Dave’s Dime
“Because Two Cents Just Isn’t Enough”

*Sorry for the late Dime, I am sending this out having not seen a single score; Yesterday was exhausting, I had to get some sleep and then finish up the Dime this morning. Enjoy!

THE INTRO

What a day yesterday was! Well, lame ending. Started off strong with a massive Trojan victory. Carried over into the Kings game that I went to, where the Kings won 5 – 2. Was supposed to end the night with a big party, but unfortunatly, the party was too big for its own good, and there wasn’t nearly enough room to fit inside the place. (Too bad you’re so popular, Shruti. Happy birthday!) So, I report to you still on a bit of a high from yesterday, as 2 out of 3 certainly isn’t bad.

Well, I strung together my second straight winning week, and dominated on money picks to put myself at .500 on the season, meaning those of you betting on my picks (0 of you, I hope) have now broken even! As for overall with the spread, I am just one off of being .500 there as well. Lets see if I can pull it off this week!

Quote of the week: “take me off your list. you are completely ordinary at sports betting. I can and do much better than you.” – (Unhappy recipient)

– Its too bad, I’m just starting towin, too. But then again, he can and does much better than me, so perhaps I should just accept that. On the bright side, at least I recieved some feedback.

Not too much to report in the Trojan’s section… we completely crushed Washington State, and with Texas having some trouble against Oklahoma State, I certainly hope that the BCS computers can un-screwup the NCAA pecking order and put us back at #1 where we belong. Until we are beaten for it, that spot is rightfully ours.

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 8 – 6 – 0 (.571)
Without the spread: 9 – 5 – 0 (.643)
$$Money Picks$$: 4 – 1 – 0 (.800)
^^Zen Picks^^: 2 – 1 – 0 (.666)

Season
With the spread: 50 – 51 – 1 (.495)
Without the spread: 60 – 42 – 0 (.588)
$$Money Picks$$: 9 – 9 – 1 (.500)
^^Zen Picks^^: 6 – 1 – 0 (.857)

LAST WEEK’S RECAP OF DAVE’S BRILLIANCE AND FOOLISHNESS
(Usually Foolishness)

Kansas City 30 4 – 2 (-2.0) @ Miami 20 2 – 4 (+2.0)
No suprises here at all. Unless you haven’t followed football for a decade and think Dan Marino is still QBing for the Dolphins. Then I guess it would be a bit of a suprise.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – $Kansas City
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Kansas City

Detroit 13 2 – 3 (+2.0) @ Cleveland 10 2 – 3 (-2.0)
Jeff Garcia’s heroics not only win Detroit the game, but just may give them a much needed boost into their next 10 games (then again, this IS Cleveland…)
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – *Detroit
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – *Detroit

Indianapolis 38 6 – 0 (-14.5) @ Houston 20 0 – 5 (+14.5)
Houston came ever so close, but Peyton and the gang say “Zen be damned” as they cruise into their bye week undefeated.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – ^*Houston
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Indianapolis

New Orleans 17 2 – 4 (+3.0) @ St. Louis 28 2 – 4 (-3.0)
The New Orleans Saints are useless regardless of whos in or whos out. They continue to plague me, and I pray that they fire their head coach soon (of course, rumor has it he may be the Raider’s next head coach, so on second thought… keep him.)
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – *New Orleans
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – *New Orleans

Pittsburgh 27 3 -2 (+2.5) @ Cincinnati 13 5 – 1 (-2.5)
“Cincinnati is the real deal this year. They are strong on both sides of the ball, they make the fewest turnovers and force the most turnovers. They are one mistake away (against Jacksonville) from being 6 – 0. They take this one in Cinci.” No, they don’t. In fact, they don’t even come close.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – Cincinnati
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – Cincinnati

San Diego 17 3 – 3 (+4.0) @ Philadelphia 20 3 – 2 (-4.0)
A blocked FG away from being right on both counts, but honestly, I’ll take the San Diego loss and the spread win any day of the week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – $*San Diego
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – *San Diego

