Stock Lemon Blog - 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bets

NFL Futures Bet: Where Will Peyton Manning Play in 2012?

2012-02-09T09:02:00.000-06:00

Now that the Super Bowl hangover is beginning to wear off, it's time to start looking forward to the 2012 NFL Season. Don't worry, prop bet lunatics, we'll have another post in the coming days taking a look back at the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) that was. We'll also recap our Free NFL Picks, which had a great year until limping to the finish line--at which point they also lost a couple limbs.

But first, it's time for some offseason drama! Just as we told you there wouldn't be any talk of Peyton Manning/Jim Irsay/Andrew Luck during the actual Super Bowl, you can bet your ass that it's all you'll hear about now.

So let's wager on the awkward Peyton Manning/Indianapolis Colts saga that's about to unfold!

RJ Bell of Pregame.com has some great stuff on a Peyton Manning prop/futures bet:

Peyton Manning odds
(next season’s team):

Retire: 20% ($100 wins $250)
Dolphins: 20% ($100 wins $250)
Redskins: 17% ($100 wins $300)
Colts: 14% ($100 wins $400)
Jets: 11% ($100 wins $500)
Cardinals: 3% ($100 wins $2,500)
Broncos: 3% ($100 wins $2,500)
49ers: 2% ($100 wins $4,000)
Titans: 1.5% ($100 wins $5,000)
Chiefs: 1.5% ($100 wins $5,000)
Texans: 1% ($100 wins $7,500)
Other Team: 6% ($100 wins $1,000)

Interesting to note, if Manning does play,
Vegas gives him a 78% chance to play for:
either Dolphins, Redskins, Colts, Jets.

(special thanks to Cal-Neva sportsbook)

Nothing like some tantalizing odds and a photoshopped image to get the natives all riled up in Indy!

So what do we think? In all likelihood, we'll be silent observers of this saga, with no betting interest.

Ah, who are we kidding? Phins all the way! Oftentimes the early frontrunner in these free agent chases ends up landing their prize. Last season, it seemed there was never a doubt that Kevin Kolb would end up in Arizona, the team that had players lobbying for him early and often.

It's all about massaging egos and making people feel wanted, and just like the Dolphins did in quickly scooping up Chad Pennington following a release from the Jets (albeit a smaller scale scenario), their early attention with Manning could pay dividends if he and his $28 million roster bonus are indeed released from the Colts.

In this case, we'll use the same flawed logic on connecting Manning to the Colts, where he'll stay in the AFC and not have to face off against Eli and the Giants for the right to go the Super Bowl.

Sadly, we have a bad feeling that this neck thing really could be the end of Peyton's career. That being said, we might just put down a reverse jinx on Manning to retire, allowing him to make us some money one last time.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet Results

2012-02-05T21:45:00.008-06:00

The New York Giants once again topped the New England Patriots, and with that the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) is over--but our extensive coverage of the Super Bowl prop betting scene is not. Complete results of the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop bets that we analyzed can be found below.

The Coin Toss/Flip

Our Picks: We rode the NFC's streak of 14-straight Super Bowl coin toss victories, banking on the Giants inevitable tails call to be the winner.

Result: It was not. The Giants take call was a loser, giving Heads and the Patriots a victory in the coin toss. Remarkably, Heads and Tails are once again tied a 23 wins a piece in 46 Super Bowls. We lose all three of our bets here.

The Kelly Clarkson National Anthem

Our Picks: Despite Youtube evidence to the contrary, we went with our gut and took the over at 1 minute, 34 seconds. Other books had it set at 1 minute, 35 seconds. Significant? Uh, yeah.

Result: In the closest National Anthem in recent history, she split the two most popular posted figures, going 94.5 seconds. Of course, she didn't show her midriff or omit any words, both sucker props that only offered a "yes" bet. We won this one. We did, however, guess that she might wear some NFL apparel (+200), going against our original lean and chalk laying choice of anything else (-300), which won the bet.

The Gatorade Shower/Bath/Dump

Our Pick: These teams have a history of clear/water dumps (if anything), so we love the value at 2/1 clear.

Result: Purple makes a random appearance, completely out of character for the Giants. Jon Gruden received a Purple Shower in 2003 after his Buccaneers defeated the Raiders in Super Bowl 37, but since then it's been used so sparingly (er, not at all) that it has been relegated to the 'any other color' category. After the orange shower on Mike McCarthy last season, this marks the second consecutive season that the winning color hasn't even been a listed option for prop bettors. And unlike last year, you couldn't actually bet on "any other color," making this a push. Silly Vegas, losing money on that gaffe.

The Madonna Halftime Show

Our Picks: Quite a few bets here, mostly just blind guesses on our part. We had Madonna coming out blonde (-400), wearing fishnet stockings (-120), not wearing an NFL jersey shirt (-400), not wearing a hat (-150) and using a handheld microphone (+150)

Results: The first three went as predicted (mostly at terrible juice, though), but the last two did not. She began the thing with a hat/Egyptian crown of some sort (+110) and, so that she could properly strike a vogue pose, used a headset to start (-200), though she went handheld for the rest of the show. Not much that we could have done on these, except either guess differently or not bet them at all. We're content with hitting 3/5, even though we lost money in the process.

The Super Bowl MVP

Our pick: Tom Brady, only because we saw the Patriots winning this game. This, of course, came with our normal caveat that we like the QB to win MVP in any case, so if you thought the Giants would win, pick Eli Manning.

Result: The Giants won, and so it goes, Eli Manning earns MVP No. 2. Despite 10 catches for 100+ yards for Nicks, or two sacks and an all around good game from Justin Tuck, it's all about the quarterback these days. Don't get cute and bet position players, just not fiscally sound anymore. You know, as opposed to the normally fiscally sound hobby of betting on Super Bowl prop bets.

The Super Bowl MVP Thank You

Our Pick: Due to the nature of the questioning posed by the interviewee at these things, we bet that the MVP would not thank anyone directly--except for the interviewee.

Result: At 11/4 odds, this was our best win of the Super Bowl, and it went exactly as we planned. We can't emphasize enough how rare it is to actually get a thank you out of these. Unless you have an uber-religious player winning the award (of which there are a good handful) who goes out of his way to thank God immediately, regardless of the questioning, it's not going to happen. And it didn't. Eli thanked Dan Patrick for providing keys to the new car won by the MVP, but otherwise, nothing. We are actually a little surprised the books don't use that and call it no action... we probably shouldn't have brought it up.

The Barack Obama Prediction

Our Pick: We were skeptical that he would make a prediction at all.

Result: We were right, but don't win anything for that. No action.

The Opening Kickoff Touchback

Our Pick: We guessed that Super Bowl nerves and kickers who usually only kicked it into the end zone 40 percent of the time would result in a nice win on some good plus-odds.

Result: No touchback, as the kick barely made it to about the goal line and was obviously returned. A nice +155 win on a relatively easy prop, helping us recover our losses on that disastrous coin toss result.

The New York Giants Player Props

Our Picks: We don't bet many straight up player props, because we're so focused on all the other goofy stuff that we don't have the time to properly analyze these props. And it shows. Really, we suck at these. Nevertheless, for the Giants we picked Brandon Jacobs to carry the ball more than 7 1/2 times, Antrel Rolle to have more than six tackles, and Victor Cruz's first catch to go for more than 11 1/2 yards.

Results: Jacobs had nine carries (win), Rolle three tackles (loss) and Cruz went for eight yards (loss). Not impressive. As bad as we usually are at these, we actually went 4-0 on the NFC squad last year (the Packers), but were blanked on the Steelers in the AFC (0-4). We thought we hit some decent value spots here, but it didn't work out as we'd hope, and we go 1-2 on the NFC team bets this year.

The New England Patriots Player Props

Our Picks: Again, we're not great at these. They are just a little too... orthodox. For the Patriots, we went with BenJarvus Green-Ellis to go under 47 1/2 yards, Aaron Hernandez to catch a pass of at least 18 yards, and Tom Brady to throw under 39 1/2 passes.

Results: Just like with the Giants player props, we went 1-2. Green-Ellis ran for 44 yards (win), Hernandez didn't catch a pass longer than 12 yards (loss) and Brady threw the rock 41 times (loss). While Hernandez was a big part of the offense as we predicted, his catches were a few yards shorter than we needed. Brady topped the over/under on the final drive, so unlucky there.

Streaming the Super Bowl Online

Our Pick: It's the first year that Super Bowl streaming is a legal option, and we like you nerds to take advantage of that fact. Over 1.5 million.

Result: According to NBC, 2.1 million people streamed the Super Bowl, making it the most watched live sporting event online and, more importantly, giving bettors who picked over 1.5 million people a reason to celebrate.

The Nielsen Ratings

Our Picks: We said under 117 million and 47.5 on the Nielsen Ratings, and that the Boston market (-7) would outwatch the New York market.

