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

THE INTRO

I’ve joined the ranks of Brett Favre and Roger Clemens.

Not in prestige, inevitable hall of fame bid, or anything like that.

Simply in my contemplating retirement and NOT walking away.

Thanks to those of you who took the time out of your mornings and afternoons to write messages of support to me. Really made me realize how many people are still reading and enjoying, and has totally given me a second wind.

To those of you that didn’t write, well, sorry to say your email boxes are going to keep getting filled with this garbage.

So to business; we’re at that time of year again where the way I eat for the other 364 days, which is usually considered disgusting, gluttonous, and out of control, is somehow NORMAL and ENCOURAGED on this day. For this merry holiday, I’m not the fat guy that is eating way too much; I’m a hero.

Last I checked, Vegas had the over/under on how much weight I would gain today at 8.5 pounds. Bet the OVER hard; this total is embarrassingly low and really insults my ability to pack it away.

So as you enjoy the football (especially USC/ASU!) this Thanksgiving, make sure you eat as much as you possibly can. It is nice to see I’m not the only one for a change!

(This issue only has my picks for the 3 games on Thursday. I will send out the rest of my picks along with the usual layout on Saturday night/Sunday morning.)

THURSDAY’S PICKS
* – Indicates Upset Pick
^ – Indicates Zen Pick

Green Bay 9 – 1 (-3.0) @ Detroit 6 – 4 (+3.0)
Sorry Kitna. Everyone was buying into the whole 10 win thing for a while there, but it seems that when you play team with talent, you fold.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Green Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Green Bay

New York Jets 2 – 8 (+14.5) @ Dallas 9 – 1 (-14.5)
It may surprise some people to know that the Jets have not lost a game by 14+ points since week 1 against the Patriots. Even though they have been losing, they have kept games close. Since the QB change they have been playing better and have been staying in games, as was seen last week when they beat Pittsburgh. Dallas is on a short week after 3 straight divisional games, so they will be tired. They are probably also looking ahead to next week’s match up against Green Bay. Upset written all over it. My record be damned, if I pull this pick off, I’ll consider this a good football season.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^*New York Jets
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *New York Jets

Indianapolis 8 – 2 (-12.0) @ Atlanta 3 – 7 (+12.0)
Indianapolis’s struggles and Atlanta plays well, yet the spread is still 12 points. What does that tell you? Atlanta may look tempting to some, but an AFC powerhouse (injury-plagued or not) is not going into a bottom-rung NFC team’s house and keeping it close.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Indianapolis

THE COLLEGE NICKEL

RECORD: 39 – 40 – 0 (.494)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8YY5_NsJ38

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Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?
Love the Dime? Hate it? Should I cut it down to a nickel?
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Dave’s Dime
“Because Two Cents Just Isn’t Enough”

THE INTRO

Hey everyone, sorry I’ve got to keep it very, very short this week.

Had an awesome time in Vegas. Fortunately me and my girl were able to stay sober enough for the entire trip NOT to wake up married one of the mornings we were there. Then again, when her drink of choice is virgin daiquiris, I guess we were never in danger of getting her drunk, were we?

In any case, I return from Vegas and immediately restart my ongoing bout with uvulitis. Uvulitis (prepare to be grossed out here) is this random occurrence where your uvula (the dangly thing in the back of your throat) swells up to 3 to 5 times its normal size. This not only hurts, but also creates a sensation where you can’t really swallow, and you are kind of choking on your own throat. This condition just started popping up on me every now and then for the past few months, only for a day or two each time.

Too much irrelevant information you say? Maybe. But it is going somewhere…

After a painful Friday of uvulitis, I started my new job at Hollywood Park Casino on Saturday. I essentially just get paid to play cards all day. Very cool. However, after a very long week with very little sleep (and my one day to rest conquered by an engorged uvula), I am WAY too tired to stay up all night doing the Dime the proper way tonight. I know many of you read for my commentary more than my picks, but sadly I’ll just be stringing off one liners this week; I need to pass out for a few hours.

