Going for Broke
Going for Broke
Bowl Bonanza
Michigan State will make it a happy new year by leading the parade of postseason picks
December 22nd, 2010
Shoebox filled with holiday receipts staring you in the face? Dreading the daily walk to the mailbox out of fear that your credit-card bill will reach out and strangle you? Read more »
Going for Broke
Boise State backers will hit jackpot in Vegas bowl
December 15th, 2010
Remember when a college bowl game was a reward for a successful season? And remember when a successful season was defined as a record that featured at least twice as many wins as losses? Well, those days—much like daily newspapers, the sport of boxing and my 34-inch waist—are long gone. Read more »
Going for Broke
Eagles, Cowboys should have easy time finding the end zone
December 8th, 2010
Perception: Professional sports handicapper ranks among the five easiest and most enjoyable occupations in the world, slotting somewhere between Steve Jobs’ financial adviser and backstage hand at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Reality: There’s a reason my once jet-black hair is now more salt than pepper—and it has nothing to do with being married with children (OK, little to do is more accurate). Read more »
Going for Broke
Hokies to stay on roll with win over Seminoles
December 1st, 2010
The last time I had a big week, I patted myself on the back so hard that my arm ended up in a sling for a month. Then, of course, karma got me the following week as I got crushed. So instead of bragging, let me just point out—for the record—that last week I hit all three of my big plays, finished 7-3 and cleared $1,040. With that, I’m now 28-14-2 with my picks the last five weeks. Read more »
Going for Broke
Rebels’ road woes will continue in San Diego
November 24th, 2010
If this is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, then why am I more depressed than Oscar Goodman at the sight of an empty gin bottle? No, it’s not because I went 6-2-1 last week and yet cleared only $77 (seriously, this is getting ridiculous; I’m 21-11-2 over the last four weeks, and I’ve lost $234!). Rather, my melancholy stems from the news that the Minnesota Vikings fired coach Brad Childress, which comes just two weeks after the Dallas Cowboys gave Wade Phillips his pink slip. Read more »
Going for Broke
Cowboys won’t sustain turnaround vs. Lions
November 17th, 2010
For a while there last week, I felt like Manny Pacquiao against Antonio Margarito, sticking jab after jab and wearing down my opponent with vicious body shots. San Diego State plus the points against TCU? Easy winner. Ditto Texans-Jaguars over the total, South Carolina, Minnesota, Oklahoma State and the Bengals plus the points against the Colts. Read more »
Going for Broke
Look for surging Browns to lead pack of ’dogs
November 10th, 2010
I should’ve known. The second I submitted last week’s column patting myself on the back for a positive October, I should’ve known the Gambling Gods would unleash their fury on me—and do so cruelly. Read more »
Going for Broke
Play on Falcons will keep bankroll soaring
November 3rd, 2010
Wondering who had the most profitable October? It took some digging, but I uncovered that list, and it goes like this: Read more »
Going for Broke
Dolphins will continue to swim strong on the road
October 27th, 2010
On the opening Sunday of the NFL season, I walked into the Las Vegas Hilton sports book 75 minutes before the first set of games kicked off. Judging by the sea of humanity in the joint, you would’ve thought it was 75 minutes before the start of the Super Bowl—one endless line after another of NFL jersey-clad gamblers with their parlay cards in one hand and their cash in the other. Read more »
Going for Broke
Palmer, Bengals not worth the risk against Falcons
October 20th, 2010
How do you go 5-3 with your football picks, including solid upset winners with Texas over Nebraska and the Rams over the Chargers, and end up upside down for the week? You put your biggest chunk of money on the Chicago Bears, who lost as a six-point home favorite to a Seattle Seahawks team that had just three wins in its previous 21 road games. Read more »