Result: Under it is! Like we said, we thought that this prop the chance to be the most watched event in TV history, as is typically the case around the Super Bowl. But with the public knowing that, the bookies set the bar way too high, and as we predicted, that bar was not reached. In fact, at 111.3 million, it barely topped last year's game. Curiously, we have Boston edging New York by a count of 56.7-49.7. Unless we are actually that bad at math, that comes out to an even numbered seven, which equates to a push. Yet we were credited with the win on this prop, telling us that either they have more exact numbers available, or that most of the money was on New York. Lastly, it looks like a 47.8 Nielsen Rating, which gives us a narrow defeat in that bet--unless the books have more "exact numbers" on that one as well.

The David Tyree Catch Replay

Our Pick: We went Over 1, might have been suckered into the suckiest sucker bet of the Super Bowl.

Result: Under. Sucker bet. How did we not see this coming? The play was shown immediately following the game, in comparison to Mario Manningham's sideline catch, but again, after the game. The window of opportunity during the game is so small, which is why we usually like the under on all of these props that take advantage of the public watching the pregame hype. Considering us "the public" on this one.

The Dow Jones Impact

Our Pick: With Clint Eastwood's blessing, we feel good about our bet the Dow Jones will go up on the Monday after the Super Bowl.

Result: The Dow Jones Industrial Average actually pulled a Wes Welker, dropping points. Dow went Dow(n) 17 points Monday, or .13%. Rats.

The Sexy Gisele Bundchen Prop

Our Pick: The wife of Tom Brady would be shown over 1/2 times (so, like, once).

Result: Giselle got some early camera time in the first quarter. Nice to get that out of the way. Easy win.

The Peyton Manning Sightings

Our Pick: Over-ish. He's family, after all. We went over 3 1/2.

Result: NBC could not find Peyton Manning. They were looking for him, but could not find him. Archie and Peyton must have conspired to make sure that was the case. Manning was not shown at all.

The Andrew Luck Mentions

Our Pick: Under 1 on the amount of times they would talk about a player that is likely to be picked first overall--by neither the Giants or Patriots--in a college draft two and a half months after this game.

Result: Easiest win of the Super Bowl. Seriously, come on with this one.

The Jim Irsay Mentions

Our Pick: We went with Under 1 on the amount of time that another team's owner would be mentioned during this Super Bowl.

Result: Second easiest win of the Super Bowl. Nervous for a half second just because they mentioned Indy as the host city, but when the game is on, the game is one. Who cares about the Colts owner and the Peyton Manning saga, it's all about watching our last three hours of actual football. We have all offseason to discuss this drama.

The Robert Kraft Sightings

Our Pick: As the owner of the Patriots (the team we predicted to win), whose wife passed away before the season (that's her initials on those Patriots jerseys), we liked Bob Kraft to be shown more than three and a half times.

Result: By the end of the third quarter--before the usual shots of the owners on the games' final drives--Kraft had already been shown five times. Kraft Mac and Cheese for all, and a winning prop bet for us.

Tom Brady's Son's Wardrobe

Our Pick: If Tom Brady's kid was shown, we liked him to be wearing a Tom Brady jersey, just like Drew Brees' kid a few years back.

Result: We feel a little less creepy now, as Brady's kid was not shown during the game, resulting in no action on this prop. We didn't win or lose money betting on a toddler's outfit, and that probably is the biggest win of the night.

We know nobody cares about this stuff, but thanks to you, the degenerate prop bet gambler, we smashed our all-time single-day traffic records, the fourth consecutive Super Bowl in which we've accomplished that feat. But this time, we really smashed them. So thanks again, and even though our content is generally abysmal during non-Super Bowl times, feel free to stop by whenever, just to be sure our site still exists.

And we'll see you back here for 2013 Super Bowl XLVII (47) prop betting action, provided the world hasn't ended by then.

Complete List of 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bets

2012-02-05T03:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Super Sunday. For those of you haven't been privilege to our 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop bets for today's game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, here's our official complete list of Super Bowl Prop Bet Coverage here at Stock Lemon over the course of the last two weeks. Enjoy!

The Coin Toss/Flip

All-time Coin Toss/Flip Results

The Kelly Clarkson National Anthem

The Gatorade Shower/Bath/Dump

The Madonna Halftime Show

The Super Bowl MVP

The Super Bowl MVP Thank You

The Barack Obama Prediction

The Opening Kickoff Touchback

The New York Giants Player Props

The New England Patriots Player Props

Streaming the Super Bowl Online

The Nielsen Ratings

The David Tyree Catch Replay

The Dow Jones Impact

The Sexy Gisele Bundchen Prop

The Peyton Manning Sightings

The Andrew Luck Mentions

The Jim Irsay Mentions

The Robert Kraft Sightings

Potential Cross-Sport NBA Prop Bets

Early Prop Bets

Free 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Picks

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

If you've been following our 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) coverage here at Stock Lemon, you've noticed a glaring omission in our coverage of The Big Game: An actual prediction and/or pick on the Super Bowl result!

Well, here goes...

There are so many similarities between this year's game and the last time they met in 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42), but maybe not where you think. We actually liken the 2011 Giants to the 2007 Patriots, an overly confident bunch about to face humbling defeat.

New England Patriots -3 over New York Giants

Under 54

Despite what the Giants official website might tell you, we like Bill Belichick's Patriots to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy, and in a similarly low scoring game (well, under 54 points, anyway) to that fateful day that robbed them of a perfect 19-0 season back in 2008.

Keep in mind, our Free NFL Picks have struggled throughout the playoffs, and we've been equally terrible at picking Super Bowls in years past, so take these picks with a grain of salt.

That caveat aside, our final 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) prediction is:

New England Patriots 31
New York Giants 20

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Opening Kickoff Touchback

2012-02-04T18:09:00.003-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The New York Giants Player Props

2012-02-04T15:46:00.002-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The New England Patriots Player Props

2012-02-04T10:42:00.000-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Robert Kraft Sightings

2012-02-03T14:05:00.002-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: Viewership and the Nielsen Ratings

2012-02-03T00:14:00.004-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Andrew Luck Mentions

2012-02-02T11:11:00.001-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Dow Jones Impact

2012-02-02T00:37:00.001-06:00

Ed Dyl, a finance professor at the University of Arizona, found in 1989 that the stock market went up 2.9% in the four weeks after the Super Bowl when an original NFL team won – versus a (4.6%) loss when an original AFL team prevailed. (This covers the post-1978 period, after Koppett introduced the SBI.)

Dyl pointed out that these results might occur not because investors are idiotic enough to believe in the SBI – but merely because they think other people might be idiotic enough to believe in it.

When I asked him to update his results this week, Dyl found that “the anomaly seems to still be there, but weaker.” Factoring in all the games through last year’s Super Bowl XLIV, over the month following the big game, the market has gained about 1.1% on NFL victories and lost about (-0.1%) on AFL wins.

Whether or not there is something to this legend (which Snopes definitely says there is not), there could be truth to the fact that if people think the market historically goes up, they will want a piece of it themselves, causing it to, in fact, go up.

Some members of the Green Bay Packers rang the closing bell on Wall Street about a week and a half after the team's Super Bowl victory over the Steelers, celebrating the fact that the Dow Jones went up on the Monday following 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45), just as it had done after the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44).

But that is certainly no guarantee. Remember, the Super Bowl Indicator measures the impact of the Dow on an annual basis, not just the day after the Super Bowl. However, because many have heard of the Super Bowl Indicator but are not necessarily familiar with what the SBI is said to prove, public prop bettors could be misled into thinking that this prop bet represents this crazy theory.

If that's the case, the question becomes as simple as who you're picking to win the game. If it's the Patriots, the SBI says to take the Dow Jones going down (EVEN), but if the Giants win, take the Dow to go up (-140).

As we'll officially disclose later this week, we like the Patriots, but we also link to further debunk statistical oddities taken as fact, and bet against the AFL club following many of its Super Bowl winning predecessors in negatively impacting the Dow Jones. And so, we're going with the Dow Jones to go up on the Monday following the Super Bowl, just as it has in the past two years.

One day, when the Monday after the Super Bowl is finally declared a national holiday, this prop bet won't exist and we'll all have a good laugh at the silliness of the thing.

And then we'll bet whether or not the Dow will go up on Tuesday.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Peyton Manning Sightings

2012-02-01T14:25:00.001-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The David Tyree Catch Replay

2012-02-01T10:48:00.001-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The MVP Thank You

2012-02-01T00:27:00.001-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Sexiest Prop of Them All, The Gisele Bundchen Sightings

2012-01-31T12:26:00.004-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Madonna Halftime Show

2012-01-31T00:23:00.002-06:00

Get More: Music News

OK, now that you know what Madonna looks like these days (since that's all there really is to gather from that piece, you're ready to go.

