Latest News
The NFL is extremely opposed to gambling. Which is why there is a league-issued injury list that outlines various levels of likelihood of physically impaired players actually playing on any given Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whenever. So that there’s a level playing field for bettors.
Huh?
It has been awhile since April Rose last appeared around here, Hope that this fixes that.
Precisely. If not for gambling, the NFL would not enjoy the popularity that it does. Of course, this is not an original observation. I’d bet the house on that. Well, if I did bet. Which is generally an activity that I do not engage in.
But what about the popularity of fantasy football, based on the NFL? What about it? You mean a variation on the very theme of gambling? The best the NFL can hope is that players, coaches, officials, etc. don’t fix games or point spreads.
Did someone say fantasy football? Playboy Playmate Jaime Edmondson, a favorite around here and elsewhere, once again is engaging in such activity. TO be clear, the fantasy involves football. For those so inclined, you can check out her Play-By-Playmate column at playboy.com by clicking here.
As having mentioned earlier, I’m not much of a gambler. There are far better bettors around who have the resources, time and money to plunk down some coin — serious or otherwise — on a game. Even on preseason games. Which seems about as silly a way to lose money as there is.
That said, the Chicago Bears apparently are a 3-point favorite for the exhibition opener Thursday (Aug. 9) against the visiting Denver Broncos with quarterback Peyton Manning in his first pro game with a team other than the Indianapolis Colts. He signed as a free agent in the offseason.
“We want to get some short-yardage work, some third-down conversions, we’d love to get some red-zone, goal-line,” Manning told reporters.
Not sure what the over/under is for the number of plays that Manning is on the field vs. the Bears, but it probably exists someplace in cyberspace and/or a sports book in Las Vegas.
Manning’s quarterback counterpart, Jay Cutler, can be excused for whatever performance he delivers. In no small part because his fiancee, Kristin Cavallari, delivered the couple’s child, Camden Jack Cutler, on Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to welcome Camden Jack Cutler into the world. He was born this morning weighing 7lbs 9oz. Everyone is great!,” the former reality television personality tweeted.
Delivering odds on the 2012 NFL season is Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV):
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLVII
Jaime Edmondon's back (well, her backside). No word whether the Playboy Playmate and a favorite around here will have a new set of NFL-themed photos for 2012.
Green Bay Packers 6/1
New England Patriots 13/2
San Francisco 49ers 10/1
Houston Texans 12/1
Philadelphia Eagles 12/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 16/1
Chicago Bears 16/1
Denver Broncos 16/1
New Orleans Saints 18/1
New York Giants 18/1
Baltimore Ravens 18/1
Dallas Cowboys 18/1
Detroit Lions 22/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
San Diego Chargers 25/1
New York Jets 28/1
Carolina Panthers 35/1
Kansas City Chiefs 45/1
Cincinnati Bengals 40/1
Buffalo Bills 50/1
Seattle Seahawks 50/1
Tennessee Titans 50/1
Arizona Cardinals 60/1
Washington Redskins 60/1
Oakland Raiders 65/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75/1
Miami Dolphins 75/1
Minnesota Vikings 150/1
Cleveland Browns 150/1
Indianapolis Colts 150/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 200/1
Odds to Win AFC Championship
A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, Jaime Edmondson always will have an affinity for the 'Fins.
New England Patriots 3/1
Houston Texans 11/2
Baltimore Ravens 7/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 7/1
Denver Broncos 7/1
New York Jets 12/1
San Diego Chargers 10/1
Cincinnati Bengals 16/1
Kansas City Chiefs 20/1
Miami Dolphins 25/1
Tennessee Titans 25/1
Buffalo Bills 25/1
Oakland Raiders 28/1
Indianapolis Colts 60/1
Cleveland Browns 70/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 75/
Odds to Win NFC Championship
Green Bay Packers 7/2
San Francisco 49ers 11/2
Philadelphia Eagles 6/1
Chicago Bears 17/2
New Orleans Saints 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Dallas Cowboys 11/1
Detroit Lions 11/1
Atlanta Falcons 12/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Arizona Cardinals 28/1
Washington Redskins 28/1
Seattle Seahawks 28/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35/1
St. Louis Rams 40/1
Minnesota Vikings 70/1
Odds to Win AFC East Division
New England Patriots 3/10
New York Jets 11/2
Buffalo Bills 6/1
Miami Dolphins 15/1
Odds to Win AFC North Division
Pittsburgh Steelers 5/4
Baltimore Ravens 13/10
Cincinnati Bengals 4/1
Cleveland Browns 20/1
Odds to Win AFC South Division
Houston Texans 1/5
Tennessee Titans 9/2
Indianapolis Colts 18/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 18/1
Odds to Win AFC West Division
Denver Broncos 9/5
San Diego Chargers 2/1
Kansas City Chiefs 3/1
Oakland Raiders 4/1
Odds to Win NFC East Division
Philadelphia Eagles 5/4
New York Giants 9/4
Dallas Cowboys 13/5
Washington Redskins 9/1
Odds to Win NFC North Division
Green Bay Packers 4/9
Chicago Bears 7/2
Detroit Lions 4/1
Minnesota Vikings 40/1
Odds to Win NFC South Division
New Orleans Saints 13/10
Atlanta Falcons 13/10
Carolina Panthers 4/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15/1
Odds to Win NFC West Division
San Francisco 49ers 1/2
Seattle Seahawks 4/1
Arizona Cardinals 5/1
St.Louis Rams 8/1
Any money wagered and lost is your responsibility. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Look both ways before you cross the street. If anyone had a foolproof system for betting, they wouldn’t be sharing it with you. Anyone who can guarantee a winner should be investigated by folks who monitor the wonderful world of wagering — either for dealing in insider information, etc. or for misrepresentation. Hey, that’s merely one person’s opinion. Possibly more than one person’s opinion; OK, proably more than one person’s opinion; all right, guaranteed to be more than one person’s opinion.
Speaking of football, here is a video featuring Eddie George and Erin Andrews from Fox, which televises football:
If today is Thursday (which I’d bet it is in that tomorrow is Friday and yesterday was Wednesday), then it is time once again for “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Chicago time on talkzone.com. The featured guests will be Ann Meyers Drysdale — who tried out for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers in 1979 — and former big-league catcher and manager Del Crandall. The highly acclaimed program (certainly in the Spada and Harris households) also will be available on podcast.
OK, more video (sports-related and possibly otherwise):
And life would not be complete without some video from the lovely and talented April Rose:
Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.