Are you looking for a vote of confidence when picking spreads, money lines and the under/ over in the NFL? Let me be that football wizard who has seen the prophecies of victory and has the ability to put your precarious souls at ease. Almost 20 years of sports wagering experience is proudly listed on the resume, as well as playing in my 21st season of fantasy football(definitely a self-proclaimed pioneer). But enough about this guy. In this weekly column, I'll offer up anything from sportsbook's outcomes, moods and reflections, as well as offer words of advice and knowledge on betting strategies. Additionally, for every game, I'll have my picks for the spread, moneyline and under/ over ready to go. And if you're good(or I just happen to be feeling generous), I'll offer up one of my tantalizing, high-odds 'Nicks Picks', a ticket too good to be true. Anyway, if for some reason any of Nick's Picks let you down, I'm cool with you telling your bookie it was all my fault. Yeah... right.
'EASY PICKIN'S OR JUST A MATTER OF LUCK?' - I had a really swell week 7 in the world of NFL gambling. Almost everything clicked and I had wished I would of opened the wallet straight up to the sky. Any time you hit multiple 3 or 4 - game parlays, an 8 - game ticket and just miss another 8 - gamer by one contest, you almost feel like you're special, lucky or have some rare insight to picking winners. If those factors really pertained to you and your situation, you wouldn't be reading this column... you would be in Vegas, getting ready for NFL week 8. And/ or, maybe even finishing up your own gambling advice article. What I'm trying to get at is, the reason I didn't win an obscene amount of money, even though my winning %'s were excellent, was because I can't tell the future and have to stick within my weekly budget. Obviously it pays to do your research, but that's about all you can do. After all, the players still have to play the games and have to finish within the parameters of what you think those final scores will be. This week I just want to stress the cardinal sin of wagering beyond your means and/ or luck streak. Remember to have 'odds of winning' in perspective and never let last week's winnings influence this week's wagers. That is of course you are on a really bad losing streak and your wallet needs a little break from the action.
NICK'S PICK OF THE WEEK: 3 GAME PARLAY | CAR +2 | BUF -2.5 | LAC +7.5
MIAMI DOLPHINS @ BALTIMORE RAVENS - MIA +3 | MIA +138 | OVER 38
MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ CLEVELAND BROWNS - MIN -9.5 | MIN -405 | OVER 38
ATLANTA FALCONS @ NEW YORK JETS - NYJ +4.5 | ATL -210 | OVER 45.5
CAROLINA PANTHERS @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - CAR +2 | CAR +116 | OVER 46
OAKLAND RAIDERS @ BUFFALO BILLS - BUF -2.5 | BUF -135 | UNDER 45.5
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - LAC +7.5 | NEP -329 | OVER 48.5
CHICAGO BEARS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - NOS -9 | NOS -395 | OVER 47.5
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS - CIN -11 | CIN -505 | UNDER 42
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - PHI -13 | PHI -714 | OVER 46
HOUSTON TEXANS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - HOU +5.5 | HOU +211 | OVER 46
DALLAS COWBOYS @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS - WAS +1.5 | WAS +106 | OVER 49
PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ DETROIT LIONS - PIT -2.5 | PIT -141 | UNDER 45.5
DENVER BRONCOS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - KCC -7.5 | KCC -327 | OVER 43
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
SPREAD 12-2
MONEYLINE 12-2
TOTAL O/U 4-10
YTD RESULTS:
SPREAD 53-47
MONEYLINE 59-41
TOTAL O/U 48-52