What color will Madonna's hair be when she begins the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Blonde -400
Any other color +250

It's boring, and perhaps we are underestimating Madonna's craziness in her older age, but we think the signature blonde beauty sticks with what works in the hair department, even at the -400 juice, which pretty much makes this a stay-away prop. We'll bet it, just because that seems to be the right approach this time of year, but we won't win much off of it. We also aren't going to lose it, as we're confident the +250 is a complete sucker bet, but it isn't totally worth that tiny ounce of risk and doubt at -400.

Will Madonna be wearing fishnet stockings at any point during the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Yes -120
No -120

Madonna loves her fishnet stockings, a signature of her rise to fame in the 80s, but will she sport them in her 50s in front of millions of viewers? Considering the amount of wardrobe changes she'll probably make, we'll go with yes at -120, predicting that she'll reveal them at the very end of the performance--we'll see if she reveals anything further than that, if you catch our tit DRIFT we mean drift.

Will Madonna wear an NFL Jersey or shirt at any point during the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Yes +250
No -400

Like a prayer is what you'll need if you bet yes on this one, which by default means we're going no, although it's another bet we wouldn't ordinarily take at -400. Madonna can hardly be called a football fan and likely doesn't even know who is playing in this game.

Will Madonna wear a hat at any point during the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Yes +110
No -150

This one is a tough one, but we're going to stick with no at -150. Madonna is very particular about that aforementioned blonde head of hair atop her head, no way she ruins it with a hat for a part of this performance. Note, though, that this does include any type of head covering whatsoever. Still, no.

What will Madonna be using to start the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Headset -200
Handheld Microphone +150

We know there's been a lot of talk about her flying in on some wires or something crazy to start the show due to the Cirque du Soliel involvement, but Madonna is an old-school, mike in hand kind of performer. It almost serves as a prop (word of the day) in her performance. We like the +150 odds and the chance to get a good return on this prop.

Typically, props pertaining to the set list and guest appearance list pop up in the halftime show betting hoopla, but many of those details seem to have been leaked. If you find them, rumor has it that M.I.A., Nicki Minaj and maybe even LMFAO will join Madonna in the worst kept secret in Super Bowl Halftime Show history.

And, oh yeah, someone also mentioned that the Patriots and Giants will be there to play a football game. Don't worry, we'll bet on that, too.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Jim Irsay Mentions

2012-01-30T11:48:00.002-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Gatorade Shower/Bath/Dump

2012-01-30T01:00:00.001-06:00

Free NFL Picks Split the Pro Bowl

2012-01-29T22:55:00.002-06:00

Stupid, stupid Stock Lemon.

Just like always betting the Pro Bowl over won us some money, always taking the Pro Bowl dog should have.

We went against our rule to take the moneyline of the underdog, in this case +190 for the AFC, because it really is a crapshoot. People pointed to the strong QB play of the NFC as a reason they would win, but Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers combined to play as much as... ugh... Cam Newton.

Our foolishness costs us a nice Pro Bowl pay day, as Brandon Marshall and the AFC won and covered the +4 spread, but with the OVER reaching 100 points, we at least split for a 1-1 record on the day.

Now that's the last you'll hear of the Pro Bowl, or anything else that isn't Super Bowl related, for the rest of the week.

Packers.com Postcards From Hawaii Marked Return to Sender

2012-01-29T16:25:00.003-06:00

With the Pro Bowl just hours away, we couldn't help but share this from the Green Bay Packers official website.

Apparently Packers.com is unaware that stamp prices went up to 45 cents last week, on Jan. 22. Therefore, this postcard from Pro Bowler B.J. Raji will never make it back to Green Bay.

The stamp increase from 44 to 45 cents was announced by the U.S. Postal Service way back in October, when the Packers were still undefeated, but took effect last Sunday, when the Packers expected to be playing a home playoff game at Lambeau for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

Instead, they had to send their players to Hawaii, sans proper postage funds.

We'll have more on where the Packers hoped to be, 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46), throughout the week.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: Online Streaming

2012-01-29T14:00:00.003-06:00

Free 2012 NFL Pro Bowl Picks

2012-01-28T16:52:00.000-06:00

We interrupt our Super Bowl prop betting analysis (which will pick up heavily when the TRUE Super Bowl week kicks off, essentially upon completion of this All-Star shitshow Sunday), for some Free NFL Pro Bowl Picks!

Contrary to every other human being, ever, we actually enjoy the Pro Bowl, perhaps because we're degenerates. For us, it's a nice, relaxing day of football watching to remind us just how great football is when it doesn't suck as bad as the crap we are watching at the Pro Bowl. Really adds to the Super Bowl hoopla--strategic play, Goodell!

Interesting fact about the Pro Bowl: The NFC currently leads the All-time series over the AFC 21-20, which is pretty amazing that it has been so even. Add to that, though, the fact that neither side has had a two-game lead over the other since the NFC's 16-14 advantage after winning the game in 1999. Crazy stuff. And leave it to us to bet against the trend.

NFC -4 over the AFC

OVER 74

We usually take the points in the Pro Bowl, because who really knows. It's like preseason, and if you can get points, cool. But the AFC is missing some key players who will be in Indy for the Super Bowl with the Patriots, while the NFC has loaded rosters from the 49ers, Packers and Saints, whose miserable playoff failures work to our benefit tomorrow. We like the NFC team by two touchdowns, really. And, for what it's worth, Mike McCarthy did win the game as the NFC coach in 2007, and this time he has his quarterback and likely MVP Aaron Rodgers in tow.

Apart from that, we've foolishly balked at the ridiculous over/unders at the Pro Bowl before and gone under, thinking we were making the conventional play. We've been conventionally dead wrong. So now, whether there are stats to back it or not we really don't care, but our philosophy is to never bet the under at the Pro Bowl.

You can see how well-reasoned our picks are for this exhibition game. Just know that the effort put into our Free Pro Bowl picks matches that of a defensive back in position to make an open-field tackle tomorrow.

More Super Bowl Proposition Bets will follow throughout the week, so y'all come back now! We'll cover the Gatorade Shower, the Madonna halftime show, and much, much more. Mitt Romney might even make an appearance, so there's that.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: Barack Obama's Presidential Prediction

2012-01-28T14:05:00.002-06:00

Who will Barack Obama pick to win the game?
New England Patriots -120

New York Giants -120

Unfortunately for the guys at Bovada, this prop on the Commander in Chief didn't make its way to the Editor in Chief. Note that this prop will be "garded" at the discretion of the book "mannager."

Apart from spelling errors, though, this prop is flawed in many ways. Most notably the fact that, uh, the President kind of already copped out of this proposition.

video platform video management video solutions video player

When Diane Sawyer asks Obama who will win 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46), he says "I can't call it. I can't call it," citing that he'll get into trouble if he picks a side. Don't want to piss off any voters, you know.

That wasn't always the case. While he didn't make a pick in the Packers/Steelers 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45), after his Bears were knocked out by the Packers in the NFC Championship, Obama did cast his vote in the previous two Super Bowls, going with the Saints over the Colts in 2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44) and the Steelers over the Cardinals in 2009 Super Bowl XLIII (43). By our count, he's a perfect 2-0 in predicting the Super Bowl, so it's no wonder why his prediction would carry some weight. Well, that, and the whole being the President thing.

Either way, we don't anticipate the President suddenly changing his mind and making a prediction when he's already spoken on the subject, unless he just doesn't want Diane Sawyer to get the scoop.

This prop, like a few others, is really just posted so that Bleacher Report can include them in their sensationalizing slideshow "articles" about THE CRAZIEST SUPER BOWL PROPS EVER!!!!!

In the end, a lot of Super Bowl prop bettors are basically just letting bookies hang on to their money for a couple of weeks before the Obama Super Bowl prop bet is "garded" as No Action.

Check back throughout the week for more 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet Analysis as we try to out-sensationalize Bleacher Report with the MOST HILARIOUS SUPER BOWL PROP BETS KNOWN TO MAN IN EXISTENCE IN THE WORLD OMFG!

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: Dressing Tom Brady's Son

2012-01-27T13:59:00.003-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Kelly Clarkson National Anthem

2012-01-27T01:30:00.005-06:00

Leading up to the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or crazy Super Bowl 46 (XLVI) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show (Madonna), the Super Bowl National Anthem (Kelly Clarkson), the Super Bowl Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right and follow us on twitter @stocklemonblog!

Before we get to our annual analysis of the duration of the Super Bowl National Anthem, we have good news for those of you who enjoy betting on the Star Spangled Banner--Christina Aguilera so badly screwed it up last year, that she's inspired an entirely new Anthem prop bet! The bad news, however, is that like many others, it is strictly a sucker bet.

