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Big D Says It Ain't Odd When You Win

Editor's Note--It is with great pleasure that I invite you all to Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend where an A-list gathering occurs that rivals anything at some silly film festival in Utah can do. I'm talking about Big D, Entertainment folk, Athletes, world famous authors, financiers, and other hoi polloi who will be in attendance.We will be on the craps tables, in the sportsbooks, in the nightclubs, at the restaurants, and maybe even at the heated pools. I know we will all have some money to invest at these events due to Big D smashing another winning weekend in the divisional playoff round last week. Now its the AFC/NFC Championship games and Big D will take no prisoners. See you in Vegas baby, and if not, we will see you in the winner's circle wherever you are--R.B.

Richie, its always great to get the whole gang back together, if even for just one weekend. Many get excited when they come to these gatherings and see the people that are in our "crew". Now these are very famous but private people who only come because they know we control the paparazzi and allow them to invade the inner circle for very brief moments. But we all have a blast. We truly hope you can make it out.

As has become a tradition, Big D sometimes says a few nice things about one of the guests attending our gala, just prior to it's start. As many of you know, over the years this has ranged from heads of state, to titans of industry, to A-list entertainers, and athletes. This years focus is on the novel "Odd Jobs" and the author, Ben Lieberman. Ben, a titan of the financial industry, already has movie moguls lining up to buy the rights to the novel to make one of those big time Hollywood productions. The book is called "Odd Jobs" and you can find it on www.oddjobsnovel.com . Its been near the top of the charts for weeks.  And when you have cats like best selling, multi million selling author, James Patterson, and business titan, Donald Trump, saying they can't put it down, and how riveting it is, you might want to click that link above baby and buy the book. There's even a character named "Rich Bennett" in it who plays a "favorite goon" of the bad guys. I don't if this has anything to do with the Rich Bennett I know that has known Mr. Lieberman for 20+ years. You'll just have to read it and find out. Congrats Ben. See you in Vegas. And when I say "Odd Jobs" is good, treat it like an NFL selection that I also say is good. Straight gold, pal. Get it?!?! Speaking of selection and gold........

Everyone says BALTIMORE has no offense, they would've lost last week if Houston didn't have injuries, and all that other mutha jazz. Well, the point spread is high and so is the total on this week's game in Foxboro, Mass. Now Big D wants you to look around and ask your neighbors, or your colleagues, or your fellow prisoners, and say, "What do you think of BALTIMORE+7.5 AND the OVER 50.5?" Watch their reactions. Some will say, "Come on guy, did you see the games last week.?" Others will just laugh at you. Some will even say they will take the other side. The important point is that its not popular. How do you think we own our own island over here, pally?!?! Hmmmm? That might not be the popular choice but its the correct one. And let me ask you this my kraut-mick friends, if Tom Brady leads a final 4th qtr comeback, as only Brady can, to win the game 31-28 what will you say then? Impossible? Can't happen? Now you will smile and say, "Hey BALTIMORE "won"!" Run to the windows. Dont walk.

In the 2nd game, this has gotta be the toughest spread call between two teams I have seen in a while. But whats everyone talking about? The weather! Right! Its going to rain in San Francisco. Its raining there now. Its going to rain all weekend and even Monday. Ever play football in the rain? The ball could get a little slippery. Ever play football in the wind? The ball goes all over the place when the kicker, punter, and QUARTERBACKS, try to put it in the air. THAT's a problem. Have they said its going to be windy that day? No they have not. They said it will RAIN. Big difference. Might be some punt return fumbles? Or some defensive touchdowns? Hmmmmmm? Wait until kickoff when that total goes nice and looooooooow and take the OVER, baby. Make everyone think you're crazy!

So, hope to see you in Vegas, as its going to be a pleasant 65 and sunny all weekend. AND it'll be 72 and clear indoors at the sportsbook all weekend long. Where we will just happen to be. Get your "Odd Jobs" novel and get these investments down: BALTIMORE+7.5 @ New England, OVER 50.5 New England/BALTIMORE, and OVER 42 San Francisco/New York Giants. Good luck and god bless.   

Big D Says DOGgone It We're Gonna Win!

Editor's Note--Looks like some cooooooooold temperatures for the games this NFL weekend. REAL cold. Good luck to those diehard fans who go to the games. Me? I'm going to go down to sunny and warm Florida. Again. As I get older, the cold weather bothers me more. (And if you had asked me even 5 years ago, if I would have EVER uttered that sentence, I wouldve looked at you like you had a hole in your head.) Anywhoooo, I might be doing a little house hunting, as an investor. Wink. Wink. Besides, the amount of cash Big D has gotten me (ahem, not last week or Monday night, ahem), I can afford to sip cocktails whilst poolside, and watch the NFL games, while people freeze. This is how I DO IT. Now Big D, show us how YOU DO IT--R.B.

