Battling the Books | June 19
The Return of Mr. NASCAR
So, with two months to go before football kicks in and nothing but the WNBA to play from now until then, where am I going to get my action fix?
How about – NASCAR?
Yes, I know, I used to think the same thing: it’s difficult enough to pick the winner between two teams, but to have to pick the winner from 30+ guys running in a race?
No thanks.
But when I moved to Vegas the guys at the sportsbook told me about Head to Head matchups. This was something new to me, something the bookies back in Jersey didn’t offer.
Unexpectedly, NASCAR became my favorite sport to bet on because of the Sunday contest we had. Each week me and two of the other managers would pick one matchup, and we would spend the afternoon rooting for the other guys’ driver to crash. It doesn’t sound funny telling the story, but it was absolutely the most fun I had in the book; it was the time we laughed the most. In my last year there I won the contest and was given the title Mr. NASCAR.
I have a short attention span so as with most things I eventually lost interest in NASCAR. But lately, I have a renewed interest, and between now and when football starts, I’m going to post some NASCAR matchups. And I don’t even have to spend a lot of time on handicapping it.
I don’t need to.
Why not?
DO YOU GUYS NOT READ VIRGINIA VROOM??!!
Every week, our very own NASCAR guru (Gearhead? Motorhead?) gives you a detailed breakdown of the race with her choices for the possible winner.
This past week three of the four guys she named finished in the top 10!
Here’s how I spend part of my Sunday mornings – I look over Virginia’s race analysis and suggestions on who might take the checkered flag. Next, I head to our sponsors to find two or three head-to-head matchups using one of her picks against a driver who’s not one of her picks.
I don’t like laying heavy juice (especially in a sport I know very little about) so I look for a matchup where the guy I want is a slight favorite or dog, and I put my money down.
Then I watch the race, hoping my guy’s opponent develops engine trouble or gets taken out in a multi-car crash. (NO, I don’t actively root for someone to get hurt, but crashing is part of the game and better the book’s guy than mine.)
Watch for my matchups in the next coming weekends.
Today, I have a whopping six plays that fit my systems. I’m using three of them.
Below, my picks and next to them the record for the play.
- Atl/Min Un161′ (4-4 overall but a subset at 2-1)
- Sea/LV Ov 170’ (2-0)
- LV – 6 (6-9; 2-4 on home teams)
Yes, the numbers on Vegas look lousy; I’m betting against two strong trends I have.
And after betting against them for a win with New York four days ago I said I’d look to go against Vegas if I got the chance this week because they’re playing so poorly. But it’s the same lineup as last year, so there’s no reason to believe they’re not going to turn it around. Hopefully tonight?
Recap: 0-1
Record: 10-8
Review: Good thing I didn’t know before tip-off that New York was going to score 92 points last night, or I would have made it an investment play. And I would have lost.
How did I lose the game when New York scored 92? Phoenix hit 55% FG and 50% on three pointers.
Pending: Oklahoma -40′
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