WEEK 8 PLUS FINAL RESULTS

Greg Hobbs streak ended in flames - figuratively, of course  - as The Very Reverend Mike Kinman, Provost of Christ Church Cathedral was perfect with his Indy pick.  Mike lives in St. Louis, and his church’s website is:  www.christchurchcathedral.us (try pasting the address to your browser if the link is not working).  Who thinks they can take down the good Reverend?  None other than Rodger Bubb.  Rodger hails from the Tampa St. Pete area living the good life near the water.  Whether it is club financial consulting or the up to the moment fishing report, Rodger is your man.  We’ll see how he fairs this week against Mike.

Dick’s is starting to run away and hide after another perfect week.  Rand has maintains his sideways protection of second place with a minus 10 week, and Tom makes a strong run for the positive numbers with a plus fifty week.  Can Tom replicate the results now that he doesn’t have the calming ocean breezes in Maui helping his picks?  In the big news - The Goreacle picks a winner.  The cold streak was beginning to shake Frank’s confidence, but he is ready to roll now that he has found that he can pick a winning game.  Watch out Savants - The Goreacle is back!

Week 6 Standings
Dick             +250 -50 = +200
Tom                 0 -30 = -30
Rand            +90 -10 = +80
The Goreacle  -50 +50 = 0

This Week’s Guest Picker’s

Mike Kinman -50 versus Rodger Bubb +50

This week’s picks
Dick: $30 on Arizona - 10 Dick is impressed with the Cardinals’ road win against the Giants last week, so he bets the load on them this week.  Did the fact that Jake is starting help or hurt his decision? XXX a home loss to the sorry Panthers - Warner looked old in this one.
          $20 on Denver + 3.5. Dick believes in the Broncos - at least against a team that has lost its last 3 and whose defense is looking old.  XXX The perfect season is over as Baltimore shakes its losing streak in a big way.
           

Tom:   $10 on New York Giants - Pick.  Tom keeping the faith in the Giants, and remembering that Philly lost to the Rahdahs.  Enough said.  XXX It is official:  The Giants Stink.
           $10 on New Orleans -10.  The Saints are on fire, but will it continue against a division foe? XXX Atlanta’s garbage time field goal covers.
          $10 on New Orleans/Atl Over 54. Are you kidding - a 54 point over?  Tom likes that NO Offense, and thinks Atlanta can contribute 20 points to the cause. +++ Next week’s Saints O/U 60? 
          $10 on Minnie/GB Under 47.5. Tom thinks that the focus on the Aaron and Brett show will keep the score down. XXX this one got out of hand in the 2nd half as the QB’s put on a show. 
          $10 on San Diego - 16.5. Tom casting a vote of confidence toward the Chargers because they beat up the Chiefs.  Nope, just a lack of confidence in the 2-win Rahdahs. XXX Never bet on San Diego.  Barely beating the Rahdahs, sad. 

Rand: $30 on Indy - 12.  Rand’s turn to take the Indy train this week after Dick and Mike road them to victory last week. XXX The 49ers make the Colts sweat this week. 
        $10 on Balt/Denver Under 41.5.  Rand knows that the Broncos don’t give up many points, and thinks the formerly awesome Raven defense can at least be good this week. +++ Baltimore’s defense makes Kyle Orton look like, well, Kyle Orton.
        $10 on Tennessee -3.  Rand is on board with Tennessee turning things around after the bye week - but even with Vince Young at the helm after a little nudge from the owner to the coach?  YES! +++ The Titans are baaaccck.  Rand renews his subscription to the Titans Daily News.
        
         Frank: $50 on Dallas -9.5.  Has Frank seen the light? Or, is it that Seattle for all but that one game against Jacksonville just plain stinks?  A little of both, and perhaps both he and Cassidy will wear Cow jerseys next week to lunch. +++ Jumping on the easy pick pays off for Frank this week.  The Goreacle is also baaaccckk.  
             
                This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - The Very Reverend Mike Kinman -50 and Rodger Bubb +50

Mike:  $50 on Denver + 3.5.  Mike likes what he sees from Denver this year.  Any concern about this being the week that stops their undefeated season - not here. XXX Denver shows it is good, but not perfect.

