Search
Related Links




 

 

Informative Articles

A Golfer's Diet
GOLO GOLF GRUB Fuel for the golfer. “A good diet can not make an average athlete great, but a poor diet can make a great athlete average.” -David Costill, Ball State University, Indiana Golf is a lifetime sport that both men and women of all...

My Top 10 Baseball Coaching Tips
If you are new to the game search out veteran coaches and ask for coaching tips. Find websites like this one that will teach you the fundamentals. What ever you do, always look for new ways to reach your players. Times are different then when I...

The Origin Of Pocket Bikes
The concept of pocket bikes also known as mini bikes, mini motos, or mini motorcycles) began years ago in Japan, a country known for miniaturizing full-scale products. As crude mockups of the first pocket bikes were developed and ridden, a brand...

The Perfect Golf Vacation – Expertly Designed By….You
"What If You Could... Have the perfect group golf vacation, save money and have a sensational time setting it up?" You’ve waited all year to get together with your friends for your annual golf vacation. It was supposed to be perfect, but you...

you may not need satellite TV
Satellite Dish companies are stepping up the war for new customers on the airwaves and the cable companies are answering with their own advertising campaigns. It seems like we are bombarded every day with advertisements from the television...

 
Bears the Bell of the Bowl

Las Vegas bookmakers say Indianapolis and New England remain the teams to beat in Super Bowl XL, but bettors love Lovie and his marauding Chicago Bears.

"We have a good price on the Bears (6 1/2 to 1 to win the NFC) and we're getting a lot of action on them," said Stewart Kramer, a supervisor at the Stardust Race and Sports Book. "A lot."

"Chicago teams traditionally draw well in the futures and the Bears are no exception," said Palms Race and Sports Director Richie Baccellieri. "Right now we have more futures tickets on them than anyone but New England, the defending champs."

The Bears, who are in their third season under Coach Lovie Smith, have a bye this weekend, along with Seattle, Indianapolis and Denver.

The Palms currently lists Chicago at 3/1 to win the NFC and 9/1 to cop the Super Bowl, which will be played at Detroit's Ford Field on Feb. 6.

The Bears are 4/1 to capture the NFC and 10/1 to take the Super Bowl at Wynn Las Vegas, according to John Avello, one of Sports Director Vinny Margulies' top aides.

"The NFC is wide open," Avello said. "It's anybody's (title) to win or lose. We're seeing a lot of Bears money, even at a low price.

"Chicago's had a great season."

Baccellieri points out he normally dislikes siding with favorites, but it's hard to go against Seattle to win the NFC.

"They have the home-field advantage and I think those folks up in Seattle will be ready," he said.

"The other teams are kind of marginal, but the Bears are the best of the rest."

Baccellieri and Avello believe


Indy is still the top team in pro football, despite their two late-season losses.

"You can throw out those late (Colts') losses," Baccellieri said. "When the chips are down, Indy will be there. They have the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the Super Bowl is being played in a dome."

The Palms has Indy at minus $1.25 (4/5) to nab the NFL's mid-winter extravaganza.

Avello, a dean of Sin City bookmakers who was at Bally's/Paris for years until moving to Wynn last summer, pretty much echoed Baccellieri's sentiments.

"They have to play two games at home to get there, then the Super Bowl's in a dome," Avello said.

"My only questions are if they'll be hurt by the time off and how they'll be affected by the (Coach Tony) Dungy thing (his son's pre-Christmas suicide).

"They're the best team."

Kramer says the Pats are Super Bowl champs until someone dethrones them.

"They've been there before and they're playing well at the right time," he declared.

Most books reported minimal line moves on this weekend's wild card games, but the Stardust's Kramer noted a major one.

"We've had one big switch," he said.

"We opened the Bengals at minus 2 1/2 and we're now at Steelers minus 3. We've had a lot of action on that game.

"Otherwise, it's been mostly two-way."

About the author:

Lynda Collins is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of her articles at www.procappers .com/Lynda_Collins.htm

Sign up for PayPal and start accepting credit card payments instantly.