in the saddle again.
Here are the results and updated standings in the NFL Picks Contest.

It looks like a two horse race going into the Super Bowl. Vegas Vic will have to try to not only guess which team will win, but also which team MOJO will pick. If both pick the same team, MOJO will be getting fitted for his new shirt!

The Pro Bowl is this weekend, but will not be counted in our contest since it's basically a glorified practice game.

lightning- San Francisco (W 28-24) = 14 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- New England (L 13-28) = <15> pts.
Grange95-  San Francisco (W 28-24) = 14 pts.
Music City Momma- New England (L 13-28) = <15> pts.
Memphis MOJO-  San Francisco (W 28-24) = 14 pts.
Vegas Vic-  New England (L 13-28) = <15> pts.
Captain Crunch- Atlanta (L 24-28) = <4> pts.

Here are the current standings;

Memphis MOJO - 40+19+22+13+16+18+24+68+22+17+45+24-(3)+14 = 339 pts.
Vegas Vic - 16+19+22+13+16+40+15+23+43+58+24+24+23-(15) = 321
TwoMinuteWarning - 13+19+22+16+31+18+19+23+31+58+24+24+23-(15) =306
lightning - 13+19+24+13+16+18+24+24+22+17+38+24+23+14 =289
Music City Momma - 17+19+24+5+17+34+24+24+43+17+24+24+23-(15) = 280
Grange95 - 20+19+22+13+14+40+24+23+43+17+45-(15)-(3)+14 = 276
Captain Crunch - 13+11+18+16+31+18+24-(2)+31+32+24+20+23-(4) =255

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 21st

There are a couple of long shots that look interesting on today's hoops menu.

2 units on Charlotte (+$240) over Houston
This is more of a bet against the Rockets, (who have looked more like the Rockettes on the court lately) than it is a bet for the Bobcats. Houston is 7-14 on the road and has lost 7 straight overall. Charlotte is 5-16 at home, but at better than 2-1 odds, it's worth a small bet.
2 units on Alabama A&M (+$1025) over Southern A&M
5Dimes was the only book taking money line bets when this was written. The Bulldogs are 7-10 overall, but 6-2 when sleeping in their own beds. The Southern Jaguars are white hot, winning 12 of their last 13, but are only 5-6 on foreign soil this season. At 10-1, it's worth a couple bucks.
Starting Bankroll                  300 units
Profit/Loss                            6.45 units
Current Bankroll               306.45 units

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

Good luck!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

NFL Picks Contest - This Week's Picks


Here are the picks for this week's Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest - Conference Championship Edition.

lightning- San Francisco
TwoMinuteWarning- New England
Grange95- San Francisco
Music City Momma- New England
MOJO-  San Francisco
Vegas Vic- New England
Captain Crunch- Atlanta

Good luck!!!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 20th

Only one game on a short schedule that's worth a peek.

3 units on Southern Illinois (+$125) over Illinois St.
The host Salukis are 4-2 at home this season. The Redbirds are 2-5 in enemy territory. Both teams have struggled lately, with Southern Illinois dropping 6 of 7 and ISU 6 in a row.
Starting Bankroll                  300 units
Profit/Loss                            9.45 units
Current Bankroll               309.45 units

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

Good luck!

Football Picks, Jan 20th


Championship Sunday as both conferences see who will represent them in the Super Bowl. I think there's a good opportunity in the NFC game.

$30 on Atlanta (+$185) over San Francisco
The Falcons are 8-1 at the Georgia Dome this season and Matt Ryan is an amazing 36-4 in home games over his career. The Niners are 5-3 on the highway and 2-2 in domes. The big questions will be whether Atlanta can keep Kaepernick from running wild and also run the ball effectively themselves. Teams that have had success against San Francisco this season have run the ball well.


Starting Bankroll            $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                        $108.00
Current Bankroll            $2,108.00

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

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Picks Are Due

If you haven't sent in your pick, I'll need it by midnight (CST) tonight.

You can leave it in the comments or e-mail it to nfl.picks@ymail.com.

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 19th

A long list of games from which to choose in the hoops world, and a few of them look like good bets.

2 units on Atlanta (+$165) over San Antonio
The 22-17 Hawks are tough at home, winning 13 of 19. The Spurs are a stellar 31-11 and 13-9 on the highway. Atlanta is 4-1 in their last 5 home games while San Antonio has dropped 3 straight roadies. Both teams played last night, but the Spurs are older and might be more affected.

