THREE. There are only three football games left in this NFL season. That makes me sad. This has been an up and down year for me still, I am above 55% and so is the computer. If only I could stay away from the teasers and parlays!

The computer has just regular plays on Kansas City -3 and the Rams +3.5. The computer thinks the numbers are fair and both games should be very tight. No matter what, the computer will finish the year picking every game against the spread above 55%.

I kind of like the same things the computer does. I really like the Chiefs, a lot. The Pats have been god awful on the road this year. I am going to lock in the Chiefs -3. That is all I am planning for now, but I am sure I will do more.

I got back on the NBA horse last night with the Spurs -1. I am going to continue to play against teams that are missing players in the regular season. I think messing with rotations and bench play obviously changes usage and minutes played, but what people don’t realize is how teams that aren’t good don’t have the depth to sustain players sitting. Specifically, this relates to their second units. Last night it was the Spurs bench that made the difference. The Spurs bench scored 51 points last night, while the Mavs scored 36. The Mavs were without Dennis Smith Jr (Trade chip) and J.J. Barea (Old and hurt). Tonight the Raptors are sitting two starters and a bench player. I don’t know why the Suns are still getting +8. I am on the Suns +8 tonight as well as a small parlay of Suns +8 and Nuggets Money Line (+110). The addition of the Nuggets removes any juice.

Computer
Platinum 4-10-1 (28.57%)
Premium 33-19-3 (63.46%)
Overall 141-113-8 (55.51%)
Playoff Record 5-1-1 (83.33%)

My Picks 32-25-3 (56.14%)
The Undertaker 3-3 (50%)
My Crazy Teasers and Parlays 14-23-1 -680

NBA Record  32-26 (55.17%)
NBA Parlay and Teaser Record 3-9 -235

Getting the best of a number is critically important when betting sports. At this current time, it is not really feasible. If we are to make wagers legally, we have to give what the casino offers when we drive there. In time, there will be an App that allows us to monitor and make wagers at a more advantageous time for the teams we like. A perfect example was Seattle last week. I decided to make my wager Friday evening and had Seattle at +2.5. The next day they were +2. Obviously, as you know Seattle would come back and somehow miraculously cover. I was fortunate to have the best of the number as +2.5 was the highest Seattle would be all week.

This week’s games are very strange. After four dogs were good last week with three winning outright can we see the dogs continue their run? I say no. Regression to the mean is due to happen. The computer doesn’t think like that. The computer has a platinum play on Chargers +4. Everything else from the computer is just a regular play. Those include the Colts +5.5, Rams -7 and the Eagles +8.

I personally am scared of the Eagle game. I lost a lot betting on them getting eight in this exact same spot not too long ago. It’s the same, only it is not. From everything I have read Foles does much better against man-to-man defense, which the Saints primarily play. The Eagles secondary has been shredded by mostly everyone except for the last two games against the Bears and Redskins. Neither team have any WR worth even mentioning. If you remove the last two weeks the Eagles defense had given up 30, 23, 29, 13, 22, 48 points. The 13 was against the Redskins again and the 22 was against the Giants. If you think the Eagles are going to score the defense should be capable of holding the Saints to around 24-28 points. I think the Eagles do just that and score on their own, staying close but still losing. 28-21. I will be on the Eagles +8.

In the other games I really like the Rams -7 and the Colts +5.5 I think the Chiefs win, but Colts score as well. I will also be playing the over of 57. Dak and Dallas haven been bad on the road this year. Conversely, the Rams have been much better at home. I think the Rams learned from their conservative mistakes last year in the playoffs and come out firing. If Dak doesn’t have a fantastic game the Rams roll easily. The Cowboys can not play from behind in this game.

Lastly, I am going to take the Chargers. It feels so strange to say that they are better than the Pats, but they are. Despite that betting on Phillip Rivers against the Pats at home makes me queasy. I can’t believe I am saying this, but I think the Chargers actually win the game.

I will be posting teasers and other wagers in the near future, but for now this is what I am betting

My Wagers
PHIL +8
INDY +5.5
LAR -7
LAC +4
OVER 57 KC/INDY

I also added a picture of the final standings of the Handicapping contest I was in. At the top you see the record of the group that won the Hilton Super Contest. I finished 10.5 games behind them. No complaints here as I finished tied for fourth.

