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(DISCLAIMER: This game is for entertainment purposes only. No actual money is being wagered.)
As the owner of a long-running, mostly-functional website devoted to sports gambling, I get a lot of interesting email. One bit today had this headline:
Gronkowski pegs Bama as big underdog vs. Browns, gives Super Bowl pick
An active NFL player, with a history of outrageousness, handicaps an NFL team and makes a Super Bowl pick for a gambling website? I am intrigued.
In a Q&A session with Glenn Gronkowski, a former NFL fullback and three-year starter at Kansas State, he said that he would “make the Browns 21-point favorites” against Alabama. The middle brother of the Gronkowski family, Chris, took it one step further and said that Cleveland’s backups would be favored by two touchdowns over the Crimson Tide.
Well, there you go. They certainly are Gronkowskis, but probably not the ones that interest most sports fans.
As for the Browns vs. Tide debate, it seems to me you could settle this using video games. Alabama sends maybe a dozen players to the NFL each year, ranging from first-round draft picks to to bottom-rung practice squad players. Build a team out of them, and fill in the roster with even worse players (representing those not good enough to even get a training camp look), and let the computer play it out. Sounds like a job for Jon Bois.
And even that’s being optimistic, since college/pro comparisons underestimate the differences of age; any NFL lineman will dwarf almost any college lineman. So yeah, I’d probably take the Browns -21. And I’d certainly take the Browns backups -14, since the Browns’ backups aren’t much worse than their starters. That’s what makes them the Browns.
We move now from imaginary bets on imaginary football games to imaginary bets on real football games:
| Week | Wager | Result | Units | Result | Payoff |
| andrewpina | Texas Christian -21.5 points over Southern Methodist | TBD | 113.18 | TBD | 0.00 |
| andrewpina | South Florida +150.0 money line to beat Georgia Tech | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BrianMartin | South Florida +150.0 money line to beat Georgia Tech | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BrianMartin | Buffalo +175.0 money line to beat Temple | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BrianMartin | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BrianMartin | Pittsburgh +9.0 points over Penn State | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BullsOnParade96 | Temple -4.0 points over Buffalo | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BullsOnParade96 | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| carlzee | Hawaii -17.0 points over Rice | TBD | 40.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| carlzee | Texas Christian -21.5 points over Southern Methodist | TBD | 20.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| carlzee | Iowa State +155.0 money line to beat Iowa | TBD | 20.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| carlzee | Duke +3.5 points over Northwestern | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| carlzee | Buffalo +180.0 money line to beat Temple | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| dsidwell31 | Florida -13.5 points over Kentucky | TBD | 100.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| dsidwell31 | North Carolina -15.5 points over East Carolina | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Under 72.0 points in the Rice-Hawaii game | TBD | 15.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Over 62.5 points in the South Alabama-Oklahoma State game | TBD | 13.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | South Florida +3.5 points over Georgia Tech | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Michigan State -6.0 points over Arizona State | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Under 54.5 points in the Michigan State-Arizona State game | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Clemson -12.0 points over Texas A&M | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Texas A&M +13.0 points over Clemson | TBD | 9.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Under 56.5 points in the Penn State-Pittsburgh game | TBD | 9.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Nebraska -4.5 points over Colorado | TBD | 8.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-DOGG42 | Under 49.5 points in the Kentucky-Florida game | TBD | 8.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-DOGG42 | Michigan State -5.5 points over Arizona State | TBD | 8.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Temple -4.0 points over Buffalo | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-dogg42 | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| E-DOGG42 | South Carolina +10.5 points over Georgia | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| GaryStephen | Texas Christian -21.5 points over Southern Methodist | TBD | 75.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| GaryStephen | Cincinnati +100.0 money line to beat Miami (OH) | TBD | 75.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| GaryStephen | Washington State -34.0 points over San Jose State | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Florida -13.5 points over Kentucky | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Over 58.5 points in the Texas Christian-Southern Methodist game | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Houston -4.0 points over Arizona | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Buffalo +5.0 points over Temple | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Memphis -4.5 points over Navy | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Under 60.0 points in the North Carolina-East Carolina game | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Tulsa +23.0 points over Texas | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Connecticut +33.5 points over Boise State | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| Gibbsak | Under 52.5 points in the Kansas-Central Michigan game | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Memphis -4.5 points over Navy | TBD | 40.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Clemson -12.0 points over Texas A&M | TBD | 40.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Michigan State -6.0 points over Arizona State | TBD | 30.