2 units on Arizona St (+$250) over Arizona
Two excellent teams get together today on the ASU campus. The Sun Devils are 12-1 at home this season. The Wildcats are 15-1 overall and 5-1 on foreign soil, but are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 outings. ASU won 87-80 at home over Arizona last year.

3 units on Houston (+$115) over Central Florida
The Cougars are 9-1 at home this season and 12-4 overall. The Golden Knights are 11-5, but a pedestrian 2-2 on the highway.

Starting Bankroll            300 units
Profit/Loss                     16.45 units
Current Bankroll          316.45 units

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

Good luck!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 18th

There's not a lot from which to choose, with only three games on tap in college hoops. Fortunately, one of them looks like a good opportunity.

2 units on Vermont (+$135) over Stony Brook
The host Catamounts (whatever that is) are 11-6 this season and 6-2 when eating home cooking. They have won 4 of their last 5 overall and 2 of their last 3 versus the Seawolves. Stony Brook is a stellar 13-4 and 7-3 in enemy territory. They are also 5-0 in 2013, so they are playing well. Vermont has won 9 of the last 10 match ups against the Seawolves on their home court.

Starting Bankroll             300 units
Profit/Loss                      13.75 units
Current Bankroll            313.75 units

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

Good luck!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

PokerPalooza!


We had seven runners for our Tuesday night PokerPalooza this week at the Duck Blind.

We decided to play on Tuesday rather than Thursday, because Farmer Harry babysits his grandchildren on Thursdays and is unable to join us.

Except this week.

As we learned, Harry gets one Tuesday a month and guess which Tuesday it was? If you said "this Tuesday," move to the front of the line!

The evening started with fried chicken and a few sides, followed by my daughter's fabulous cheesecake pie. As Andy Griffith used to say, "That's Gooooood."

I was a little surprised to see Ollie the Accountant who is, well... an accountant, and his son Dealer Larry (also an accountant) make it to the poker table. We don't see either of them too much until after April 15th, but Ollie told us that the IRS wasn't processing tax returns until February 1, because they were updating their computers to show the new tax rates.

He said he had a lot of returns to complete and quite a few upset customers, but what are you going to do?

The Indiana/ Wisconsin basketball game was on in the background when we started pitching cards, but J-Dawg soon changed the channel to a tennis tournament that had a couple of women competing.

"I didn't know you were a tennis fan," I said.

"I'm not, but the players are a lot hotter!"

Hard to argue with that logic.

Ollie won the High Hand Jackpot with quad tens in a hand of Omaha, in our $20 buy in, dealer's choice limit game.

Bobby Dee was the big winner on the night, pocketing an extra $25, followed by Ollie with a $20 win. Ray-Ray got beat up pretty bad, as did Dealer Larry. J-Dawg and I both pretty much broke even. I walked away $4 to the good.

Our plan is to play again next Tuesday. Hopefully, Harry will be able to make it!

Till next time, win the flips.

Basketball Picks, Jan 17th

I don't see any games worth betting tonight.

The UW-Milwaukee / Cleveland St match up looked pretty good until I noticed that UWM has dropped 7 straight and 9 of their last 10. It's bankroll suicide to bet on teams that are playing that poorly. But, the CSU Vikings have dropped 7 of 8 road games this season, and 5 in a row, so it was worth researching. The research indicated that I put my wallet back in my pocket.

Hopefully, tomorrow will bring some better opportunities.

Starting Bankroll             300 units
Profit/Loss                      13.75 units
Current Bankroll            313.75 units

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

Good luck!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 16th

Hockey's back, Go Ducks!
Three college games look like plays today.

2 units on Drake (+$110) over Evansville
The host Bulldogs are 5-4 when defending the fort and 9-7 overall. The Aces are 11-6 this season, but 2-4 on the highway and have lost 3 of their last 4 roadies. Drake has won the last 3 match ups.
2 units on Tulsa (+$125) over UTEP
The 10-7 Hurricane have been tough at home lately, winning their last 4, and are 6-2 overall. The visiting Miners are 9-6, but have been hot of late, winning 8 of their last 10 games. However, they struggle on foreign soil, posting a 1-4 road record. The home team has won the last 6 games in this series.
2 units on Nebraska (+$110) over Purdue
A match up between two "meh" teams, with the Huskers bringing a 9-8 record to the party and the Boilermakers 8-8. Nebraska is 8-3 at home however, while Purdue has only won 1 road game in 4 tries this season.