 

 

 

Computer
Platinum 4-9-1 (40%)
Premium 33-19-3 (63.46%)
Overall 139-111-8 (55.60%)
Playoff Record 3-0-1 (100%)

My Picks 31-22-3 (62.26%)
The Undertaker 3-3 (50%)
My Crazy Teasers and Parlays 14-18-1 -140

NBA Record  31-26 (54.38%)
NBA Parlay and Teaser Record 3-9 -235

That is what I call a pretty successful weekend. The computer went 3-0-1 thanks to Russell Wilson’s comeback TD and conversion. If you look at the computer numbers below, it is going very well in every category except platinum plays. Once the season ends I will post out data that dates back to 2015. Of course it is up to you to believe it or not since I did not post those picks prior to the games. It is our real data though and some of it looks fantastic.

I myself was very fortunate as I had Seahawks +2.5 in wagers I made Friday night. I did have a strange situation occur. My friend that goes to the sports book and places wagers for me mistakenly bet a parlay of Indy +1 and Sea +2.5 instead of placing those wagers separately. Neither of us noticed it until Saturday morning. Most sports books allow you to fix mistakes if you catch them quickly and my friend offered to fix the situation. I told him, no way. It is clearly destiny and it is coming in. One Janikowski injury and a miracle Seahawks back door all-time cover and it became a winner. Like I said destiny.

I had a chance to try to middle some of my open teasers that had the Chargers at +9 and +13. I thought about and mentioned on twitter that I could bet the Ravens at -2.5 or -3 and gave myself a window to double my money or break even if the Ravens won by 3-8 points. A good friend and trusted gambler said let it ride. Then my daughter decided to watch Frozen, not once but twice early Sunday morning. This was a sign from the gambling gods that I was to “Let it go,” and not try to middle or hedge in anyway. Boom, winner.

I have zero feel for this college football championship game. It feels almost too obvious to take Alabama and lay the 5. Clemson is missing people and Alabama has cruised all year long. In fact, I am going to take Alabama -5.

In NBA tonight I have three team I like. They are all playing against teams who are on a back-to-back. I’ll take the Kings -5.5, the Celtics -9.5 and the Mavs -8. I am also going to recommend a money line parlay of all three that pays +126. Add in another money line parlay and through in the Blazers and those four teams pay +143.

I hope you made money this weekend and we continue to do the same today.

 

 

Computer
Platinum 4-9-1 (40%)
Premium 33-19-3 (63.46%)
Overall 139-111-8 (55.60%)
Playoff Record 3-0-1 (100%)

My Picks 31-22-3 (62.26%)
The Undertaker 3-3 (50%)
My Crazy Teasers and Parlays 14-18-1 -140

College Football 1-4 (20%)

NBA Record  31-26 (54.38%)
NBA Parlay and Teaser Record 3-9 -235

Wild Card weekend has arrived and I am ready to have some fun. As you can see from the numbers the computer has done well throughout the entire season. Hitting at or above 55% is the key number to be profitable in sports betting.

The computer really likes three games this week and just makes a pick for one of them. The computer has a platinum play on Seattle +2. I like them as well honestly. The computer has two premium plays on Indy +1.5 and the Chargers +2.5. In the final games the computer just has a regular play on the Eagles +6.

In terms of my personal wagers, I also like the dogs. I will be on all three dogs at this point. Where I really see an edge is in teasers. You can take all the dogs past key numbers like 7 or 14. Oddly, I am most scared on the Eagles. I have zero feel for that game. There is no outcome that could surprise me. The Eagles could win easily or could lose 45-0 and I would not be shocked. I think every game will be very tight. Taking the points seems important especially in a teaser.

My Crazy Teasers
6 Point Tease -120
Indy +7.5
Sea +8

6 Point Tease +150
Indy +7.5
Sea +8
LAC +8.5

10 Point Tease -120
Indy +11
Sea +11.5
LAC +12.5

 

My Wagers
Seattle +2
I think they are the better team. Feels like a close game where Dak makes one bad throw that is very costly.

Indy +1.5
I think the Colts are the better team as well. I see the Colts offensive line dominating and Hilton doing his thing. I was on the Colts in Houston a few weeks ago and the Texans have less offensive weapons now.

