I'm Serious About This Sh-t!!!

Kudos to Arizona Cadinals Quarterback Derek Anderson for his post game blow up last night at reporters following an embarrassing loss and even more deplorable performance on his part. As if losing to the common man was not bad enough (I received texts all night reminding me of how easy this 49ers play was), I had to suffer the indignation of seeing Derek Anderson laughing on the sidelines as his team was getting their asses kicked. Personally I could care less if this guy chooses to laugh his balls off post game, just don't rub it in my face that you could give a damn while the game is still going on. That being said, his feigned anger post game was laudable as he stormed off the podium after being badgered over his in game antics on the sideline.

After last night's "Epic Fail" courtesy of the Cardinals, I am yielding the floor to former collegiate Division 1 hoops star and newest Propick hoops analyst Michael Powell. The big Kat (or White Chocolate), as the ladies call him is releasing Mizzouri +1 at home against Georgetown. White chocolate's proprietary model suggests a slight lean towards Georgetown on a neutral court but due to the "situational" advantages that Mizzouri has going for them at home, this one is a no brainer. As Powell notes, Georgetown has tremendous athletic ability up and down their bench, however this team has not yet been tested and will miss the presence of Greg Monroe. Tonight's release.....Mizzouri +1 over Georgetown.

After hearing unconfirmed rumors circulating that all world quarterback and matinee idol Tom Brady has hair plugs, I thought it was imperative for me to issue a statement on behalf of one of New York's most eligible bachelors, Marxy. While Marxy may drop close to two bills every time his "european" stylist grabs a hold of the scissors, rest assured ladies, the flowing mane is real. When pressed for a comment regarding Brady's hair, Marxy simply took the high road by replying "the guys gotten a ton of tail, he cold wear a rroad kill on his head and it wouldn't matter".

Perfect Practice.......

With five weeks left in the regular season, this is truly put up or shut up time throughout the NFL. More importantly, this is the time of year when Propick elevates his game along the lines of: Brady, Manning, Marxy, etc. After a few crackheaded teasers came in yesterday (courtesy of my new lucky friend), I escaped what could have been a losing weekend thanks to dramatic wins by the Giants and Steelers. Whenever a streak emerges from a lackluster weekend of games, it is time to make a push and that push starts tonight.

In what could best be described as "a degenerates delight", the San Francisco 49ers find themselves visiting the Arizona Cardinals in tonight's Monday Night Football game of the year. After taking a look at the upcoming weekend lines, I was tempted to pass on this game but instead, thought long and hard about the type of people I would be alienating. Everyone who got blistered this weekend is trying to decipher which of these 3-7 teams has an edge and in the process, how they can make all their money back. So far, I have heard the common man speak and quite frankly, it disturbs me. People, this is the time to adhere to your discipline. While a discipline can sometimes fail you, hopping on board the common man express can be suicidal from a financial standpoint.

The best 3-7 team around. This is one of the common man phrases that has been used to describe the 49ers. You know the guy: fat and bald who talks about "that really hot chick who was into me but I had to leave the bar, had to get up early the next day for work". Guess what? Would've, could've, and should've doesn't pay the bills fatso. The fact that the word "best" can be attributed to a team with seven losses, who plays in the worst division in the history of professional sports, is absolutely ludacris. With this much fervor on the part of the common man I will run (not walk) away from the 49ers tonight. Regardless of the outcome I can rest assured that I will not find myself awake at 4am wondering why "Derek Anderson was able to torch a 49ers secondary, who despite being awful, has talent. Tonight's play......Cardinals +2 over the "talented but underacheiving 49ers".

After hosting a conference call this morning with Marxy, I was once again reminded of how critical a month December is. After some innocuous bullshitting with regards to the weekend, Marxy let it be known that "I own this upcoming month". Before I could even reply "thoughts about tonight's Mavs-Rockets game"?, Marxy informed me that this weekend's mini sabatical from the nightlife would serve him well during holiday party crunch time. While many of us are crying "uncle" on a Monday night after a week long crash course, it will be Marxy saluting bartenders and patrons alike, wondering where all the competition went. As Marxy is fond of saying, "perfect practice, makes perfect partying" and my favorite "life is not a test run". In honor of December Marxy has released the Rockets +9 over the Mavs tonight in the NBA.

Bender Anyone?????

With a long weekend ahead of us, most of my colleagues are looking forward to sitting back and enjoying their time off. Unfortunately, Propick Sports Inc. has been working overtime trying to dissect these early pro and college football games. Without further adieu, here are tomorrow's winners.

Lions +7 over the Patriots. This is heresy. Betting against Brady and little Bill is the equivalent of handicapping suicide. That being said, the Lions catching a touchdown at home on turkey day is too much to pass up. This is purely a contrarian play. Although the Lions are a tough out at home, this is not my main reason for releasing them tomorrow. With over 80 percent of the gaming public playing the Patriots one can only ask "are eight out of every ten people going to be right on this one?". The last time this many people were on the same ship it was called the Titanic and we all know how that one ended. Hold your nose, close your eyes, and take the Lions.

