– Chris Gianinni
Gamblers: this country exists because of gamblers. When Christopher Columbus set sail for India he stumbled on what is now known as the Americas. He made gamble. He took a calculated risk that was the wrong choice but still paid off in the end. We call that a “back-door cover” and it will often times send you into a state of shock and cause you to question all of your beliefs! When Sam Adams and John Hancock rallied the colonies to start the American Revolution, they took a gamble. This is the “long shot.” They had no chance. They were out numbered and out gunned. Without the perfect circumstance of Britain trying to fight multiple wars and the American Colonies gaining support from Britain’s other enemies across the pond we would all be drinking tea and bowing to the Queen. And when President Harry S. Truman ordered the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima that was the closest scenario I could find that was a “sure thing.” It had to be looked at from every angle. The collateral damage had to be assessed carefully. But at the end of the day every answer came up the same. This will end the war! If you are looking for a “sure thing,” proceed with extreme caution for in sports, as in life, nothing is certain.
Watching sports and playing games of chance are similar in their nature. People are emotionally attached to the outcome and with every move the momentum takes a different turn. Combining man’s already obsessive passion for sports with the thrill of wagering has made it even more intense. It doesn’t matter if you play for a few dollars or wager fortunes, the individual act of making a pick and having the outcome actually matter affects how you feel while watching the game. It will intensify every play. The emotions involved sometimes come to a level where it is unhealthy (I’ve been there). But I enjoy doing it. It is my hobby. Like most hobbies, it has cost me money over the years. Unlike most hobbies, there have been several years where it has made me money. I don’t do it for profit. I don’t do it with the intentions of making a living. I do it for the gamble. The old saying, “money won is better than money earned,” is how I live! And taking a few dollars off a good friend is even better. With that these are my season-long NFL picks.
Season total wins (over/under)
Chris’s picks
Arizona Cardinals (9.5) Over
Baltimore Ravens (8.5) Under
Jacksonville Jaguars (7.5) Over
Pittsburgh Steelers (10.5) Under
Dallas Cowboys (9.5) Under
Philadelphia Eagles (7) Under
Gary’s picks
Chicago Bears (7.5) Over
Baltimore Ravens (8.5) Under
Green Bay Packers (10.5) Over
Oakland Raiders (8.5) Over
Tennessee Titans (5.5) Over
Buffalo Bills (8) Under
Division Winners and Wild Card teams
Chris’s picks
AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Wild Card: Oakland Raiders
AFC Wild Card: Denver Broncos
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: Carolina Panthers
NFC East: New York Giants
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
NFC Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks
NFC Wild Card: Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl Matchup
AFC: New England Patriots
NFC: Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl Champ: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Gary’s picks
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC West: Oakland Raiders
AFC Wild Card: Cincinnati Bengals
AFC Wild Card: Kansas City Chiefs
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: Carolina Panthers
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
NFC Wild Card: Minnesota Vikings
NFC Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl Matchup
AFC Champ: Green Bay Packers
NFC Champ: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Champ: Pittsburgh Steelers