 

I will post my selections for Sunday on Sunday, but I think you can see where this is headed.

 

 

Computer
Platinum 4-9 (30.76%)
Premium 31-19-3 (62%)
Overall 136-111-7 (55.06%)

My Picks 29-22-2 (56.86%)
The Undertaker 3-3 (50%)
My Crazy Teasers 10-18-1 -740
College Football 1-4 (20%)

NBA Single Games Record 
31-24 (56.36%)
NBA Parlay and Teaser Record
3-9 -235

I have been to plenty of sports books in Vegas. I have been waiting for a large portion of my adult life for legalized sports betting near me. Finally, I have my wish. What exactly am I looking for in a sports book? Speed, easy to make wagers, lots of seating and easy way to watch all the games. In theory that should be easy to accomplish. Most Vegas books have been around forever and know exactly what they are doing. This entire legalization and roll out in Pennsylvania has felt rushed and casinos are somehow not prepared.

I made my first visit to the Rivers Casino Sports book during the day of the Steelers and Patriots game. I was well aware that it was going to be busy and the casino would be packed. What I was not prepared for was the lack of preparation by Rivers. What did they think was going to happen? Were they not aware that when you are raised in Pittsburgh gambling is just in your DNA?

I got to the casino at around noon and I figured that having one hour to locate the sports book, get in line and place wagers prior to the early window of games starting would be easy. Did that happen? Nope. Was that my fault? Absolutely not. The sports book is slightly deeper into the casino and off to the left of one of the main bars. The location makes sense to me. They want people to have to walk past different bars and pits of table games in order to get to the book itself. It does feel like the sports book was squeezed into a tiny area right next to a bar. One thing that is convenient is that the free pop machine was right next to the watching area. I did not have any pop, only some Fat Head’s beer.

Problems
12:20 There was a massive line when I finally got to the book. I again thought oh no big deal, it doesn’t take too long to place bets. However, there were two lines. One was to use the automated machines, the other the betting window and deal with a real person. There was zero explanation as to which line people should go in. Someone in the line said you can’t do parlays or teasers on the kiosks. I thought there is no way that is true, but couldn’t risk my spot in line to find out. There were only five digital kiosks to make wagers. I have been told that they added a few more recently though.

12:40 While in line a person flashed their rivers casino card showing they were a higher-level player, that person was immediately taken from the line and escorted to the front. No member of Rivers said anything to the rest of the customers. I could see how this would make sense if you earned comps or status at the casino when you wager, but they do not swipe your card and track your wagers in the sports book. Very few sports books do this, but some do give out drink tickets when you wager a certain threshold of money.

12:55 When I finally got to the front part of the line it was clear that one betting window was just not open. WHAT? WHY? There are people in line waiting to give their money away and the casino was not able to make that happen.

12:56 Another teller came in and began to open the window that was closed. Awesome, this should speed things up.

12:57 One of the other windows began counting their drawer and closing up. WHAT IS HAPPENING. WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS SPORTS BOOK?! This is like going to a sports bar and them not having the games on at all times. I can’t even fathom what they were thinking. There is a line of at least 200 people behind me and they are going to not open a new window. THE GAMES START IN THREE MINUTES. THREE. KEEP THEM ALL OPEN.

12:58 The person who got to skip the line is still placing bets. I hope this person suffers a horrid beat and loses all their wagers today. I ain’t sorry. (Beyonce voice)

12:59 I finally get to the window. First wager is on the Ravens who are playing Tampa Bay. I lam laying 8. I go to place my second wager a big teaser… sorry sir teasers are not allowed?
Me: wait what? Why not?
Teller: it is now 1 PM.
Me: Alright (Phillip Rivers nose breathing GIF mixed with Anger from Inside Out GIF)
Me: I’ll take the Titans (against the Giants). I’ll also parlay the Titans and Ravens.

1:01 I collect my tickets which are absurdly long. If you follow me on Instagram or twitter you know I have been posting my betting slips. These Rivers betting slips are insanely long. They are the CVS receipt of betting slips. I have no idea what other information is on the bottom of the slip. You might be wondering why I was able to bet games after they started. Well, they have live wagering. There is a constant line that you can wager on. Since the games did not start I had the line at the moment and it had not changed. Live in-game wagering is going to be huge once we get an app. However, once the games start there is no screen or big board where they list the live lines. This is a massive mistake. What am I going to do get in this large line to wait and find out the live line? It is for sure going to change by the time I get up to the window anyway.

