Paul Bovi's Panorama Sports Blog

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noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:58:00 +0000

If Bill Parcells was looking to cement his legacy of greatness he should have left after last years' Cinderella season. In 2008, the Dolphins posted an 11-5 mark in winning their division after mucking it up the prior year and managing only a single victory. In that 2007 campaign, Miami lost 6 games by a field goal while playing a rookie QB in Jon Beck and backed up by Cleo Lemon. Parcells' turnaround was impressive when strictly evaluating it by way of the record, but upon further examaination he stepped in and fired a dreadful coach in Cam Cameron, inserted journeyman and oft injured Chad Pennington at QB, and managed to turn many of those near misses of 07 into victories as the Fish won several close games while enjoying the spoils of failure in taking on a last place schedule. If Monday night was any indication, the Fish are settling back into the pack as their performance on defense could only be described as abyssmal. Even Al Davis has to get some credit in that he signed safety Gibril Wilson to a hefty contract only to cut his losses by releasing him after a single season. The Tuna picked him up and subjected Dolphin backers and fans to witnessing his futile attempts at making what they call a tackle, which the ex Giant seemed determined to do by draping himself around the shoulder pads of those that outweighed him by 50 pounds or so. Bill has to be given his due for last year, but he did nothing with the Cowboys, in fact he relegated Tony Romo to the bench for many years in favor of Drew Bledsoe, while his successes with the G Men and the Jets had a lot to do with the presence of then DC Bill Belichick.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:11:00 +0000

Bad teams do bad things or so it has been said, but not to take anything away from the two moronic coaches that paved the way for their teams dreadful collapse on Monday. In the first game, one has to wonder what would prevent Bills' coach Dick Jauron from issuing a firm ultimatum to his return man not to come out of the end zone if he were to field the kick behind the goal line. Coaches are paid to think. Perhaps Jauron was contemplating involuntary retirement which is likely looming in the not too distant future.

In the second game, one which was dominated by the reenergized Raiders, how does a person of reasonable football knowledge explain Oakland coach Tom Cable opting to rush three while dropping 8 back into deep coverage with over two minutes remaining and the Raiders clinging but to a three 3 point lead? The Chargers proceeded to do what they could not do all night and that was to rip off chunks of yardage en route to a 90 yard game winning drive. By the time Cable elected to turn up the pressure, the Chargers were on the brink.

One a buffoon, one a nincompoop....take your pick.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Rafael Nadal was the target of some on court lip service from an admiring fan immediately following his 4 set victory over Gael Monfils on Tuesday. In a very un Ron Artest like manner, the Spaniard was heard to say "for me, it wasn't a problem. The guy was really nice", Nadal said. "He said, 'I love you,' and he kissed me." Well, one might guess it's a European thing.

On another note, we released a rare second half play via text on Monday night at the midpoint of the Miami FSU barnbarner. Clients were instructed to play over the 23.5 which we felt was a stupid number given the proficiency of the offenses and specifically the talent at the QB position. The bet easily cashed as the teams combined for 48 points as a 3.5 star release.

Winning halftime wagers are as good as game releases when it comes to the bottom line. The second half number is based in large part on the original line as it was in this instance since the game total was 47 and the half time score totalled 24 points. The books took the easy way out and produced a line that when added to the halftime score would bring you to the 47, or in this case 47.5 points. A more suitable line would have been 24 or 24.5 which would have left the books vulnerable to being middled, but dissuaded sharp money from going over the very soft number; a clear case here of why the player has the advantage over the books on second half wagers.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Our top rated play went down yesterday as Kentucky and Miami of Ohio managed to stay under the total of 47 (when we released it) as the Wildcats put a 42-0 whupping on Ben Roethslisberger's alma mater, who likely turned his jersey inside out by the 3rd quarter given the wretched performance by the Red Hawks. A couple of missed field goals proved to be the difference for us along with Coach Rich Brooks' decision to call of the dogs late by removing starting QB Mike Hartline and opting to run repeatedly into the line inside the 5 yard line with only a few minutes remaining; without success of course. The game was televised by ESPNU and thus allowing us to experience the pain in real time, along with a Billy Mays marathon featuring at least a half dozen ads for the 'Awesome Auger' and other gadgets made famous by the late pitchman. No thanks. On another note, ESPN took greed to a new level by subjecting their 'Game Plan' customers to three games at 7:00 EST that involved Division IAA patsies versus teams like Florida, who managed to 'get by' Charleston Southern by a score of 62-3. This while the Texas versus ULM tussle was available through ESPN PPV for a mere 39.95 while the Nebraska FAU contest would set you back $10 less. 'Greed is good', or so it has been said. On a final note, more strange things out of Oakland as the Raiders traded away a number 1 pick in next years' draft for a player, Richard Seymour, who is clearly on the decline. The essence of Mr. Davis message is a postive one in that he is committted to winning now, and may have made sense if they had the cast of characters in place to get that done and he considered the 10th year pro to be the missing link. However, that does not seem likely as the Raiders seem destined to win 7 games, 9 being the absolute ceiling.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:44:00 +0000