San Francisco 17 1 – 4 (+11.5) @ Washington 52 3 – 2 (-11.5)
“San Fransisco ALWAYS gets blown out, and Washington never blows anyone out. So, which trend gives first? I say its Washington’s. They are a far superior team, at home, and they shouldn’t have too big of a problem putting up a 14 or 21 point lead and holding it.” – Right on!
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – Washington
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Washington

Dallas 10 4 – 2 (+3.5) @ Seattle 13 4 – 2 (-3.5)
It took a Bledsoe blunder for the Seahawks to win here, but they do. Unfortunately for me, they didn’t bother with the spread.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Seattle

Baltimore 6 2 – 3 (+1.0) @ Chicago 10 2 – 3 (-1.0)
“Chicago’s playing its second straight home game against its second straight lousy opponent. Everything adds up to a Bears victory here – but then, I’m picking them, and that throws the equation off.” – Apparently it doesn’t. Well done, Dave.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – $Chicago
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Chicago

Denver 23 5 – 1 @ N.Y. Giants 24 3 – 2 (Pick’em)
2nd straight week I’m one point on the wrong side of a pick’em. My only money pick loss of the week, but any time the Denver Broncos lose, its a moral victory for me regardless of who I picked. On a side note, Eli and the Giants are perhaps stronger than what I give them credit for.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – $Denver
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – Denver

Tennessee 10 2 – 4 (+3.0) @ Arizona 20 1 – 4 (-3.0)
Guess Vegas knew something I didn’t… Arizona takes it in a snooze-fest.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: LOSS – *Tennessee
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: LOSS – *Tennessee

N.Y. Jets 14 2 – 4 (+7.0) @ Atlanta 27 4 – 2 (-7.0)
Vick completes only 11 of 26 passes thrown, for only 116 yards, no TDs, and 3 interceptions. On the ground, with the exception of one 16 yard run, he otherwise rushes a total of 2 yards on 8 attempts. And, the Falcons cover the spread. Woe is the New York Jets.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – Atlanta
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Atlanta

DAMN, I’M GOOD

Green Bay 20 1 – 4 (-1.0) @ Minnesota 23 1 – 4 (+1.0)
“When one team is coming off getting beaten in a blowout is facing a team that just blew their opponent out, always take the team that was blown out last week. They, after all, have more to prove this week, and can catch their over-confident opponents offguard. So says the book of Zen. GB wins 52 – 3, Minnesota loses 28 – 3. So, I take the often-leave-much-to-be-desired Vikings in this one.”
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – ^*Minnesota
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – ^*Minnesota
– According to the ESPN online poll, 82.1% of voters picked Green Bay to win this game. Hey voters – YOU LOSE.

Buffalo 17 3 – 3 (+3.0) @ Oakland 38 1 – 4 (-3.0)
This pick will confuse you – I had to talk myself OUT of picking Buffalo. That’s right. After the San Diego mistake, I was convinced not to do the same again. I checked the numbers, and it turns out that Buffalo has the worst running defense in the league. No Randy Moss, the Raiders should do a nice bit of running this Sunday. They should also be able to stop Buffalo’s weak offense. And the records of the teams are no indication; Buffalo’s wins were against the Jets (2 – 4), the Dolphins (2 – 4), and the Texans (0 – 5). The Raiders have played 5 games this season, none against an opponent under .500. Also take into consideration the zen rule of weird looking spreads; why would a 1 – 4 team be favored against a 3 – 3 team? They are not as bad as their record says they are, and they will get the win here.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: WIN – $^Oakland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: WIN – Oakland
– I was right on all counts here – Raiders dominated on the ground and on defense.

