o Analyze results, identify trends and predict outcomes for NFL, NBA, WTA and ATP matches.

o Assign player fantasy sports value, measure player efficiency, and compare and rank teams across eras.

Thursday, November 03, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 8 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line


Week 8 was one with inconsistent results and forces us to look at the division leaders.

1)  New England Patriots – continues to cover and has a 3 game lead in AFC East.

2)  Pittsburgh Steelers – Bye Week, lost previous two games and won the two before (big).

3)  Houston Texans – covered and is 2-2 in past 4 games. Covers when Favorite, and doesn't beat spread when the Underdog.

Monday, October 31, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 8 MNF Vikings Bears - Hedging the Straight Line

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For tonight's game:

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears--

1) Vikings to win by 7 points -- projected

2) Bears to lose by 8 points -- projected

3) Opening Spread -- Vikings (-5.5 points)

4) Projected O/U 37.45

5) Actual O/U 41.00

Thursday, October 27, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 8 TNF: Jaguars Titans - Hedging the Straight Line

http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nfl/images/2016/10/14/9597777-demarco-murray-nfl-tennessee-titans-miami-dolphins.jpgFor tonight's game: 

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans--

1) Jaguars to lose by 7.8 points -- projected

2) Titans to lose by 1 point -- projected

3) Spread -- Titans (-3.5)

4) Projected O/U 44.87

5) Actual O/U 43.50

NFL 2016 Week 7 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line

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Week 7 was pretty much a split between Favorites and Underdogs.

1)  New Orleans Saints – won 4 slots, lost the game and surprisingly didn't make the OVER.

2)  San Diego Chargers – won 4 slots and kept their season alive.

3)  Green Bay Packers – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

4)  Denver Broncos – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

Monday, October 24, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 7 MNF Texans Broncos - Hedging the Straight Line

For tonight's game: 

Houston Texans at Denver Broncos--

1) Texans to lose by 3 points -- projected

2) Broncos to win by 5 points -- projected

3) Opening Spread -- Broncos (-7.5 points)

4) Projected O/U 40.25

5) Actual O/U 40.50

Sunday, October 23, 2016

WTA Finals 2016 Singapore



Since the US Open ended six weeks ago, WTA players have been on the “Asian Swing”, the Road to Singapore. These six weeks of tournaments make up the end of their ten-month season and lead to the WTA Finals Singapore.

Unlike other WTA tournaments, Singapore is not single-elimination, but a round-robin for two groups of four Singles players. Each player plays three matches, and the top two players in each group face off against the other group in two semi-final matches and an eventual championship match.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 7 TNF: Bears Packers - Hedging the Straight Line

For tonight's game: 

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

1) Packers to win by 0.20 points -- projected

2) Bears to lose by 7 points -- projected

3) Spread -- Packers (-7.5)

4) Projected O/U 43.03

5) Actual O/U 46.00

NFL 2016 Week 6 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line

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This Week’s theme was Return of the Underdogs, as 11 beat the Spread:

1)  Kansas City Chiefs – won 5 out of 5 slots

2)  Buffalo Bills – won the two projected and the Away ATS slot

3)  Dallas Cowboys – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

4)  Washington Redskins – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

5)  Miami Dolphins – won the two ATS slots and the O/U

Monday, October 17, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 6 MNF Jets Cardinals - Hedging the Straight Line

For tonight's game: 

New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals--

1) Jets to win by 1.38 points -- projected

2) Cardinals to win by 7.17 points -- projected

3) Opening Spread -- Cardinals (-7.5 points)

4) Projected O/U 45.83

5) Actual O/U 46.50

Thursday, October 13, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 6 TNF: Broncos Chargers - Hedging the Straight Line

http://cbssports.com/images/blogs/philip-rivers-gloves-wins.jpgFor tonight's game: 

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers--

1) Broncos to win by 5 points -- projected

2) Chargers to lose by 3 points -- projected

3) Opening Spread -- Broncos (-3.5)

4) Projected O/U 44.43

5) Actual O/U 45.00

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 5 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line

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This Week’s Steady Performers:

1)  Buffalo Bills – won 5 out of 5 slots

2)  Arizona Cardinals – won 5 out of 5 slots

3)  New England Patriots – won the two projected and the O/U

4)  Green Bay Packers – won 5 out of 5 slots


Monday, October 10, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 5 MNF Bucs Panthers - Hedging the Straight Line