Richie, I'm not sure if your cold references were a subtle hint to my recent selections, but I can understand if they are. You bet against me this time at your own risk though. We didn't do a lot of sleeping around these parts, the last week. Dwelling on our losers. Sure, we hit "Big D's Wild Card Weekend Lock of the Year", but not the other 3 choices. A lot of folks talk about taking the rested "better" teams, on what they call this the "Divisional Playoff Weekend". Let's see what we have to say about that.

Boy those Saints have run over teams a lot this year, eh? Well, at home they have. In a dome. On turf. Guess what? They play AT SAN FRANCISCO. Where it might be a bit chilly. And windy. And it will definitely be on grass. Love how people talk of New Orleans' dominance at home this year. You know who went 7-0-1 versus the spread at home this year? 49ERS pal. Wanna know what the line is @@@@@@@ SF on Saturday? SF+3.5. PLUS. 3.5. You even win if theres a field goal game. We'll take that thanks.

42+mm people watched DENVER, our Wild Card Lock of the Year, win outright versus Pittsburgh. Wanna know how many people are going to watch on Saturday evening? (Prime Time on the east coast. A cold and dreary north and middle east coast night, FYI.) Some say 50mm. Even 60mm. That's a lot of eyeballs. Are they watching because Tom Brady might be running for his life when these cats Miller and Dumervil blitz him continuously because they got "nothin to lose"? Probably not watching for that reason, no. But that might be what exactly happens. I'm not going to stand here and tell you that DENVER is going to win this game. But Big D does remember some funny things go on during night playoff games in New England (remember the "Tuck Rule" game with the Rayduuuuuuuuhs back in the day?). New England is 5-16 when laying 10 or more last 21 times. Oh, the line? DENVER+13.5. That's more than 10, pal. Too many, pal. Take. And there's probably the 2nd time you've read some analysis on a DENVER game and we haven't mentioned their QB. First time being last week's Big D column.

Finally, if you read the NY papers, and I do, you would think the GIANTS were going to the Super Bowl after winning 1 playoff game. That's not how it works in the real world. However, the G-MEN are a confident bunch. They are healthier than they have been all year. But so are the Packers. But I will tell you this my friends. One team beat Green Bay this year. Kansas City. A shocker. You know who was coaching Kansas City when they did this? Why it was Romeo Crennel. You know where Crennel coached and got his first shot in the NFL? With the NY GIANTS. Hello. You dont think some phone calls are being made from the 212 and the 201 to the 816? (Area codes, people. Area Codes. Try and keep up) For some "inside" tips?!? G-MEN also VERY handy as a playoff dog. Covered last 5 times that way. Oh and the line? NY+7.5. Would you be surprised if the GIANTS lost an incredibly close nail biting game? Or won one? No you would not. Take pal.

So on an historically favorite favoring weekend, we have taken NO favorites. We HAVE taken one home team, that is inexplicably a home underdog, but we are crazy like a fox. JOHN FOX is the name of the BRONCOS coach, too. How fitting. SF+3.5 vs New Orleans, DENVER+13.5 @ New England, and NY GIANTS+7.5 @ Green Bay.

Richie, have a good time in Florida. The rest of you? Try and stay warm. Start by running to the investing window and putting these 3 down. Good luck and god bless.

Big D: "Roll Tide! Roll Honey Badger!" Wait. What?

Editor's Note--Well, 1-2 this weekend in the NFL. A sad outcome based on the previous 10 game record (9-0-1) for Large Richard, aka Big D. However, that 1 winner was Big D's "Wild Card Weekend Lock of the Year". Will people now stop talking so much about TEBOW? Maybe not. His team, The Denver "Donkeys", have opened up as a 13.5 point underdog to the Patriots this Saturday. But that's for later in the week. Tonight is College Football's National Championship Game. And there's a team in this game, Alabama. Did you that when Big D decides to put a wager in an Alabama game, he hits about 90% of the time? Well now you do. G'head Big D. Go!--R.B.

This is going to be short and sweet. The Houston and NY Giant teams beat our picks by way of some nice momentum changing events. Which get magnified in the playoffs. No excuses though. Our winner, DENVER, was magnificient. Tonight? College football one more time this season.

9-6 was the last score these two teams played to. Missed FGs on the Bama side too. Its the #1 versus #2 defenses. The total is 40.5. Sure does make you think about the under, right? Well how about this. The last 5 bowl games for Alabama? OVER. Why? Because that coach has about 45 days to prepare. You dont think there will be some "trickeration" on the 'Bama offensive side that could be worth a score or two? How about this kid for lsu, "the honey badger" #7? He runs back punts, he picks off passes, and causes fumbles.