The new prop reads:

Will Kelly Clarkson forget or omit at least 1 word of the official US National Anthem?
Yes +250

As we've mentioned before, it's generally a good idea to stray from these types of props that offer only one option, as they are usually trying to capitalize upon a hot topic and coerce people into getting their gambling advice at the water cooler. So no, please don't bet on the above prop bet. Kelly Clarkson will nail this thing.

The question still remains, though. Just how long will it take her to nail it?

How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?
Over 1 minute, 34 seconds (-120)
Under 1 minute, 34 seconds (-120)

This marks our fifth-straight female anthem, following Billy Joel's short but sweet performance in 2007. This year's Anthem length could rival that of Joel's, though, as Clarkson has been quick and to the point in past Anthems on big stages (she's performed in both the World Series and NBA Finals, so she will be completing the major championship trifecta in the Super Bowl). Take a look at the results of our laborious research, which consisted of 15 minutes on Youtube.

Let's start with a National Anthem she sung on the gridiron, since she'll be in a similar surrounding Sunday. This from a Cowboys/Buccaneers Thanksgiving Day Game back on November 23, 2006:

Firstly, did it just make too much sense to have her sing the anthem last year, in her native Texas? Was that it? Anyway, we clocked her here at 1 minute, 28 seconds, six seconds under the over/under set for the Super Bowl (anthem runs from :02-1:30 in the video). As her appearance shows, this was a long time ago, just as she had climbed to the top of the American Idol mountain. Has time impacted her timing on the Star Spangled stopwatch?

Fast forward to Opening Day for the New York Yankees, hosting the Cleveland Indians on April 16, 2009 in another big-time performance:

Here, Clarkson goes just 1 minute, 27 seconds (:25-1:52), even with a little ad-libbing at the end. Could it be that she's actually taken time off of her Star Spangled Banner? Or was she just too comfortable whipping through that at such a dinky event as the opening game for the most storied franchise in all of sports?

Let's find out in the World Series, where the Fort Worth native actually was able to sing in front of the home crowd on the biggest stage in the MLB, the World Series (arguably less of a stage than the Thanksgiving Day Game, mind you). This from Game 3 of the Texas Rangers/San Francisco Giants series on October 30, 2010:

In four years, she added five seconds, finishing this one just a hair under the Super Bowl over/under at 1 minute, 33 seconds (from :17-1:50). This is subject to some debate, as it's not quite clear when she ends it, but it is certainly no later than 1:50 and possibly as early as 1:48 1/2. Either way, it's still at least one second under the Super Bowl mark of 1 minute, 34 seconds, and on a championship stage.

The success of her local Texas clubs means that we haven't seen the last of Clarkson on said stage, as she was also asked to sing at the NBA Finals this past season when the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat faced off. This from Game 4 of the Finals on June 7, 2011:

Once again, and on a similar Championship-level performance, Clarkson hit 1 minute, 33 seconds on the button (:16-1:49). It's clear that the oddsmakers are betting on this kind of consistency from Clarkson in her last two performances, both beautiful renditions of America's song, rather than the even shorter first version.

The results:
2006 NFL Thanksgiving Day Game, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (November 23, 2006): 1 minute, 28 seconds
2009 Yankes Home Opener, Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees (April 16, 2009): 1 minute, 27 seconds
2010 MLB World Series Game 3, San Francisco Giants at Texas Rangers (October 30, 2010): 1 minute, 33 seconds
2011 NBA Finals Game 4, Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks (June 7, 2011): 1 minute, 33 seconds

So with the over/under set at 1 minute, 34 seconds, and all four of her past performances provided by Youtube set at 1 minute, 33 seconds or less, we'll definitely bet the under on the length of the Super Bowl National Anthem, right?

Not so fast, friends. While we do lend the appropriate amount of weight to this type of time-consuming research, sometimes, you just have to go with your gut. And there is something to be said about the grandest stage of them all, the Super Bowl, leading to additional seconds in the performance of the National Anthem.

We saw the nerves get to Christina Aguilera last year, who we correctly predicted to go over 1 minute, 50 seconds--even with the omission of an entire verse! We think Clarkson will go slightly over the 1 minute, 34 second mark, possibly in the 1:36-1:38 range, but it will be the closest call in recent memory. All we can do is provide the evidence, even if it does not support us in this case. Take these videos for what they are worth, but likewise go with your own gut.

Speaking of guts, we have one more Kelly Clarkson/National Anthem-related prop bet to warn you about:

Will Kelly Clarkson's bare belly be showing when she sings the National Anthem?
Yes +300

Not only is this another sucker bet, it's actually kind of mean considering the fluctuating weight of Kelly Clarkson in recent years. Sure, in her younger days as a hot new diva, she was privy to showing some skin via the bare midriff, but it would take the most disastrous of wardrobe malfunctions yet to get Kelly Clarkson to show her stomach to the entire world on Super Sunday.

What will she wear instead, you ask? Let's take a look at our options:

What will Kelly Clarkson wear to sing the National Anthem?
Super Bowl XLVI or official NFL shirt +200
Colts Jersey or shirt +1200
Patriots Jersey or shirt +1200
Giants Jersey or shirt +1500
Anything else -300

Our original lean was the anything else option at -300, playing it safe and guessing that Clarkson dresses conservatively but within her own style. Looking at the videos above, though, the other options available are more her style than anything. She dresses the part, to be sure, wearing Cowboys, Yankees, Rangers, and Mavericks apparel in each of the above videos.

Taking into account that she is actually a fan of most of those teams, we don't foresee her picking favorites with Patriots or Giants gear (though she may be actively rooting against New York), and any Colts apparel would be out of place in a game in which they aren't playing, despite the location of the game. Which leads us to believe that she'll go with some other form of NFL apparel, likely a simple t-shirt with the Super Bowl XLVI logo on it. We're going to finally step outside the box and go with Kelly Clarkson to wear anything in the Super Bowl/NFL apparel option at +200. One that covers the stomach region, mind you.

And if coverage is what you're looking for, you're in the right place, as we'll dish out plenty more 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) prop bet goodness throughout the hype and hoopla that is Super Bowl Week. We'll keep those fun and crazy Super Bowl prop bets coming as long as we're promised Kelly Clarkson keeps her clothes on.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Super Bowl MVP

2012-01-26T04:00:00.004-06:00

Nicaragua: Where the 19-0 Patriots Beat the Giants in 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42)

2012-01-25T13:02:00.000-06:00

During the hype of Super Bowl week, stories like this are always good for a fascinating read... or entire SportsCenter segment. Above are children in Nicaragua, which, as explained below, received the shipment of 19-0 Patriots Super Bowl Champions t-shirts following the 2007 NFL season.

We've posted on the topic before as well, but it's always hilarious (and heart-warming?) to see discarded merchandise on the backs of those in underdeveloped nations, so we thought we'd share the relevant information as we prepare in the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) for a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42), which saw the Giants upset the Patriots in dramatic fashion.

We're back with much less human interest puff pieces and much more Super Bowl prop betting tomorrow, when the official master list of 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) props is released.

Potential 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) NBA Cross-Sport Prop Bets

2012-01-25T00:53:00.008-06:00

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: The Coin Toss/Flip

2012-01-24T04:30:00.006-06:00

You know it's a big event when most of the betting action takes place before the freaking thing even starts, as is the case with the most popular of the prop bets at the Super Bowl, the National Anthem and the Coin Flip. We'll get to the former a little later this week, but first things first, let's talk about one of our favorite flipping prop bets of the game: the opening coin toss.

This proposition wager, like many of the weird and hilarious Super Bowl Prop Bets this time of year, has obvious appeal because it attracts bettors who don't necessarily know a whole lot about either the New England Patriots, New York Giants, or the NFL (or football) in general. Anyone whose ever owned a quarter can bet on "heads" or "tails" at the Super Bowl. So, excepting the extremely poor, let's dissect the one bet that everyone in America can make.

Your choices are pretty limited here, and it's pretty hard to use facts and stats to determine the outcome of the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Coin toss/flip prop bet, but it's even harder to resist not trying to do just that. Heads or Tails? NFC (Giants) or AFC (Patriots)? Let's consult a few fun facts about the Super Bowl coin toss/flip before we answer those questions:

Remarkably enough, the 50/50 proposition that is a coin toss has, through 45 Super Bowls, been as close to 50/50 as possible. Tails has the advantage over heads, 23-22, but the gap was narrowed after the Steelers lost the coin flip in 2011 Super Bowl XLV when the coin landed heads despite Pittsburgh's tails call.

The team to win the coin toss has a record equally as close to 50/50 as possible, with the winners of the toss going 22-23 through the first 45 Super Bowls (last year's Packers won the toss and the game). However, the Packers were the exception and not the norm as of late, as 10 of the last 15 teams to win the coin toss have proceeded to lose the game.

