This feels like saying good-bye to a family member. Ben Roethlisberger has been in my life as long as my wife has. We went on our first date the day the Steelers drafted him. You would think that as a season ticket holder I would want to be at this last game, however, we sold them a few weeks ago. Monday and Sunday night games are impossible to get to, since I no longer live in Pittsburgh. The last game I attended he played in was the win over the Ravens and that was a perfectly fine way for to watch him play live for the last time in my eyes. I do not need some dramatic final game, or send off, I have plenty of great memories from his entire career. In many ways, we have been spoiled.
So few teams actually get a person that sticks and is good enough to play this long. How can you sum up a career like this? It is certainly the end of an era. Most of all I will always remember attending games he played in with my father. My father acquired Steeler season tickets in 1988, when I was six-years-old. Since, then I have gone to as many games as I could with him. While becoming an adult, starting a family of my own, and moving out of Pittsburgh, I have been able to attend fewer games each year. (I normally get to around four games per year) Yet, one constant in my life has always been attending games with my Dad and Ben Roethlisberger being the Steelers quarterback.
Since 2004, there have been countless games and moments that have been special thanks to Big Ben. When I started attending games with my Dad, I was hopeful I would get to see the Steelers win a Super Bowl. As time went on and disappointing playoff losses mounted, I became worried. After the 2003 disaster season, the Steelers were lucky to draft Ben. Finally, he delivered a Super Bowl victory and then another. As my Dad has gotten older, I have always wanted to attend a Super Bowl with him and see the Steelers win. (We went in 1995, when I was 13 and the Steelers lost to Dallas. The Steelers have a random raffle for season ticket holders to win Super Bowl tickets and we went 0-3 after getting fortunate in 1995.) Now, as Ben is set to leave it seems we are further away from having that happen. Time marches on. My Dad is 74, I am 39 and Ben Roethlisberger is set to retire.
Ben deserves a wonderful sendoff, but we know that is not how it works in sports. As Charles Barkley once said, “time is undefeated.” I was hopeful and wagered that the Steelers may have a home playoff game. Had the Chiefs of beaten the Bengals yesterday, the Steelers could have won tonight and made next Sunday very interesting. Instead, the Bengals have ascended. Much like the Steelers in 2004 after drafting Ben, Cincinnati has their guy. Instead, we will watch tonight with a slim chance the Steelers may extend Ben’s career beyond next weekend. Tonight, or next week may not conclude a career, as we would have liked it. Either way, it has been a fantastic ride.
While I remain hopeful the Steelers draft Kenny Pickett in a few months, anything may happen. Will it feel different, sure? Yet, I feel so lucky. I have had the opportunity to see one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Not only that, we won two Super Bowls in that time. Perhaps, the best part of all I was able to share it with my Dad. I do not know what next year may bring at the Quarterback position, or what the Steelers may end up doing. No matter what, there is one thing I do know. Next fall I will be at Heinz Field with my Dad watching the Steelers and cheering for a new quarterback.
Until the games start, let’s have some fun and build the pile!
Computer Model Plays
Platinum
None
Premium
Regular Plays
PIT +3
Football Odds Boost You Should Consider Betting
Fan Duel
Draft Kings
Ben to record 2+ Passing TD’s +125
Ben’s prop is set to 1.5 and the under is juiced. This pay +102 on Fan Duel. Look, I think I have to bet this. I do not recommend you do the same, but this is a narrative wager for me. I am in.
Barstool Sportsbook
Reminder, never bet with barstool (Their employee boosts) and do not bet timed boosts for a quarter or half and needing to score.
Fox Bet
I do not like any of their boosts tonight. Fox Bet boosts seems to imply a lot of scoring for two teams that have struggled offensively. No thank you.
NFL
PIT +3.5
Was there a doubt here?
I gave this out days ago when the number was Pit +3.5. You should have grabbed it then. There will not be any hedge middle tonight from me.
Let’s Get Weird
NFL Computer Model
Overall 120-135 47.05%
Platinum 5-9 35.71%
Premium 25-26 49.01%
Recommended Plays (Platinum + Premium) 30-35 46.15%
Our Plays
NFL
Overall 23-20 53.48%
NFL Props 1-0 100%
NFL Odds Boosts 14-42 -1515
NFL Teasers and Parlays 2-3 +005
College Football
Overall 8-1 88.88%
College Odds Boosts 3-1 +200
College Teasers and Parlays 1-1 +154
Combined
Overall 31-21 59.61%
Odds Boosts 17-43 -1315
Teasers and Parlays 3-3 +259
Win The Weekends 
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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