1:02 My dad wagers on the Steelers. Oddly, there are only two late games and one-night game. I kind of like the Steelers but want to tease them. I can’t tease them with the games I liked in the early window. Sucks.

1:08 A Rivers Casino employee tells me you can make wagers and cash tickets at the player’s club. THIS INFORMATION COULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL MAYBE AT 12:45. Did they not think to maybe; I don’t know tell people in the 200 person line this?!

Obviously, this is all brand new to them and they have some bugs to work out of the system. I would assume they would build a bigger dedicated sports book location and have it ready for next football season. I think even having two of more locations to take bets makes sense especially on game days. The biggest innovation would be adding an app and allowing mobile wager. It is allowed in neighboring states so it can’t be far behind. Oddly, Rivers is partnered with a non-traditional sports book operator. It is an Australian company. It is slightly difficult to find their odds online. I can currently find the numbers for almost every other sports book in seconds. As consumers we should be able to line shop in the future. If we want to bet the Steelers and the three online sports books in Pennsylvania are offering lines of -7, -7 and -6.5 I know where I am placing my wager. I really want to go to the sports book on a non-game day and see how my experience differs.

If you are new to sports betting I would suggest going on a non-major day and getting comfortable. For a majority of people this is a fun activity and they hope to make money but it is not the most important thing. Recreational players want to enjoy the experience. Let them wager easily, give them comfy chairs and a free drink with every wager. I don’t know how that works with the law in Pennsylvania casinos, but there has to be a way.

In the coming weeks I will discuss the sports book at Hollywood Casino near Hershey, Pennsylvania. Anyone want to join me?!

It has been a little while, but the Holidays are a busy time. Between seeing Santa, family in town and betting on games it can get pretty hectic. Santa brought my son a “YouTube Camera” and he started a new channel. You can find Dynamite Jack Milo’s YouTube Channel by searching or you can watch his first two videos here. Please subscribe!

I ended the season making money on Draft Kings in DFS, but struggled on FD. It has been an up and down season that has basically resulted in me breaking even. Emoji Shrug. I am not complaining though. Last season I had multiple sweats to win a GPP. (Even winning GPP’s last year in football. Although my best week last year was the divisional round) This season I had maybe one. I just never completely put it all together. Always remember GPP’s are hard. While the NFL has been tough, I had a fantastic sweat on New Year’s Eve. I ended up 12 points away from winning the NBA medium year end special. I didn’t win, but still it was a nice finish and a great way to end 2018. As football winds down, it is time to really crank up NBA.

 

My season long teams were going so well until the week 15 apocalypse. Despite being the no.1 seed in most of my leagues I ended up only making one final. This was extremely disappointing. Of course, all of these teams rebounded in week 16 and I won third place in every league. Yes, I did win money, but what could have been. If you look back at my most drafted players blog that I wrote in early September, you can see why I did so well. The injured/bad players were easily droppable and obviously, Mahomes carried me.

Tyler Lockett – Home run considering draft position.
Pat Mahomes – Ended up with best fantasy season for a QB ever.
TY Hilton – Great all year.
Chris Hogan – Man, this was horrible.
Chris Thompson – Was never healthy
Jack Doyle – Got the Colts TE part correct

The computer ended up finishing pretty well. Premium plays ended at 62% for the regular season. All the games finishing at 55% is fantastic as well.
Computer
Platinum 4-9 (30.76%)
Premium 31-19-3 (62%)
Overall 136-111-7 (55.06%)

My picks ended up just fine, but I wish my parlays and teasers would have gone better. There is always the playoffs.
My Picks 29-22-2 (56.86%)
The Undertaker 3-3 (50%)
My Crazy Teasers 10-18-1 -740

This is why I don’t play college football. These are all bowl games. You have to be following on Twitter and IG to see these picks.  (I mean if you want, HA)
College Football 1-4 (20%)

NBA continues to go well, but has been up and down after a hot start!
NBA Single Games Record 
30-23 (56.60%)
NBA Parlay and Teaser Record
3-9 -235

The regular season is almost done and that seems very strange. I’m not ready for only basketball! Today in DFS I am investing heavily in Sam Darnold. What could possibly go wrong? 😂😂😂

In terms of wagers

PIT+6.5

SEA +2

PHILLY -2.5

Three team ten point tease

PITT+16.5

SEA +12

PHILLY +7.5

Will post computer selections soon!