There is one stat where the results aren't as close to 50/50 as you would think. In fact, it isn't even close. Capped by last year's Packers, the NFC has won the last 14 Super Bowl coin tosses and is 31-14 all-time in calling the correct side of the coin over the AFC representative.

Only two teams have chosen not to receive the opening kick, The Cardinals in 2009 and the Packers in 2011 (incidentally, both teams played the Steelers). Those teams are 1-1 in the Super Bowl in a stat that probably matters even less than some of these other statistical anomalies.

As the visiting team, the Giants will make the call of heads or tails, just as they did against the Patriots in 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42), when they won the toss (tails) and then the game over New England.

The Patriots hold an all-time record of 1-5 in the Super Bowl coin toss, winning only the toss in 1996 Super Bowl XXXI (31) against the Packers. They lost that lone game after winning the toss, but hold a 3-2 record when losing the opening coin flip.

The Giants, meanwhile, are 2-2 all-time in calling the Super Bowl coin toss, holding a record of 2-0 when losing the toss and 1-1 when winning it, as they have in their last two Super Bowls.

Given that a coin flip has, as per its design, a 50/50 chance of landing on either side, the odds for the Super Bowl coin flip are even, minus some juice. Some books, to encourage betting on this prop that annually profits them millions from non-regular customers, have reduced the juice to more enticing levels such as (-102):

What will be the result of the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) coin toss/flip

Heads (-105)

Tails (-105)

It's obvious but we'll continue to mention it anyway: if you can find a book that has odds favoring one side of the coin over the other (you won't), take the better odds. At the end of the day, it's a 50/50 proposition.

Since the Giants call of tails worked out so well for them in the 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42) matchup with the Patriots, we like them to try it again. We think the Giants will once again beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl... coin toss, making the NFC winners of 15-straight tosses.

Which team will win the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) coin toss/flip?

Patriots (-105)

Giants (-105)

As you see, you can bet on heads or tails, but you can also bet on which team will win the toss. We know the visitors from the NFC will call it, so they cointrol their own destiny. We like the Giants to keep the NFC's streak alive, as we mentioned above. At this point, why bet against it? We say ride it out until the AFC proves that they can win one of these flips.

Will the player making the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) coin toss/flip call be correct or incorrect?

Correct (-105)

Incorrect (-105)

Lastly, you can bet on whether the Giants will correctly call the flip. This is pretty much the same bet as the previous, just worded differently. Since we know that the visiting Giants are calling it, this really means the exact same thing as 'which team will win the toss'. So, again, we'll say that the Giants will be correct, giving the NFC yet another coin flip victory.

The bottom line when it comes to the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI coin toss proposition bet? It's all up in the air. And, as Papa Johns tells us, it's up to America to decide.

The Super Bowl Coin Toss, as well as many other attention grabbing Super Bowl prop bets, really serve as gateway bets, getting regular, non-gambling folk into the fray. Once they get a little taste of something that anyone can participate in, they are more likely to firstly bet on more props, and secondly bet on Super Bowl props in the future. It's only a matter of time before they decide to move to Las Vegas, flame out, become complete degenerates, and start a marginally successful blog about their gambling exploits, mysteriously named for a citrus fruit and an entirely different method of financial gain.

Not that we know anything about that.

Nevertheless, stay with us here at Stock Lemon throughout the Super Bowl hype, as we continue to bring you the best Super Bowl prop betting analysis on the web.

2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bet: Super Bowl Coin Flip/Toss All-Time Results

2012-01-24T04:08:00.004-06:00

Early 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Bets

2012-01-23T04:04:00.003-06:00

So, now that we have our matchup and a few of the other particulars, here are some of the standard and generic Super Bowl prop bets that will be offered for the matchup between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Some of the fun ones that we'll get to in the coming days include:

How long will the National Anthem last? This will be an over/under, usually somewhere between 1:30-2:00. This year, the Star Spangled Banner will be performed by Kelly Clarkson. There might also be an over/under on her game-time weight.
How many times the announcers will say ____? This could be the name of a player not involved in the game but heavily mentioned in the pre-game hype, and similar to the Peyton Manning prop that we played in the NFC Championship Game, you can bet that Eli's older brother (and probably the entire Manning family), will be subject to a prop like this. With the game airing on NBC, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth will determine this outcome.
How many times will cameras show ____? This could again be a famous person or player not involved in the game but in attendance. The Mannings are again a likely candidate here, as are both team owners, particularly the Kraft family.
Will this be the most watched Super Bowl ever? With two large fan bases in the big TV markets, we will once again be within striking distance of this, as we were when New England and New York met in 2008.
What color will the liquid poured on the winning coach be? One of our favorites, this will be a multiple choice question. Also known as the Gatorade Shower or Bath or Dunk or Dump, we get pretty in-depth with this one and look forward to breaking it all down again this year. Pick a Gatorade color (or the clear/liquid water option) and wait for it to pour down on either Bill Belichick or Tom Coughlin.
Who will the game MVP thank first? It could be teammates, a higher power, God, parents, fans, etc. Always think quarterback first here, as the majority of MVPs tend to lean that way. Just ask former Super Bowl MVPs Tom Brady and Eli Manning.
What songs will the halftime entertainer sing? Madonna will "perform" this year in another version of an artist performing at the Super Bowl well past his/her prime, a reaction, no doubt, to the infamous Wardrobe Malfunction.
Will the coin toss be heads or tails? In one of the more amazing stats in the Super Bowl prop betting world, the NFC has won 14 straight coin tosses. Even without that knowledge, everyone who has ever touched a quarter qualifies to bet on this prop--and usually just about everyone does.
Which Super Bowl commercial will have the highest rating according to the USA Today's annual ad meter? Doritos, GoDaddy, Pepsi, Budweiser--basically whichever commercial tries to hard to be funny or uses animals will win this prop because America is stupid. Beer makers, soft drink producers, and some of the other major Super Bowl advertisers will be options.
Which game will be higher scoring, the Super Bowl or _____? Variations of this will exist, asking whether the Super Bowl score will be higher than a college basketball game on Super Sunday, or if a quarterback will have more completions than a basketball player has points, etc.This year, the easiest bet is to compare this Super Bowl with the previous game featuring these two clubs, 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42).

Aside from the fun props, here's a general list of what to expect:

First, there are your regular lines. The Patriots opened as -3 favorites with an over/under set at 55 1/2. If you don't want to bet on the whole game, break it up into parts and bet the spreads on a quarter-by-quarter basis, updated as the game goes on. The basic bets look like this:

Spread
Moneyline
First half line
First quarter line
Second quarter line
Third quarter line
Fourth quarter line (not including overtime)
Over/Under

Then you get a little more specific:

Total points scored by the home team (Patriots)
Total points scored by the visiting team (Giants)
First team to score
Last team to score
First player to score
What will the first scoring play be? (FG, Run, Pass, Safety, Defense)
Will the last team to score win the game?
Will there be a score in the last two minutes of the first half?
Will either team score three unanswered times?
Will there be a score in the first six and a half minutes of the game?
Which team will have the longest touchdown?
Will there be a successful two-point conversion?
Will there be a safety?
Which half will have the highest point score?
Which quarter will have the highest point score?
Will the home team ever have the lead?
Which team will commit the first turnover?
Which team will use the coaches' challenge first?
Which team will be the first to call a timeout?
Will there be overtime?
Which team will get the first penalty?

Then, as we inch closer to the game, we'll have plenty of player props:

Who will have more yards between a Giants RB/WR (such as Victor Cruz) and Patriots RB/WR (such as Deion Branch)?
Who will have more tackles/sacks between a Giants defender (such as Justin Tuck) or Patriots defender (such as Vince Wilfork)?
How many yards will a team's star player (such as Tom Brady or Eli Manning) have? Answers will be in increments. For example: Between 200-240; Between 240-280, etc.)
Will Player X Score in this game? For players like Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who score nearly every game.

That covers about 1/100th of the Super Bowl betting scene. We'll get to the other 99/100ths throughout the course of the next two weeks here at Stock Lemon, covering all prop betting angles for 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) between the Patriots and Giants.

Opening 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Spread: Patriots -3 over Giants

2012-01-23T03:19:00.000-06:00

Our fifth Super Bowl here at Stock Lemon looks a lot like the first.

2008 Super Bowl XLII (42) put us on the map as the go-to site for Super Bowl prop bets when we were less than a month old, so it's only natural that the New York Giants and New England Patriots meet again in 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46), bringing about all the prop bet-related goodness that comes from Stock Lemon.

But before we dive into the props--and trust us, dive we will--we'll bring you the more traditional form of betting on the Super Bowl, the boring ol' spread and over/under.

And so, the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) lines are:

Patriots -3
Giants +3
Over/Under 55 1/2

Our initial lean is to go with the Patriots to get their revenge in the Super Bowl rematch, while we think the over/under is underestimating the Giants ability to set the defensive tone in games and overcompensating for the fact that Tom Brady will be chucking the rock in a dome.