Dallas +3.5 over New Orleans. Much to the chagrin of my team of statistical analysts, I cannot help but side with the Cowboys. While both teams have played much better as of late, the Saints are without a doubt the public's team in this matchup. With the Saints getting healthier and Drew Breeze regaining his MVP form, conventional wisdom suggests that the Saints will cover this game in relatively easy fashion. However, this is a short week and Dallas applies very favorably to this particular backdrop. Furthermore, Dallas' physical defense manhandled the Saints, in their previous meeting last December.

I would be remiss if I failed to give some much deserved credit to New York City's cultural icon, Marxy. After running the NYC marathon at a time of 2:45, Marxy managed to throw down about fourteen drinks, while entertaining a bevy of young babes. While impressive, nothing could hold a candle to this past weekend's performance which involved "relieving" himself during a walk down Lexington avenue, while conducting a conversation (talk about multi tasking). After an appearance at a charity function, Marxy decided to keep the night going by closing down several of the city's best known haunts. At one point Marxy turned to me and said "We haven't even hit the December bender period yet. Can you imagine what that will be like?" No Marxy, I cannot. As your brother often says "I have no bids for any of your stories". With all due respect, we at Propick have nothing but bids for these stories. Keep em coming......

A Time For Thanks.....

After a brief hiatus from blogging, I am back with a new found passion. Not since my epic 2006-07 Bowl Season run(Boise State over Oklahoma moneyline and +7, Florida moneyline over Ohio State), have I felt this in the zone. Furthermore, the Propick team has really upped their collective game, thanks in part to Mike "Big Daddy" Powell and Boston cultural legend JWhip. Both Powell and Jwhip have finely honed their college and NBA gaming acumen and have been dropping winners like confetti at the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

For those of you living under a rock the past few years both Big Daddy and JWhip are former College athletes. While Whip tortured defensive backs up and down the east coast (yes, he was that dude wearing #7), Powell was busy posterizing opposing small forwards during his division I reign of terror in the early-mid 1990's. Why is this relevant? As a result of their past athletic success, both these men aspire to conquer the world of sports handicapping. Now please do not get carried away, neither of these men are in the class of myself, however they are pretty damn close.

After scouring tonight's matchups I found two NBA contests that should deliver the goods. With Thanksgiving just two days away, I feel the added burden which comes with the trappings of my recent success. Knicks -2.5 over the Bobcats. The Knicks eventually need to play better at home and who better to beat up on than the lowly Bobcats? Furthermore, expect point guard Raymond Felton to unleash a can of whoop ass on his old team, who dropped him like a bad rash.

Cavaliers +5 over Indiana. The common man can hardly contain himself upon seeing this line. Let us review: last night Indiana beat up on Miami, on the road no less and now are back home playing the pourous Cavs. Using such OBVIOUS logic, the common man can only draw one illogical conclusion....Indiana should win by twenty. Listen, if life was this easy everyone would be rich. The discipline is to fade concensus and that means takings the Cavs +5 tonight.

Bowling For Dinero......

After getting blown out of the water with yesterday's Florida vs. Ohio State loss, I am officially putting Florida in the penalty box until further notice. As talented as the Buckeyes are, the Gators second half meltdown does not bode well for coach Donavan's squad going forward. A lack of poise combined with a coach who has failed to accomplish anything in almost four years is something which should concern all Gator fans. Call it an overreaction on my part but this effort(or lack thereof), is not indicative of a top 25 team.

Tonight's mismatch in college football features the 6-4 Toledo Rockets hosting the abysmal 2-8 Bowling Green Falcons. Let me first say that unless you have a gambling problem or are completely devoid of a social life, there is absolutely no excuse for watching this game. That being said, for those of us who meet the aforementioned criteria here we go. Despite their subpar season, Toledo is still towards the top of a lousy conference and will look to bounce back from their blowout loss at the hands of Northern Illinois last week. Furthermore, Bowling Green is just porous on both sides of the ball and should have trouble stopping a half way decent team like Toledo. At -10.5, this line offers fair value. In fact, I would lay up to -13 with Toledo in anticipation of a blowout win. Tonight's release.....Toledo -10.5 over Bowling Green.

That Time of Year Again.....

In full disclosure, I have not yet put forth the mandatory effort with regards to analyzing the college hoops season. Besides a cursory glance at a few statistical trends and returning starters on major division I college teams, the crux of my research has been put on hold until the end of both the college and pro football seasons. That being said, there is still money to be made and I plan on littering my fan base with luccini falling from the sky.

