Tuesday Morning Quarterback: A is for Alliteration, but C is for Clowder

After tonight's Carolina Panthers victory on the Prime Time stage that is Monday Night Football against the Prime Time organization that is the New England Patriots and their Prime Time coaching-quarterback combo, I would be remiss not to mention a conversation I had with Psychic Granny C, animal-communicator extraordinaire and novice football fan, almost a year ago today. If I had to, I'm sure I could dig up a paragraph in the archives where I made ridiculed her extensively for this silly prognostication, but in the wake of her proclaimed Year of the Bird where the Ravens won the Super Bowl and the Falcons and Seahawks went deep into the playoffs, this dear readers is no laughing matter. The conversation went something like this:

Granny C: Vinny, that color, that shade of blue the Panthers are wearing. Would it be crazy to say they're going to go to the Super Bowl next year?

Vinny (trying to conceal his eye-roll and focus on the eight-game split screen): Yes.

Granny: Well, I'm going to make the bold prediction right now that next year will be The Year of the Cat and the Carolina Panthers will lead the pack.

Vinny: Okay (translation "Whatever, Crazy Lady"), but I think it's called a clowder.



Granny C: What?

Vinny: A group of cats. It's a clowder.

Granny C (trying to conceal her eye-roll): Well, whatever - that shade of blue is going to the Super Bowl.

Now, twelve months later, with the Bengals (first place cat AFC North), the Lions (first place cat NFC North), and the Carolina Panthers (second place cat NFC South but talent wise the clear leader of the clowder), Granny C's prophecy - much like the truth - has traversed from ridiculed to feared to violently opposed to accepted as fact. The Carolina Panthers are for real and if I can still get some good odds on them winning the Super Bowl, I'm going to place a small wager to recoup the losses for my If-They-Even-Make-the-Playoffs-I'll-Buy-You-Lunch Bet.



Well played, Granny C. Well played.

After going 12-1-1 ATS in Week 10, Marco and I came back down to earth with the following stats:

Week 11 Record: 6-6-3 ATS

Over/Under Record: 6-9

Friday Five Record: 2-2-1 ATS

Although it wasn't reflected in our ATS record, on a personal gambling/fantasy sports level this was one of those weekends where everything seemed to magically fall into place. On Saturday I needed Auburn to cover 4.5 points against Georgia to win a five-team parlay, and if you didn't see the TD catch that sealed the win you really must

To win a couple hundred dollars on a $10 bet is one thing, but to win it on a play like that made me want to dance like this guy

After the Auburn game, I could do no wrong - winning teasers and straight bets, and somehow eking out a fantasy football victory when Tom Brady's touchdown pass in the waning seconds of last night's game ending up in the arms of a Carolina Panther. When the gambling gods smile, they smile long and wide. 

Last week I branched out a little bit and made a hockey and basketball recommendation. They both hit, so I think I'll try again with a couple of extra-curricular sports betting prognostications. Here goes:

Extracurricular Betting Stats

NBA Record to Date: 1-0 ATS

NHL Record to Date: 1-0

NCAA Tuesday Night MACtion Packed Football

Kent State @ Ohio: The Ohio Bobcats are currently a -6 home favorite against the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes ("Um, Kent State, the WNBA called, they want their mascot back."). I believe this line would be higher were the Bobcats not just coming off a 49-0 beat down at the hands of Bowling Green and the Golden Flashes not coming off a 24-6 win over Miami OH. Some trends to consider include Kent State owning this series of late at 6-0 ATS and the Bobcats struggling in November at 0-5 ATS. The Golden Flashes, however, have struggled of late on field turf going 0-4 ATS, and the truth is the Bobcats are a better team this year, play great defense at home. Couple those facts with the Under going 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams and I'm recommending Kent State/Ohio UNDER 49

Buffalo @ Miami OH: The line is steep at -24 here, but I believe the Bulls bounce back from their 41-31 loss to Toledo last week - a game in which they were down 31-0 - and get the road win/cover over the winless Miami OH Red Hawks. Official Pick: Buffalo -24

Bonus Ten Point Tuesday Teaser Recommendation:

1. Buffalo -14.5 over Miami OH

2. Kent State +16

3. Kent State/Ohio UNDER 59

May the Spreads Be With You All,

Vinny and Marco