We'll have our official Super Bowl Picks at some point during this two-week hype-fest, but now, it's time for a crazy week of Super Bowl proposition wagers.

One Last Look at the Early 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) AFC-NFC Line

2012-01-22T07:40:00.001-06:00

In the waning moments without an actual 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) matchup to dissect, you still have the opportunity to wager on a Super Bowl line that has been around all year--the Early AFC vs. NFC line.

Currently, the line is listed as follows:

AFC -4 1/2
NFC +4 1/2
Over/Under 50

What's astonishing about this spread is that just last week, prior to the elimination of the NFC powerhouses in New Orleans and Green Bay, the same line could be had at -4 1/2 in favor of the NFC. Conceivably, some smart bettors have hedged the two, and are looking to middle a nine-point spread on Super Bowl Sunday with no chance of losing anything but juice.

What this line tells us now, obviously, is that the bookies think the Patriots and Ravens are superior to the 49ers and Giants. Or, more to the point, that the Patriots, a touchdown favorite today, are superior to both NFC squads.

Do with this information what you will. Patriot bettors, if you think your team is winning the Super Bowl regardless, you won't get a better line that this.

As for the over/under, the Patriots are the lone team remaining whose defense is considered suspect, but all of these clubs--even the 49ers and Ravens--have the ability to put up points. We'd lean under, but we're not entirely sure you'll get a better bet than this if you're going over, either.

We're just a few hours from finally learning the Super Bowl XLVI (46) matchup, at which point we'll commence our extensive and entertaining Super Bowl proposition wagering lineup.

A Ravens/Giants Super Bowl Rematch Would Offer Closest 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Spread

2012-01-21T13:59:00.001-06:00

Ah, Super Bowl 2001 XXXV (35). Where Trent Dilfer and Kerry Collins did battle in front of millions of viewers worldwide. Good times.

OK, not really. The Ravens blew out the Giants 35-7 and if we never talk about that game again that will be too soon.

The reason we mention it now is because the possibility of a rematch 11 years later is in the cards, and we'll find out tomorrow whether or not it comes to fruition. If the Giants do get a chance for Super Bowl revenge against the Ravens, they'd be one-point favorites in the matchup that offers the closest spread of any of the potential 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) pairings.

Take a look at odds for each game below:

Giants -1 over Ravens

Ravens -2 over 49ers

Patriots -4 1/2 over Giants

Patriots -6 1/2 over 49ers

As you can see, Vegas is high on the Patriots and low on the 49ers, as the Pats are favored either way and the Niners are dogs either way.

In just over 24 hours, we'll know the exact 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) spread.

If you haven't heard already, we specialize in Super Bowl prop betting, making this the one time... er one of the best times to visit this here site. If we ran this blog like we do during Super Bowl proposition wagering season, we might even develop an actual consistent readership.

So those of you who are among the few consistent readers and are used to being generally disappointed by our content, you'll be disappointed again. For the next two weeks, we're a legit bookmark. Do iiiiiiit.

Janet Jackson's Boob Kicks off Super Bowl Coverage

2012-01-21T08:33:00.004-06:00

Ah, the Super Bowl. The one time a year when we don't fill our pages with tantalizing keywords that will help us generate cheap traffic and pageviews.

Big Boobs Big Tits Big Boobies and Titties at the Super Bowl BOOOOOOOOOOOOB.

What? It's not NFL Super Bowl week yet. (Besides, we have to get our boob hits while we can, before the government censors the internet and all).

But with Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl halftime show, we strip off our coverage of the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) in Indianapolis, where we'll dissect the prop betting scene just as we did last year and every year for the last four Super Bowls. And we can't wait for that prop bet about Madonna flashing some nipple at halftime in Indy.

This year is Super Bowl V for us at Stock Lemon--and we're determined to make sure that V stands for victory, bringing you the profitable and silly and weird proposition wagers that pop up during this year's Super Bowl.

We'll have new and, for once, relevant and entertaining content every day throughout the road to the Super Bowl, which takes place in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, 2012.

Starting tomorrow when we get our 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) matchup, which will feature any combination of the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, we'll have Super Bowl prop betting coverage every day until The Big Game.

From the coin toss prop bet to the Gatorade shower prop bet, the Peyton Manning mentions prop bet to the National Anthem prop bet, and the Madonna halftime show prop bets to the cross-sport prop bets.

And like in years past, it will be overly thorough, overly analyzed, and overly awesome.

Prop bets, prop bets, prop bets. Boobs.

Road to 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46): A Peyton Manning NFC Championship Game Prop Bet

2012-01-20T13:46:00.006-06:00

We've given you our picks on the AFC and NFC Championship games, but our bread and butter around Super Bowl time is prop betting. That said, we figured we ought to get a proposition bet out there for the Conference Championship games as a small (very small) preview of what's to come here at Stock Lemon in the next two weeks.

While the props offered during the conference championship games are much like those in the regular season--strictly about football--there is still some value on the board, and there are even a few of the fun prop bets that you'll see during 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46).

Our favorite NFL conference championship game prop is one of those such wagers, and one that we'll likely see again in Super Bowl XLVI given the game's location (and potentially, as is the reason for this prop in this game, due to a rather obvious family connection):

How many times will "Peyton Manning" be mentioned in the Giants/49ers NFC Championship Game?
Over 2 1/2 (-120)
Under 2 1/2 (-120)

This is a great prop bet to get us rolling, because it is the definition of easy money. Look, we know Eli is Peyton's brother and that the Super Bowl will be played in the house that Peyton built in Indianapolis, but the bet here is UNDER 2 1/2.

Troy Aikman and Joe Buck do a great job of staying on course and focusing on the game (see last year's "Brett Favre" mentions prop bet). There's no doubt Peyton will be brought up numerous times in pregame shows and all the hype prior to the game (ahem... Rob Lowe), which drives a lot of squares to pound the over on this bet.

But when it's game time--and the bet takes place between the first and final whistles only--Troy and Joe will talk about one Manning and one Manning only. It's Eli's day, and the experienced announcing crew will make sure that's conveyed to the viewers.

Our prediction: zero mentions of Peyton Manning in the FOX broadcast of the game.

And if you still bet the over despite our nudging, we're calling the Football Cops.

More prop betting goodness will follow throughout the next two weeks, so park it here at Stock Lemon, your home for all the best and most popular Super Bowl prop bets.

Road to 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46): Free NFC Championship Picks

2012-01-20T07:06:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, we posted our Free AFC Championship Picks. Today, we're handing out our Free NFC Championship Picks between the 49ers and Giants.

49ers -2 1/2 over the Giants

Over 42

The 49ers impressive season, anchored by Justin Smith and the defense, will continue on to Super Bowl XLVI (46), where they'll face the New England Patriots for the right to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Why, you ask?

Both teams are coming off emotional victories last week, and you're always wise to ride the hot hand at this point in the playoffs. In this case, it's hard to determine just who that is. It's clear which team is better, though. The Giants have been clicking on all cylinders and are playing with confidence, but the 49ers defense is one of the best in NFL history, and we've seen that Alex Smith stay out of the way just enough to let the D put the team in positions to win games.

Can the Giants pull off another road upset on the way to the Super Bowl? What do you think, Mike Singletary?

Can our Free NFL Picks rebound from a dismal playoff stretch thus far? Cue Mike Singletary.

Stick around later today for a special NFC Championship Game prop bet, a fun way to kick off our prop betting prowess this Super Bowl.

Never Too Early For 2013 Super Bowl XLVII (47) Odds

2012-01-19T22:51:00.005-06:00

As we count down the days until we determine a matchup for 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46), we're already looking ahead to next year, at the odds to win the NFL's ultimate prize in 2013 at Super Bowl XLVII (47).

Despite a premature exit from the postseason, a 15-1 record and their place as reigning Super Bowl champs for another couple weeks has the Packers in Vegas' top position to win the Super Bowl in 2013. Mike McCarthy and the Packers are followed by fellow NFC Playoff disappointment, the New Orleans Saints, and the New England Patriots represent the AFC's best odds (and very well may win it all in 2012).

There's a lot of temptation in the 20/1 spot (Cowboys, Jets, Lions and Falcons all are solid bets at that price), but our favorite number is the Colts at 40/1. Sure, they finished with last year's worst record, but should Peyton Manning return to the club in 2012-13, bookies will be sweating those rich odds throughout the season.