The Preseason Game of the Year was as money as it ever gets with the Broncos shutting out the Cardinals 19-0 as a 3 or 3.5 point dog. The Raiders as our other play was another story. In the first half it was the aging and weathered Jeff Garcia along with his portly sidekick Jamarcus Russell taking on recent Rutgers grad Mike Teel who logged big minutes at QB for Seattle. Go figure as the Seahawks went to the locker room with a 17-7 lead and coasted to a 31-21 victory. Incidentally, just when you thought those Snuggie commercials had been retired to stud, we are presented with the Zebra version to add to our formal attire, and just in time for college game days. Nice. As for the Oregon Ducks, they singlehanded took the Pac Ten's stock to depths not seen in quite some time with their lame effort against Boise where they beaten into submission by a score of 19-8. As for LeGarrette Blount, and his postal episode after the game, the senior running back has been relieved of his atheltic duties for the remainder this year and along with the 5 figure weekly paychecks that accompany an NFL contract, which he stood to look forward to in 2010. Well, you know, it's all about respect. Who needs a new Escalade anyway.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:18:00 +0000

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:17:00 +0000

The Preseason Game of the Year was as money as it ever gets with the Broncos shutting out the Cardinals 19-0 as a 3 or 3.5 point dog. The Raiders as our other play was another story. In the first half it was the aging and weathered Jeff Garcia along with his portly sidekick Jamarcus Russell taking on recent Rutgers grad Mike Teel who logged big minutes at QB for Seattle. Go figure as the Seahawks went to the locker room with a 17-7 lead and coasted to a 31-21 victory. Incidentally, just when you thought those Snuggie commercials had been retired to stud, we are presented with the Zebra version to add to our formal attire, and just in time for college game days. Nice. As for the Oregon Ducks, they singlehanded took the Pac Ten's stock to depths not seen in quite some time with their lame effort against Boise where they beaten into submission by a score of 19-8. As for LeGarrette Blount, and his postal episode after the game, the senior running back has been relieved of his atheltic duties for the remainder this year and along with that the 5 figure weekly paychecks that accompany an NFL contract, which he stood to look forward to in 2010. Well, you know, it's all about respect. Who needs a new Escalade anyway.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:09:00 +0000

California is in the midst of the nations' biggest garage sale starting today in what will be a two day extravaganza to help relieve the states catastrophic budget deficit. Arnold is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to replenish the till even going so far as to auction off a cache of cocaine alleged seized from a vehicle once owned by Richard Pryor, or so it is reported. Officials are reportedly not disclosing the amount of 'yeyo housed ' in the stash but it is rumored that Steve Howe is making a comeback of sorts as he is the high bidder with Keith Richards and Boy George also in the running. As for the Terminator, he has signed the visors of a chosen few of the some 600 vehicles for sale, though attempts to entice him to sign bottles of 'arnolds' have thus far been met with resistance from wifey, who is doing her all to purify the Kennedy family tree. If you dont know what 'arnolds' are, well, you'll just have to take a wild guess.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Plaxico Burress has frittered his NFL career away as a result of the 2 year plea bargain he accepted this week. Another very stiff sentence and one that might not make a whole lot of sense when you look at the fact that Brown's wide receiver Donte Stallworth was basically handed down one month for killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence. Burress' actions were regrettable but at least he perpetrated the damage unto himself as opposed to that of another individual as was the case with Stallworth, who could possibly resurrect his career seeing as though he was suspended from playing in the NFL for only a year. May the time pass quickly Plax.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Data released by the American Chemical Society states that 'cocaine is present in up to 90 percent of paper money in the United States, particularly in large cities such as Baltimore, Boston, and Detroit.' Rick James wanabees should set up shot in the nations' capital as those bills contain traces of 'yeyo' with a frequency factor of up to 95 percent, with many of those having been christened, no doubt, by two time Mayor Marion Barry. All of this must be good news to Stephon Marbury who probably put the final stake in his NBA coffin at age 32 as the much traveled veteran of 6 teams was busted smoking weed on camera. Marbury's antics may mimic those of many honorable businessmen throughout the world, but the vast majority of those 'medicinally starved' individuals have not recently been handed a pink slip, as Stephon was in that the Celtics have decided to officially end to their late season experiment by not offering him a contract. At a time when most NBA players are hitting their prime, Stephon is washed up at 32, a shame when you consider that the Coney Island native was dogging college players on the Brooklyn asphault when he barely turned 12 years old. If Stephon decides to cross over to the bigger and better stuff, if he hasn't already, he can join the millions of Americans who can emancipate themselves from their 'connection' in these times of economic strife by merely sniffing from what is right under their nose, or in this case in their wallet. Keep the printing presses going Ben.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:18:00 +0000