Starting Bankroll             300 units
Profit/Loss                      11.05 units
Current Bankroll            311.05 units

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

Good luck!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 15th

An abbreviated college hoops schedule doesn't have any favorable match ups, and I don't see anything on the NBA docket either, so I'm taking the day off.

Starting Bankroll             300 units
Profit/Loss                      11.05 units
Current Bankroll            311.05 units

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

Good luck!

Monday, January 14, 2013

NFL Picks Contest - Results and Updated Standings

Here are the results and updated standings in the NFL Picks Contest.

Vegas Vic, who won the first NFL Picks Contest earlier this season, takes the lead from MOJO with only three games left from which to pick.

lightning- New England (W 41-28) = 23 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- New England (W 41-28) = 23 pts.
Grange95-  Denver (L-35-38) = <3> pts.
Music City Momma- New England (W 41-28) = 23 pts.
Memphis MOJO-  Denver (L 35-38) = <3> pts.
ggrouchie- No Pick = 0 pts.
Vegas Vic-  New England (W 41-28) = 23 pts.
Captain Crunch- New England (W 41-28) = 23 pts.

Here are the current standings;

Vegas Vic - 16+19+22+13+16+40+15+23+43+58+24+24+23 = 336
 Memphis MOJO - 40+19+22+13+16+18+24+68+22+17+45+24-(3) = 325 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning - 13+19+22+16+31+18+19+23+31+58+24+24+23 =321
Music City Momma - 17+19+24+5+17+34+24+24+43+17+24+24+23 = 295
Grange95 - 20+19+22+13+14+40+24+23+43+17+45-(15)-(3) = 262
lightning - 13+19+24+13+16+18+24+24+22+17+38+24+23 =275
Captain Crunch - 13+11+18+16+31+18+24-(2)+31+32+24+20+23 =259
grrouchie - 14+48+20+5+16+40+17+23-(28)+17+24+25+0 = 221

Good luck in the conference championship games.

Basketball Picks, Jan 14th

Only one game on the menu today that's worth a peek.

3 units on Utah (+$120) over Miami
The Jazz are a pedestrian 20-19 this season, but 11-4 at home. In their last 7 games, they are 5-2 ATS. The Heat is 24-11, but only a .500 team in enemy territory, going 8-8. They are 2-7 in their last 9 games ATS.

Starting Bankroll           300 units
Profit/Loss                      7.45 units
Current Bankroll           307.45 units

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

Good luck!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Vegas Or Bust Poker League Tourney

We had a full table for our thirteenth of sixteen monthly league tournaments last Friday. The top two places win seats to the WSOP this summer.

I had a 16 point lead on third place coming into the tourney, so my plan was to be extremely conservative early and make sure I at least finish somewhere in the middle of the pack and "run the clock out" if you will, until the league is completed.

Seated left to right on your radio dial were Bobby Dee, Lil' Annie Okie, Dealer Larry, Big Daddy, Stamps, J-Dawg, Tin Man, Philly Phanatic, Ollie the Accountant, and Lucki Duck.

Play started quickly with Big Daddy hitting a royal flush in only the second hand of the night. However, it wasn't enough to keep him alive very long as evidenced by his ninth place finish. Bobby Dee was the first to receive a toe tag, finishing the night without winning a single hand.

Dealer Larry was next to go, followed by Philly Phanatic. Philly hurt me early by calling my raise with 9-9. With a 9 high flop he checked to me and I bet my TPTK made hand, thinking I was ahead. When he shoved I put him on an overpair, probably T-T or J-J, figuring he would have 3 bet me pre flop with anything bigger, so I folded. He was nice enough to show me his hand. I don't think I would have done the same for him. I like to keep 'em guessing :)

Everyone was playing tight, so there were no more eliminations for quite a while. Every time a shorty would get their stack in the middle, they would win and hold on for a little while longer.

Tin Man finally was knocked out next and I shoved for 4 BB shortly after that with A-5 soooted. I was called by both Stamps and Ollie and knew I was in big trouble when I whiffed the flop and Stamps bet. Ollie folded and Stamps tabled K-K. Not an ace in sight on the turn or river and I was out in fifth.

Stamps was next to fall on his sword, followed by Annie. Ollie and J-Dawg had a long heads up battle, with Ollie finally taking the win. He's moved back into second place with the victory, leading Stamps by a single point. It should be an exciting battle between the two in the final three tourneys.