Christmas break is upon is!!! Of course you could watch a Christmas movie, or every NBA game that is on. (I’ll have the NBA on my iPad like usual) Everyone else puts out a best of list of some kind of 2018, so I thought I would do the same. This is a list of shows that I think you should binge watch while you are up wrapping presents. This is my best TV shows of 2018 list!

9. Last Week Tonight (HBO)/Patriot Act (NETFLIX)
Both shows are very similar, have a topic of the week and are very funny. I am in on 30-minute shows.

8. Glow (NETFLIX)
Super fun, not all the characters are likeable or good, but you understand why.

7. Survivor (CBS)
Yes, this show is still on the air. I love the game theory, strategy and social interactions. I did not count this as a reality show, it is more of a game show to me. This season in particular was outstanding.

6. Dark (NETFLIX)
Do you like weird? Do you like SCI-FI? Did you like the Leftovers? It is hard to even explain the plot of this show easily, but it is fantastic. Downside, it is in German with sub-titles or you can watch the dubbed English version. Basically, a kid goes missing in a small German town, but another kid shows up dead. The kid that shows up dead has been missing for thirty years, but has not aged at all. It is a much darker Stranger Things type show, but very different too.

5. West World (HBO)
Have I mentioned I like weird SCI-FI? “Is this now?” While this show might be light on good people, or characters I root for, I enjoy the puzzle and mystery aspect. The final three episodes of this season were so strong, including the bottle episode that had little to do with the main mystery. If you liked LOST, you might like this.

4. Homecoming (Amazon)
10 episodes that are all 20-35 minutes. That is the first selling point. Julia Roberts is fantastic in it and there is going to be a second season. Roberts plays a social worker trying to help veterans when they come home from deployment, but it is not exactly about that.

3. The Bodyguard (NETFLIX)
6 episodes of Rob Stark protecting an English politician from terrorists. It starts fast and never slows down.

2. Succession (HBO)
The best Summer show by far. The Roy family is so dysfunctional, but so funny, but so sad. I was hesitant to try this show, but finally gave it a shot and loved it. I dragged my wife in and she loved it too!

1. Better Call Saul (AMC)
Never has a show about very little been so good. They spend most of the season preparing for and trying to build the super lab from Breaking Bad. But, that means nothing really. This show is masterful in the way it is shot, executed, acted and the story is told. Kim Wexler may be the best written woman on TV. Did you hate Skyler White? You are gonna love Kim Wexler. The first few seasons of this are on NETFLIX and the most recent season will be soon. The only reason why this is my number one is because Thrones took the year off.

 

Since we are busy parents who work full time we can’t watch everything. I have a list of shows I want to try, but have not got around to yet.

1. Jack Ryan (Amazon)
   I don’t know how this can be good , but I want to see.
2. The Good Fight (CBS ALL ACCESS)
   I am never paying for CBS all access, but I loved the Good Wife. I am all about more Dianne Lockheart in my life.
3. Billions (Showtime)
   Everyone who watches says I would like it. The guys who wrote Rounders make this.
4. Maniac (Netflix)
   So, I watched one episode and was like yeah, I will get there some day. (Probably not)
5. Big Little Lies (HBO)
   The second season is coming and I want to catch up. The cast alone is fantastic.
6. Ozark (NETFLIX)
   I keep saying I am going to start, but always find something else instead.
7. Killing Eve (BBC)
   I heard it is fantastic.
8. Barry (HBO)
   I watched the first one and have not been back. Soon.
9. Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
   Everyone says it is good.
10. Atlanta (FX)
    I have every episode on my DVR. I need to watch them and have no idea what I am waiting for.

In order to make room for new TV, you must remove old bad TV. You know the shows that build up on your DVR and feel like a chore to watch. This is a list of shows I stopped watching.