THE PICKS

* – Indicates Upset Pick
$ – Indicates Money Pick
^ – Indicates Zen Pick

Arizona 2 – 4 (+7.5) @ Dallas 4 – 3 (-7.5)
Dallas has had an awfully tough string of games, facing Oakland, Philidelphia, NY Giants, and Seattle. Now, comfortably back at home against a weak team, I think they are definitely going to cover the spread and take care of the Cardinals handily.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Dallas
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Dallas

Chicago 3 – 3 (+3.0) @ Detroit 3 – 3 (-3.0)
This pick makes me really uncomfortable – both teams usually cover the spread, but neither does so convincingly very often. I’m going to take Detroit, because I think with Jeff Garcia leading them they are the slightly better team. Plus, they are at home. But, I wouldn’t bet too much more than a nickel on this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Detroit
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Detroit

Cleveland 2 – 4 @ Houston 0 – 6 (Pick’em)
The numbers add up in Cleveland’s favor, but when your dealing with the worst team in the league, the numbers will always add up against them. This is Houston’s 3rd game at home in 4 weeks, and this crowd and city is just itching for a win. I think they are going to come out with the same intensity that they did against the Colts, and considering that the Browns are about 10 times weaker, actually pull off their first win here.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Houston
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Houston

Green Bay 1 – 5 (+7.5) @ Cincinnati 5 – 2 (-7.5)
Cincinnati is not going to be upset again – at least, I hope not. At home again, they should definitely be able to get the win against a reeling Green Bay team. I don’t think it is going to be a blowout, though – I will take the touchdown spread.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Green Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Cincinnati

Jacksonville 4 – 2 (-3.0) @ St. Louis 3 – 4 (+3.0)
Jacksonville is the better team on both sides of the ball, and should DEFINITELY get the win in St. Louis. The only reason I’m not making them a money pick is because the damn Rams always seem to find a way to win at home, and I don’t trust Jacksonville enough to make sure that possibility doesn’t come true
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Jacksonville
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Jacksonville

Minnesota 2 – 4 (+7.0) @ Carolina 4 – 2 (-7.0)
WWZD? Or, what would ZEN do? Dave would pick the Vikings with the TD to cover the spread, coming off that awesome game last Sunday. But this isn’t Green Bay, and this isn’t at home. Carolina is a much better team than the Vikings, and whether I like them or not, they are probably going to lose this game convincingly.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^Carolina
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Carolina

Oakland 2 – 4 (-2.0) @ Tennessee 2 – 5 (+2.0)
Tennessee Titan’s Coach Jeff Fisher referred to the Raiders as the “Best 2 – 4 team I’ve seen in 10 years”. While I don’t have an elaborate enough knowledge of 2 – 4 teams to tell you whether or not that statement is true, I can tell you that the Raiders are a better team than the Titans. The passing games should be plentiful, and LaMont Jordon should have another strong week to start a (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) Raider’s winning streak.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $Oakland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Oakland

Washington 4 – 2 (+3.0) @ N.Y. Giants 4 – 2 (-3.0)
This is a very tough game to pick, as both these teams always seem to not only win the game, but cover the spread while they are at it. Interestingly enough, I’m changing my pick at the last minute to the Redskins. It should be a battle in the air all day, as the Giants have an excellent passing offense as well as the worst passing defense in the league. The deciding factor here should be Clinton Portis, who should tip the scales enough for a Washington victory.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^*Washington
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Washington

Kansas City 4 – 2 (+4.5) @ San Diego 3 – 4 (-4.5)
San Diego is coming off an absolute heartbreaker in Philidelphia… LaDanian Tomlinson was rendered completely useless for the first time in ages. In front of the home crowd, San Diego has a ton to prove today. The numbers don’t matter – San Diego needs to just come out and pound the Chiefs. And I assume they will.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^San Diego
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego

Miami 2 – 4 (+2.0) @ New Orleans 2 – 5 (-2.0)
Two of the most useless teams in the NFL, I’ll take the Dolphins, simply because every time I take New Orleans, they lose. Then again, every time I take the other team, they win. Did I mention the Dolphin’s numbers add up to victory? Wonder if that will make any difference in my weekly cursed game.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Miami

