The Chase or Let's Take a Ride Into a One Lane Tunnel
Whether you’re a seasoned, grizzled gambling veteran or a new kid on the block trying to make a few bucks for a case of Natural Light, the insidious thing that one time (actually many times) grabs all gamblers is the chase. Sometimes called tunnel vision, no matter what you call it, the chase is just that- you’re hot after a team because you’re too close to the situation. Maybe you feel they will win or as it is in most cases, you simply think they owe you one.
What happens is, say you’ve been betting on the Rams. While I offer my condolences and will not say “ouch,” raise your hand if you bet the Rams big back in Week 3? I see a lot of hands out there.
Let me refresh your memories.
After losing to the Broncos and the Giants, the 0-2 Rams headed to Tampa
Bay on Monday night. Chants of, “Ain’t no way the Rams are going 0-3”
reverberated in barrooms and barbershops across the gambling world.
For some of you, the Rams owed you big time. You played them in Week
One, doubled up in Week Two, and all hell be damned, you were going
to the St. Louis cupboard one more time. They owed you, or so you thought.
Well, I don’t have to say anything else. The Rams lost, and continue to do so. And pity the gambler who continues to chase them.
Look closely at this week’s schedule and you’ll see the defending NFC Champs are underdogs at home- my, my, things change.
Tunnel vision is the close cousin to the chase. In this bad for your wallet scenario, you get fixated on game or two, and fall so much in love with it that nothing can sway your opinion. You so become attached that you begin to manufacture facts, pulling trends and stats to add weight to your selection. The problem is, you only look one way—you’ve entered a one-lane tunnel and can’t look in any other direction.
The “tunnel vision” virus is biting me this week. I’ve seen the Miami Hurricanes play. I’ve watched the FSU Seminoles play and I see nothing about them to warrant a bet. But of course, I’ve looked for nothing.
FSU lost to Louisville then played Clemson. Sure they won by 17 (48-31) but the Tigers out yarded the Seminoles only to have four Clemson turnovers lead to 24 Florida St. points. FSU middle linebacker Jerel Hudson practiced Wednesday for the first time since the Clemson game. Their best DB, safety BJ Ward is likewise wounded. It’s looking bleak for Fla. State.
And for you trend freaks, look at this: Play home favorites of 7.5 to 14 points (MIAMI) - with an excellent passing D that allow 125 or less passing yards/game. (17-5 ATS for 77.3% this year).
In short, I’m so fixated on this game and have been so in love with Miami from the get-go, that I’ve done nothing to make a case for FSU. Of course, I’ve failed to tell you that the line opened with Miami lying 13.5 and it’s now down to 12.5.
What I have to do, and you have to likewise do is look for reasons NOT to play the Miami Hurricanes and look for reasons to play the ‘Noles of FSU, or whatever the scenario that has you stuck in a tunnel. The reasons are there if you search for them long enough.
Good luck this week and remember, no team owes you anything.
Nick R.