Click here for the latest standings.

By the way, this is my 1,000th post. Yeowsa!

Till next time, win the flips.

NFL Picks Contest - This Weeks Picks


Here are the picks for this week's Small Potatoes NFL Picks Contest - Wildcard Edition.

lightning- New England
TwoMinuteWarning- New England
Grange95- Denver
Music City Momma- New England
MOJO-  Denver
ggrouchie- ?
Vegas Vic- New England
Captain Crunch- New England

Good luck!!!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Football Picks, Jan 13th

Both NFL Divisional Playoff Games look like possibilities.

$20 on Seattle (+$130) over Atlanta

The 12-5 Seahawks are the hottest team in the NFC, running off 6 straight wins. They are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games on the highway.

$40 @ 11/10 on New England (-9 1/2) over Houston
The host Pats have won 6 of their last 7 home games, the last three by an average of 30 PPG. One of those wins was a 42-14 thrashing of the Texans. Houston is 2-3 in their last 5 games and really haven't put together a complete game in the second half of the season.


Starting Bankroll           $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                       $92.00
Current Bankroll            $2,092.00

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

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 12th

A couple of today's college games look interesting.

3 units on Rutgers (+$160) over Cincinnati
The host Scarlet Knights are 8-1 at home this season and have won 6 of their last 7 overall. The Bearcats have dropped 3 of their last 4 games and are playing only their fourth road game (3-0). Rutgers won last year 61-54.
3 units on Appalachian St. (+$115) over Elon
The Mountaineers are 3-2 at home and have won 5 of the last 6 versus the Phoenix. ASU is 8-0 ATS this season. Elon is 3-4 on the highway and have lost 3 of their last 4 overall.

Starting Bankroll           300 units
Profit/Loss                      7 units
Current Bankroll           307 units

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

Good luck!

Football Picks, Jan 12th

I like one of the two Saturday playoff games.

$30 on Green Bay (+$130) over San Francisco

This one is a toss up, so I like the +$130 on the Packers. Can the Niners pressure
Rodgers? Can the Pack stop Gore or will San Fran control the clock? Green Bay's
defense is bolstered by the return of Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson.
Woodson's job will be to cover Tim Crabtree. If it comes down to a field goal, freshly
signed Billy Cundiff missed a 32 yarder in the AFC Championship Game last year for
the Ravens. How will he hold up under pressure if the 49ers need him late?


Starting Bankroll           $2,000.00
Profit/Loss                       $122.00
Current Bankroll            $2,122.00

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

Good luck!

Friday, January 11, 2013

NFL Picks Contest - Picks Due

If you haven't sent in your pick, I'll need it by 2pm (CST) tomorrow if you are picking one of the Saturday games.

If you're picking one of the Sunday games, please have your picks to me by midnight (CST) Saturday night.

You can leave it in the comments or e-mail it to nfl.picks@ymail.com.

Good luck!

Basketball Picks, Jan 11th

A light schedule of college round ball tonight. I don't see anything in either the pros or NCAA that is worth a bet, so I'll take the night off.

If I was an action junkie, I would consider St. Peters (+$120) at home to beat Niagara, who has only won 1 road game this season. What keeps me from jumping on board on this game is that St. Peters is only 3-5 at home.

Starting Bankroll           300 units
Profit/Loss                       7 units
Current Bankroll            307 units

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

Good luck!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Poker and Oil Gushers


As someone who grew up in the Beaumont, Texas area, I would be remiss if I didn't wish everyone a Happy Spindletop Day! Celebrate by filling your tank with some $3 plus gas.

Our monthly tournament for a seat in this summer's WSOP is tomorrow. With only four tourneys left, I have a 16 point lead on third place (two seats are awarded). The maximum points per tournament is 10, so my "magic number," (to use a baseball term) is 25 points.

Obviously, I will play cautiously in the beginning and hope a few players fall on their swords.

Tonight at the Duck Blind we have our PokerPalozza, which is a dealer's choice limit game with a $20 buy in.

Reports on both to follow.

Till next time, win the flips.

Basketball Picks, Jan 10th

Three college games and one pro look like +EV plays today.

2 units on Portland (+$150) over Miami
The Trailblazers have won 5 of their last 6 games and are 12-4 at home this season. Miami has dropped 3 of their last 5 on the highway and are 7-7 overall.

