Lucky number 13.
Week 13 is about the time where the season starts winding down. Some teams have their eye on a bye, others are battling for a chance at the playoffs, and others are, well, Kansas City, Philadelphia & Jacksonville.
Also, if you're lucky, you're competing for a spot in a fantasy football playoff in one of your eight leagues. Lots to look forward to this week in that regard.
I'll approach this week a little differently - going with games I won't touch, games I am considering & games I will bet.
MC Hammer Games (Can't Touch Them)
Dal -10.5 vs. Phil (may bet the total, can't bet the side)
Cle -1.5 at Oak
NYJ -4.5 vs. Ariz (lean Ariz but too hard to gauge this one)
Buf -6 vs. Jax (Jax best efforts have come on the road, still can't bet this though)
Cin -1.5 at SD
Car -3 at KC
SF -7 at StL
Pitt -8 vs. Balt
Hou -6.5 at Ten
Cle -1.5 at Oak
Christian Pondering
Min +8 at GB (I think Min keeps this within a score)
Sea +3.5 at Chi (Gonna be a defensive battle - in these case I usually like the points)
Mia +7.5 vs. NE (likely to pass on this, but this one seems deceiving)
Locking In
Den -7 vs TB (seems like a lot, but TB can't defend the pass)
Det -5 vs. Ind (fool's gold game of the week - I expect Detroit to win by double digits)
Good luck in your picks, fantasy teams and real teams. Have a great start to your Decembers.
Showing posts with label odds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label odds. Show all posts
11/30/2012
11/23/2012
NFL Week 12
As many of you have already read many times, I went to a Bears game for the second week in a row. Like the week before, I witnessed a pathetic Bears offense and eventual loss - combined losses to Houston & San Francisco by a 42-10 margin.
I promise to all Bears fans that I will not attend any more of their games this year, as I have witnessed 67% of their losses. Do I think they'll bounce back this week? Yes I do. Will I bet it? No I won't. Should I keep asking myself questions and then answering them? I think I should stop.
With only 12 games on Sunday and a dud of a game on Monday, there's not much on the slate that catches my eye. I'll likely be able to catch some/all of the Saints/49ers game, which I believe is the clear afternoon game of the day (Packers at Giants at night is the clear game of the day).
Thoughts on each game:
Oakland +8 at Cincy: Oakland fits the system here - blowout losses against the spread in their last three games & Cincy w/ blowout wins against the spread in their last two. Likely bet on Oakland, even though I picked Cincy in a couple of survivor pools.
Pitt -1.5 at Cle: I like Cleveland here. One of those 2-8 records that really doesn't tell the story on how competitive they've been this year. Probably won't bet it, but it'll likely be Cleveland or nothing here.
Buf +3 at Indy: This is the Fool's Gold Play of the week. Everyone loves Indy here, but they have no defense and I believe Buffalo will be able to move the ball well on the ground against them (Indy allows 4.7 yards/carry - 4th worst - while Spiller leads the league w/ 6.6 yards/carry). Indy is not as good as their 6-4 shows. Buffalo will be a bet
Denver -10.5 at KC: For me here, it's either KC +10.5 or no play. Divisional rivalry game - you can usually throw records out the window. KC sprung an upset last year against GB in a similar spot of the year - be careful backing Denver here.
Ten -4 at Jax: MC Hammer Game of the Week. As in, I can't touch this one on either end. No way can I lay points with Tennessee on the road, but no way I can bet on Jacksonville (again) at home, where they've lost each game by double digits.
Atl -1 at TB: Should be the best of the Noon time games. A Tampa win here could put them in good position for a playoff push for the rest of the year. No leans here.
Sea -3 at Mia: Mia fits the system of a team who hasn't covered in three straight. Likely to take them here. I don't think Seattle has earned the right to be road favorites yet.