Philadelphia 4 – 2 (+3.0) @ Denver 5 – 2 (-3.0)
I was getting ready to type Denver into the box, as they are at home and always win at home. But I stopped and looked at the numbers, and I do not see anything that suggests that the Broncos can stop the Eagles’ passing game. The Eagles have a great run defense, so they could very well hold Denver’s rushing yards down. This could be the beginning of the Broncos’ yearly slide, and I’m going to go against my original instinct and say that it will be.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^*Philidelphia
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Philidelphia

Tampa Bay 5 – 1 (-10.0) @ San Francisco 1 – 5 (+10.0)
One of the true suprises this year has been the wild success of this young Buccaneer team, who should be undefeated, but slipped up against the ailing Jets. No matter, everyone has a bad game (besides the Colts, maybe), and the Bucs got theirs out of the way. San Fransisco’s streak as a punching bag should continue through this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $Tampa Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Tampa Bay

Buffalo 3 – 4 (+7.0) @ New England 3 – 3 (-7.0)
New England isn’t the team it used to be. They aren’t a sure thing every week anymore. This week’s matchup is just what the doctor ordered. The league’s worst passing game, and one of the league’s worst road teams. Not to mention, team leader Tedy Bruschi’s returning to the football field from last year’s supposedly career-ending stroke. If that can’t get you pumped up in your own stadium against an awful team, you must not have a pulse.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: $New England
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New England

Baltimore 2 – 4 (+8.5) @ Pittsburgh 4 – 2 (-8.5)
8.5 seems like an awfully large number of points to give up. But, Baltimore is really a complete bust this year. The only way they can make it a game is if they get Jamal Lewis back in form, and thats not going to happen against the Steelers. I guess I’ll take the blowout.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh

Some rediculously high spreads this week… should be interesting.

PLAYOFF BASEBALL COMMENTS

WORLD SERIES 2005 CHAMPIONS:
CHICAGO WHITE SOX OVER HOUSTON ASTROS IN 4
What can I say? Have to give credit where it is due. The White Sox came out and played four great games of baseball, and did just enough to win each one of them. After the Yankees dominated the late 90s (Series winners in 96, 98, 99, and 2000), baseball has taken a turn towards the underdogs – perhaps crediting the league for its diversity, as “anyone can win” becomes a reality. We’ve seen first timers Arizona Diamondbacks (01) and Anaheim Angels (02), and two long streaks snapped by the Boston Red Sox (86 years, 04) and now the White Sox (87 years, 05). What magic is in store for us next year? The only sure thing is my dominance in fantasy baseball (champion 5 years running, now).

KINGS HOCKEY

Eh, might as well make this a weekly staple. Has nothing to do with football and is bound to be skipped by 94% of my readers, but to those loyal 6%, keep up the good work! Hypothetical question for those of you that don’t follow hockey;

You have two goalies, Goalie A and Goalie B. When Goalie A starts the game, you have won 2 games and lost 4, and you have been outscored 19 to 23 (-4 differential). When Goalie B starts, you have won 6 games and lost 0, and you have outscored your opponents 24 to 9 (+15 differential). You have a choice to make, who do you want to start, Goalie A or Goalie B?

Actually, thats not hypothetical. That is the true story of the Kings right now. “A” is Mathieu Garon, “B” is Jason LaBarbara. Seems like common sense that they start LaBarbara, doesn’t it? Well, hopefully Kings Coach Andy Murray makes the connection and starts keeping LaBarbara in net. Only time will tell.

The Stats (Thank you Brian):
LaBarbara: 6 – 1, 1.70 GAA, .938 Save Percentage
Garon: 2 – 3, 3.43 GAA, .869 Save Percentage
Enjoy your Sunday, Halloween, and the rest of your week! Love it? Hate it? Please send feedback! For past issues of the DIME, visit my website: Dave’s Dime

MY TEAMS RECORDS
OAKLAND RAIDERS: 2 – 4 – 0
USC TROJANS: 8 – 0 – 0
LOS ANGELES KINGS: 8 – 4 – 0

TROJAN OUTSCORING O-METER
Season:
TROJANS 398
OPPONENTS 164

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