Tonight's marquee matchup featuring the Ohio Sate Buckeyes and Florida Gators is a battle of two top ten teams. While Ohio State has had more success in recent years, (the Florida program has fallen off a cliff post 2006/2007 National Championship titles), things appear to have taken a turn for the better in Gainesville. With Buckeye star Evan Turner now playing for the NBA's 76ers, this Buckeye squad will need to find ways to compensate for his departure. Meanwhile, the Gators have a group of players who are finally coming into their own and should make a quantum leap this season.

With the Gators -2 at home, I will side with the overwhelming early season statistical trend that favors the home team in games between two evenly matched programs. Tonight's release.....Gators -2 over Ohio State.

Greatest Sports Handicappers......

After being invited to a private screening of an upcoming independent film on legendary sports handicappers, I had an epiphany. What better idea then for Propick to release a memoir either in the form of a novel or more realistically, a high octane docudrama known as my sports handicapping career?

Despite this particular movie's plot being interesting, this was a story that has been recanted a million times over. While the average square might find the predictable story about some dope going on an ill advised gaming bender until he eventually blows himself up in the form of a blown marriage and unfathomable debt, must see cinema, it did very little for me. If someone really wants to send chills down their spine and experience sleepless nights, then stay tuned for "Propick: A Life on the Edge". Bankrolls, nefarious underworld characters, ladies of "ill refute", high end businessmen who can't pick a winner to save their lives, and above all the double lives of those close to us all. Shallow waters run deep.......

After crushing it this weekend with my prescient Cowboys and Patriots plays, I must give praise to the gaming god's who oversaw my Jets overtime cover. In all my years of gaming, rarely have I ever experienced such deep rooted joy. Furthermore, the real joy took place post game as I rolled through Gotham in a vintage white limousine (limo-seen). All that was missing was a pair of vintage white Gucci's but rest assured, I was decked out in my Sergio Taccini track suit circa 1988. Oh what a night!

Tonight's game between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets is the definition of "trappy". The Suns just came off a hard fought win over the Lakers last night and return home to face a more talented and rested Dever squad. Initial instinct is to take Denver to win this one in a laugher. However, with the line Denver +2, Vegas is begging you to take the Nuggets. Furthermore, the favorite in this series is 12-3-1 in their lst fifteen games head to head. Couple that with the Suns recent dominance of the Nuggets in Phoenix and I will side take the Suns, despite coming off an emotional win in LA. Tonight's play.....Suns -2 over Denver.

Cowboy Up......

After a brief hiatus, as a show of respect for former Cowboys head coach and football luminary Wade Phillips, I am back with this weekend's winners. Following a very strange week in both college and pro football, I expect a return to some form of normalcy. In an effort to be as succinct as possible, here we go.

Jets -3 Over Cleveland. The Browns are coming together as a team and have posted some impressive victories in recent weeks, most notably the dismantling of the Saints and Patriots. However, this is a bad situation for the Browns. Although the Jets have put forth several lackluster efforts as of late, this is a tough matchup for the Browns. Unlike the Saints and Patriots, the Jets are a tenacious team who will shut down a potent Browns running game. Furthermore, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will be running for his life and forced out of his comfort zone. The last team the Browns played that resembled this Jets team was the Steelers and Pittsburgh dominated them. Although I am no fan of the road favorite, not all road favorites are created equal. Take the Jets -3 over the Browns.

Cowboys +14 Over the Giants. When was the last time the Cowboys were 14 point underdogs in a game? The answer, 2001 when they were catching 17 against the Raiders. Make no mistake about it, the Cowboys are a collection of heartless losers. That said, this is a rivalry game and the Giants have several key injuries to their offensive line. While I have no doubt the Giants will emerge victorious, I prefer to take the two touchdowns in the event of a backdoor cover. Remember, if Dallas' talented but lazy defense shows up to play, Eli Manning could get knocked around behind several new starters on the offensive line. Does anyone expect the Giants to try and win by three touchdowns late in the fourth quarter? This is a classic risk/reward play. The release....Dallas +14.

Hawaii Five O

Following the Jets Santonio Holmes overtime grab which would have led to a touchdown and subsequent six point win (more importantly the hooking of the book), I found myself experiencing the mother of all prison rapings as a Detroit Lions linebacker tracked him down to make a touchdown saving tackle. As a result, the Jets proceeded to run the ball right up the middle before knocking down the game winning overtime field goal. At that moment I could not help but question the bane of my existence. What was my costly error? Taking the road favorite. In this case I refused to adhere to my discipline and in the end, this cost me dearly.

Tonight's matchup between the Bengals and Steelers will no doubt feature the re- emergence of the common man. Throughout cities everywhere all one has to do is look around and spot the average dope wearing a big Ben or Hines Ward jersey. The Steelers are perhaps the best team in the league and feature the best overall balance of any team in the NFL. Factor in a loss to the Saints last week and the common man is chomping at the bits to lay the six points to this lousy Bengals team.