Balt (pick'em) at SD: I already bet SD here. Great spot for them (or at least great spot to fade Baltimore). Ravens are in the middle of a Pittsburgh sandwich on their schedule and in the middle is a game thousands of miles away. Big let down spot here.
SF -1 at NO: My only worry here is Kaepernick having a rough go in his first road start in what may be the noisiest stadium in the league, but overall, I believe San Fran should be able to move the ball consistently and slow down NO enough to take this one. May bet San Fran. System play here in effect with NO winning three straight against the spread (which means fade them).
StL +1 at Ariz: Another MC Hammer Game. Arizona hasn't won since starting 4-0. I think they win here, but I sure as hell won't bet on it.
GB +2.5 at NYG: With public perception on the Giants being as low as its been this year since their opener against the Cowboys, this should be a good time to back them, especially after a bye week.
Car -2.5 at Phil: Another ugly game. Can't believe Carolina is a road favorite here, but find it hard to trust Philly. At all. No bet.
Hope everyone had a great Turkey Day. Have a good weekend.
I promise to all Bears fans that I will not attend any more of their games this year, as I have witnessed 67% of their losses. Do I think they'll bounce back this week? Yes I do. Will I bet it? No I won't. Should I keep asking myself questions and then answering them? I think I should stop.
With only 12 games on Sunday and a dud of a game on Monday, there's not much on the slate that catches my eye. I'll likely be able to catch some/all of the Saints/49ers game, which I believe is the clear afternoon game of the day (Packers at Giants at night is the clear game of the day).
Thoughts on each game:
Oakland +8 at Cincy: Oakland fits the system here - blowout losses against the spread in their last three games & Cincy w/ blowout wins against the spread in their last two. Likely bet on Oakland, even though I picked Cincy in a couple of survivor pools.
Pitt -1.5 at Cle: I like Cleveland here. One of those 2-8 records that really doesn't tell the story on how competitive they've been this year. Probably won't bet it, but it'll likely be Cleveland or nothing here.
Buf +3 at Indy: This is the Fool's Gold Play of the week. Everyone loves Indy here, but they have no defense and I believe Buffalo will be able to move the ball well on the ground against them (Indy allows 4.7 yards/carry - 4th worst - while Spiller leads the league w/ 6.6 yards/carry). Indy is not as good as their 6-4 shows. Buffalo will be a bet
Denver -10.5 at KC: For me here, it's either KC +10.5 or no play. Divisional rivalry game - you can usually throw records out the window. KC sprung an upset last year against GB in a similar spot of the year - be careful backing Denver here.
Ten -4 at Jax: MC Hammer Game of the Week. As in, I can't touch this one on either end. No way can I lay points with Tennessee on the road, but no way I can bet on Jacksonville (again) at home, where they've lost each game by double digits.
Atl -1 at TB: Should be the best of the Noon time games. A Tampa win here could put them in good position for a playoff push for the rest of the year. No leans here.
Sea -3 at Mia: Mia fits the system of a team who hasn't covered in three straight. Likely to take them here. I don't think Seattle has earned the right to be road favorites yet.
Balt (pick'em) at SD: I already bet SD here. Great spot for them (or at least great spot to fade Baltimore). Ravens are in the middle of a Pittsburgh sandwich on their schedule and in the middle is a game thousands of miles away. Big let down spot here.
SF -1 at NO: My only worry here is Kaepernick having a rough go in his first road start in what may be the noisiest stadium in the league, but overall, I believe San Fran should be able to move the ball consistently and slow down NO enough to take this one. May bet San Fran. System play here in effect with NO winning three straight against the spread (which means fade them).
StL +1 at Ariz: Another MC Hammer Game. Arizona hasn't won since starting 4-0. I think they win here, but I sure as hell won't bet on it.
GB +2.5 at NYG: With public perception on the Giants being as low as its been this year since their opener against the Cowboys, this should be a good time to back them, especially after a bye week.
