THE INTRO
Back to the Future Day has come and gone. That entire movie is now takes place in the past, which means that we are old.
The Cubbies didn't win the World Series. Neither did the Blue Jays, sending my brilliant 18/1 future bet up in smoke.
Cars aren't flying. Why would anybody possibly want this? With everyone constantly screwing with their phones while driving, you really think people screwing with their phones while FLYING would be a good idea? Every day that you survived not being incinerated in a flying car accident (as a passenger, pedestrian, or even just sitting in your home) would be a tremendous accomplishment.
What I DO want is picture-in-picture. Marty Jr. got to watch six channels at once. All I'm asking for is two. How is this not a completely common and easy to do thing by now? I mean really?
Then again, I guess one screen is fine. Watching just one of the teams that I'm rooting for get its ass kicked at a time is frustrating enough.
On a More Serious Note:
I'm permanently switching the format of the Dime to be more "rapid fire" as last week's was. I'm hoping that this accomplishes a few things. For one, if the Dime takes less time to put together and get out, there's a better chance that I can do so earlier in the week so that you all can get it before Sunday morning. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I'm hoping this cures the burnout that I'm feeling. I've changed a lot over the last 10+ years, as I'm sure is the case for all of us. In that time, my motivations and interests have changed as well. For the first 6-8 years of writing the Dime, I wanted to be a sports writer or broadcaster, and I felt that writing this newsletter might help me in eventually cracking into the field. I also used to have a serious passion for handicapping games; looking up and down at them in every which way, taking them on as puzzles, and feeling that with the right amount of energy and time I could crack the code.
In 2015, I don't want to be a sports broadcaster or writer anymore. Maybe a part of me still does (as I still LOVE writing and broadcasting as mediums), but I don't have a passion for the industry anymore. The majority of sports fans and media coverage today annoy me. And when it comes to handicapping games, it feels more like a chore to me now than something fun and exciting. There are elements of it that I still enjoy; when I look at the entire schedule, two or three game pop out at me. Diving into those to confirm or deny whether or not I like the side I leaned towards is fun. But the other 85-90% of the games? After years of researching them to death and losing, it has lost its appeal. I'm left with a ton of games that I don't really want to handicap or dive into when I'd do just as well (or as it would seem, better) just going with my gut or flipping a coin.
This was once a project of passion that I was extremely excited and motivated to do every week. It is no longer that. The ONLY reason that I continue at this point is for my readers. I send this out to a few hundred people each week and I'm not sure how many of you are actually still reading at this point, but I know that some of you are. And the idea of taking something that you enjoy away from you really bums me out. But I guess, in the end, it is sort of like a breakup. Breaking up sucks, but staying in a relationship you have lost interest in sucks even worse. I've let the quality of my work deteriorate for long enough, and I owe it to myself and you guys to do better.
I'm going to finish this year up with a more quick-hitting format, and we'll see how that goes. In all likelihood, this will be the final season of Dave's Dime as we know it.
But perhaps from the ashes something new will rise. Maybe focusing in on what I still like about handicapping, I'll do a "best of the weekend" type of thing where I just give my favorite picks from the weekend, college or pro, instead of doing all of the games. Maybe I'll get into this stupid daily fantasy sports stuff. Or maybe I'll do something completely different, unrelated to sports at all. I won't be done being creative, it will just be on to new ventures. New ventures that I'm excited about instead of trudging through.
When we get to that bridge at the end of this season, I'll offer more details and see who wants to cross it with me. Thanks for reading this novel, which was pretty much the opposite of "rapid", but I digress(ed).