Last year the Bengals swept the Steelers and despite an abysmal start to the 2010 season, the Bengals did defeat the Baltimore Ravens in week two. While the Bengals are in complete disarray, I expect a spirited effort from this talented but undisciplined squad tonight. Although I am expecting the Steelers to pull out a victory, I will gladly take the Bengals and the points. The Release....Bengals +6 over the Steelers.

Congratulations to Marxy for running this years 2010 New York City Marathon in 2 hours and 46 minutes. In addition to braving the elements, specifically the wind, Marxy did so while wearing his trademark Hawaiian party shirt. As Marxy fist pumped his way through the five boroughs, the greatest display of support came from the good folks in Harlem who were enamored with his choice of attire. Chants of "run Hawaiian man run" served as a source of inspiration for the cultural icon best known for riding on the back of a garbage truck through the east village. Furthermore, when asked about the preparation that went into the race, Marxy merely replied "I was able to get a lot of practice runs in during the past few weeks and really cut down on the late night buffoonery". Well done Marxy, well done!

Techno Bowl......

Tonight's primetime ESPN college football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Georgia Tech Yellow jackets features two of the more intruiging programs in the country. After a lackluster start to the year which included an opening game loss to Boise State followed by a shocking upset at the hands of James Madison, Virginia Tech has bounced back by winning and more importantly covering everyone of their last six games.

Georgia Tech has been somewhat enigmatic. Despite an impressive arsenal of offensive weapons and their triple option formation, the Yellow Jackets are 5-3 and a piss poor 3-5against the spread. That being said, the line opened with Georgia Tech catching 15 points before finally settling in at Georgia Tech +12.5. Considering the past two games between these teams resulted in margins of victory of only 5 and 3 points, this line appears to be out of whack. Furthermore, Georgia Tech's offense is difficult to prepare for since no one else in the ACC runs their triple option formation.

Can Virginia Tech cover this number? This line appears to be a misprint. Vegas knows how close these teams have played eahc other in past years and still, they are begging you to take Georgia Tech. Vegas and every "common man" on the planet is well aware of Georgia Tech's success running out of their triple option formation. What makes anyone confident that Virginia Tech will be able to shut this down? Here's the rub. Virginia Tech is coming off a bye week in which they have had two weeks to prepare for Georgia Tech's offense. In addition, the Hokies are playing at home on a Thursday night where they should enjoy an even greater homefield advantage. Most impressively, Virginia Tech is 14-4 in their last 18 games on Thursday night against the spread.

The Release. After weighing the pros and cons of this game, my initial gut instinct liked the points with Georgia Tech, while my math/situational model strongly favored Virginia Tech. If this line was Virginia Tech -8.5 up to -9.5, I would feel less confident about them. However, the sheer magnitude of this line makes me more convinced that the Hokies will win this game in convincing fashion. All signs point to a close game followed by Virginia Tech pulling away towards the end of the third quarter. With a tradition of stellar special teams play, look for the Hokies to capitalize on something along the lines of a blocked punt return or a kickoff return for a touchdown. Tonight's play.... Virginia Tech -12.5 over Georgia Tech.

Dumbfounded....

Tonight's game five matchup between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants features a rematch of the unexpected game one slugfest between Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum. Unlike last Wednesday, when the Giants won an 11-7 contest, do not expect a repeat peformance from either team. After having four days rest, both Lee and Lincecum should be in their usual lockdown mode.

At Giants +159 the natural inclination is to jump all over them. With a comfortable three games to one lead, all the pressure has shifted to the Texas Rangers who are playing just to get the series back to San Francisco for game six. Furthermore, the Giants have the defending two time Cy Young award winner on the mound. Why wouldn't I bet the Giants?

This line stinks. I lean Giants because I expect both starting pitchers to be highly effective and go at least seven innings tonight. While the Giants possess a decided edge in the matchup of bullpens, Cliff Lee is more than capable of pitching a complete game. As a result, I will release the Under 6.5 in anticipation of a 3-2 type of game. When the series opened this same line was set at 5.5. Take advantage of the extra run that has been provided.

Much to the chagrin of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and fans everywhere, Wade Phillips has once again announced that he is "dumbfounded". Even more shocking is the need that he would continually have to make such an announcement. Anyone watching a single minute of any Cowboys game would clearly see that Wadeface is either suffering from constipation or incredibly fustrated by his teams putrid play. As poorly coached as this team is, that does not explain the gutless effort put forth by the Cowboys as a whole. This is without a doubt, the most heartless collection of professional athletes I have seen in my lifetime. When the highlight of their season was the $57,000 dinner bill racked up during a training camp dinner on rookie Dez Bryant, that served as a foreshadowing of how bad the situation would unravel in big D.