Since throwing anything at the TV is no longer an option, the preference is to just chalk last nights' 49ers Bronocs over debacle to the football gods', who obviously wanted to punish me for gloating about the Raider victory the night before. Sure Coach Josh could have kicked the PAT so I could have downed a Bloody Mary in jubilation instead of disguist, but it was not to be. On another note, shame on Chic Fil-A for laying down the law on nourishment minded breast feeding women, which happened just a few short days ago in Winter Park Florida. I, for one, can deal with a few exposed mammaries while dining on bird, in fact, this writer might be inclined to linger a little longer depending upon the quality of the mammaries, and perhaps make Chic'Fil'A my newly appointed 5 star restaurant of choice.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Blogging is back.....and we will not pull punches....In the meantime, Al Davis may be due one final dose of good fortune before he succumbs to father time...this year may just be that dose. The Raiders should compete for the AFC Crown this year as they manage to pull off 10 wins, much to the chagrin of all of those 'Raider Nation' haters. Yes, the silver and black is back. Now if we could only dredge the Clippers from the depths of despair and assure holders of those California IOU's that their money is safe. Sorry, no can do.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:52:00 +0000

A 2-1 night as the Texans roll and the 49ers get the backdoor. The Seahwak Viking under loses very unlucky as Seattle pulls off 2 one play scoring drives in the 2nd half. There were only 2 drives that exceeded 50 yards the entire game......Ravens game is called due to snakes on the field...

YTD Preseason record grows to a respectable 5-2

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:55:00 +0000

1-1 as the Titans crumble late in a game that was chosen with the belief that Vince Young would play almost one half of football but never took a snap. It is rumored that Vince broke the 'no masturbation' rule within twenty four hours of kickoff and hence was suspended.

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:37:00 +0000

86-58 YTD Laker over Sunday a push as we posted it at 207...Nice night Monday as Memphis wins outright......Utah covers easy in the first half as the comp....Rockets go over 1st half and miss covering as Phoenix drops one in at the buzzer before the break...6-3 on the star basis 3-2 overal

Recap area

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 01:58:00 +0000

83-56 YTD Play of the Day cruises as the Bulls rule by 33 over the Wizards

Super Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:23:00 +0000

Props are up along with game selection and game opinion

How to Play Super Bowl Proposition Bets: Bears v Colts

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:43:00 +0000

Thursday, January 25, 2007Paul Bovi
For those fortunate enough to hold a much coveted ticket to Super Bowl XVI featuring the Colts and Bears, there will be plenty of variety to be had by paroosing the sands of South Beach. For those seeking variety of a different type, betting options will run into the several hundreds courtesy of what has come to be known as the proposition wager.

Unlike the championship games of yesteryear which were confined to wagering on the game spread and the total, the proliferation of proposition options has turned Super Bowl betting into a virtual smorgasbord that would rival that of a Sunday brunch at the Bellagio

‘Prop’ bets originated in the early 1980’s and provide a wagering menu that ties in to individual players, team performance, and specific events that occur within the game, or in the case of the coin toss or duration of the national anthem, ones immediately preceding it. Variations of the point spread and total are also available. For example, while the Colts have been installed as a 6 ½ to 7 point favorite depending on the locale, one that anticipates an Indianapolis blowout victory could opt to lay more points in exchange for better odds.