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Mississippi State -8.5 points over Kansas State | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Under 54.5 points in the Mississippi State-Kansas State game | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Iowa State +4.0 points over Iowa | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Ball State +35.5 points over Notre Dame | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| gym399 | Iowa State +165.0 money line to beat Iowa | TBD | 20.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Over 58.5 points in the Texas Christian-Southern Methodist game | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Utah -10.0 points over Northern Illinois | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | North Carolina -15.5 points over East Carolina | TBD | 20.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Texas Christian -21.5 points over Southern Methodist | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Over 47.5 points in the Appalachian State-Charlotte game | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Boise State -31.0 points over Connecticut | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Hawaii -17.0 points over Rice | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Over 61.5 points in the Georgia Tech-South Florida game | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | South Florida +155.0 money line to beat Georgia Tech | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Mississippi State -8.5 points over Kansas State | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Appalachian State -13.5 points over Charlotte | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Under 72.0 points in the Rice-Hawaii game | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Fresno State +120.0 money line to beat Minnesota | TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Tulsa +1300.0 money line to beat Texas | TBD | 1.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | Houston -4.0 points over Arizona | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | South Florida +3.5 points over Georgia Tech | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | Tulsa +23.0 points over Texas | TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | South Florida +150.0 money line to beat Georgia Tech | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| McIntyre2K7 | Over 63.5 points in the Rutgers-Ohio State game | TBD | 110.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| McIntyre2K7 | Navy +240.0 money line to beat Memphis | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| McIntyre2K7 | Navy +7.0 points over Memphis | TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| McIntyre2K7 | Miami (OH) pick 'em points over Cincinnati | TBD | 1.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mmmmsnouts | Florida Atlantic -8.5 points over Air Force | TBD | 100.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mmmmsnouts | Over 61.5 points in the Georgia Tech-South Florida game | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mmmmsnouts | Navy +240.0 money line to beat Memphis | TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Penn State -7.5 points over Pittsburgh | TBD | 55.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Florida -13.5 points over Kentucky | TBD | 55.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Mississippi State -8.5 points over Kansas State | TBD | 55.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Houston -205.0 money line to beat Arizona | TBD | 1.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
Parlays:
| Week | Wager | Result | Units | Result | Payoff |
| andrewpina | Over 61.5 points in the South Alabama-Oklahoma State game Hawaii -17.0 points over Rice (TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| BullsOnParade96 | Army -9.0 points over Liberty Houston -4.0 points over Arizona Texas Christian -21.5 points over Southern Methodist (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 100.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| carlzee | Wyoming +19.5 points over Missouri Missouri -16.5 points over Wyoming (TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD | 10.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| dsidwell31 | Over 63.5 points in the UCLA-Oklahoma game Central Michigan -4.5 points over Kansas Over 63.5 points in the Rutgers-Ohio State game (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 50.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| jrjs | Utah -10.0 points over Northern Illinois North Carolina -15.5 points over East Carolina Over 58.5 points in the Texas Christian-Southern Methodist game (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | Tulsa +23.0 points over Texas South Florida +3.5 points over Georgia Tech Houston -4.0 points over Arizona (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 75.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| mcgies852 | Houston -4.0 points over Arizona South Florida +3.5 points over Georgia Tech Cincinnati +2.5 points over Miami (OH) (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 5.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| McIntyre2K7 | Over 48.0 points in the Duke-Northwestern game Over 71.0 points in the Arizona-Houston game Over 58.5 points in the Texas Christian-Southern Methodist game (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 25.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Florida -13.5 points over Kentucky Penn State -7.5 points over Pittsburgh (TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD | 63.58 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Arkansas -13.0 points over Colorado State Florida International +1.0 points over Old Dominion Utah -10.0 points over Northern Illinois (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 30.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
| ULhothot | Memphis -4.5 points over Navy Southern Mississippi -5.0 points over Louisiana-Monroe Florida -13.5 points over Kentucky (TBD,TBD,TBD) | TBD TBD TBD | 15.00 | TBD | 0.00 |
That’s as of 7:30 AM Friday. I will update later.
Still a couple minor website glitches: I didn’t re-calclulate the totals after the Florida State-Virginia Tech game, so some of your weekly bet limits may have been off as a result. Also, the limit might have appeared lower than $250 for those of us, but it will still let you bet up to $250. Let me know if you encounter any problems.
Use the below space to discuss your picks, this week’s games, an imaginary Cleveland-Alabama matchup, your favorite obscure celebrity siblings, or anything else. Shameless lobbying for Spite Bet, Degenerate Bet, or other awards is heartily encouraged.