1. The other walking dead show
   I forgot it was a thing.
2. Ballers (HBO)
   I love the Rock, but meh.
3. The Americans (FX)
   I can’t recall exactly when I stopped watching, but I read a recap of the finale.
4. The Walking Dead (AMC)
   I have been watching episodes in fast forward for two years now.

Shows I keep watching because I am in too deep now and wonder how many more years they are going to keep this thing going.

1. Supernatural (CW)
2. 13 Reasons Why (Netflix)

We are doing very well on our NBA selections at this point hitting at 73%! Our NBA parlays and teasers have been very close to popping a big one, but at 2-4 are still basically breaking even. Our NBA selections will be posted later to our Instagram and Twitter account, so make sure you are following us!

The computer has three premium plays this week!
MIA +7
WASH +7
PHIL +11

The common theme with two of those teams is that the computer doesn’t realize their has been a QB change. We do adjust for that in the system, but still the computer is in.

The Rest of our plays.
LAC +3.5
HOU -6
CLE +3
ARZ +8.5
DET +2.5
CHI -6
CIN -3
DAL +3
TEN +2.5
BALT -7.5
SEA -4.5
PITT +2.5
NO -5.5

Computer
Platinum 3-8 (27.27%)
Premium 25-18-3 (58.13%)
Overall 104-95-7 (52.26%)
My Picks 23-19-1 (54.76%)
The Undertaker 3-3 (50%)
My Crazy Teasers 6-16-1 (27.27%)  -840

NBA Single Games Record 
17-6 (73.91%)

NBA Parlay and Teaser Record
2-4 (33%) -35

Has anyone seen the movie Rampage?! If this movie doesn’t win all the Oscars what are we even doing anymore. I’m sure you are saying, that I am insane. Let me explain. I love bad Sci-Fi movies. The stranger the premise, the more likely I am in. I have watched Geostorm like 15 times. Have you seen Geostorm? The movie where we have created a series of satellites over the Earth that help contain extreme weather. We didn’t try to fix climate change, we found a way to manipulate the weather instead. I love movies like this. Of course the satellites are being “controlled” and it’s up to bad movie maven Gerard Butler to solve it. Why him? Oh, he is the genius who created the weather controlling satellite system of course. But this blog is not about Geostorm. It’s about the masterpiece that is Rampage.

The Rock plays a former special forces military guy who is now a zoologist who specializes in primates and runs the San Diego Wildlife preserve. His best friend is an albino gorilla named George who knows sign language and is very funny. If you read those two sentences and don’t want to see this movie, then we can’t be friends. Someone a few years ago wrote that and I thought, ohhh man I have a hit movie on my hands. That person was right.

Meanwhile a tech company was doing illegal genetic testing in space, it had to be space, when a mouse goes insane and kills the crew and blows up the space station. The genetic altering material flies to Earth and of course lands next to George. This is the first ten minutes of the movie. It’s amazing. I think this movie was made for me. I have irrational love for The Rock. I have irrational love for bad Sci-Fi movies. It’s the perfect match. Add in a triple IPA from The Dancing Gnome and it was fantastic.

Much like in the Fast movie franchise, The Rock is a super hero. He survives: a plane crash, a helicopter crash, being shot, falling out of multiple buildings and fighting a giant wolf that flies and an alligator. THE MOVIE IS LIKE 97 MINUTES LONG. Really the missed opportunity in this movie was to give the rock the genetic mutation juice and have him grow to be 50 feet tall and take over the world. I have hopes for a sequel. In the end the rock teams up with George and help defeat the other animals.

The most ridiculous part of this movie, besides the giant flying wolf that eats people and helicopters, is Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance. He plays an NSA government agent that is trying to bring down the evil company behind the genetic testing. Only, no one told him he was not supposed to be playing Negan from The Walking Dead, or a comedic relief cowboy. At one point in the movie a military person basically says, “this is serious we must evacuate the city of Chicago,” and JDM responds with “I’m an old cowboy who likes to make jokes.”

I give this movie five stars on the entertainment and insanity scale. I think my son would love it. What six-year-old wouldn’t want to watch a giant gorilla, wolf and alligator do battle with the help of The Rock?! My son would be in.

Anyone have any other bad Sci-Fi recommendations?