In recent years, prop wagers have taken on such a creative flavor, that they now link other sporting events taking place in and around the Super Bowl to players, stats, and events in the big game itself. Last year, one casino went so far as to offer props that pitted players of the then present day Steelers against those of the 1979 team that defeated the Vince Ferragamo led Rams by a score of 31-19.

In a game that will tip off half past noon (EST) on Super Bowl Sunday, the NBA will showcase Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Detroit Pistons in a battle of teams vying for first place in the Central Division. Count on at least a few props to titillate bettors’ fancies by pitting player stats from that contest versus that which occurs on the turf of Dolphin Stadium later that evening.

As props vary from venue to venue, and are often times created by innovative managers striving to set their book apart from the competition, the number of props that will be available cannot be pinpointed, though it is safe to say that it will easily exceed 500. The sheer size of the prop menu will create betting opportunities, as the more options that the lines makers must address the more prone he is to an oversight or miscalculation.

A classic example of that occurred in Super Bowl XXXVI as an under/over prop for now Colt, and then Ram receiver Ricky Proehl, opened at 14.5 yards, which was inexplicably low based on the numbers which he compiled during the regular season. Proehl played in all 16 regular season games that season and rang up 563 yards, an average of some 35 per contest and more than twice what the over/under opened. Gradually the yardage moved up, eventually closing at 16 ½, as did the ‘money’. By game time, one had to lay 150 to win 100, or 3 to 2, to wager that Proehl would exceed 16 ½ in terms of receiving yards . In the end, Proehl proved to be a bargain at any number. Kurt Warner found the now soon to be 39 year old journeyman 3 times for 71 yards and delivering over bettors some easy cash.

Those rare miscalculations are just that, rare, but there are other keys to enjoying success in proposition wagering.

In addition to being aware of any injuries that may be lingering, understanding the many aspects of a coaches’ game plan is essential. Those factors could influence how a particular player is utilized, for example, in the case of a tight end, whether for blocking purposes, or for running passing routes.

Bears’ tight end Desmond Clark’s offensive role may very well hinge on whether Indy can get pressure on Rex Grossman, as it looms probable that soft spots will emerge in the Colt secondary considering that safeties Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders have been known to play close to the line of scrimmage to assist with run support. Lovie Smith may of course, decide to dedicate his tight end more for blocking purposes as was the case last year when Pittsburgh’s Heath Miller surprisingly went without a catch in the Steelers’ 21-10 victory over Seattle.

Speaking of Bob Sanders and lingering injuries, those choosing to play ‘over’ on the number of tackles will be venturing into dicey waters as the Colt free safety played in only 4 regular season games this year due to a chronic knee injury. Sanders could be seen limping off the field midway through the 4th quarter of this past Sunday’s victory over the Patriots. Proceed with caution.

Avoid putting yourself in the position of facing elimination on the strength of one play, or you may find yourself taking an unexpected, and possibly a very early cold shower. A few years back, those that chose to go under 15 ½ yards for Deion Branch’s longest pass reception found themselves doing just that, as Tom Brady found the then Patriot receiver for a 16 yard reception on the games 5th play.

Additionally, take note of special circumstances that present opportunity. Often times, injuries influence the averages that go into forming the lines and those factors are sometimes overlooked in the setting the numbers. Special situations are also known to play out as was the case last year with Jerome Bettis, whose impending retirement figured to influence his role in the offense. Those that backed the theory that Steeler coach Bill Cowher would feed him the ball were rewarded as Bettis finished with 43 yards on 14 carries, in each case roughly twice his season average. Both numbers went over the total, although those that wagered that ‘the Bus’ would reach the end zone were frustrated as he was stuffed short of the goal line on a pair of attempts.

If you take your props seriously, and are in it for profit, steer clear of those wagers that are determined by nothing more than luck, the classic example of that being that of the coin toss, unless of course you happen to work for the Psychic Hotline. Other props such as ‘which players will score the first touchdown’, or ‘whether the quarterbacks’ first pass will be completed’ are also based on little more than chance and should be treated accordingly.

Another vital factor of successful proposition wagering is to understand the all of the elements that may affect your wager. In last years’ Championship game, the Steelers grounded the Seahawks by a score of 21-10 which would lead one to believe that Ben Roethlisberger easily out dueled Matt Hasselbeck in terms of passing yardage. Not so.

