Incredible cover in the money
The gambling season, like the Patriots’ Revenge Tour, could only end one way. A season full of wins and covers could not possibly finish with the Pats leaving Houston after getting routed by the talented but unseasoned Atlanta Falcons.
It was stunning enough that the Patriots rallied from the grave to beat the Falcons, 34-28, in overtime at Super Bowl LI. Even more stunning was the fact they covered the 3-point spread and finished an incredible season 16-3 against the number.
The large majority of people who won money on the Pats this season basically were obligated to bet them in the Super Bowl. The line was low — too low in my opinion — and never went up.
With Tom Brady so close to that fifth championship and getting his revenge on commissioner Roger Goodell, he couldn’t fail. And 3 points? It’s a layup, right?
The first half was a disaster, Brady playing like he’s 39 and the Pats defense getting torched by Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman. But if ever there was a time for such a jaw-dropping comeback, last night was it.
Brady returned to god-like form just in time, and the football/gambling gods helped as well. The two-handed facemask yank by Logan Ryan on Mohamed Sanu that wasn’t flagged on the same play the Falcons were called for holding and taken out of field goal range? The pass from Brady to Martellus Bennett in the end zone that seemed to be heading right into the hands of Vic Beasley? And how about the pass to Julian Edelman that erased any memory of David Tyree? Someone was watching. Even the overtime coin toss went the Pats’ way. If that touchdown comes after an Atlanta field goal, gamblers are forced to settle for a push (something tells me they’d be more than happy to take it).
A couple weeks ago I gave a three-part pick suggestion. First, pick tails on the coin toss. Lock. Tails never fails. Someone should have told the Pats, who called heads.
Second, pick LeGarrette Blount to score the first touchdown. Whoops. He was a non-factor all night.
Third and most important, “Take all the profits you’ve made from this lucrative season and bet the Pats to cover.”
Never a doubt, right? They had it all the way.
If you took the over, you were loving life when the game went to overtime tied 28-28. The total was set at 58, and barring a game-winning safety, you were going to win. It was an even split for totals in Patriots games this season — nine overs, nine unders, one push.
Hopefully you took advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Going 16-3 against the spread is harder than a 16-3 won-loss record, especially in the fickle NFL.
Oh, and there’s that added bonus of watching the Pats win their fifth Super Bowl championship in once-in-alifetime fashion.