Chances are excellent you’ve heard that the key to smart investing is a diverse portfolio.
I agree. That’s why I invest in both favorites and underdogs. In unders and overs. In college games as well as NFL games.
Let’s face it — wagering on football gets the endorphins flowing decidedly more than a good day on Wall Street. It was nice to see General Electric close at $16.08 Thursday, an increase of almost three percent, but it didn’t get me off the recliner quite like a Brian Urlacher fumble return for a touchdown when I have the Bears and the over.
Week 1 was prosperous for me. NFL dogs were barking around the nation, and I was too with investments in the Bears, Lions, Jaguars, and Raiders. Those were four of the six underdogs that won outright.
I’m going to the window and saying “Bearsss” again this weekend. Team McCaskey is a 7-point underdog.
With Will Smith sidelined, the Saints pass rush is average at best and that’s the best way — maybe the only way — to get your feet on the Bears’ throat. I expect the Mike Martz offense to make enough big plays to keep it close.
Saints receiver Marques Colston is out with a broken collarbone. While Colston hasn’t put up the numbers we thought he would after his second year in 2007 (98 receptions for 1,200-plus yards and 11 TDs), he has been their most consistent threat and poses a size advantage against smaller cornerbacks, such as the Bears’ feisty Tim Jennings.
Drew Brees spreads it around nicely, but I’m rolling the dice on the Bears defense to keep tabs on the great Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and tight ends Jimmy Graham and David Thomas.
Throw in the “Let’s do this thing for Brian’s mom” rally cry that will ensue in the Crescent City, this just feels like anything but the Bears getting their butts kicked.
Still, Saints win it, 27-23.
* John Harbaugh’s Ravens made the biggest statement in Week 1 with their evisceration of the Steelers. The Ravens forced seven turnovers, and quarterback Joe Flacco looked sharp.
* Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh made one of the dumbest statements of the week when he bemoaned the postgame shows not showing enough highlights of his 49ers’ 33-17 win over the Seahawks. Aside from a pair of Ted Ginn Jr. returns for touchdowns, there weren’t many offensive highlights from which to choose as the 49ers muscled out a mere 209 yards of total offense, second worst in the NFL.
John Harbaugh: unflappable leader. Jim Harbaugh: petulant goof.
* Did you ever think you’d term Cedric Benson a “must-play” in fantasy football? The oft-maligned Bengals running back was one of only seven NFL runners to rush for triple digits last week, finishing with 121 yards in his team’s win over the Browns.
On Sunday, the Bengals visit the Broncos, who were unsuccessful defending Darren McFadden (150 yards) of the Raiders in Monday night’s curtain closer for Week 1.
* Now that Illinois has concluded sparring sessions with Arkansas State and South Dakota State, we’ll see what Ron Zook really has when the Illini host No.22 Arizona State on Saturday night. The Illini are a 1-point favorite.
* If comedic actors Adam Sandler and Rob Riggle could procreate and have a son, he would grow up to be Ohio State interim head coach Luke Fickell.
* Speaking of Ohio State, former Buckeyes quarterback Art Schlichter is in trouble again. The 51-year-old Schlichter pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sports ticket fraud Thursday and is looking at 10 years in prison.
Somebody should tell Art to stop embarrassing the program.
Special contributor Dan McNeil co-hosts “The McNeil and Spiegel Show” weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670
