This weekend of football was a good one. Most of my buddies took a shellacking, but in Week 5 of the NFL, the ball finally bounced my way.
 
I had read a couple of reports this year about how bad the UCLA football program had become. Once a powerhouse in the Pac-10, the reports were that the team was only respectable at home, barely, let alone on the road. In addition, I saw a free play hit my e-mailbox Saturday morning where the capper really liked the Golden Bears. So, I took ‘em – Cal minus 7.5. But since I did not have much to go on but the capper and the articles (I still have yet to see Cal play this year), I paid the extra 10 cents to get the number down to 7. It turns out that this was an easy winner as the Golden Bears jumped out to a big lead and cruised to a 35-7 victory.  I never even flipped over to it, the ticker at the bottom of the screen was all that was necessary. One wager and up $30. Sweet.
 
On to Sunday. I spent a little less time this weekend. I think that for the past two weeks I have been overworking the plumbing. One thing that turned the tide for me in this week’s wagering was hitting a few totals. Totals are often overlooked by almost everyone I know and I must admit I too am guilty as charged. But, since this is supposed to be a money making venture, and there are several very good defensive teams and  a couple of really bad offensive ones this season so far, a couple of totals came into play.
 
I had the Colts (-7) and Atlanta (-3) in the early games. I really thought that these were both ‘trap lines’. You know, the ones that look too easy, way to low or overinflated in some way. But, after looking at my trusty Statfox matchups, I could not see why the Colts weren’t bigger favorites at home against a KC team that yes, was 3-0, but hadn’t played any tough teams. They were also a young team riding high, coming off of the bye.
 
I had to scratch my head and smile as the Chiefs open with an onside kickoff. I am flying high as Indy is up 3-0 only 5 minutes into the game. And then I start to sweat. At the half, the Colts had only field goals and the score was tied at just 6! Manning sucks today. And then the football Gods totally go against me as Colts running back, Addai, heads off the field in the 3rd quarter . I am officially bumming. Luckily, this was not one of the totals I played too. Oh God, I have three other total wagers already in!  I start to relax a bit as the Colts start to look good and they go up 12-9. Finally, vindication is mine as Manning orchestrates a 70+ yard drive with that little guy replacement at running back. Feeling pretty good, I head to the fridge. But wait, what’s this? The Chiefs drive from the 18 all the way to the 33 and are lining up for a 50+ yard field goal with less than 2 minutes to go! On no, I am going to push. I am certain that I am going to get back-doored here. But the kick sails wide right and I chalk up another $30 winner. The beverage is cold and the football Gods have given me good start.
 
But the early games are not all roses. I lost the Under ($33) in the Broncos/Ravens game and cashed the under ($40) in the Bears/Panthers game. The second game was a classic good defense against a bad offense. I was a little worried that the Bears were going to score too many points! So after, the wins and losses are added up, I am up $67 for the day so far. After this success I make undoubtedly the BIGGEST mistake of the season.
 
I played the Saints again. Losing $44 on them. I know. I kicked myself as soon as the early score flashed across the bottom of the screen. After getting burned twice on them this year, I bet them again. Killer miscue and killer for the bankroll. If I write in this space again about playing the Saints, send me pictures and vdieos of Homer Simpson going “Doht!” Because that is what I did  as soon as I realized that New Orleans cost me again. I am down over $100 on them this year. However, this error in judgment did reinforce why I bet smaller now. Which I did on the Eagles at night. I think that Frisco is just in disarray and Alex Smith is OVERRATED. $20 paid $32.
 
This week I did not play a parlay at all. I usually throw in a 3-teamer to grab some cash if I get lucky, but after losing two straight weeks, I went again with a teaser play. The play was a 3-teamer, featuring two Sunday games and the Monday night total. I teased the Bears game total up to 39, playing under; teased the Titans to plus +13, not buying into Dallas being any good this year; and teased the MNF total down to 33.
 
The play was winning heading into Monday night. I was so confident that I did not even tune into the game until after the half. I just casually put it on the TV while I was doing some things around the homestead. Suddenly I went vampire white, it was just 12-0 Jets. Are you kidding? The Vikings with a goose egg half way through the 3rd quarter? And now it’s raining . . . hard. Nooooooo. I immediately stop what I was doing and head to the couch. I must will Favre to invoke his MNF magic. And then he does! A BOMB to Randy Moss, Favre’s 500th career touchdown pass! Then on the following kickoff, the Jets almost return the ball for a touchdown! I feel like that SouthWest commercial. “IT’s ON”. And the scoring just keeps coming. It’s a beautiful thing to not have to sweat the MNF game  and for the first time this season, I am a MNF genius. The $20 teaser pays out $36 and gives me a nice win for the weekend. Also, this was the second week in a row I cash a teaser play.
 
In all, a really good football wagering weekend yields a profit of $121. I am now up just under $100 on the season. Hopefully, I can avoid the Saints this week and continue to find a total or two that looks like low hanging fruit. Unfortunately, totals that look a little inflated drop rather quickly, forcing the Jets play to be a teaser last week. The number on the Chiefs game does look a little low right now though . . .
 
Check back with next week’s Confessions mid-week. Good Luck to all of us this weekend!