Rodger:  $10 on Dallas -9.5.  Rodger joins the Cow followers. +++ The easy pick comes through.
          $10 on Carolina +10. Rodger thinks they’re not dead. at least yet. +++ Rodger knows his Panthers as they not only cover, they whoop the Cardinals.
           $10 on Baltimore -3.5. Rodger goes opposite his GP competition.  +++ The Ravens end the perfect Broncos run.
          $10 on Chicago -13. Rodger isn’t worried about the Bears being blownout last week. +++ Nothing like a game against the Brownies to solve all a team’s woes.
          $10 on Minnie +3. Believe in Brett in Green Bay. +++ Believing in Brett pays off.

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** With the domination by Dick and Rand’s solid start, maybe the Savants don’t need to limit themselves to country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

The Very Reverend Mike Kinman +50 over Greg Hobbs -50

WEEK 7 PICKS PLUS FINAL RESULTS

Greg Hobbs streak now stands at 3 straight after taking Rudy Anderson to the woodshed last week.  Greg was a perfect +50 for the week.  So, what can the Savants do to try to give him some competition?  Well, we have friends in high places, and we’ve tapped one to take on Greg this week.  Joining us this week from St. Louis, Mo., is the The Very Reverend Mike Kinman, Provost of Christ Church Cathedral - check out the website if you don’t believe us:  www.christchurchcathedral.us (try pasting the address to your browser if the link is not working).  Mike goes way back with Rand and knows a thing or a hundred about sports - among other things.  Will Greg be thrown off his game by this week’s match up?  Is Mike ready to show off his sports knowledge?  We’ll see.

Dick’s run continues as he finishes perfect again this week.  Rand has a solid +30 to stay in 2nd place.  But, the real news - the really important news - the really, really important news - and the rumored reason Frank was brought in as a Savant - The Goreacle overtook Tom for last place.  Instead of Tom wallowing in the muck of last place alone, Frank is showing he can fall to the depths of mediocrity with the best of them.  Frank is ice cold - but promises the Bengals pick was a one week fluke and he’ll be back.  Tom makes no such claims.  Instead, he’s just happy Frank is in the game.  The Cows are back this week - will that cloud Dick’s mind?  Will Rand be sporting a Peyton Manning jersey this week with his Coach Fisher?  Stay tuned.

Week 6 Standings
Dick            +200 +50 = +250
Tom            -50 +50 = 0
Rand          +100 -10 = +90
The Goreacle -60 +10 = -50

This Week’s Guest Picker’s

Greg Hobbs -50 versus Mike Kinman +50

This week’s picks
Dick: $50 on Indy - 13 Dick and Mike Kinman both are riding this horse - or colt I suppose.  Mike’s local knowledge of the pathetic Rams points directly to an Indy blowout.  Dick is back on an early trend:  take the team playing the Rams.  +++ The easy pick comes through!
           

Tom:   $30 on New England -14.5.  Tom betting the second worst secondary in the NFL (See Titans secondary for the first worst) won’t fare much better.  But, will jet lag overcome the Pats? +++ The second easy pick of the week also comes through.
           $10 on New Orleans -6.5.  The Saints are set for the letdown, but when you’re that good, does it matter? +++ A great comeback, and a cover as well. 
          $10 on Dallas/Atl Over 47.5. Tom thinks that the defenses will stay out of the way in this one.  No basis for that thought, just a vote of confidence in the Wade Phillips 3 - 4. +++ The Cowboy offense is back.

Rand: $10 on Wash/Phil Under 37.5.  Rand keeps the Redskin under this week.  This pick is a week-in, week-out lock. XXX The winning streak on the Wash under is over - no pun intended.  Both teams almost kept it under in the 2nd half, but Wash can’t even do the under right. 
        $10 on NYJ/Oakland Under 34.5.  Vegas is starting to lower the bar for the Rahdahs, but until it gets to below 20 - it’s not low enough. XXX With 2 QB’s playing for the Jets (I’m assuming JaMarcus was trying to help the Jets as well), they cover the number themselves.
        $10 on New England/Tampa Under 45.  On the theory that Tampa stinks, the London game is historically boring, Rand thinks that jetlag will keep the Pats under 45 and the Bucs from even showing up. +++ Tampa keeps their part of the bargain to make sure the under happens.
        $10 on NY Football Giants -7.  Last year’s Super Bowl winners are way overrated, and the Giants are mad about last week.  But, have you seen that Giant secondary? XXX Eli and the Giants don’t look so good lately.  Is it back to never, ever bet against Kurt Warner?   
        $10 on Green Bay -7.5.  The Pack is Back after showing off against the Lions.  Another easy week to confirm that they can beat the bad teams. +++ The Pack continues to roll over the downtrodden. 
        