The Seattle signal caller more than doubled the productivity of Big Ben, who managed only 9 completions in 21 attempts in amassing a mere 123 yards. Hasselback, in a losing effort, generated 273 on 26 of 49. It is common for a losing QB to pass for more yards
than their victorious counterpart, as coaches tend not only sit on leads but often go into prevent defenses, both of which will statistically benefit the signal caller of the team that is trailing.

Finally, as with any betting endeavor, lines vary, and it is always wise to shop around. Many bookmakers, in an attempt to shift the odds in their favor, widen the conventional 20 spread between the favorite and underdog, to 30 cents, and on rare occasions, as high as 40 cents. The latter situation should be avoided at all costs, unless of course you enjoy paying $8 for a toothbrush in the casino gift shop. No thanks.

Good luck to all.

A Dark Day for Sports Bettors

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:42:00 +0000

Thursday, January 11, 2007Paul Bovi
It’s a dark day for many sports bettors throughout the land, for the great Oz has spoken, in this case Pinnacle Sports.

Like a roulette dealer that bellows ‘no more bets’, Pinnacle's decision to voluntarily exit the US market abruptly ceases wagering action for thousands of bettors throughout the country. Candy stores meets may be replaced by coffee house sit downs, but rest assured the corner bookmaker is about to be resurrected.

But for many sports bettors, life may never be the same, at least for now. Over the past 5 years, Pinnacle has built its’ reputation as the premier sports book in the world by extending their betting limits to accommodate wagers that were previously unthinkable, along with offering ‘reduced juice’, or what is commonly known in the industry as vigorish. Along with that, Pinnacle’s betting options covered not only the world of sports and a vast array of proposition wagers, but also encompassed events such as the Golden Globes, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol. You could even wager on the box office take of a movie premier

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but those bettors that reside in the city of lights do their business elsewhere. As Las Vegas casinos have gone the way of corporate ownership, the sports book is viewed by management along the lines of a loss leader rather than a profit center. From the prospective of adding to the bottom line, a typical sports book generates less than 1/3 of the revenue per square foot as that of the same real estate that is dedicated to slot machines and table games.

With that, the ‘I am doing you a favor attitude’ has taken hold, and the house operates from the prospective of preventing losses in an area of the casino that many of them would just as soon as do away with if they could without alienating their customer base. The presence of a book is a necessary ingredient to the retention and attraction of the green felt player and slot machine junkie, and in the eyes of many senior executives, little more.

The result is that Sin City’s wagering limits have gotten skinnier and the odds have deteriorated sending the sophisticated bettor offshore, where they are actually allowed to place a sizable wager without getting thrown a cross eyed stare over the counter, or have the betting line change as they are counting their money out. Yes, that does happen.

Pinnacle revolutionized the betting world by offering -04 ‘juice’, which broke tradition from the 60 year old format of laying 110 to win 100, or 10 cent ‘vig’. Vegas books, except in rare instances, never tried to compete, preferring instead to exploit the captive nature of their audience that makes their way through town for business or pleasure, or in many cases a little of both.

‘Exploit’ may define the Las Vegas’ attitude with respect to offering odds on a future proposition. A future wager involves betting on a team or person to win a particular event, such as the Super Bowl, World Series, or a Nascar race. While the difference between laying .04 versus laying .10 is quantifiable, those odds offered on a future payoff are not. The hold is transparent unless you happen to be a mathematician or scored 800 on the math portion of your SAT. Las Vegas is well aware of that fact which affords them the opportunity to write their own ticket and post odds that are designed to put the customer at a huge disadvantage

In many cases, the retention factor on a future wager placed in Las Vegas ranges upwards of 40 to 50%. In other words, unlike a horse race in which the retention is regulated by the state, usually at between 16 to 18 percent on a straight wager, the future payoffs are set so that the house reaps a windfall from those patrons who are often looking for an economic rooting interest in their favorite team

Las Vegas may argue that they assume a great deal of risk in offering these types of wagers, thus they are entitled to protect themselves. After all, their case may be that one sizable future bet on an underdog may put them at great degree of risk which in theory is correct, except for that fact that books will limit a wager of this type, and promptly reduce the odds which would effectively dissuade further action on that team. There have been select instances, though rare, in which a casino has left future odds up of a team that has been mathematically eliminated.

Aside from offering -04, holds on future wagers at Pinnacle came in at what could be estimated at 20%, which was extremely fair given industry norms. Like Vegas, action was limited so as to avoid a catastrophic occurrence, as odds were continually reset in accordance with money that came in on a particular team, person, or event.