The complete odds to win 2013 Super Bowl XLVII (47) are below:

Green Bay Packers +500
New Orleans Saints +600
New England Patriots +800
Pittsburgh Steelers +1200
Philadelphia Eagles +1200
Baltimore Ravens +1200
Houston Texans +1500
San Diego Chargers +1500
San Francisco 49ers +2000
New York Giants +2000
Tennessee Titans +2000
Dallas Cowboys +2000
New York Jets +2000
Atlanta Falcons +2000
Detroit Lions +2000
Chicago Bears +3000
Indianapolis Colts +4000
Carolina Panthers +4000
Cincinnati Bengals +4000
Arizona Cardinals +5000
Kansas City Chiefs +5000
Miami Dolphins +5000
Oakland Raiders +5000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +5000
Minnesota Vikings +5000
Buffalo Bills +5000
Denver Broncos +5000
Seattle Seahawks +5000
Jacksonville Jaguars +10000
Washington Redskins +10000
St Louis Rams +10000
Cleveland Browns +10000

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves: there's still the matter of the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46), which could shape some of the odds at the top of this list. Be sure to check back for all the wild and crazy Super Bowl proposition bets, for this Super Bowl and the next.

Road to 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46): Free AFC Championship Picks

2012-01-19T06:45:00.005-06:00

Two more Sundays. Just two more Sundays before the Sunday when we crown a new Super Bowl Champion.

And just one more Sunday of games left to determine who fights for the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Lombardi Trophy.

Today, we'll give you our AFC Championship Picks between the Patriots and Ravens. Tomorrow, we'll give you our NFC Championship Picks. And then we'll give you a whole ton of Super Bowl prop bets before the game, which is just a couple more Sundays from becoming a reality.

As for the AFC Championship Game:

Ravens +9 over the Patriots

Under 50

Our two picks are following a common theme as of late: defenses trumping offenses. Both the Saints and Packers went down (though in shootouts) and we suspect a similar fate for the Patriots. Well, maybe. We actually think the Pats will win, but it will be close, and lower scoring than the Pats would like.

In what could be Ray Lewis' last run, we expect him to damn near commit murder (again?) on Tom Brady.

Our NFC Championship picks will be posted tomorrow, as we're picking all the games in the 2011-12 NFL Playoffs leading up to 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46).

Keep in mind the successes of our Free NFL Picks during the playoffs before you do anything crazy, like follow them.

Will 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Feature a Patriots-Giants Rematch?

2012-01-18T05:45:00.002-06:00

The upcoming 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) will be our fifth Super Bowl here at Stock Lemon, when we entered the Super Bowl proposition betting foray with this post. There's a very good chance that our fifth Super Bowl looks a lot like our first.

With both the Giants and Patriots advancing to their respective conference championship games, we could have a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl XLII (42) game that saw the Giants upset the then undefeated Patriots, thanks to some memorable plays along the way.

A look at the current odds to win 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) reveal that bettors think a rematch is a likely scenario:

Updated odds to win 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46)
Patriots... 10/11
Giants... 7/2
49ers... 7/2
Ravens... 6/1

If it does come to fruition, expect a ton of prop bets comparing the two games, i.e. Tom Brady's passing yards in Super Bowl XLII vs. Super Bowl XLVI. (A Giants/Ravens matchup would also lend to such Super Bowl comparison props).

One caveat, the 49ers are favored to win the NFC Championship Game against the Giants, meaning they technically are the favorites to come out of the NFC, but the fact that their odds to win the whole thing are the same is a testament to how the bookies feel about the Patriots winning the Super Bowl this season.

Lucky for the New England, David Tyree won't be around to spoil their Super Bowl dreams this season.

Putting Our Free NCAA Football Picks to Bed (52%)

2012-01-17T10:53:00.000-06:00

We like to conclude each betting season with a recap of our picks from the season, and let's just say we weren't looking forward to rehashing this year's Free NCAA Football Picks, which went 3-7 down the stretch (2-2 in bowls after going 9-1 last year).

We just couldn't seem to figure things out this year, alternating winning and losing weeks nearly every week and never getting into a rhythm. 52% is a winning record--hooray--but at the end of the day those three games above .500 mostly just make up for juice, meaning we basically did these picks just for fun and not profits this year.

We were really banking on some profits.

Here's a look back for those interested. Hey, at least we have something to improve upon in 2012.

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Week 12: 3-2
Week 13: 1-3
Week 14: 0-2
Bowls: 2-2
Total: 40-37-2... 52%

Early Look at the NFL's NFC and AFC Championship Game Odds

2012-01-16T05:12:00.000-06:00

Our Free NFL Picks have been comically bad in the playoffs, but that's probably not why you're here anyway. You're probably here in the hopes that we've posted a new picture of some girl with big boobs.

But some of you might be here for our extensive coverage of 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) prop betting action, and anything gambling-related that has to do with Super Bowl XLVI for that matter, and that's what we're here to provide.

Here's a look at the early lines for the Conference Championship games, the last step before our coverage of those funny and silly and whacky and weird Super Bowl prop bets really heats up.

In the NFC Championship Game:

San Francisco 49ers - 2 1/2
New York Giants + 2 1/2
Over/Under 43 1/2

Our initial inclination is to lean toward the Giants to continue their hot streak on the road, and we seem destined for a Patriots/Giants rematch from 2007. We'll refrain from getting too deep into analysis of this line, considering how horribly we've been picking games in the playoffs, but we 43 1/2 seems a bit high for this game.

In the AFC Championship Game:

New England Patriots -7 1/2
Baltimore Ravens +7 1/2
Over/Under 50

The Patriots are clearly the favorite to win the 2012 Super Bowl XLV (46), but the Ravens are not to be counted out in this one (which is to say we'll be counting them out). The over/under seems about right where it is, and we would maybe lean under for this game as well.

It's very early, so there could be some line movement as the week goes on, but we thought we'd be sure to keep you abreast of this information in anticipation of the Super Bowl matchup, which will be set on Sunday.

Historical Run to the Super Bowl Continues Here at Stock Lemon

2012-01-15T06:44:00.002-06:00

We've spent a little less time on our Free NFL Picks at the end of the season as we prepare for our 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46) Prop Betting Extravaganza, and needless to say, it's showed.

You'll just have to trust that our look at funny and interesting Super Bowl proposition wagers will be our best work yet.

So far in the 2011-12 NFL Playoffs, we are an incredible 0-6.

With the Super Bowl being played in Indianapolis, we figured we'd follow Curtis Painter's lead in our journey there. So Stock Lemon faders, of which we suspect there are many, you're welcome.

We're back at it today, looking to go an imperfect 0-8 in our run to the Super Bowl. We know you'll be with us, if only to point and laugh. Traffic's traffic, we suppose.

Sunday's Free NFL Divisional Playoff Picks

2012-01-14T15:14:00.004-06:00

We're about to tip off another underwhelming round of betting on the NFL playoffs, so let's get Sunday's picks out there before today's results back us reconsider this whole endeavor.

Giants +8 over Packers

Ravens -9 over Texans

Good luck! We'll need it.

Saturday Free NFL Divisional Playoff Picks: Is America Ready For a Tebow Super Bowl?

2012-01-13T19:56:00.006-06:00

Our picks were so bad last week that we'll hardly bother paying them much mind in the NFL Divisional Playoffs Round, other than to post them and quietly walk away.

The real issue here is whether or not the Internet can handle a Super Bowl featuring Tim Tebow, because we are two games away from that becoming a reality. To make it happen, Tebow needs to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots at Foxboro.

Broncos +13 1/2 over Patriots

Saints -3 1/2 over 49ers

We do think the Patriots will save America from a Super Tebowl, but we like the Broncos to cover. Just like we thought the Saints would win last week, but the Lions would cover. So here's to looking like a bunch of boobs who know nothing about football on consecutive weeks.

Sunday's picks will be posted tomorrow, so, for those of you fading those as well, you'll just have to be patient.

Super Bowl XLVI (46) 2012 Prediction

2012-01-10T13:18:00.000-06:00

It's 2012, the year in which Nostradamus allegedly picked the End of All Times at +2012 odds over The World, so we're going to make some predictions of our own.

After getting murdered in Wild Card Weekend (where was our crystal ball then?), we're now up to speed with the 2012 NFL Playoffs and prepared to win out. As such, we already know the Super Bowl matchup, and even who will win the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46).

So, in advance, here's our Free NFL Super Bowl Pick:

Saints -3 over the Patriots

You heard it here first, kids.

NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend Not So Wild After All

2012-01-09T23:31:00.003-06:00

To understate our disastrous start to the NFL Playoffs, it looks like we overestimated the wildness in Wild Card Weekend.

We picked way too many dogs to get it done on the road, and none of them did. But, as with any bad week, all you can do is regroup and try to stay focused for the next week. No sense holding on to the past (unless it's a winning week, in which case, mention it throughout the remainder of the year).

We'll be back in full force for Free NFL Picks in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend.

Free BCS National Championship Pick

2012-01-08T06:44:00.000-06:00

Our Free NCAA Football Picks are 2-0 in 2012, and we look to make it a perfect 3-0 with a pick in the National Championship.