         Frank: $30 on Philly - 7.  The only team more embarrassed than Frank last week was the Eagles losing to the pond scum known as the Rahdahs.  So, the try to bounce back together this week. +++ Frank says the rumor of the death of his picking mojo are greatly exaggerated - glad to have you back Goreacle.
        $20 on Atlanta +4.  Frank trys to throw down the gauntlet by betting against Dick’s Cows, but Dick won’t play.  Does that mean Dick agrees with Frank? XXX The Cows take over as the second best in the NFC with the victory - Frank, not quite so much in second. 
             
                This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - The Very Reverend Mike Kinman and Greg Hobbs

Mike:  $50 on Indy -13.  Mike’s up close and personal look at the awful hometown Rams each week may have had some influence on this pick.  Mike puts the load on the easy one matching the hottest Savant - is Greg in trouble? +++ An easy pick comes through big - and a new GP Champion is born.

Greg:  $20 on NY Jets/Oak Under 34.5.  Greg and Rand agree on these pigs aren’t scoring more than 34.  The Rahdahs can take the next few weeks off after winning a game last week. XXX Greg goes down as the NY Jets beat the number.
          $20 on Wash/Philly Under 37.5. Greg matches Rand again - are they working together - or do both just know a pig when they see one? XXX Greg completes the hat trick going 3 for 3 on the downside.
           $10 on KC +4.5. Greg rides that Chiefs’ Bandwagon one more week - they really aren’t as bad as the other bad teams. XXX The Chiefs winning/covering run comes to a crashing halt.  Perhaps Larry Johnson can keep things interesting in Kansas City.

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** With the domination by Dick and Rand’s solid start, maybe the Savants don’t need to limit themselves to country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Greg Hobbs +50 over Rudy Anderson -30

WEEK 6 PICKS - PLUS FINAL RESULTS

Greg Hobbs continues to shine as he won the GP competition last week - and on an even more positive note, Greg finished in the black numbers for the win.  This week Greg takes on Rudy Anderson, CEO of The Club at Cordillera in Edwards, Colorado.  Rudy hails from the Big Apple area, so he may be spread a little thin this weekend rooting for the Yankees and the Giants (and Jets).

Overall, Dick is trying to runaway and hide from the rest of the Savants.  Of course, we have seen this before.  Can Dick build a big enough lead to prevent a late season collapse? We’re talking about Dick and his picks against the line, not his beloved Cows — although it may be true of the Cows as well.  Rand’s sideways week, but at least positive sideways week, has him holding a steady 2nd place.  Tom’s plus 40 week puts him within striking distance of The Goreacle.  The Goreacle who is still smarting from the 49ers getting shellacked last weekend appears to have lost his early season mojo.  Will Frank pass Tom for last this week, will the Cassidy magic continue?  Stay tuned.

Week 5 Standings
Dick           +150 +50 = +200
Tom           -40 -10 = -50
Rand         +70 +30 = +100
The Goreacle -10 -50 = -60

This Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Greg Hobbs  +50 versus Rudy Anderson -30

This week’s picks
Dick: $30 on Denver +3.5 Dick rides last week winning pick into this week.  Of course the pundits seem convinced that since Denver is not going to go undefeated, this is their week to lose.  Dick realizes that Norv’s Chargers just don’t look very good. +++Denver turns it on in the 2nd half to put the Chargers out of their misery.  When do the playoffs begin for the Broncos?
           $20 on New England -9.5. Once again Dick takes the easy pick.  How can the no-defensive back lead Titans stay within 10 of the Pats?  Dick says he and Deon can rollout of bed and suit up this Sunday for the Titans’ secondary if needed. +++ Let’s see - 59-0, I think that covers the 9 1/2.  Titans on their way to 0-16.