Car -2.5 at Phil: Another ugly game. Can't believe Carolina is a road favorite here, but find it hard to trust Philly. At all. No bet.
Hope everyone had a great Turkey Day. Have a good weekend.
9/06/2012
Bolek Blog Series - Fans of Out of Market NFL Teams: Pittsburgh
As many of you have seen through my whored out Facebook statuses, I am profiling people who live in the Chicago area and are fans of out of town teams.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My tenth feature highlights a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Mike Walsh was born and raised in Chicago but became a fan of the Steelers during the Steel Curtain days of the 1970s. I know Mike from my days at the Daily Southtown (now the SouthtownStar) when I would call him on a weekly basis (he works at De La Salle) for the team's latest's stats.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My tenth feature highlights a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Mike Walsh was born and raised in Chicago but became a fan of the Steelers during the Steel Curtain days of the 1970s. I know Mike from my days at the Daily Southtown (now the SouthtownStar) when I would call him on a weekly basis (he works at De La Salle) for the team's latest's stats.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
A lifelong Chicagoan, Mike Walsh grew up in the age of the NFL where the Pittsburgh Steelers & their "Steel Curtain" were making their presence known as one of the most formidable and feared franchises in the league in their 1970s dynasty. This, along with the Steelers garb, was a big selling point in Mike's choice of favorite football team.
"I became a Steelers fan because they were really good in the 70s when I was a little kid and starting to follow football," Mike said. "I loved the black uniforms and the helmet as well."
 |
| Mean Joe Greene was one of Mike's favorites. Pretty sure the little kid is not Mike. |
His favorite players of all time came from those teams: Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Joe Greene & Lynn Swann - all of whom are immortalized in the Hall of Fame.
Thanks to their success that started in Mike's childhood and has continued into modern times, the Steelers are often featured on national TV and prime-time games. This allows Mike to consume many of the games on regular TV, not DirecTV like many fans of out-of-town teams must do. Otherwise, he'll watch the NFL Red Zone channel, catch the highlights and read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online.
Just because he is a Steelers fan does not mean Mike hates the Bears. In fact, he considers himself a fan of his hometown team, just not as much as Pittsburgh.
"I root for the Bears every game except on the rare occasions when they play the Steelers," he said. "I do consider the Bears my 1-A NFL team."
In addition to following some Bears stuff in the local papers, Mike has also attended a Bears game at Soldier Field when they faced the Steelers in the early 90s. He went with a friend who was a Bears' season ticket holder and was given specific instructions when attending the game.
"He threatened to kick my ass if he saw any Steelers apparel," Mike said. "It was winter, so I was OK".
He believes that B-Bo Knows prediction of the Steelers (10-6, AFC North champs) is close to his own thoughts, but he went a step further in his prediction. In addition to a division title, he expects Pittsburgh to be AFC Champs and a legitimate contender to win the Super Bowl.
Speaking of which, the Steelers own 6 Super Bowl titles, the only team in NFL history with that distinction. Mike enjoys this fact and makes sure his football-following friends know about it.
"It means everything since I am a diehard Steelers fan and two good friends despise my beloved Steelers," he said. "It gives me bragging rights and allows me to gloat, good-naturedly."