Sports bettors that have been accustomed to using Pinnacle are today mourning the loss of an industry icon, a direct result of The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, a bill that made its’ way through Congress late last year, immediately prior to the then forthcoming election recess. It is specifically geared towards prosecuting those responsible for providing ‘designated payment systems’ and/or ‘money transfer systems’, which include providers such as ‘Neteller’, and other mechanisms that facilitate the transfer of funds that promote internet gambling.

Pinnacles’ decision to exit the US market comes on the heels of several recent and well publicized closings of offshore sports books, notably Bet on Sports, who ceased operations after the Department of Justice placed a restraining order against the Costa Rican based company. Those with remaining balances at BOS have, to this point, not been paid, unlike Pinnacle who has given their American clients assurances that their funds are readily available for withdrawal and that any pending plays, including futures bets, will be honored

Well placed sources estimate that of Pinnacle’s approximately 250 million dollars in profits last year, 60% was derived from the US market. Pinnacle’s decision to opt out can only leave one with the distinct impression that the government will be vigilant in the enforcement of the law targeted specifically at eliminating Internet gambling.

All said, the governments’ exertion of pressure on offshore gambling establishments appears to taking place without a back up plan in place. Common sense would have the government licensing a handful of these organizations in allowing them to continue operations while imposing a fee for the granting of that privilege while capturing a percentage of the handle. Bettors will seek out other alternatives in their quest for a fix, and as prohibition has already proved, man will not live without his vices, no matter where he has to go to get it, which in this case will no doubt send us down a path that leads us to those Tuesday morning meetings at the coffee shop.

In the meantime, let the mourning period begin, and may the weekend pass quickly.
It’s a sad day for sports bettors.

Reproduction of this article in whole or part may be used provided credit is given to the author Paul Bovi and/or Paul Bovi/PanormaSports.com

Paul Bovi
Laguna Beach California
Las Vegas Nevada

As seen on PRWeb:
http://prweb.com/releases/2007/1/prweb497041.htm

NBA Advances to 32-19 as Hornets -2 defeat T Wolves

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:41:00 +0000

SUPER BOWL PROPOSITION PLAYS WILL BE POSTED FROM SATURDAY MORNING UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING. WE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 6 TO 8, ALL STAR RATED, AND AVAILABLE

Week 17 NFL Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:26:00 +0000

WEEK 17 NFL RECAP
Wednesday, January 03, 2007Bovi
Shortly before the Bookies were ringing in the New Year with Crystal and Belluga, the Packers were taking care of business as a three point dogs to the once invincible Monsters of the Midway as the Bears were sent freefalling into the postseason as Green Bay came away with a one sided 23-7 victory in what may have been Brett Favre’s swan song. It was a fitting end to the NFL regular season as 9 dogs got the cash on New Years Eve thus putting an exclamation point on a year that saw the house rake in enormous profits.

Saturday nights’ festivities saw the Giants dampen the holiday spirits of Packer, Panther, Falcon, and Ram fans as Tiki Barber ran wild in leading the Giants to a 34-28 win over the Redskins at RFK. The victory all but locked up the final NFC playoff berth for the G Men and gave the always personable Tom Coughlin at least a temporary stay of execution in joining the much deserved Dennis Green and Jim Mora Jr. on the coaches’ unemployment line.

Not to be outdone by their stadium roommates, the Jets opened up a can of whupass on the Raiders as they defeated Oakland 23-3, and locked up a playoff spot of their own. The house was heavy on New York though the number took a sharp drop on Friday from 12 ½ to 11 in most spots, which has to be a mystery considering Oakland’s abysmal performance this year.

Joining the Jets in the post season will be their former mentor, Herman Edwards, as his Chiefs held off the hard charging Jaguars, 35-30. The KC win put the Broncos in a must win situation at home versus the 49ers, a game that started simultaneous to the Chief game going final, but Denver failed in their quest to reach the playoffs for the 4th consecutive year as they went down 26-23 in overtime. As KC was on the verge of victory, the action on the Broncos was fast and furious giving the house a big win and leaving the Denver fans in stunned disbelief.

