NOLAN DALLA: 2014 NFL SEASON RECORD (through end of Week 8)
52 WINS – 49 LOSSES — 1 PUSHES
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000.
CURRENT BANKROLL: $6,135.
NET GAIN/LOSS: – $3,865.
BEST BETS OF THE WEEK: 4 – 8 – 1
Before getting to this week’s picks, here’s a short walk down memory lane.
I have a special place in my heart for old sports stadiums. I try to visit each one that I can when I go to a new city. Before the New Orleans Superdome was built in the late 1970s, I once visited the old Tulane Stadium, which was the home of the New Orleans Saints from 1967 to 1976. The stadium also hosted three Super Bowl games. It was also the home of the Sugar Bowl. The stadium was located uptown on the university campus.
While I never actually attended a game there, I’ve heard the atmosphere in the stands was legendary. Even thought the Saints were one of the worst franchises in professional sports for more than three decades, the beloved Saints always drew a sell out — 81,000 fans a game. It didn’t matter is the team was 2-12 and out of the playoffs. The final meaningless game would still be completely filled with fans cheering the Saints. That’s really saying something for one of the worst teams in the NFL in one of the league’s smallest markets. That’s another way of saying, aside from Green Bay perhaps, the New Orleans football atmosphere was (and remains) the best to be found anywhere.
Earlier this week, Tulane played a college football game on ESPN. I didn’t realize the old site of Tulane Stadium had been redone and is now the home of the new campus stadium. It’s much smaller now. Back then, the Saints played in one of the largest stadiums in pro football. Only Cleveland Stadium and the Los Angeles Coliseum were bigger.
Take a look at the photograph of the old Tulane Stadium (above). To give you some idea of how ancient this place was, notice that people’s homes are built right up next to the entrances. It’s like the stadium was dropped into an old neighborhood with no regard for traffic problems or parking. In fact, stadium parking was non-existent. Considering there were 40,000 cars per game, they had to park somewhere. Back then, residents in the surrounding neighborhood would let cars park int their front yards for a few dollars. That was the parking situation at Tulane Stadium.
Old Tulane Stadium produced lots of memories, but nothing as famous as the amazing kick made by Tom Dempsey on the final play of a game played in 1970. It was the longest field goal in NFL history at the time, at 63 yards. Perhaps what made the moment so special was Dempsey’s severe physical deformity. He was born with a a stump of an arm and a club foot. In fact, his right (kicking) foot was half the size of a regular person. This is the man who made pro football history — someone who would normally have no shot at being a professional athlete. Again, New Orleans tends to look at life a bit differently, and their kicker kinda’ symbolized the underdog spirit.
In fact, Dempsey epitomizes the New Orleans Saints struggles and the painful experience of being a Saint’s fan for so many years. After 2005, everyone remembered Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of the storm and flood, the Saints helped to rebuild a city and give a community it’s pride back again. But the underdog that is New Orleans will always be embodied by Dempsey’s miracle kick that amazing day 44 years ago this month.
Here’s a short clip of what happened that day at Tulane Stadium:
THIS WEEKS PICKS: (Note: Always review plays just before kickoff for late additions/scratches based on injuries or weather)
Teaser: San Diego +8.5 with Houston +8.5 — $1,650 to win $1,500 <<<BEST BET>>>
Probably the better team here, getting more than a TD on the teaser….also like Houston which is strong defensively playing Eagles in back to back road games. Wrong team favored here.
First Half: San Diego +1 vs. Miami — $550 to win $500
Don’t like the travel, but Chargers should keep it close. Like getting a point in the first half.
Team Total: Jacksonville UNDER 16.5 — $330 to win $300
Jaguars have scored 16+ just once this season. I’ll fade them on the road versus motivated opponent. Jax isn’t improving. They’re regressing. Luster on new QB has worn off.
Philadelphia/Houston UNDER 48.5 — $550 to win $500
Way too many points, on line too influenced by Eagles. Houston offense is anemic, and with a higher game total than average, I’ll take the value. Should be 44.5/
First Half: Philadelphia/Houston UNDER 24.5 — $330 to win $300
Love the half point on the key number of 24.
NY Jets/Kansas City OVER 41.5 — $660 to win $600
Chiefs will build lead, forcing Jets into catch up mode. I think that spells points. Unless Jets are playing rival Patriots, the defense can’t stop anybody.
New England +3 vs. Denver — $550 to win $500
Can’t believe this line. How often at the Patriots -3 dogs at home?
First Half: New England +2.5 — $550 to win $500
Similar logic to above.
First Half Team Total: New England OVER 12.5 — $880 to win $800 <<<BEST BET>>>
I love catching a win on the 13. That’s the tipping point for a wager on Patriots to score 13+ in first half at home in a game predicted to be a shootout.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: 7 wins, 7 losses (-$370)
Detroit/Atlanta OVER 46.5 — $330 to win $300 ……….LOST
Tampa Bay -2.5 vs. Minnesota — $330 to win $300 ……….LOST
Seattle/Carolina UNDER 45 — $330 to win $300 ……….WON
Jacksonville +6 vs. Miami — $330 to win $300 ……….LOST
Baltimore/Cincinnati UNDER 45.5 — $330 to win $300 ……….LOST
Arizona -2.5 vs. Philadelphia — $330 to win $300 ……….WON
Indianapolis -3 vs. Pittsburgh — $1,100 to win $1,000 <<<BEST BET>>> ……….LOST
Houston -3 vs. Tennessee — $1,100 to win $1,000 <<<BEST BET>>> ……….WON
Oakland +7 vs. Cleveland — $330 to win $300 ……….LOST
New Orleans -1 vs. Green Bay — $330 to win $300 ……….WON
Washington/Dallas UNDER 49.5 — $330 to win $300 ……….WON
1Q Chicago/New England OVER 9.5 (-140) — $420 to win $300 ……….LOST
1H: Houston Team Total OVER 11.5 (-120) — $360 to win $300 ……….WON
Game: Chicago Team Total OVER 22 (-130) — $390 to win $300 ……….WON
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PENDING FUTURES WAGERS:
NY GIANTS OVER 7.5 WINS (-130) — Wagering $1,300 to win $1,000
DETROIT LIONS UNDER 8.5 WINS (-130) — Wagering $1,300 to win $1,000
MINNESOTA VIKINGS OVER 6 WINS (-130) — Wagering $1,300 to win $1,000
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS UNDER 8 WINS (-135) — Wagering $1,350 to win $1,000
CLEVELAND BROWNS UNDER 7 WINS (-150) — Wagering $1,500 to win $1,000 <<<BEST BET>>>
DALLAS COWBOYS TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS (-250) — Wagering $1,250 to win $500
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS (-220) — Wagering $2,200 to win $1,000 <<<BEST BET>>>
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NOLAN DALLA: 2013 NFL SEASON RECORD (FINAL RESULTS)
108 WINS – 84 LOSSES — 6 PUSHES
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000.
ENDING BANKROLL: $14,702.
NET GAIN: + $4,702.
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NOLAN DALLA: 2012 NFL SEASON RECORD (FINAL RESULTS)
98 WINS – 87 LOSSES – 6 PUSHES —– (+ 34.6 units / 1 unit = $100)
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000.
ENDING BANKROLL: $13,460.
NET GAIN: + $3,460