| Mike Walsh | |
| (whole life in/near Chicago) | |
| Favorite team | Steelers |
| A fan since… | 1970s |
| # of games attended | 1 (in Chicago) |
| Choice of Team Consumption | National TV, RedZone |
| Channel, Pittsburgh Gazette | |
| Favorite Player All-Time | Mike Webster, Lynn Swann |
| Jack Lambert, Joe Greene | |
| Favorite Player Currently | Heath Miller (O) |
| Troy Polamalu (D) | |
| 2012 Prediction | (12-4, AFC Champs) |
| Vegas Projection for team | 10 wins |
| (as of 9-6-12) 5dimes.eu | |
| Over/under? | Over |
| Odds to win division - 5dimes.eu | (+115) |
| Super Bowl odds | 20/1 (+2000) |
| (as of 9-6-12) - 5dimes.eu |
9/03/2012
Bolek Blog Series - Fans of Out of Market NFL Teams: NY Giants
As many of you have seen through my whored out Facebook statuses, I am profiling people who live in the Chicago area and are fans of out of town teams.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My ninth (and possibly final) feature highlights a very humble New York Giants fan. Russ Williamson has been a Chicagoan since 2005. Before that, he grew up in New Jersey, where he became a big Giants fan (no, I'm not going for a triple entendre there, although perhaps I am). An aside - If you happen to be going to the city sometime soon, I recommend checking out his comedy act - just look him up.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My ninth (and possibly final) feature highlights a very humble New York Giants fan. Russ Williamson has been a Chicagoan since 2005. Before that, he grew up in New Jersey, where he became a big Giants fan (no, I'm not going for a triple entendre there, although perhaps I am). An aside - If you happen to be going to the city sometime soon, I recommend checking out his comedy act - just look him up.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
Russ Williamson may be a man who makes a living off of making people laugh, but he is dead serious about his allegiance to the New York Giants.
 |
| A man who makes people laugh, Russ was not amused at B-Bo Knows NYG prediction |
"I didn't really like your prediction," Russ told me. "I don't know where you got that from."
Russ's fandom began around 1990, when the underdog Giants, missing their Hall of Fame QB Phil Simms, upset the Buffalo Bills (the first of four straight Super Bowl losses for the Bills). The game is remembered for the Scott Norwood missed kick as time expired that would have put the Bills ahead.
Russ remembers it for a similar reason, but on a more personal level.
"My dad is a huge Giants fan," he said, "and my earliest memory was how happy he was when the Bills missed that field goal and the Giants were champs."
He doesn't have any issues following the Giants, relying on the Internet to keep him up-to-date on team news and scores. He also has no problem with being a fan of the Giants in a Bears town, unless his team happens to be the opponent.
"When your team plays the Bears, you will be called a (gay slur) at some point (by a Bears fan)," Russ said.
"I don't have a problem with the Bears," he said, "but if they're playing the Giants, I want them to fail miserably."
Being the humble person he is, Russ didn't want to make any predictions about the Giants for the 2012 season.
Ok, I lied.
"I'll be the first to say it here," Russ said, "the Giants repeat."
His thoughts about Eli being immortalized at Canton after winning his second ring - just as indifferent.
"Eli is a Hall of Famer, no doubt," he said.
| Russ Williamson | |
| (Chicagoan since 2005) | |
| Favorite team | Giants |
| A fan since… | 1990 (Giants/Bills in Super Bowl) |
| # of games attended | 1 at MetLife |
| Choice of Team Consumption | TV/Internet |
| Favorite Player All-Time | Lawrence Taylor |
| Favorite Player Currently | Jason Pierre-Paul |
| 2012 Prediction | Super Bowl champs |
| Vegas Win Projection | |
| (as of 9-3-12) 5dimes.eu | 9 wins |
| Over/under? | Over |
| Odds to win division - 5dimes.eu | (+205) |
| Super Bowl odds | 45/2 (+2250) |
| (as of 9-3-12) - bovada.lv |
Bolek Blog Series - Fans of Out of Market NFL Teams: New England
As many of you have seen through my whored out Facebook statuses, I am profiling people who live in the Chicago area and are fans of out of town teams.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My eighth feature will highlight a New England Patriots fan. Adam Stefko became a fan of this team because of his dad's allegiance when he was a kid, not because of their Super Bowl run in the 2000s (which many people may suspect).
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My eighth feature will highlight a New England Patriots fan. Adam Stefko became a fan of this team because of his dad's allegiance when he was a kid, not because of their Super Bowl run in the 2000s (which many people may suspect).
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
Don't mistake Adam Stefko for a fair-weathered New England Patriots fan. He didn't become a fan of the team when their run of success began in the early part of this century.
