I made a friendly side wager some time ago, about where the 1963 NFL Championship Game was played.
As we sat around the bar, the rules were that none of us could access our smart phones, so it required some serious knowledge of NFL history. I recall watching some television documentary many years ago about this game that was played when I was just a year old, contemplating the mechanics of what would become teaser wheels with my baby rattle. I have no notes in front of me now, but I believe the Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants 17-10. The game was memorable because it was the last great victory in the career of NFL patriarch George Halas, who coached the Bears since the Chicago Fire of 1878.
I guessed that the game was played in frigid Soldier Field, long before it was reconfigured into somethings that now looks like a spaceship. Where else could it have been played? Wrigley Field, the rusty relic of a stadium which hosts baseball’s Chicago Cubs seemed like such an outlandish place to play a championship football game. For one thing, it seats less than 40,000 people, about half what Soldier Field could pack inside. Moreover, Wrigley Field was always a baseball configuration first, with no forethought of accommodating a football gridiron. I never liked football games played in baseball stadiums. To my knowledge, the only NFL team that still plays its home games in a baseball stadium is the Oakland Raiders.
Come to find out — the Bears won the ’63 Championship Game played at Wrigley Field. I lost the bet. Good thing I couldn’t tease Wrigley with 6 points, or I would have lost an even greater amount
What does any of this have to do with today’s NFL recommendation? Actually, nothing, except the Chicago Bears are going to return to glory by winning today’s game and getting me back into the black for the season.
Today, I’m “teaser wheeling” the Bears with the rest of the board. Since they’re favored by -6.5, getting +6 points means all Chicago must do is win the game. New line: Chicago -.5 (half point). Chicago has been competitive for the last two months now, losing a number of close games (last three losses were by a combined total of 8 points), but also winners of 3 of their last 4. Playoffs are still very much in the equation for Chicago, and off a road upset of the Packers ten days ago with extra time to prepare, I look for the Bears to easily handle floundering San Francisco, a team that appears to be playing out its string of games the rest of the season. 49ers have lost 4 of last 5. San Francisco ranks dead last in the NFL in points scored and yardage, and now faces the league’s second-ranked pass defense. Moreover, the Bears Defensive Coordinator came over from the 49ers at the end of last season, and knows both teams well. San Francisco is struggling badly with QB Blaine Gabbert in place of the awful Kaepernick, in part due to some terrible play calling from offensive coordinator, Geep Chryst. All the evidence points to a Chicago win, so I’ll wheel the Bears with the entire board:
TODAY’S WAGERS (28 bets) — Most wagers are risking $110 to win $100, except the two “Best Bets” which risk $220 to win $200 (total risk amount $3,300):
CHI-.5 with CINCY -1.5
CHI-.5 with CLEVE +13.5
CHI -.5 with JAX +9
CHI -.5 with TENN +3
CHI -.5 with HOU +9
CHI -.5 with BUFF +3
CHI -.5 with BALT +9.5
CHI-.5 with MIA -2.5
CHI-.5 with CAR -.5
CHI -.5 with NOR +13.5
CHI -.5 with SEA +3.5
CHI -.5 with MINN +9.5
CHI -.5 with ARZ +2.5
CHI -.5 with STL +9.5
CHI-.5 with ATL +6
CHI-.5 with TAM +6
CHI -.5 with NYJ +3.5
CHI -.5 with NYG +9.5 [Best Bet] $220 to win $200
CHI -.5 with DEN PK
CHI -.5 with SDI +12
CHI -.5 with KC +3
CHI-.5 with OAK +9 {Best Bet] $220 to win $200
CHI-.5 with PHIL +14.5
CHI -.5 with NWE -2.5
CHI -.5 with INDY +15.5
CHI -.5 with PITT -3.5
CHI -.5 with DAL +9.5
CHI -.5 with WASH +2.5
Final Score Projections:
Chicago 27 San Francisco 16
Cincinnati 20 Cleveland 10
Jacksonville 23 Tennessee 20
Houston 20 Buffalo 19
Miami 27 Baltimore 24
New Orleans 33 Carolina 30 (upset special)
Minnesota 24 Seattle 23
St. Louis 27 Arizona 24
Tampa 23 Atlanta 20
NY Giants 30 NY Jets 20
Denver 34 San Diego 17
Oakland 34 Kansas City 24
New England 41 Philadelphia 20
Pittsburgh 24 Indianapolis 23
Dallas 27 Washington 20
__________
NOLAN DALLA — 2015 NFL SEASON RECORD
42 WINS – 52 LOSSES — 3 PUSHES
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000.
CURRENT BANKROLL: $9,427.
NET GAIN/LOSS: – $573.
BEST BETS OF THE WEEK: 8 – 6 – 2
LAST WEEK: 1 — 0 — 0 (+$3,000)
SEASON WIN TOTALS — WAGERS
Pittsburgh Steelers UNDER 8.5 (+115) — wagering $2,000 to win $2,300 6-5
Philadelphia Eagles UNDER 9.5 (-110) — wagering $1,050 to win $1,000 4-7 …..winner
NY Jets UNDER 7.5 (-120 /-135) — wagering $1,275 to win $1,000 6-5
Tennessee Titans OVER 5.5 (-150) — wagering $450 to win $300 2-9
Cleveland Browns UNDER 6.5 (-170) — wagering $510 to win $300 2-9 ……winner