This all adds up to a situation that many people are NOT expecting. You dont think there could be some turnovers caused by these awesome defenses? Both teams have scored plenty in games other than the one they played against each other. 40.5 points does NOT look too daunting, like J.S. Ragman (technical term meaning regular person, that I cleaned up) might say. Big D ain't no regular person. OVER.

Stay tuned later in the week for NFL divisional action. Tonight, we cheer for points! Alabama/Lsu OVER 40.5.

Big D Says Your Bookie NEEEEDS To Quit. NEEEDS.

Editor's Note--As I sat on a picture perfect day in North Miami, on the 45 yard line behind the J-E-T-S bench, on New Year's Day, I cursed them more than once for 1) looking like crap (I'm a follower of the Jets), and more importantly, 2) for not LOSING with grace and getting a late TD, to "push" in the wagering world, while losing by a "mere" 2 points. Little did I know, this would be the only mere blemish for the rest of the day, for the man known as Big D. Yessir. 4-0-1 for the baddest handicapper on the planet!! Now, oh master, all the teams NEEEEED the game this weekend, but I am not even going to ask if you have further tricks up your sleeve. All I know is that I have the best kind of money--in my wallet that I cannot close--HOUSE money. Courtesy of my bookmaker via Large Richard. The sagest of the sage, the coolest of the cool, the baddest of the bad, go forth. As I order another bottle of bubbly. At 8 a.m. Goooooooooooo!--R.B.

Well, Richie, funny you should mention those J-E-T-S. I've been thinking about how they've wrecked our perfect week. Cause you see we DO dwell on the losers and forget the winners around these parts. We ain't been doin a lot of dwellin lately, have we? Um, no we have not. Wild card weekend begins.......Here goes...........

What do we always say about CINCINNATI? It's best to take the underdog in their games. Of course, except if they NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED the game, as CINCY did last week, and when they lost, they became another of the MANY Big D winners of the week. This time they have a team, Houston, that is making its first playoff appearance. Sure its at Houston but CINCY might just be able to hang with their fancy defense and Houston's QB "sitch". CINCY snuck into the playoffs with a 9-7 record, but quick, if they didn't play powerful (back then) Pittsburgh and Baltimore 4 times, you know what their record would be? 9-3. Um, Houston ain't no Pitt or Balt, pal. TAKE.

Lotta talk about the G-men, now that they have made it to the playoffs, they are going to ramble into the Super Bowl. Oh yeah? Well, riddle me this batboys and batgirls, How many home playoff games have the "illustrious duo" of Tommy Coughlin and Eli Manning won in their Giant careers? Nada. Zilch. ZERO. Not sure why, but it always seems Eli plays better on the road. Sure the G-men looked good in their conquests of J-E-T-S and "America's Team" (ha!) Dallas. But those teams are what we refer to as "NON-playoff teams". ATLANTA is a playoff team. People talk of their QB getting nervous in the big games. I wonder if the ATLANTA defense gets nervous. Because when it's a little rainy and 42 degrees and windy, the Giants will need BIG games out of Bradshaw and Jacobs. You puttin your cash on that? Big D ain't pal. TAKE!

Finally, quickly now, quickly.....there have been 5 instances where an NFL team has made the playoffs with an 8-8 record or worse (last year's 7-9 Seattle team. Memba them?). Guess what those 5 teams are against the spread? 5-0. Guess how many games they have won outright? 4 of 5. Now quick again, what do the numbers 13, 3, 13 represent? Those are the points scored by the Pittsburgh team their last 3 on the road. Those were against Cleveland (stinky team), San Fran (playoff team), and KC (non-playoff team). Um DENVER, is coached by a man named FOX. Do you know what FOX's background is? DEFENSE. You heard of a cat named ELVIS DUMERVIL? I think you will by 7pm eastern time Sunday night. He will be in the Pittsburgh offensive backfield a lot. Problem for Pittsburgh is, he plays DEFENSE for DENVER. Oh the line you ask? The line?!?! Pittsburgh -9.5. AT DENVER pal. AT DENVER. Mile High Stadium. With a wobbly QB, no starting RB, and a safety named Clark who has the most tackles on the team, unable to play. Would Big D question your sanity if you took close to 4-1 odds for DENVER to win outright? No he would not. For our purposes, we'll play it safe and just name it "Big D's Wild Card Weekend Lock of the Year". TAKE pal. TAKE. DENVER plus the points pal. And Big D is willing to wager that was the ONLY analysis you have read about this game all week that didn't mention the DENVER QB, right? Big D is smarter than the average honey badger, baby.

So we hope you had a snappy New Year celebration. We know we did. With money comin out of everywhere. We keep the money train rollin down the tracks this weekend with CINCY+3 @ Houston, ATLANTA+3 @ New York Giants, and our lock of the weekend DENVER+9.5 vs Pittsburgh. Good luck and god bless.