No less stunned were Cowboy fans that saw their team fall to the downtrodden Lions 39-31. Jon Kitna dissected the Dallas secondary for 305 yards while tossing 4 TD passes while counterpart Tony Romo threw for 321 but accounted for 3 Cowboy turnovers. The Simpson Underwood effect is clearly taking its’ toll on the previously unflappable Dallas signal caller who has looked anything but invincible the last few weeks. The Cowboy loss was a windfall for the house as the side went down along with those that named Dallas on their super teasers figuring the Cowboys would keep their division hopes alive with an easy win, though they had already nailed down at least the wildcard.

With the result in Big D locking up the division title for the Eagles, many of the Philly starters were given the day off as their contest with the Falcons was relegated to that of a meaningless game. The 24-17 Eagle win was a clear decision for the house as those that laid the 8 point number came up short, which constituted the majority of the early action.
As the Cowboys neared defeat, the line was reset to 6 and the money came in on the Falcons as the sharps figured Andy Reid to rest his starters. He complied, but the Eagles still prevailed in a game that saw Michael Vick sustain an injury in the 3rd quarter. Matt Schaub replaced Vick and had decent numbers in what was to be Jim Mora Jr.’s final game as Falcon coach.

The Ravens locked up the AFC second seed by holding off the Bills 19-7. Money was heavy on Baltimore as it was the Chargers, who prevented the Ravens from earning the top seed, by defeating Arizona, 27-20. San Diego, a 14 point favorite, opened up a 27-10 lead, only to allow the Cardinals to climb back into the game. The Colts, hoping to steal the second seed with a Raven loss, also failed to protect a spread covering 12 point cushion as they prevailed 27-22 as a 9 point choice.

Shayne Graham’s miss of a potential game winning field goal at the end of regulation prevented the Bengals from entering the post season as the Steelers closed out their season with a 23-17 overtime win. Though Cincy was in a must win spot, the game saw steady two sided action as the number stayed steady at 6 for the entire week.

New England came in as a field goal underdog versus the Titans, with Tennessee still harboring faint playoff aspirations. Coach Bill surprisingly played Tom Brady well into the second half and the Pats defeated Jeff Fisher’s team by a score of 40-23. In that game the Pats lost safety Rodney Harrison to an injury and he will likely be lost for the duration of the post season.

In another meaningless contest for a team headed to the post season, Seahawks’ coach Mike Holmgren also opted not to rest the starters and paid in the form of a broken ankle to CB Kelly Herndon. Seattle defeated the Buccanneers 23-7, and as in the case of the Pats, came in as a 3 point dog. Both games saw solid two way action.

The players did pull out two small wins as the Rams overwhelmed the Vikings 41-21, while the Texans, with but 177 yards of total offense, defeated the Browns 14-6. The Texans opened a 4 point choice and closed at 6 while the Rams went off a 2 ½ point choice after opening a 1 point favorite on Sunday night.

The mover of the week had Carolina defeating the Saints 31-21, as coach Sean Peyton wisely pulled his starters after just a few series. The Saints opened an 8 point choice on Sunday night in anticipation of a Christmas Day Cowboy win over the Eagles, which would have left New Orleans in a position of having to defeat the Panthers to secure the second seed in the NFC. The Dallas loss rendered Sunday’s game meaningless, thus bookmakers reset the line and Carolina went off a 3 point choice.

As the players recoup from this very difficult betting year in the NFL, one is reminded how quickly the tide can turn. Champagne and caviar is oh so nice, but it was only one year ago that the books were ringing in the New Year with Saltines and Ripple.

Let the playoffs begin.

Cheers for Jersey - Rutgers

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:24:00 +0000

It's about time New Jersey had something to cheer about in college football. Watching the Knights fall to West Virginia was truly disappointing as they had a great season and played inspirational football all year long. Only a late dropped pass in the end zone prevented a trip to a BCS Bowl, though in my opinion, they were unquestionably the grestest story in all of college football this year. Hats off to Greg Schiano for an outstanding coaching job and the entire team for bringing competitive football back to New Jersey, Division I A style.

NBA Play of the day Goes Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:22:00 +0000

NBA PLAY OF THE DAY FOR FRIDAY: IF YOU'RE NOT MAKING MONEY IN THE NBA< YOU'RE NOT PLAYING HERE..17-9 YTD

Bowl Record 10-6

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:21:00 +0000

Bowl Record at 10-6....ND LSU over 55.5 just misses...first half over wins...LSU team total over 32 wins..... NBA Record upped to 17-9 as Memphis covers....