2 units on Utah (+$180) over UCLA
The Utes are only 8-6 this season, but are 4-1 at home. UCLA has an impressive 12-3 record, but only two road games this season. They are 1-1 straight up and 0-2 ATS.
2 units on Seattle (+$160) over New Mexico St.
The Red Hawks are a shaky 5-8 this season, but are 4-4 when eating home cooking. The Aggies are a pedestrian 8-8, but have struggled in enemy territory, winning only 1 game in 7 tries.
3 units on Nebraska- Omaha (+$185) over Indiana- Purdue
The UNO Mavericks are an awful 4-14, but 3-3 at home. The Jaguars aren't much better at 6-13, and are 2-9 when traveling.

Starting Bankroll           300 units
Profit/Loss                     2.45 units
Current Bankroll          302.45 units

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

Good luck!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Basketball Picks, Jan 9th

Four money line bets on home underdogs today.

2 units on UNC Charlotte (+$125) over La Salle
The 49ers are 12-2 overall and 9-1 at home. However, they haven't played in over 2 weeks, so they may be a little rusty in the first half. But, if they can hang with the 10-3 Explorers (4-2 on the road), they could steal this one late.
2 units on Illinois- Chicago (+$145) over Valpariso
The Flames are 7-0 at home this season and Valpo is 3-4 on the highway. However, the Crusaders have won 6 straight against ICU.
2 units on Wake Forest (+$255) over Virginia
This is a long shot, but the Demon Deacons are 6-2 at home. The Cavaliers are 11-3 overall, but have only played three road games, losing two of them. Wake has won 7 straight at home against Virginia.
2 units on Austin Peay (+$125) over Morehead St.
The Governors are only 4-12 this season, but have played 11 road games. They are a much better team at home as evidenced by their 3-2 record. The Eagles are a pedestrian 8-8 this season, and only 1-6 on the highway. Morehead has won the last 4 games between the two schools.

Starting Bankroll            300 units
Profit/Loss                    (5.65) units
Current Bankroll          294.35 units

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

Good luck!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

NFL Picks Contest - Results and Standings


Here are the results and updated standings in the NFL Picks Contest.

Memphis MOJO holds onto the lead as everyone pretty much held serve, except for Grange who took it on the chin with his Colts pick.

lightning- Green Bay (W 24-10) = 24 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- Green Bay (W 24-10) = 24 pts.
Grange95-  Indianapolis (L 9-24) = (15 pts.)
Music City Momma- Green Bay (W 24-10) = 24 pts.
Memphis MOJO-  Green Bay (W 24-10) = 24 pts.
ggrouchie- Baltimore (W 24-9) = 25 pts.
Vegas Vic-  Green Bay (W 24-10) = 24 pts.
Captain Crunch- Seattle (W 24-14) = 20 pts.

Here are the current standings;

Memphis MOJO - 40+19+22+13+16+18+24+68+22+17+45+24 = 328 pts.
Vegas Vic - 16+19+22+13+16+40+15+23+43+58+24+24 = 313
TwoMinuteWarning - 13+19+22+16+31+18+19+23+31+58+24+24 = 298
Music City Momma - 17+19+24+5+17+34+24+24+43+17+24+24 = 272
Grange95 - 20+19+22+13+14+40+24+23+43+17+45-(15) = 265
lightning - 13+19+24+13+16+18+24+24+22+17+38+24 =252
Captain Crunch - 13+11+18+16+31+18+24-(2)+31+32+24+20 =236
grrouchie - 14+48+20+5+16+40+17+23-(28)+17+24+25 = 221

Congratulations to grrouchie for the high score this week!

Basketball Picks, Jan 8th

Several  games on today's docket look pretty good.

2 units on Indiana (+$125) over Miami
The Pacers are 12-3 straight up and 9-6 ATS at home this season. The Heat is 7-6 on the road and 5-8 ATS.

4 units @ 11/10 on Houston (even) over LA Lakers
The host Rockets have won 9 of 11 and 4 straight. They are 20-14 overall and 13-6 at home. The Lakers have dropped 3 in a row and 4 of 5. They are 15-18 this season and 5-10 on the highway.

2 units on Brown (+$200) over Niagara
Brown has a 4-8 record this season, but has spent most of it on the highway. At home the Bears are 2-2, while Niagara has only won once in 6 tries on the road. The Eagles are 7-7 overall and have dropped 5 of their last 8 games.

Starting Bankroll             300 units
Profit/Loss                    (15.75) units
Current Bankroll           284.25 units

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

Good luck!