SBJ returns with a rundown of what went right and wrong with last week’s prime time picks.

WEEK 12 HINDSIGHT REPORT

TNF

1pm EST

EAGLES @ LIONS – PFHP (2-1)

4pm EST

PANTHERS @ COWBOYS – PFP (3-0)

8pm EST

BEARS @ PACKERS – HDS (0-3)

————————————

1pm EST

SAINTS @ TEXANS – PFHC (1-2)

VIKINGS @ FALCONS – PDC (2-1)

RAMS @ BENGALS – PFC (2-1)

BUCS @ COLTS – HFS (0-3)

GMEN @ REDSKINS – HDS (0-3)

RAIDERS @ TITANS – P(PK)Push (2-0-1)

BILLS @ CHIEFS – PFHC (1-2)

DOLPHINS @ JETS – PFHP (2-1)

BOLTS @ JAGUARS – PFP (3-0)

1pm TOTALS

PUBLIC (13-13-1)

HOUSE (13-13-1)

————————————

4pm EST

CARDINALS @ NINERS – HDS (0-3)

STEELERS @ SEAHAWKS – HFC (1-2)

4pm TOTALS

PUBLIC (1-5)

HOUSE (5-1)

———————————–

1pm/4pm TOTALS

PUBLIC (14-18-1)

HOUSE (18-14-1)

———————————–

SNF

PATRIOTS @ BRONCOS – HDC (1-2)

———————————–

MNF

RAVENS @ BROWNS – PDP (3-0)

———————————–

WEEK 12 TOTALS

PUBLIC (23-24-1)

HOUSE (24-23-1)

PRIMETIME COMBOS

SIDE

WEEK 1 – HOUSE/HOUSE/HOUSE

WEEK 2 – PUBLIC/HOUSE

WEEK 3 – PUBLIC/PUBLIC

WEEK 4 – PUBLIC/HOUSE

WEEK 5 – HOUSE/HOUSE

WEEK 6 – HOUSE/HOUSE

WEEK 7 – PUBLIC/PUBLIC

WEEK 8 – HOUSE/HOUSE

WEEK 9 – PUBLIC/HOUSE

WEEK 10 – HOUSE/HOUSE

WEEK 11 – HOUSE/PUSH

WEEK 12 – HOUSE/PUBLIC

———————–

PRIMETIME COMBOS

TOTAL POINTS*

WEEK 1 – OVER/UNDER/UNDER

WEEK 2 – UNDER/UNDER

WEEK 3 – UNDER/OVER

WEEK 4 – UNDER/UNDER

WEEK 5 – OVER/UNDER

WEEK 6 – OVER/UNDER

WEEK 7 – UNDER/UNDER

WEEK 8 – UNDER/OVER

WEEK 9 – OVER/UNDER

WEEK 10 – OVER/UNDER

WEEK 11 – OVER/UNDER

WEEK 12 – OVER/OVER

*Public riding all overs

First off, I’m not even going to humor the outcome of that Broncos/Patriots game as a legitimate result.  If you want a perfect synopsis, and my exact emotional pulse on the situation, then I gladly refer you to the best sports podcaster in the game…the one…the only…William J. Simmons III.

I discovered this man’s unique sports writing style on ESPN’s Page 2 following Brady’s first Super Bowl win against the Goliath-like Rams.  Just as the great Tom Brady was born into our sports consciousness, so now had this sarcastic movie referencing sports encyclopedia been born into mine.  And from the place of my literal birth?!  What a find this was for me!

I remember his cinematic analogy describing the Ty Law interception as the equivalent of the Balboa haymaker that cut Drago in “Rocky IV”.  It was at that precise moment that I realized I had found my favorite sports writer.  I even remember where I was sitting when I read that column.  It was like the OJ verdict, Tiger’s ’97 Masters performance, or any number of profound events in my life where the sights and sounds of your surroundings become as significant as the focal point of the memory itself.

Not trying to get on a tangent, but I needed to finally pay tribute to what an influence this man has been in my life, and how his career has given me a blueprint to hopefully achieve some semblance of his incredible level of drive and success.  He’s one of the main reasons why I started contributing to this blog, and I just wanted that fact to be officially stated as part of my newfound writer’s public record.

So there you have it.  Without getting too sappy, if it’s not too late, I’m obviously a huge fan.  I’m so happy that he found a home at HBO, where his creativity will be fully appreciated, and not be hindered in the slightest by close minded executives.  He deserves the best, and I believe he will have finally found it there.