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For tonight's game: 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers


1) Bucs to lose by 6.3 points -- projected

2) Panthers to win by 9.1 points -- projected

3) Opening Spread -- Panthers (-6.5 points)

4) Projected O/U 49.93

5) Actual O/U 41.00


Thursday, October 06, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 5 TNF: Cards Niners - Hedging the Straight Line

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For tonight's game: 
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

1) Cardinals to win by 7 points -- projected

2) Niners to lose by 8 points -- projected

3) Opening Spread -- Cardinals -3.5

4) Projected O/U 44.14

5) Actual O/U 42.00

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 4 RESULTS- Hedging the Straight Line

This Week’s Steady Performers:

1)  Denver Broncos – won 4 out of 5 slots

2)  Cincinnati Bengals – won the two projected and the O/U

3)  Minnesota Vikings – won the two projected and split ATS (against the spread)

Monday, October 03, 2016

NFL 2016 Week 4 - Hedging the Straight Line


For tonight's game: NY Giants at Minnesota Vikings--

1) Giants to lose by 1 point -- projected
2) Vikings to win by 4 points -- projected
3) Opening Spread -- Viking -3.5
4) Projected O/U 45.70
5) Actual O/U 43.00


Tuesday, September 20, 2016

WTA US OPEN 2016 Finals Wrap-up

Angelique Kerber captured the world #1 ranking on her way to her second grand slam title and first US OPEN championship. She did it while only dropping one set in seven matches. That lone set loss came in the Finals against Karolina Pliskova, who defeated Serena Williams in the Semifinals. Pliskova had beaten Kerber the previous week to win the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Bears, Eagles, A Rush On Me - NFL 2016 MNF 2

Brandon Marshall - Denver Broncos
"After losing CenturyLink and Air Academy Credit Union as paid endorsements, entertainment mogul Russell Simmons has reached out to Marshall to get him to endorse “RushCard,” which is a prepaid Visa card."  --Curtis Crabtree

"Yes, they offer some convenience for the 25% of Americans who are unbanked or underbanked. But in exchange, prepaid cards charge exorbitant fees. Why not just educate people on how to bank smart and avoid fees through the use of fee-free FDIC-insured banks and credit unions? They do exist."  --CBS News 2011


Monday, September 12, 2016

Rams, Niners, A New Day - NFL 2016 MNF 1

"I’m talking about the Kaepernick Revolution that is currently underway. In short, we need a new National Anthem, one written by a non-bigot."

--Doni Glover







Sunday, September 04, 2016

My WTA US OPEN 2016 - Finals Pick, BRACKET FOUR



BRACKET FOUR

7 R. Vinci – Roberta plays the role of crafty veteran so well. She knows most players want to stand behind the baseline and hit away. I had Vinci losing to Christina McHale because Vinci has played a lot of tennis this past year. In recent outings, it seemed fatigue might have gotten to her. The amount of play has paid off because she has won enough to boost her points to keep her into the Top 10 in the rankings. This, in turn, has helped her avoid a seeded player this far into the tournament.

My WTA US OPEN 2016 - Finals Pick, BRACKET THREE



BRACKET THREE
8 M. Keys – I had Madison losing to Garbine Muguruza in the quarterfinals. Now, that moves her to a potential matchup against Angelique Kerber, provided she reaches the appropriate level of focus. She has dodged two losses in the first three rounds and can no longer press her luck.


My WTA US OPEN 2016 - Finals Pick, BRACKET TWO



BRACKET TWO
3 A. Radwanska – I had Aga reaching here and losing to Timea Bacsinszky, the second biggest disappointment of the tournament. She wins this round and likely faces Venus Williams. Depending on who has the tougher match this round, I could see Radwanska reaching the Semis.




My WTA US OPEN 2016 - Finals Pick, BRACKET ONE


Another major tournament and again the biggest disappointment is Garbine Muguruza, who lost in the second round. We are not being unfair to Muguruza. Ponder the numbers: 7 of the top 8 seeds made it to the Round of 16, and 4 of the next 8 seeds made it

That is not to say my bracket is not busted. IT IS!!!  I ended up with a 7 of 16 correct picks for a 43.75% output. Names in red were not my original selection, so I most likely will not pick them to go too far but I will give credit where it is due.