"I became a fan of the team the same way I'm a fan of any team," he said. "My dad liked them so I automatically just followed suit. Of course, I can think for myself now, but they happen to be a good team, so why not keep the loyalty?"
While he doesn't mind the Bears, Adam doesn't go out of his way to root for them.
"I would say I typically kind of root for them," he said, "but I often end up reaffirming the reason I don't like them as much as the Patriots."
He hasn't had any issues with following the Patriots in his life, including his last couple years living in the suburbs of Chicago. He doesn't get too much of a hard time about the Patriots since most people end up agreeing that they are a good team.
Lately, his main consumption of New England football is the Red Zone channel, which he thinks he prefers over having NFL Sunday Ticket.
"It's not the easiest following the Patriots when all you hear on the news is the Bears, but I do alright on Sundays," Adam said.
 |
| I couldn't find many others of him on FB w/ Pats gear. Hence, the look. |
"It was a ridiculously cold day, so I think my body thanks me for not going," he said.
Adam believes that B-Bo Knows predictions of the team are accurate, but hopes they go a little further than the prediction of a loss to the Texans in the playoffs.
"Obviously, I hope that they do even better and win the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl," he said. "But who knows. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I'd be alright with that."
Despite consistently being one of the best teams in the league over the past decade, the Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season.
Nevertheless, Adam doesn't think that Bill Belichick & Tom Brady have anything to prove to maintain or enhance their legacy as the elite coach/QB combo.
"Even without that recent of a Super Bowl win, they have proven throughout the regular season and postseason that they've got a great system and still perform rather well," he said.
| Adam Stefko | |
| (few years in suburbs of Chicago) | |
| Favorite team | Patriots |
| A fan since… | childhood |
| # of games attended | none |
| Choice of Team Consumption | Red Zone Channel |
| Favorite Player(s) All-Time | Tedi Bruschi |
| Favorite Player Currently | Aaron Hernandez |
| 2012 Prediction | (14-2, Super Bowl Champs) |
| Vegas Win Projection | 12 |
| (as of 9-3-12) 5dimes.eu | |
| Over/under? | Over |
| Odds to win division - 5dimes.eu | (-360) (bet 360 to win 100) |
| Super Bowl odds | 23/4 (+575) co-favorites w/ GB |
| (as of 9-3-12) - 5dimes.eu |
Bolek Blog Series - Fans of Out of Market NFL Teams: San Francisco
As many of you have seen through my whored out Facebook statuses, I am profiling people who live in the Chicago area and are fans of out of town teams.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My seventh feature highlights an NFC West team, the best one in my opinion. Brad Schmidgall is a fellow U of I alumus. I got the pleasure of meeting him in the Garner dorms on the Champaign side of campus and recently ran into him at a social event for healthcare professionals. He is also a 49ers fan - something I can relate to.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My seventh feature highlights an NFC West team, the best one in my opinion. Brad Schmidgall is a fellow U of I alumus. I got the pleasure of meeting him in the Garner dorms on the Champaign side of campus and recently ran into him at a social event for healthcare professionals. He is also a 49ers fan - something I can relate to.
I will also be including myself in this story and talking in the third person. If you can't handle that, then Brian says you're shit out of luck.
Editors note: Brad and I, along with one of his 49ers fans, may be coming up with a 49ers fan blog. We still have to work out the details - it will likely be throwing crap at the wall at first until we see what sticks. It will likely feature game recap, our thoughts on the next week's game and a fantasy football/gambling angle to it.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
Both gentlemen were fans of an NFL team thousands of miles and two time zones away in California. They both started following the San Francisco 49ers right around the time Joe Montana wrapped up his fourth Super Bowl win with the team, which then transitioned into the Steve Young era.
 |
| Brad (right) on Metrodome surface before the start of the Niners/Vikings game in 2009 |
Brian can sadly remember a project he did in junior high for a required home economics class, where he made a Bears pillow with Rashaan Salaam's name and jersey number on it. It was near that time where Brian's allegiance went strictly to the Niners, although he can't remember why it happened around then.