Anyway, just take a listen to this episode, because I co-sign with 100% of the officiating analysis.  The one thing you can say about Bill Simmons is that he’ll never pull a punch.  It’s his best feature, and I love him for it.

I obviously highly recommend subscribing to his podcast as well.  He has Rainman level memory when it comes to box scores.  If you told me he knew Ed Pinckney’s 1992 numbers, I wouldn’t even blink.  So glad he’s back.  He was missed.

PATRIOTS -2.5(-105) @ BRONCOS +2.5(-115)

OVER/UNDER: 43

The first Patriots possession after that Broncos score making it 21-14 was the moment when the Fix of the Year shifted into overdrive…literally as well.  I could just sense something was a mist from the get go.

I felt exactly like Pitt in “Fight Club” just getting repeatedly pummeled by Head Referee Tony Corrente and his crew of Vegas cronies.  Every outlandish shot thrown to extinguish my 3-0 night, just making me more helplessly delirious falling into an increasingly delusional state of sports betting hysterics.

(Corrente calls hands to the face on Vollmer starting Brady off at his own 10 yard line, with 1st and 20 to go.)

“HA! HA! HA!  Ah, Tone.  Come on, man.  We really like this bet.”

(Corrente calls holding on Jackson negating a backbreaking 52 yard gain ending at the Broncos 29 yard line.)

“HA! HA! HA! HA! HAAAA!”

(Corrente calls offensive pass interference on Gronkowski negating a first down, with close to five minutes left.)

“OH, YEAH!  YEAH!” 

(Corrente calls defensive holding on Chung negating a sack leaving Denver with a 3rd and Goal, from the 19 yard line, and granting them a 1st and Goal, from the 4 yard line.)

“HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!”

All those calls happened in the final quarter of the game, mind you.  That’s not four crucial suspect calls spread out over sixty minutes, ok?  That’s all transpiring within the last fifteen minutes.  It just doesn’t get any shadier than that.

It’s absolutely astounding to me that I was essentially 3-0 for the entire game, and then finished 0-3 all due to the officiating antics of the final two minutes.  This will go down as one of the biggest primetime fixes in my gambling lifetime.  It was so blatantly obvious that it’s impossible to take this 0-3 night seriously.  Honestly, I’ve never been prouder of an 0-3 night in my career.  I would have actually been embarrassed to have had Denver moneyline with that over.  I’m not even kidding you.

The high comedy subplot of the night was C.J Anderson actually thinking he’s good.  I thought it was adorable the way he shot me a wink at the end of his post game interview.  112 yards and 2 TDs.  Yup, that’s a heck of a night, C.J.  26 points in my league.  Well done, buddy.

Too bad that’s 31% of your output for the entire season so far.  83 points, hot shot.  That puts 36 runningbacks ahead of you.  For a guy drafted in most leagues as a first round pick, I’d start acting a little more like Barry Sanders instead of Deion Sanders when you get to the endzone, ok?  Going into that game you were behind Arian Foster.  He hasn’t played in five weeks for Christ’s sake.  Reel it in, Winkie.

RAVENS +6(-115) @ BROWNS -6(-105)

OVER/UNDER: 41

Faced with my first 1-5 performance this season, the gambling gods decided to cut me some slack and let me off the hook with another 2-4 week.  The only thing I predicted right, going into last week’s action, was that the public would definitely win a side bet, which only happened thanks to a miracle field goal block returned for a game winning touchdown.  I’ll take it, after that SNF screw job.

This is my first back-to-back losing weeks this year.  Plus, a PUBLIC/PUBLIC Primetime Over Combo?  That was a total slap in the face, with spit on it, just for some added insult to injury.  I’m definitely licking my wounds after these last two weeks.  I gotta come out guns blazing for this Sunday Nighter.  So, here is the gameplan.

After a Primetime Combo double over, and the SNF game having gone over for a month straight, I am going under without question.  This SNF over nonsense won’t keep up.  It’s time to cash in on this under, now.  It’s not even Sunday afternoon, and we already have our first win.

This will be a redemption week for us.  I can feel it.  I’m going double under following a double over week.  We’ll be 1-1 at worst in the total points category, with a very possible 2-0.  Now, all we need is a solid side calling week, and we are back to our winning ways.  

See ya Sunday.