Mark’s Musings – Feb. 3, 2016
Mark Fortune
Last week this column reported that my face was freezing due to the cold snap that hit our area. Today, not so much. It’s more like an early spring day with temperatures in the low 40s as I write this piece. We’re seven weeks away from spring with nary a wintry mix in sight. Thankfully. We deserve a break don’t we? In fact, I saw a couple of motorcycles out and about on Sunday – not by themselves of course. Being ridden.
For those that follow Buckeyes basketball the men almost pulled off a big upset against Maryland on Sunday. A good contest to watch as a young Buckeyes team continues to surprise in all ways. They may surprise someone come Big10 tournament time, depending on the matchup.
Of course, all eyes are on the big game this week. Now, if I knew how to read the odds I could give you some numbers from Vegas. I don’t. My pick is Denver. Manning wants to go out on top and the Broncos defense is better than most realize. And defense, as they say, wins championships. So let’s go a step further and make a prediction on the score. Denver 24, Carolina 17. Vegas has the Panthers as a six point favorite. Winning number 50 has special significance so I think the attention on the game will be ratcheted up even a few notches above the norm. This is huge.
If anyone cares, the Browns are 100-1 to win the AFC championship next year. No team in the AFC has worse odds. Speaking of odds, let’s roll back to the above paragraph – did you know that the NFL, NBA, the NHL and Major League baseball have all signed agreements with various odds makers, some in secret, and some public, so they can start sharing in a billion dollar business that until recently, was complete taboo. Where are you Pete Rose? If this becomes a reality, then baseball continuing to deny Pete acceptance into Cooperstown is a mockery.
Baseball has taken a positive step, signing an agreement with a U.K. based company to monitor betting lines and watch for suspicious activity that could indicate fixed games.
The leagues control the numbers. Well, let’s phrase that a little bit differently. The leagues control the huge amount of live data statistics and always up to date information that drives betting offshore and in the U.S.
According to an article on espn.com the deals lay the groundwork for when sports betting becomes legal in the United States – which is predicted to happen. Right now it’s a little shady with the leagues involved with some companies that have, in fact, been accused of operating illegal sports betting enterprises.
Are you ready for all that chocolate? The Chocolate Extravaganza is on the way! As is the annual Open House at the Coshocton County Career Center and the wrap-up for the United Way campaign which is oh so close to achieving this year’s goal. You can still give. Contact the office at 740-622-4567.
Category: Mark's Musings, Opinion