Brad grew up in Morton, IL, over 150 miles southwest of Chicago, and was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. Since St. Louis had no pro-football team at the time, Brad started following the 49ers.
Like Brian, he doesn't root for or against the Bears. But Brad does find it annoying at times to turn on sports radio during the regular season.
"DirecTV makes it easier, and I have a ton of friends that root for teams other than the Bears," said Brad, who has lived in Chicago for almost seven years. "I do wish there was a 49ers bar nearby I could hit up for big games."
Between the two, they have attended a combined three 49ers games. Brad saw a game that the Niners lost on a last-second heave by Brett Favre in the Metrodome during Favre's brief run on the Vikings, while Brian saw one of the best playoff games of all time in January against the Saints.
That made up for the clunker of a game he saw in 2009 featuring the Bears and the Niners on a Thursday night game, won by the 49ers 10-6. The game featured 5 Jay Cutler interceptions, but luckily, the forgettable game was more easily forgotten with the combination of beer and lack of food consumed by Brian.
"That game was a disaster, and I say that despite the fact the Niners won," Brian said. "At least me and my friend had good seats for the game."
Brad and Brian will be going to separate games this year - with Brad attending the Niners' home opener against the Lions in Week 2 while Brian and his girlfriend Jen will be going to the Niners/Bears Monday night game in November.
Speaking of the 2012 season, Brad and Brian have different views on the Niners. Both guys like the moves the team has made in the offseason, particularly drafting LaMichael James, a Darren Sproles-like backfield option. Brian believes the division race will be tighter than most people expect, with a Niners regression to about nine wins this year but still winning the division. Brad is a little more optimistic, with the Super Bowl as his team's projection.
"I think their defense is too good for seven losses, plus the offensive weapons we added will improve us overall," Brad said. "The NFC West is still pretty weak though, so I don't see us winning fewer than 10 games."
 |
| Brian (right) at Niners/Saints playoff game. He may have had a few beverages. |
They both agree that the Seahawks will be the team's biggest obstacle in winning the division. Brian originally thought Arizona may be the team who might contend for the NFC West earlier this offseason, but his thoughts have changed as he has seen the Cardinals struggle mightily at the quarterback position, the one position Brian believes the Niners are still missing in order to be considered a serious Super Bowl contender.
"Alex Smith had a good run for us last year, but I still don't think he is the long term answer," Brian said. "Look at how poorly he did in the red-zone last year. I hope Randy Moss can help with that, but I think it's more of a quarterback problem than a receiver problem."
| Brian Bolek | Brad Schmidgall | ||
| (27 yrs near/in Chicago) | (6.5 years in Chicago) | ||
| Favorite team | 49ers | 49ers | |
| A fan since… | early 90s | early 90s | |
| # of games attended | 2 (both in San Fran) | 1 (in Minnesota) | |
| Choice of Team Consumption | DirecTV | DirecTV - regular season | |
| Joe's Bar - postseason | |||
| Favorite Player All-Time | Jerry Rice | Joe Montana | |
| Favorite Player Currently | Patrick Willis | Patrick Willis & | |
| Vernon Davis | |||
| 9-7, Division Champs, | 11-5, Division Champs | ||
| 2012 Prediction | (loss in WC round) | Super Bowl bound | |
| Vegas Projection for team | 10 wins | 10 wins | |
| (as of 9-3-12) 5dimes.eu | |||
| Over/under? | Under | Over | |
| Odds to win division - 5dimes.eu | (-245 - would need to | ||
| wager 245 to win 100 | |||
| Super Bowl odds | |||
| (as of 9-3-12) - 5dimes.eu | 13/1 (+1300) |
9/01/2012
Bolek Blog Series - Fans of Out of Market NFL Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
As many of you have seen through my whored out Facebook statuses, I am profiling people who live in the Chicago area and are fans of out of town teams.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My sixth feature highlights another AFC West fan. My friend Mike Johnson has been a Chiefs fan for a while. He hasn't seen too much success in a while, but if my prediction of his team is right, he'll get to see a playoff team this season.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
Mike Johnson was not all that different than yours truly back in the early 90s.
