MonkeyBusinessBlog

Big D Winning? Yep. Still. Again. Mawwww

Editor's Note--Remember this scene? Good lord it' 20 years old! When he eats the Oreos he's bluffing, yes!??!

 

Well, this past August a certain Jacksonville Jaguars team had a week of joint practices with the New England Patriots. I think ol man Tommy Coughlin, General Manager of the Jags, and OWNER of 5 victories and just 2 losses versus Bill Belicheck all time, called his ol pal Bill and said, "Hey Billy, you think we could get some practices against you guys. My young guys would get a lot out of it, learning from you, "the master", and your fine team. And if we could FILM the practices, we'd get even more out of it. And look we won 3 games last year, so it's not like we are gonna play you for the chance to go to the Super Bowl this year, or anything......" And that smug Bellycheck chortled and said, "sure Tom, film away....." So the Jags did. Now fast forward to last week's Jacksonville at Pittsburgh game. Incidentally, a game correctly scored by a fella we will her from in a minute.....

So anyhooo, it's pretty common knowledge that the Pats beat the Steelers almost every time they play. Somehow. Someway. Cant you picture Billy Bellycheck sitting down with his fine whiskey and Oreos to watch the Steelers mop up the Jags and give Billy another clear path to the Super Bowl? Then that gets completely blown out of the water, as the Jags smash Pittsburgh. And in Billy's head is that phone call from Coughlin in August, "so its not like we are gonna play you for the chance to go to the Super Bowl or anything....". And Billy KNOWS he's been had, and takes that whiskey bottle and the oreos and HURLS them at the TV screen.....

Me and Big D and his inner circle have been discussing this since about Week 15. The team in the AFC that CAN beat New England, IS Jacksonville. Look who built the team! The cat who coached the Giants to 2 (TWO) Super Bowl wins over the "vaunted" Patriots.Speaking of Big D, coming off his 2-1 weekend with his NFC Lock of the Year EASILY winning, here he is....-R.B.

Well Richie, that's about the most you've said in one post in about.....ever. But we LIKE what you said. Let's keep the hot train rollin.

We don't have to say much more than what Richie already said about the JAGUARS. The crack staff at the Wall Street Journal (there they are again with their sports section) pointed out this week that the JAGS had the 2nd MOST sacks of any team in the league, and blitzed the 4th LEAST. What does that mean? Their defensive front 4 is KILLER. That's the kinda team that can win cause they can GET to Tawwwwm Brady without help from any of the back 7 who can cover, Pats receivers..... Usually the spread doesn't matter in these games, so you don't play the underdog because you think they are going to just cover, you play them cause you think they are gonna WIN. We think that is very possible. JACKSONVILLE+9.5 and gah head and play the money line again at something close to 4-1 for them to win outright.....

The one loss we had on the weekend was the UNDER in the Vikes/Saints game. It looked like that game was going swimmingly well for our UNDER, and even for the Vikings, then the roof caved in. And shouldve caved in on Minnesota. Well, now after the "Minneapolis Miracle" people are jumping around saying "it's destiny" that the Vikes will be the 1st "home team" for a Super Bowl. Well, we remember a few years back when a better Vikings team than this one played about 90 miles north of where they are playing Sunday. They went up to the Giants (there's that team again....), layed 3.5 on the road, in the NFC Championship Game, and were promptly destroyed 41-3. Richie remembers it well too, cause the Vegas casinos wouldn't take any more of our action on the G-men after we apparently "hit our maximum betting limits".....We walked out with suitcases filled with 100s. Fun times. Now we aren't saying PHILLY is gonna win 41-3. But it's gonna be a helluva lot tougher to run that kind of hail mary at the EAGLES, if Minnesota needs it. Also, are people talking about PHILADELPHIA's defense enough? We think not. Home dog to go to the Super Bowl?! Heck yeah. EAGLES and UNDER in the frigid cold under the lights at the Linc.

So the happy "2 more games till the Super Bowl" recap:

JACKSONVILLE+9.5 at New England, JACKSONVILLE to win outright 4-1, PHILADELPHIA+3.5 vs Minnesota, UNDER 38.5 PHI/Min.

And since our 50th anniversary of Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison worked out so well last week? Guess what? 55 years ago today? 6 boys named: Mick, Keef, Brian, Bill, Charlie, and Ian played together for the first time. Ian, "the 6th stone", was shortly thereafter booted, but became their road manager and piano player on some recordings. We'll go with this tune, in honor of the BEASTLY JACKSONVILLE defense.

Good luck. God bless. Stay warm. Enjoy the games.

 

 

Big D Breaks Free And Scores BIG

Editor's Note--Well, that was more like the Big Man's usual ways. 3-1 record. Making picks like he had tomorrow's newspaper today. And what do we have here? Morrrrrrre playoffs?!? Geez Louise! The games go Saturday and Sunday. La-di-daaaa! He's got action both days. Oh, a lock of the year?!!!!? Yep. Who is He? Well, let's just say if you don't know that, you aint been gettin out much.....Take it awayyyyyy--R.B.

The JAGUARS and Bills played too good on the defensive end which cost us our perfect long weekend. But 3-1 DOES pay the debts. We got  more winners for Divisional Playoff Weekend. And here they go......

Speaking of the defensive end, something is happening with the Hotlanta Falcons defense. And by happenin? We mean good. First, smashing up Cam Newton, and then punching the LA Rams in the gut. In LA! Now they get backup Nick Foles and the Iggles. Not so sure we can make a living layin points on the road in the playoffs, so we won't try. BUT, we do know it's going to be a little chilly and windy, and Philly knows they won't be able to go back and forth scoring with the Dirty Birds, if they are to win this one. Atlanta UNDER a ton this year. The NFC lock of the year? Oh yes it is baby! UNDER 41.5!! again in Philthydelphia......