Please understand, and more importantly, please don’t take your well-behaving uvulas for granted.

THE RECORD

Last Week
With the spread: 9 – 7 – 0 (.563)
Without the spread: 10 – 6 – 0 (.625)
^^Zen Picks^^: 1 – 1 – 0 (.500)
**Outright Upsets**: 1 – 3 – 0 (.250)

Season
With the spread: 79 – 88 – 9 (.473)
Without the spread: 104 – 72 – 0 (.591)
^^Zen Picks^^: 10 – 4 – 2 (.714)
**Outright Upsets**: 16 – 31 – 0 (.340)

THE PICKS
* – Indicates Upset Pick
^ – Indicates Zen Pick

THURSDAY

Green Bay (+7.0) @ Dallas (-7.0)
Picked Dallas to win comfortably… didn’t know they needed Favre out to cover.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Dallas (WIN)
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Dallas (WIN)

SUNDAY

Atlanta (+3.0) @ St. Louis (-3.0)
Two very, very bad teams. St. Louis -3 looks about right, so I’ll take them at home.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: St. Louis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: St. Louis

Buffalo (+6.0) @ Washington (-6.0)
Who cares? Washington wins by a late field goal.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Buffalo
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Washington

Detroit (+4.0) @ Minnesota (-4.0)
So Minnesota has a great game against the Giants and now they can stop the pass? I’ll need to see it more than once to believe it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Detroit
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Detroit

Houston (+3.5) @ Tennessee (-3.5)
Tennessee has just disappointed me too much over the last few weeks, I’ve gotta go with the Texans here.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Houston
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Houston

Jacksonville (+7.0) @ Indianapolis (-7.0)
Jacksonville’s defense and mistake-free play earn them the upset in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Jacksonville
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Jacksonville

N.Y. Jets (+1.5) @ Miami (-1.5)
When a spread looks very wrong, Vegas knows something you don’t.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: ^Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Miami

San Diego (-6.0) @ Kansas City (+6.0)
San Diego should be able to contain Kansas City’s hurting offense with little difficulty.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: San Diego
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego

Seattle (+3.0) @ Philadelphia (-3.0)
I think Philly left it all on the field last week, and are due for a let down today.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Seattle
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Seattle

San Francisco (+3.0) @ Carolina (-3.0)
Can’t pick San Francisco… just can’t.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Carolina
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Carolina

Cleveland (+1.0) @ Arizona (-1.0)
After the way Arizona blew the game last week, it is hard for me to pick them over the lovable Browns this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: *Cleveland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Cleveland

Denver (-3.5) @ Oakland (+3.5)
An Oakland upset wouldn’t totally surprise me… but that doesn’t mean I’m picking it.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Denver
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Denver

N.Y. Giants (-2.0) @ Chicago (+2.0)
I’ll assume last game was just a hiccup, and the Giants handle the Bears easily this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: New York Giants
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New York Giants

Tampa Bay (+3.5) @ New Orleans (-3.5)
Tampa Bay will find a way to beat the love-to-lose Saints in this one.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Tampa Bay
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Tampa Bay

Cincinnati (+7.0) @ Pittsburgh (-7.0)
No idea what to expect from these two teams anymore… but I’ll assume the Steelers right the ship this week.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh

MONDAY

New England (-20.0) @ Baltimore (+20.0)
So they looked human Monday night. Does that mean Baltimore stands a chance? Absolutely not.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: New England
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New England

THE COLLEGE NICKEL

RECORD: 44 – 47 – 0 (.484)

5 picks from Saturday, view them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtWQGv9oCP0

1. Troy -15.5 over Florida Atlantic (LOSS)
2. BYU -16.0 over San Diego State (WIN)
3. Oregon State -1.0 over Oregon (WIN)
4. Hawaii -13.5 over Washington (LOSS)
5. Hawaii/Washington OVER 74 (LOSS)

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Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?
Love the Dime? Hate it? Should I cut it down to a nickel?
SEND ME FEEDBACK