THE RECORD
Last Week
Spread "Picks": 1 - 0 - 1 (1.000)
Spread "Leans": 2 - 3 - 0 (.400)
Spread "Coin Flips": 2 - 5 - 0 (.286)
With the spread: 5 - 8 - 1 (.387)
Without the spread: 8 - 6 - 0 (.571)
Season
Spread "Picks": 6 - 5 - 1 (.545)
Spread "Leans": 24 - 14 - 2 (.632)
Spread "Coin Flips": 21 - 16 - 2 (.568)
With the spread: 51 - 35 - 5 (.593)
Without the spread: 58 - 33 - 0 (.637)
THE PICKS
($) - Indicates a "Pick", which is a side that I feel strongly about
(/) - Indicates a "Lean", which is the side that I'm leaning towards
(?) - Indicates a "Coin Flip", where I don't have much of an opinion
* - Indicates Outright Upset Pick
THURSDAY
(?) Seattle @ San Francisco
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: San Francisco (LOSS)
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Seattle (WIN)
SUNDAY
(?) Buffalo (-3.5) @ Jacksonville (+3.5)
Buffalo should be able to beat Jacksonville, but something tells me that they won't. The team is a little shaky right now and much less appealing with Taylor out.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Jacksonville
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Jacksonville
(?) Tampa Bay (+3.0) @ Washington (-3.0)
I feel like Washington is the better team, so at home they should get the job done. But they haven't exactly shown themselves to be any better, and the Bucs are coming off of a bye week, making this one a tough call.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Washington
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Washington
(/) Atlanta (-6.0) @ Tennessee (+6.0)
Really like Atlanta to bounce back after a long week, especially against a Titans team missing its spark with Mariota out.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Atlanta
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Atlanta
(/) New Orleans (+4.0) @ Indianapolis (-4.0)
All everyone has been talking about all week was the fake punt. Rightfully so, it was hilarious and a total embarassment. But lost in the commotion was a pretty decent performance against New England, and I'm sure the Colts are itching to get back on the field and put that play behind them with a big win.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Indianapolis
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Indianapolis
(/) Minnesota (-1.5) @ Detroit (+1.5)
The Vikings are clearly the better team and have already beaten the Lions comfortably once this season. This one should be closer in Detroit, but still go the same way.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Minnesota
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Minnesota
(/) Pittsburgh (+3.0) @ Kansas City (-3.0)
Even without Big Ben, the Steelers are on a roll, thanks in large part to excellent play from a defense that wasn't supposed to be very good. Kansas City is reeling. Have to go with the hot hand here, and Landry Jones might even surprise a few people.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: *Pittsburgh
(?) Cleveland (+6.5) @ St. Louis (-6.5)
Each of Cleveland's last four games have been decided by a touchdown or less. St. Louis should be able to run the ball on the Browns, but I think Cleveland will keep it close one way or another.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Cleveland
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: St. Louis
(/) Houston (+4.5) @ Miami (-4.5)
If last week's blowout against the Titans was any indication, the Dolphins might have a little fight left in them after all. Should have enough fight to beat Houston at home, shouldn't they?
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Miami
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Miami
($) NY Jets (+7.5) @ New England (-7.5)
This is New York's chance to prove itself against the Patriots. Each of the last four games between these two teams has been decided a field goal or less, with the Jets covering the spread every time, and this team is better than those teams were. I think the Jets have a legitimate shot at an upset and should certainly keep it close.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: NY Jets
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: New England
(?) Oakland (+3.5) @ San Diego (-3.5)
The Chargers suck, the Raiders have had a bye week to prepare, all points to a Raiders upset right? Maybe, but all I'm seeing is Philip Rivers torching my boys for a million yards en route to a win. We'll see.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: San Diego
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: San Diego
(?) Dallas (+3.0) @ NY Giants (-3.0)
Dallas is getting healthy on defense, but the offense is still badly lacking. Coming off of their worst game of the year last year, the Giants should bounce back with a home win.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: NY Giants
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: NY Giants
(?) Philadelphia (+3.0) @ Carolina (-3.0)
I really don't have any idea in this one, and it should be a fun game to watch. Going to go with Cam at home, but wouldn't be surprised at all if the Eagles won big, either. Thinking Philadelphia by a lot or Carolina by a little.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Carolina
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Carolina
MONDAY
(?) Baltimore (+8.0) @ Arizona (-8.0)
I've been high on Arizona and low on Baltimore all year, so you'd think I'd be all about Arizona in this spot. And yet, something tells me the Ravens are going to put up a fight, if not come away with an outright upset. I'm not that bold, but I will take the points.
PICK WITH THE SPREAD: Baltimore
PICK WITHOUT THE SPREAD: Arizona
THE COLLEGE NICKEL
RECORD: 21 – 18 – 1 (.538)
Arkansas -6.0 (WIN)
Utah State -5.0 (LOSS)
Northwestern +7.5 (WIN)
Utah +3.5 (LOSS)
SMU +12.0 (LOSS)
Good luck! Thanks for reading!
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Questions? Comments? Love the Dime? Hate it? Should I cut it down to a nickel? EMAIL ME FEEDBACK!
For past issues of the Dime and all of my current and archived work, visit www.davesdime.com
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