During that time, Joe Montana was slinging touchdown passes to fellow Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice en route to four Super Bowl titles together. Then, a southpaw named Steve Young came around, and 49ers brass decided that Young would be the future starting QB of the team.
So instead of keeping him on the Niners and creating a distraction with Joe as a backup, the 49ers traded Montana to the Chiefs, a very unpopular move at the time in San Francisco. Along with Joe's team, Mike's rooting interest in the Niners was also traded to the Chiefs.
"I was a huge fan of Joe Montana growing up," Mike said. "So I was a 49ers fan and when he left there for Kansas City, I became a Chiefs fan and never looked back after he retired."
Mike has lived in the Chicago area for his entire 3+ decades of life, so he does retain a rooting interest in the Bears, except when they play against the Chiefs. When the Chiefs aren't on to watch (which is a common occurrence), he has no problem watching the Bears.
Fortunately, like many fans of out-of-town teams, technology has been very kind to Mike. His I-phone and I-Pad play a key role in keeping Mike in tune with the latest Chiefs news and updates.
"I wish they were on TV more," he said, "but I'm not a complainer."
His Sunday tradition of watching football over at his Grandma's will no longer be in effect this year due to her passing earlier in the year. He hopes he can adjust to a new routine for the 2012 season.
In the meantime, he retains confidence in the Chiefs, who won the AFC West in 2010 but were ravaged with injuries to start the 2011 season and were never able to get on track. Despite a late season charge, they fell short of repeating as division champs.
Mike believes that the Chiefs are the most complete team in the division and has faith that they will make the playoffs with an 11-5 record, win a Wild Card game but lose in the divisional round. He likes the structure of the team, highlighted by his current favorite player Jamaal Charles.
"He brings excitement to a dull offense," Mike said. "Hope he has a good season back after surgery last year."
He believes that Charles' bounce-back to an elite-level running back depends on how effective Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe will be.
"Passing attack should open up the running game," Mike said. "You add (Peyton) Hillis to the run game and it gives Charles a chance to not have to carry the ball all the time."
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My sixth feature highlights another AFC West fan. My friend Mike Johnson has been a Chiefs fan for a while. He hasn't seen too much success in a while, but if my prediction of his team is right, he'll get to see a playoff team this season.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Denver Broncos
Mike Johnson was not all that different than yours truly back in the early 90s.
During that time, Joe Montana was slinging touchdown passes to fellow Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice en route to four Super Bowl titles together. Then, a southpaw named Steve Young came around, and 49ers brass decided that Young would be the future starting QB of the team.
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| Mike has been a fan of KC for almost 20 years. |
So instead of keeping him on the Niners and creating a distraction with Joe as a backup, the 49ers traded Montana to the Chiefs, a very unpopular move at the time in San Francisco. Along with Joe's team, Mike's rooting interest in the Niners was also traded to the Chiefs.
"I was a huge fan of Joe Montana growing up," Mike said. "So I was a 49ers fan and when he left there for Kansas City, I became a Chiefs fan and never looked back after he retired."
Mike has lived in the Chicago area for his entire 3+ decades of life, so he does retain a rooting interest in the Bears, except when they play against the Chiefs. When the Chiefs aren't on to watch (which is a common occurrence), he has no problem watching the Bears.
Fortunately, like many fans of out-of-town teams, technology has been very kind to Mike. His I-phone and I-Pad play a key role in keeping Mike in tune with the latest Chiefs news and updates.
"I wish they were on TV more," he said, "but I'm not a complainer."