Tom:   $10 Pitts/Cle Under 38.  Tom thinks Derek Anderson’s 2 for 17 won’t cut it against the Steelers this week.  So, can the Steelers stay below 30? XXX Close, but not a winner  
           $20 on Green Bay -13.5.  Expecting the bye week to cure all ills, Tom lays the points against the wounded Lions. +++ The Pack is Back - at least against the Lions. 
          $10 on Pittsburg -14. Tom keeps the faith with the big favorites after last week’s stellar showing on the big spread games.  Cleveland is bad, so can Steelers take care of business or will they play to their competition? XXX Big Ben shows he doesn’t like the cover, but he does like to win.
            $10 on Philly -14.  If last week was a preseason game against the TBuc’s, then what is this week’s game against the Raiders?  A JV game? XXX Should an additional amount be deducted for picking a 14-point favorite who managed to lose the woeful Rahdahs?

Rand: $20 on Wash/KC Under 37.  Rand takes the Redskin under from Tom this week.  This should be a lock unless the offenses start giving up defensive touchdowns. +++ Even Jim Zorn knows his offense stinks.
        $20 on Baltimore + 3.  Rand thinks the better team - the Ravens - will take care against Farve and Company this week.  But, does Adrian Peterson have a say in that? +++ Minnie blows a 17-point 4th Qtr lead so Brett can show off his greatness with the final drive victory - but not a cover.
        $10 on StLouis/Jacksonville Under 42.5.  The table is set for this one:  the Rams average less than 7 a game and Jack managed a big goose egg last week, money in the bank, right? XXX it took overtime for them to get the over, but an over it is.

         Frank: $50 on Cincinnati - 5.  Frank spots the beauty at the ball, and it is none other than the loveable Bengals.  Frank is buying into the Cardiac Cats in a big way.  Should we let him in on a secret that he just bet the load on a team usually referred to as the Bungals? XXX A couple of wins doesn’t cause a tiger to change its stripes - or something like that.  The Goreacle nose dive continues.
             
                This Week’s Guest Prognosticators - Rudy Anderson and Greg Hobbs

Rudy:  $10 on NY Football Giants +3.  The best team in football getting 3 points, you gotta be kidding. XXX Not with a defensive secondary like that.   
            $10 on NO/NYG Under 47.5. Rudy guarantees Osi, Justin and company will introduce themselves often to Mr. Brees. XXX OK, we can give Rudy for NO under 47.5 - but that pick is still a loser. 
           $10 on Oakland +14. Rudy thinks this is the week for the pig to wake up and start its march to a 4 and 12 season. +++ Not only a cover, but a win.  Amazing pick.  
            $10 on NY Jets -9.5. Rudy sees the Jets coming back from last week’s wildcat loss with a smack down of the woeful Bills.  XXX A loss to the Bills - OUCH.
           $10 on Detroit +13.5. Rudy shows the Lions some love.  Not a vote of confidence in their ability to win, but maybe a garbage time TD to cover is in the offing. XXX Lesson to be learned - only pick one pig a week - and Oakland was the correct pig.

Greg:  $20 on Buffalo +10.  Greg takes on Rudy on this one - can TO lead his mates to stay close to the Rex Ryan’s Jets? +++ Easy pickings there - an outright win for the 10 point dogs. 
          $20 on Wash/KC Under 37. Greg matches Rand with this gimme under. +++ the gimme was just that - next week’s Redskin under:  28.
           $10 on KC +6.5. Greg thinks that the overtime loss to the Cows qualifies the Chiefs to take down the offensively challenged Skins.  His punishment for making 2 bets on the Washington game:  he has to watch it. +++ Greg completes the perfect week by betting against the ’Skins.
           

Note: The Sports Savants do not gamble with real money and do not endorse, recommend or promote doing so. The dollar figures above are in “pretend” money, as a way of measuring our success in the game. Not only is gambling illegal in many jurisdictions, it is also pretty dumb. In the end, the house always wins. That’s why the house has gold plated ceilings, dancing girls, magic shows and enormous fountains out front.

*Unlike last year, the guests will compete against each other.  The winner between the guest pickers each week will continue to pick the next week.  If they win that week, they keep going.  There is one asterisk to that sentence - we are attorneys you know - if a guest picker buys lunch for the Savants at the regular pick’em lunch, they will continue to the next week whether they beat the new guest picker or not.

** With the domination by Dick and Rand solid start, maybe the Savants don’t need to limit themselves to country club law, private clubs and resorts law, membership law, and related hospitality law matters.

Last Week’s Guest Picker’s Results

Greg Hobbs +10 over Dave Largent -10