Confessions of a Small-time Gambler

Well, it happened to me this week. I got caught up in the Thanksgiving NFL games and my betting error cost me a few bucks. I have taken to shopping the early line over the last few weeks, especially with national televised games like Thanksgiving, MNF, etc. and teams like the Saints, Patriots and Jets. And, this tactic has been making me feel smart, if not helping to cash a ticket or two.

You see, I always like to have a bit of fun with the games on Thanksgiving. This year was no exception. I had a pretty strong opinion on all three games on the board after watching last Sunday’s action. So, on Monday, I went into my account and took a look at the sports betting lines for the three games. I snapped up the Saints at -3 (-115) and the Patriots at -7. Both plays were for $44, ’cause I am still up this season. I also liked the Jets and figured with all that NY money on a holiday, that number would go up. So, I decided to wait ‘till it got to 10 or more and then I planned to take the Bengals.

At the time I was unable to place any parlays, due to a note on the website that said I had to wait until Tuesday. So I waited, and forgot about the Jets play. Until yesterday morning. And that forgetfulness, cost me a few bucks.

I placed a two-team NFL parlay on the Saints and the under in the Jets game that I loved since the number came out. But, I waited until Thursday morning to put it in. I was so hot on the Saints, that I did not even really notice that the number had risen. I did notice that the Jets total had come down from the 43.5 that I saw and was now at 42.5. I loved this play and hastily put it in for $25. I also took the Jets, who were still at -9 for another $33 (the number never moved much if at all).

I then sat back and watched the Patriots cash, even though I was sweating at the half. Then I ate some turkey and watched the Cowboys play a hell of a game. They were not distraught after the first quarter shellacking and about midway through the second half, I started to pace. And believe me, that was a bit uncomfortable after the turkey, stuffing, soufflé, sweet potatoes and pie. But pace I did. Back and forth, as the game went back and forth. Oh No, I thought. This is going to kill two plays.

The game progressed and I was almost boo-hooing when Roy Williams was sprinting down the field. Cowboys up by four and Williams is running like a gazelle. But then hope arose, as Williams was stripped of the ball! I begin to think, “Well at least I have a shot to push.” And with the Saints in control of the ball, I knew that I had a very good chance. Brees drove down the field and almost made it look easy, scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 1:55 left. I am a pretty happy guy. Even when the Cowboys drove down the field and tied a last-change field goal, I felt that the play was not going to lose. The ‘Boys, as expected, missed the field goal, and the play pushed.

I got up, relieved about the push, and went over to the computer to check my account. That’s when I saw it. In the parlay from the morning wagering session, I had taken the Saints at -5 in the parlay! I did not take the time to notice the line change (especially a 2 point change from Monday!) and just blindly took the play. Had I spent the time to look I might not have wagered the full $25, which for me is a little more than my usual twenty dollar, 2-teamer. But I just blindly took the game assuming that the line was still similar. Another mistake made, “These are starting to add up for me.” This one only cost me $25, but it should not have been made.

Generally, I have found that over the last few weeks the line has been going up on the Pats, Jets, Giants and Saints. That is specifically why I went in on Monday and checked. The Saints push was a lucky one, but the mistake made later in the week could easily have been avoided by placing the wager sooner, the parlay would have paid more than $20, had I just placed it at the same time as the straight bet. That’s a turnaround of nearly fifty bucks. Still, after kicking myself and a big Jets win, I ended up 3-1-1 on the day with a profit of $85. Luckily, betting that early NFL line saved me from a very small day, profit-wise. Full and up a few dollars is a pretty good way for me to spend the Holiday.

Check back for next week’s Confessions. Good Luck to all of us throughout this Holiday weekend!