His Sunday tradition of watching football over at his Grandma's will no longer be in effect this year due to her passing earlier in the year. He hopes he can adjust to a new routine for the 2012 season.
In the meantime, he retains confidence in the Chiefs, who won the AFC West in 2010 but were ravaged with injuries to start the 2011 season and were never able to get on track. Despite a late season charge, they fell short of repeating as division champs.
Mike believes that the Chiefs are the most complete team in the division and has faith that they will make the playoffs with an 11-5 record, win a Wild Card game but lose in the divisional round. He likes the structure of the team, highlighted by his current favorite player Jamaal Charles.
"He brings excitement to a dull offense," Mike said. "Hope he has a good season back after surgery last year."
He believes that Charles' bounce-back to an elite-level running back depends on how effective Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe will be.
"Passing attack should open up the running game," Mike said. "You add (Peyton) Hillis to the run game and it gives Charles a chance to not have to carry the ball all the time."
| Mike Johnson | |
| (whole life in Chicago) | |
| Favorite team | Chiefs |
| A fan since… | 1993 |
| # of games attended | none |
| Choice of Team Consumption | I-pad & I-phone |
| Favorite Player(s) All-Time | Joe Montana & Tony Gonzalez |
| Favorite Player Currently | Jamaal Charles |
| 2012 Prediction | (11-5, postseason appearance, advance to divisional round) |
| Vegas Projection for team | 8 |
| (as of 8-31-12) 5dimes.eu | |
| Over/under? | Over |
| Odds to win division - 5dimes.eu | (+330) |
| Super Bowl odds | 58/1 (+5800) |
| (as of 8-31-12) - 5dimes.eu |
8/31/2012
Bolek Blog Series - Fans of Out of Market NFL Teams: Denver Broncos
As many of you have seen through my whored out Facebook statuses, I am profiling people who live in the Chicago area and are fans of out of town teams.
Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My fifth feature is on the Denver Broncos, the first of two AFC West fans that I found. Randy Whalen is a former work colleague who freelances for the Sun-Times Media Group covering high school sports. He has been a long-time Broncos fan, and I thank him for sharing his thoughts on the Broncos and how he became a fan of them.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Tennessee Titans
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Minnesota Vikings
 |
| Randy has been a fan of the Broncos for 36 years. |
In 1977, the Broncos were the last team standing in the way of the Raiders advancing to their second consecutive Super Bowl.
"I remember listening to the game on the radio and hoping and maybe even praying that Oakland would lose," Randy said. "The Broncos held on for a 20-17 win and went to the Super Bowl. They captured my imagination because they had never been there before."
Not that he's counting (ok, maybe he is), but Randy has been to a total of 37 Broncos games, which includes preseason, regular season and post-season. Including Denver (where he has attended 25 games), he has attended Broncos games in eight different cities, with Denver sporting a 23-13-1 record in those games.
"The memories would take volumes to go through," Randy said. "The best one was this past January when I was at the Broncos-Steelers Wild Card game where Tebow hit Thomas with the 80-yard TD on the first play of OT - pure joy and euphoria!"
He believes that Peyton Manning (his new favorite player on the Broncos) will make fans forget about Tim Tebow, provided Manning can stay healthy.
When he's not attending a game, Randy watches Broncos games at bars and has no problem following the team in a Chicago market, especially with the Internet and how much coverage the team has been getting this offseason.
Unlike some fans of out-of-town teams, you won't find him rooting against the hometown Bears though.
"I generally hope they win," Randy said, "except when they play one of my favorite teams, usually Denver or Pittsburgh. But I really don't care."
He also doesn't care for B-Bo Knows prediction of a 7-9, out of playoffs prediction for his team. Randy forecasts 11 wins and another AFC West division crown in Denver this season.
He won't say, perhaps out of caution, what the Broncos will do once they make the playoffs.
"The playoffs are wide open," Randy said.
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