by Sonny Palermo, team handicapper at www.sportsmemo.com

The call comes in Friday evening.

"Hey, Sonny, you gonna be in any of the books Friday night or Saturday?"

"Yeah, I'll be downtown Friday, and at Orleans on Saturday, why?"

(I ask "why" trying to not sound too anxious.)

"Can ya cover me on something," he says, and though I'm thinking 'anytime and everytime ya friggin jinx' I reply
matter-of-factly, "Sure, what do ya need?"

"I want Florida on the money line versus UNLV."

Now, as everyone knows, I'm not a fan of the kids, and I am not following this stuff, but in my environment ya can't help pick stuff up, and I know Florida is supposed to be the GIANT in this thing (they're the team with the black, Carrot Top lookin guy, right?) and I know UNLV ain't no Giant Killer. I'm disappointed, because I wanted him to ask for a bet I could fade, and I'm not about to lay the opposite and take UNLV on the money line, and I'm not taking them with the points either. Then he tells me they're not scheduled yet - UNLV has to get past Oregon on Friday night. I explain that the $200 he wants to lay on Florida money line will have a lousy return, hoping he'll give me an alternative to bet for him (one I can fade) but no dice - he doesn't care if it only brings back a couple bucks, he says he wants to lose the bet because he wants UNLV to advance and the bet is only "solice for when they get beat."

Pretzel logic such as this is beyond me, but it's the Mush we're talking about here, so I agree - I tell him I'll cover it for him and hang up, thinking it's an opportunity lost.

I get to the Nugget to play in the Friday night poker tournament (I extended an invite to any SM listeners to join me, and I'll let ya know if/when I go again - it's a good tournament to play in, AND it sux at the same time; more on that dichotomy in a future blog.) I stop by the sports book and I see Oregon is a three point fav over the Rebels.

And it hits me - for the Mush to make money on his Florida money line bet (and you know THAT ain't gonna happen) UNLV HAS to advance tonight. I thought there was no opportunity for me to make money off this usually sure thing (a Mush fade) but like a chess game ya have to see the whole board.

I lay the three points, and I'm feeling good. I get to my table for the tournament, and I remember how the Mush screwed me by jinxing my super bowl bet, and I'm thinking I'm going to get my money back.

But wait a minute - I'm STILL not seeing the whole board. UNLV can lose by 1 or 2, the Mush loses his money line profit (minuscule as it may be) AND I GET BEAT TOO! With 5 minutes to tip off I rush back to the book and bet the sure thing - Ducks on the money line. Now the Mush can't win, and I can't lose. Turns out money line insurance wasn't necessary, but added a nice little profit to the night anyway, as Ducks win by 4 laying 3. Ya gotta thank the Lord for making guys like the Mush. Sorry I was at a casino and unable to share this play with fellow forum members at SM, but there'll be more. Trust me.

In the meantime, remember - SEE THE WHOLE BOARD! And that means quarters and halves too, as well as team totals, like my other play on Friday:

NY/Clev Q1 Un 47 (42 points scored - WINNER)

and Det/SA Q4 Ov 43' ( 47 points scored - WINNER!)

Not to mention a 2-0 Saturday that closed out my week as I took Sunday off (nothing fit my profiles and I had a profit locked in for the week, so on the 7th day I rested).

Saturday's play: LAC/Wash Q4 Ov 52 (67 points scored - WINNER)

and Miami Team total Un 95' (85 points scored - WINNER!)

Other than a miss with NO on Friday night it was a solid weekend. And my poker play was very profitable too. Life is good . . .

(Back in a day or two with my blog on NBA and OT.)


Good luck with your play this week . . . 

SP