Gambling is all the rage these days. Better yet, gambling on professional and amateur sports is even more popular. Just look at what they're doing in Delaware to see how much people and legislative bodies love it.
While we're at it, can the Commonwealth get some table games?
But it doesn't even matter if the state of Delaware joins Nevada to make gambling on sports as legal as raw milk. The truth is people love gambling so much that they will do it illegally even when there are legal options available.
Imagine that... people will willingly break the law even when they don't have to. It's like running through a red light while staring at the little camera thingy they put up there to stop that kind of thing.
Generally speaking, breaking the law is a bad idea. However, gambling on sports seems to be one of those "victimless crime" things. I'm not sure if that is one of those oxymorons, like "jumbo shrimp," but maybe jailing gamblers is a lot like locking up Martha Stewart for insider trading. Does it really make us safer to have Martha off the streets? Really?
Anyway, people love betting on football games a lot. They even make up variations of normal gambling like that whole fantasy football bit. Ever play that? Man, people get nuts over it. Sometimes they even act like they really are a football coach and/or general manager when they talk about their fantasy football team(s). Hell, they even utilize lean muscle mass and brain power and express their feelings into words on web sites and books about how to be a really good fantasy football guy.
Yeah, I know!
So if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If you're looking for some help on betting on those football games this weekend, here's what I'd do if I were one of those dudes who actually does that sort of thing.
Ha! Isn't that a ringing endorsement? I won't bet my own money/gold/pelts/heirlooms on my advice, but dammit, you should.
Saturday games:
New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Cincinnati (minus-2½)
The Jets haven’t been to the playoffs in a really long time and both teams have quarterbacks from USC. The Jets’ QB, Mark Sanchez, is a rookie. That’s why Carson Palmer and the Bengals are the pick.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Dallas (minus-3½)
Certainly we’ve waxed on like crazy over this matchup all week, and the bottom line is it just doesn’t seem as if the Eagles have an answer for the Cowboys’ defense. Plus, this is a game that will take some crafty coaching acumen from Andy Reid—who believes he can come through?
Sunday games:
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
Pick: Baltimore (plus-3½)
Losing Wes Welker is a big deal for the Patriots. Plus, there has to be at least one upset... right?
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Arizona (pick ‘em)
The line indicates that the Packers should win, but I flipped a coin and it landed on Larry Fitzgerald.
Besides that, I don’t really know what I’m talking about.
Happy wagering!