Alternative picks – Week 1, 2017

Alternative picks – Week 1, 2017

by | Sep 5, 2017 | NFL Picks





Welcome to our new weekly picks format, Alternative Picks. We’re fashioning this after a game that Andy and I played when we were teenagers, where we “draft” games we want to pick each week. First person chooses one game, the other follows with two games, and then alternate the rest of the way down the list. We wager the standard Trading Places bet per game, and accumulate wins/losses through the year.

Andy won the right to choose first at Virtual Coin Toss and he elected to select the first game. Going forward, the loser of the previous week’s picks will go firs t– in the event of a tie, we will head back for another coin toss.

Andy: Given that it’s the first week and so much changes over the course of an off-season, I wanted to make sure I got the one game I feel is a near certain lock, at least straight up. I think the Browns are heading in the right direction. But I don’t think a rookie QB making his first start is going to lead an improving-but-still-bad team to a win over Pittsburgh. I pick the Steelers. (more…)

Bet the Mortgage: Week 17, 2016

Bet the Mortgage: Week 17, 2016

by | Dec 29, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Gambling

It was more of the same in week 16. Andy, for the first time all season, fell below the $10,000 starting point in his bankroll, while Tony, after being close to mythically broke early on, inched back toward the break-even point.

With just one week left in the regular season, there’s nothing to hold back for – except, I suppose, for trying to hang onto their mythical money because they’re crappy bettors.

So here are the standings:

  Last week Last week $ Overall Overall $ Bankroll
Andy 1-3 -$450 24-38-2 -$400 $9,600
Tony 2-2 +$518 26-35-1 -$1,900 $8,010

 

And here’s the last regular season installment of “Bet the Mortgage,” which should probably more accurately be known as “Do the Opposite.” Here goes: (more…)

Bet the Mortgage: Week 17, 2016

Bet the Mortgage: Week 16, 2016

by | Dec 22, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Gambling

Brutal. After a decent start, Andy has had a brutal stretch of weeks that culminated in an 0-4 week 15. The losses knocked out all of his profit except a meager $50.

After a brutal start, Tony keeps meandering his way back toward even. His 2-2 week 15 was highlighted by $2,500 hits on Green Bay and New England.

Here are the standings:

Last week Last week $ Overall Overall $ Bankroll
Andy 0-4 -$3,900 23-35-2 +$50 $10,050
Tony 2-2 +$943 24-35-1 -$2,508 $7,492

Here are our picks for this week: (more…)

Bet the Mortgage: Week 17, 2016

Bet the Mortgage: Week 15, 2016

by | Dec 14, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Gambling

IF you’re going to go 1-3, get the right one correct.

Andy did so, nailing a $2,000 bet at +120 on Atlanta over the hapless Rams. If only he had wagered more. The remainder of his bets did not hit, but their total value on the line totaled $2,000. So, he came out $400 ahead.

Tony’s luck was not as good. After riding a solid winning streak for several weeks, his one win was on Cincinnati beating up even-more-hapless-Cleveland. His three misses tallied him a $1,602 loss for the week.

Here are the standings to date:

  Last week Last week $ Overall Overall $ Bankroll
Andy 1-3 +$400 23-31-2 +$3,950 $13,950
Tony 1-3 -$3,451 22-33-1 -$3,451 $6,549

And here are our pretend wagers for this week: (more…)

Bet the Mortgage: Week 17, 2016

Bet the Mortgage: Week 14, 2016

by | Dec 7, 2016 | 2016 Season, NFL Gambling

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Andy and Tony went .500 last week, pocketed a small hypothetical profit and … yawn.

This was a lot more entertaining space to write when Tony’s bankroll was heading underwater and when Andy looked like he might be able to fund a mythical retirement.

Nonetheless, our pickers are back for another week of fantastic pretend gambling exploits.

Here’s where they stand.

Last week Last week $ Overall Overall $ Total bank
Tony 2-2 +$942 21-30-1 -$1,849 $8,151
Andy 2-2 +$661 22-28-2 +$3,580 $13,580

 

And here is their outlook on week 14:

(more…)