Hard to know where to start this morning, probably best to begin with the more mundane stuff and move on from there. Firstly, I was disappointed with the Cagliari bet, at 2-0 down they were denied a perfectly "good" goal and within two minutes of that, were further frustrated by Julio Cesar making a wonder save from Nene. Our fate was sealed from that point really and if the visitors had gone in at 2-2 or even 2-1 it might have been a very different story. The Sardinians created plenty of chances, 17 in total and enjoyed the bulk of possession, although to be fair, at 2-0 Inter were happy to sit back and let the visitors make the running, but even without a couple of key players and playing away to the best team in Italy, Cagliari showed that they are not a side to oppose lightly.
I also watched most of the Dunfermline-Celtic Scottish Cup tie, Bhoys boss Tony Mowbray changed things around a bit and started with Robbie Keane on the bench. He came on at the half and helped his side ease home as they of course should do, against lower league opposition. Keane is way too good for the SPL, no offence meant, but it is true. Having said that, if he retains his enthusiasm and can work on getting his team mates on a similar wavelength in training, he should be able to help raise the overall standard considerably at Celtic Park.
Having watched a lot of the SPL, I did not think that there was too much between Rangers and Celtic (certainly not ten points), even before the recent signings and Mowbray has bought well in addition to Keane. However, despite there still being two derby games to come, it is difficult to see the Gers dropping enough points in the bread and butter games to throw away, what with goal difference, is effectively an eleven point lead. But the meeting at Ibrox on the last day of the month will be "interesting" and I just get the feeling that the Hoops will find a way to put some life back into the title race before the end of the season.
On to the Superbowl, we suffered a minor loss with the two prop bets, but hopefully this was more than covered by a bet on the Saints to win, either straight up or on the handicap. I have just known that they would win this year for many months, as I said yesterday, some things are just meant to be, on top of everything else they were the best team and occasionally, but only occasionally, there is justice in this life.
New Orleans started slowly and were ten points behind early in the game before grinding their way back into contention. Coach Sean Payton took two gambles in the game, the first with the score at 10-3 and 4th and goal to go, he snubbed the three points on offer to look for a touchdown, that backfired, which made the decision to take an onside kick to start the second half even braver and more amazing. This worked almost to perfection, I say almost, as the Who Dat Nation and yours truly could have done without the wait, of what seemed like days, whilst a huge pile of footballers were removed one by one, to see who held the pigskin at the bottom of the heap. It was Saint Chris Reis who emerged from under three tons of meat with the ball and that turned the game fully in his team's favour , continuing to keep Peyton Manning off the field of play. Manning had looked imperious in the opening quarter, hardly breaking sweat, but it is difficult for even the greatest quarterback (possibly) in history to score from the sidelines. I cannot put into words how stunning that play call was.
I love Drew Brees, he quite rightly took the MVP award as is normal for the winning quarterback, but my MOTM is Payton for making that call............ totally outrageous ! He even sent his players onto the field ahead of that play with the words "go out and make me look good" .... pretty cool.
The win provided a total 92 point profit for a 5 point investment to email subscribers, who were sent my sole outright Superbowl bet back in September. In addition to which, I have gone 6 from 7 on all NFL match bets this season, an 86% strike rate.
Good Luck.
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