NFL Week 3: Australia

After the last two weeks of incredibly poor picking, and the Trent mess, it feels like it is time for a vacation from the picks and NFL analysis to get recharged. The best way to do this is to recap the best vacation we have had out here in Asia so far - our trip to Australia.

In February, we spent 4 days in Sydney and 5 days at an island near the reef. The whole trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience - kind of like trading your star RB after 18 games. The trip started off on the wrong foot, as we watched a replay of the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl in the hotel lobby as we checked in. Not knowing the score (or the whole story about the power outage), we kept hoping that Kaepernick would pull something out to win...but no dice.

Sydney was wonderful - clean, clear, friendly, beautiful. I was surprised to see that the city is fairly small in terms of size and population...it's about 4 million people in total, and the total area of the city limits seemed to be shrunk in. It reminded me of Boston (but with much, much nicer people and weather).

The best part of Sydney was a water taxi coming in from a day trip to the mountains back to the harbor. What sites! The Opera House glistened that day.

Oh - and the gambling! I meant to make this a separate post earlier - but I never got around to it. Australia has gaming - and it's great! Yes, there is one casino in Sydney. We went there one night, taught my friend how to play craps. Two impressions:
1. It was a $10 minimum; we were playing the pass line with single odds. I threw $2 on the hard 10. It was returned to me. Why? "Sir, this is a $10 minumum table!". So the minimum on the hard ways was $10, as well.......surprising to see them turn down that action.
2. At the end of the session, we made a few dollars, so I threw a couple of purple chips to them. (In Australia, purples are $5.). It also was rejected. "No tipping allowed, sir". OK then!

But the best part was the TAB machines. I'm not sure what TAB stands for, but it is an electronic kiosk that was everywhere in downtown Sydney. The kiosks are set up for sports betting....multiple sports were available from all over the world!. On this random February day, it was lunchtime - about 1:00 Australian time - which meant it was 10:00 pm Pacific time. I stepped up to the kiosk - there were late night NBA games still to tip off!

$5 wager on Sacramento getting +7.5 vs. Utah - easy money! (yes, they did win)

And then it was off to the Reef. Just amazing. The water was clear, the weather was wonderful, and I can't even try to do justice to the sea life we saw in the ocean. It was disconcerting to be sent out 18 miles away from the island to a random buoy in order to go snorkeling.....but it's something the boys and us will never forget.*

(*except for Martin. We kept him home at the day care. Hope he will forgive us!)

The recreational activities were memorable, too. 90 minutes of tubing for the boys. They had a racquetball court - and everyone had fun whakcing the ball all over the walls. Sailboating and trying to see Dad manage a catamaran.

An incredible vacation...and it's full of memories of great times when things get depressing here in China.

Kind of like now....these are the days I sit in the corner, hold me knees, and just mutter "Bernie.....Brennan.....Dixon..... Minnifield.....Matthews .....Mack......Langhorne...... Slaughter....."

I just hope our managment knows what it's doing to send us down this path.......or else I will be dreaming of Australia and the mid-80s Browns more and more.....

Now, to the picks ....I'm recharged after that recollection Down Under! Time to reclaim the mojo!

Hou 23, Bal 13.  I watched that Ravens offense vs. the Browns last week - I am not impressed.

NYG 31, Car 20. Hmmm...a desperate team with a good passing offense (Giants) meet a team where it's biggest weakness is its pass defense......

Cin 23, GB 20. I'm thinking the Bengals D will put up a good fight against the one-dimensional Packers.

Dal 27, StL 17. I don't see the Rams keeping up with the Cowboys offense in Dallas.

NE 21, TB 16. I don't think any outcome would surprise me here.

NO 30, Az 27. I am impressed with the Palmer - Fitzgerald connection.

Ten 27, SD 20. I know very little about the Chargers..but I have been impressed with the improvement of the Titans so far this season.

Was 27, Det 24.  I don't think we can trust Detroit outside until further notice...(or until Oct 13th.)

Mia 24, Atl 20. A classic stay away game. Is Miami for real? Can Atlanta play well outdoors? Will Miami's run game show up? Will Atlanta's offense be consistent against a competent defense?

NYJ 20, Buf 13. Let's be clear - the Bills had 3 points in the first half vs. the Panthers - at home - and 7 offensive points at the half vs. the Pats - at home. This is a road game. I have faith in the Jets D.

SF 30, Ind 17. The Niners will take out their anger from last week against the poor Indy line.

Sea 23, Jax 10. You always take 19 points. Always ! Especially after an emotional win by the home team the prior week.

Chi 24, Pit 23. I see a turnover fest here leading to easy points on both sides.

Den 34, Oak 17. We all know what Denver can do - I am interested to see how good or bad Oakland is.

And if these results hold, there will be a three way tie for second in the AFC North at 1-2. I have a good feeling about the game today. Just when everyone writes them off.....

Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 6-9; overall: 12-19-1.
Hou -1
Hou/Bal under 45
NYG -2
Cin +3
GB/Cin under 49 1/2
TB/NE under 44
Az +7
Az/NO over 48 1/2
Ten -3
Was +1
NYJ  -2 1/2
SF -10
Jax +18 1/2
Sea/Jax under 40 1/2
Chi/Pit over 40 1/2

Supercontest: time to get in gear. Last week: 1-4; overall: 2-7-1. Ugh.

NYG +1
Ten -3
Cin +2 1/2
NYJ -2 1/2
Jax +19