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, (yes they have a fine sports section) there's a case to be made that the 2017 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS have the #1 ranked defense.....OF ALL TIME! Yep. Those JAGUARS. 1985 Bears got nuthin on them. Let's see now. The last time the JAGWIRRRRRRES were in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, they won 30-9. Big Ben threw a personal record 5 (FIVE) picks. We don't know if JAGS GM Tom Coughlin follows the pointspread markets, but he made a private speech this week to the team. We'll go with him saying something like......"LISTEN......Vegas has you as 7.5 point UNDERDOGS. They think you stink. Now you can show them you stink or you can break that #7 fellow in yellow in half. Literally.....Thank you...." Um, run, don't walk to the windows. JAX+7.5, and if you wanna bet em on the money line at 2.75-1 to win outright? We aint a stoppin you.

Finally, yes Minnesota plays in a dome, so the saying goes "weather is not a factor". Many folks think this is excellent news for visiting Drew Brees and the Saints. Well, before you get too cocky, the weather has not been a factor in ALL of the Vikes home games. Wanna take a guess how many points they give up on average per home game? 12.5. And we dunno about you, but we think 12.5 is a long, loooooooooong way from 45.5. The Case Keenum story has been nice to follow, but what people NEEEEEEEEED to follow is how nasty the Vikings defense is. A nice conservative game plan on offense for Minnesota, and a smashmouth defense equals another UNDER.

So the happy "only 6 more games till the Super Bowl" recap:

Saturday: NFC LOCK OF THE YEAR UNDER 41.5 Atlanta/Philadelphia, Sunday: JACKSONVILLE+7.5 @ pittsburgh, UNDER 45.5 New Orleans/Minnesota.

Best of luck. God bless. Stay warm and enjoy.

Speaking of enjoy, perhaps one of the most famous live albums was produced on today's date, 50 years ago. It marked a nice career resurgence for our old friend John, who had fallen on some tough times right before this. Richie, used to use the line "Hello....I'm Richie B" in the same voice as this cat, to start this tune. And if you don't think Richie B and we will be drinkin "coffee" and smokin  BIG cigars this weekend, you are sorely mistaken. Take it away John......And a happy 50th anniversary to this moment.

 

 

Playoffs? Playoffs?!? Oh Yes, Exclaims Big D!

Editor's Note--First there's this

 

And this

 

Our sentiments exactly.....well kind of. Anyway, there's some Major games this weekend and Monday too. Major games = MAJOR WAGERS! Let's talk to the fella that knows all about practice and playoffs.....Big D!

Well, Richie, a not so thrilling last weekend when only 1 of our neeeeeeeeeeed games came in, out of 3. And everyone neeeeeds this weekend, so we won't be using that angle. What we will be using? The totals......

We really like how this Kansas City DEFENSE has been coming around this last 4 weeks. All Chief victories too. Mariotta for the Titans willl find it a bit LOUD in Arrowhead. And windy. Kansas City probably pulls it off but that spread might be a little too high. You know what also is too high? The total. UNDER 44.5 under the lights in KC.

A lot of folks have been down on the Jagwirrrrrres all year. Welp, theyre hosting a playoff game. Not too many teams are doing that now are they? Congrats to the Bills for making the playoffs for the 1st time in almost 20 years. But there's always drama of some sort when the Bills make the playoffs. People also like yappin about how good Jacksonville's defense is. And it is. But the oddsmaker also thinks so cause she put the line at 39.5. We also think the weatherwoman contributed to this. What with all the videos of snow in North Florida for the first time in 30 years?!? On Sunday it's going to be a "chilly" 58 and sunny. Does that sound like perfect football weather to you? Us too. OVER.

We like that Cam Newton looked like Nate Newton (for you youngsters, Nate was a HUGE offensive lineman back when the Cowboys had a good team, and by YUGE, we mean like 400lbs.), last week throwing the ball, and getting beat up in hotlanta. Why do we like that? Cause Nate....er, Cam, usually bounces back the next week from travesties like that. Not sure they can cover the spread, cause the last of the big time gunslingers plays for N'Awlins. Mr. Brees is having a bang up year. We are also aware that it is difficult to beat a team 3 times in a season. We got a feeling this becomes a wildly entertaining final game to wild card weekend. The total looks low, no? 48.5 OVER.

And finally, in the College Championship game in Atlanta? We got beat last week going agin (southern technical term meaning against) Bama. People are yappin (lotta yappin this week all over the place) that Bama dominated Clemson. Ahhhh it was 10-6 late in the 3rd, and then some trickeration occurred to make it a 24-6 final. Now that's good defense sure. BUT, JO-JAH (another Southern technical term meaning Georgia) has 2 (TWO!) 1000 plus yard rushers and a fancy Wide Receiver or two. Yes, defense wins championships and JO-JAHs will have to play better to win, but those 4 points look awfully inviting. Besides, the President of the Free World is going to the game! He will demand a close finish! Points are always good in a close game. Take!

So the happy wild card and championship recap: Saturday: UNDER 44.5 Kc/Tenn, Sunday: OVER 39.5 Jax/Buff, OVER 48.5 NO/Car, Monday: GEORGIA+3.5 vs Alabama....

And since most of our games are taking place in the South? How about some good ol Southern Rock!

Good luck and god bless.