The Contest of Insignificance: Week 9

In my last post on the joys of gaming, I promised to post updates regarding my progress in the Contest of Insignificance. While only about 15 people read this (at best), I figured it is better to keep those people entertained than to just quit.

For those of you who are new, here is how it works: We pick 5 games/lines every week to bet against in the NFL. We keep score all season on how well we do against the Vegas spreads. Winner takes all. At $20 a head and a small amount of players, the title of the contest seems appropriate.

Before Week 8's games, I was in 2nd place and felt good about my selections. After Week 8, I was in 4th place and discouraged. Such as life in the world of a guy just looking for a break. It likely doesn't matter how I fare each week, but it's fun to pretend like I can catch Steve L. Read my last post to learn about the real contest and to see how the guy leading our $20 contest would be within spitting distance of the pedestal.

But, the beauty of the NFL is that each week brings new life. Here are my Week 9 picks and how I fared. I know it's Monday and there is still one game left, but I wanted nothing to do with the PIT/CIN game. Nothing in gambling...and likely nothing in viewing.

WEEK 9: 3-1-1 Record - moving me back into a tie for 3rd place.

Pretty solid bounce back week for me after falling under the 50% mark last week. Here is how it broke out...

1) NYG -6 @ SEA. WIN
I rarely feel amazing about my selections. If I were near a casino I would have dumped at least $50 on this line. There has been only 1 other line all season that I felt this good about and that was week 4 in which the Jets were favored by 5.5 at Buffalo. This is when Buffalo couldn't do anything and the Jets were pummeling teams. I said to my friend Steve F: "I would bet a house on this game." I wish I would have done the same with the Giants. They were up 28-0 before I even blinked and destroyed Seattle.

2) TB +8 @ ATL. WIN
Tampa, as I mentioned in my last post, looks strong this season after a pitiful 2009. Atlanta is good, but 8 points was just the right amount of cushion for me. It turned out to be almost the exact cushion Tampa gamblers needed as the Falcons won by 6. Note: Tampa had a shot to win the the game late, but failed to convert on a 4th and 1 play.

3) NYJ -4 @ DET. LOSS
Thanks Jets. Detroit is definitely improving as Stafford is looking like a true starting QB. I thought to myself "no way Rex Ryan (coach of the Jets) allows this team lose to DET this week. They are going to be pissed." The Jets were shut out at home a week earlier by the Packers (a game I was fortunate to be at). I was right, they didn't lose. But they also didn't win by enough - Jets by 3 on the first possession in Overtime.

4) IND +3 @ PHI. WIN
This was nothing but good ol' fashioned luck. This bet seemed too good to be true. Indy as an underdog against an Eagles team that is strong but starting a QB coming off of a rib inury? THROW THE HOUSE AT IT! Better to be lucky than good, right? A sketchy at best unnecessary roughness call on PHI defensive end Trent Cole kept a late Colts drive alive long enough for Peyton to punch in one more TD. See the highlight at about 2:25 here. Philly wins by 2 as they run out the clock. INDY gamblers everywhere rejoice!

5) BUF +3 vs. CHI (In Toronto). TIE
This game was one of those feel good picks that I couldn't avoid. Buffalo had lost two games in a row in OT by 3 points. Chicago was shaky going into their bye week and traveling to an indoor stadium in Canada. Buffalo was winning late in the 4th quarter and trying to put the game away when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw an interception that led to the CHI game winning TD. Apparently 0-8 teams really do find ways to blow games, because Buffalo had an Extra Point blocked and Chicago hit a 2 pt conversion. It changed the entire outcome of the game for the gambling public. Chicago wins 22-19.

SEASON RECORD: 21-21-3

Talk about Even Steven.