LSU -1 over Alabama

Lots of bettors are taking Bama for the revenge factor. We're taking LSU for the more talented factor. Both quality teams, of course, but LSU is not losing to anyone this season.

And yes, we are trying to atone for picking Bama in the first matchup.

Good luck, and thanks for sticking with us throughout an up and down college football season. We'll post our final 2011-12 record later this month.

Sunday's Free NFL Wild Card Playoff Picks

2012-01-07T04:55:00.001-06:00

It's a Jaime Edmonsdson kind of weekend, isn't it?

We're just about to get going with the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, and we have the remainder of our picks this weekend ready to go before it all kicks off. With two dogs today, we like one more on Sunday, giving us three out of four dogs in a (hopefully) wild Wild Card round.

Falcons +3 over Giants

Steelers -9 over Broncos

The Giants are hot, but we think the Falcons are ready to make amends following last year's playoff result, whereas New York played their Super Bowl last week.

Tebow magic has worn off, and Pittsburgh shouldn't have any troubles in Denver, Mendenhall or not.

Good luck, and most of all, enjoy it.

Saturday's Free NFL Wild Card Playoff Picks

2012-01-06T04:46:00.001-06:00

We promised a Free NFL Pick on every game, and we're here to deliver. With a full slate of four games, we think it will be a truly wild weekend. Let's start with Upset Saturday!

Bengals +3 over Texans

Lions +11 over Saints

We've been burned taking the Lions and the points in New Orleans before, but we love that extra point there. We're staking our entire reputation on a 10-point Saints win. But we'll settle for anything that covers.

The Bengals are the pick in Houston as the rookie QBs square off, and we like them straight up if you're feeling frisky.

We'll post our Sunday picks early tomorrow, with more surprises in store!

Packers and Patriots Lead Odds to Win 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46)

2012-01-05T11:55:00.000-06:00

According to Bodog... er... Bovada, the Packers and Patriots will be partying like it's 1996 (well, technically Super Bowl XXXI was played in 1997) and playing in the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI (46).

The Packers (9/5) open with the best odds to win Super Bowl XLVI (46), with the Patriots not far behind at 4/1. It's not surprising that the two top-seeded teams from the NFC and AFC, respectively, take the top odds, but it isn't always the case.

If it plays out that way, we can't wait for those prop bets comparing this year's Big Game to the Super Bowl 15 years ago, when the Packers beat the Patriots 35-21 behind Desmond Howard's kick return magic.

Full odds to win Super Bowl XLVI (46) are below:

Green Bay Packers... 9/5
New England Patriots... 4/1
New Orleans Saints... 9/2
Baltimore Ravens... 15/2
Pittsburgh Steelers... 11/1
San Francisco 49ers... 11/1
New York Giants... 18/1
Atlanta Falcons... 35/1
Detroit Lions... 40/1
Houston Texans... 40/1
Denver Broncos... 50/1
Cincinnati Bengals... 65/1

Will we have a redo of Super Bowl 31? Only time will tell, and in that time, we'll get you right up to the Super Bowl with Free NFL Picks on every playoff game. We didn't bet on every game last season, but we did begin the playoffs 4-0, and we intend on doing that in Wild Card Weekend.

Stay with us for coverage of all your Super Bowl XLVI Prop Betting needs and we'll be sure to provide the content, as we always do this time of year. Heck, we might even update the results of our prop bets within a month or two this year.

Putting the 2-0 in 2012

2012-01-04T23:39:00.000-06:00

We better be sure to brag about this while we can. After going out with a whimper in 2011, we've thus far been able to abide by our New Year's resolution to not lose a single Free Pick.

West Virginia trounced Clemson to give us a 2-0 2012 record (2-1 in bowl season). And we're getting hot just at the right time... the end of the season!

We'll have a pick on the BCS Championship Game between Alabama and LSU, as well as a whole slew of Free NFL Playoff Picks

Finally a College Football Bowl Victory!

2012-01-04T00:39:00.006-06:00

We have been sucking a big one down the stretch with our Free NCAA Football Picks, but in comes Michigan, covering by a half-point in a game they probably shouldn't have won, taking the Sugar Bowl and putting our bowl record at a STELLAR 1-1.

We haven't picked many games (obviously) since we limped to the finish line in the regular season, but we're back at it again putting our IMPRESSIVE .500 record on the line!

Even though we know you only clicked here to see a picture of some big boobs and a bowling ball, here's our next Free NCAA Football Bowl Pick:

West Virginia +3 over Clemson

We were able to get this at +3 right after posting (but before making the pick), and have reflected that change accordingly. Apologies if you took WV at +2 1/2 in the three minutes we had that up there, but we still like your odds.

Good luck!

Free NCAA Football Picks Haven't Lost All Year!

2012-01-03T01:28:00.002-06:00

January 2 was the big day in college football bowl betting, so naturally, we didn't have a pick. We have a Free NCAA Football Pick today, though, for you to fade at will.

Michigan -2 1/2 over Virginia Tech

Good luck!

Looking For a Winning 2012

2012-01-01T23:21:00.002-06:00

As you might have noticed, we did something we haven't done in a long time today... took a football Sunday off.

We have been getting killed with our picks lately, and our resolution for the new year was to not lose any money gambling. We still managed to blow a few bucks on scratch offs, but for the most part, mission accomplished.

Don't worry, though, as we'll have bowl picks coming tomorrow (0-1 so far on those) as well as a Free NFL Pick on every playoff game.

Happy new year, and let's hope that it won't be our profits dropping like the ball in Times Square this year.

Happy 4th Birthday, Stock Lemon!

2011-12-25T12:40:00.002-06:00

It's December 25, which of course means that we're celebrating the birth of Stock Lemon, a site that has, on more than one occasion, died--only to rise again. And Jesus Christ, we can't believe it's been four years.

So here we are. Now four years into this project that started as little more than a satirical look at penny stocks and a way to piss off the moderators on the covers message boards. We haven't made much money over the years in terms of advertising or, ahem, donations (a great idea during this Christmas season), but we've made plenty of friends and readers that are near and dear to our hearts.

Keep coming back, dear reader, and we'll keep posting sporadically and unpredictably during any given month, providing free picks that are hitting well below the equator as of late. We'll have plenty more unfulfilled promises in the new year. We promise.

Happy birthday to us and Merry Christmas to all!

Reluctantly Publicizing our Week 16 Free NFL Picks

2011-12-24T00:32:00.003-06:00

As the weather cools down, so, apparently, do our picks. With the Christmas countdown winding to a close, our Free NFL Picks are finishing the year with a whimper. We haven't had a winning week in three weeks and were lucky to come out of last week at 1-1-1. Nevertheless, we are gluttons for punishment here at Stock Lemon:

Jets -3 over Giants

Cowboys -1 over Eagles

Lions -1 over Chargers

Good luck!

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 3-0
Week 13: 2-3
Week 14: 1-2
Week 15: 1-1-1
Total: 35-24-2... 59%

Free NCAA Football Picks Look For Repeat of Last Year's 90% Performance

2011-12-20T03:06:00.002-06:00

We've heard your feedback and we're ready to get back into some college football betting, digging into the Beef O'Brady's Bowl tonight.

This one hits close to home for FIU, being played in St. Petersburg, and overall they are just a better team than Marshall. We're glad to make this our first bowl pick of the season as we look to recapture the magic of our 9-1 2010-11 bowling action..

Florida International -4 over Marshall

Merry bowling to all and to all a good night!

Free NFL Picks Limp to the Finish Line (60% YTD)

2011-12-18T02:42:00.003-06:00

We've been a little less active on this here site the last couple of weeks as we try to figure out what the hell is going on with our Free Picks. First, our Free NCAA Football Picks ended the season horribly, and now the Free NFL Picks, our bread and butter, are destined to do the same.

Posting consecutive losing weeks for the first time since... last year, we're looking to get out of this mini-slump this Sunday. And we hope some Christmas cheer helps our cause.

Titans -7 over Colts

Saints -9 over Vikings

Lions -1 over Raiders

Good luck... you might need it.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 3-0
Week 13: 2-3
Week 14: 1-2
Total: 34-23-2... 60%

Debating Our Free NCAA Football Picks Bowl Betting Plan

2011-12-13T06:52:00.001-06:00

Our Free NCAA Football Picks started out great, then fizzled, then came back to life, then completely crashed down the stretch.

Now, we're at a crossroads. How do we bet the 2011-12 college football bowl schedule?

We were fairly aggressive last year and winded up with a 9-1 bowl record that saved our mediocre season. Will the opposite be true this year? Our picks are 1-5 in the last two weeks and we can't seem to figure out why, other than the fact that we simply suck at this.

It's frustrating, and it has us debating the number of games we'll be betting this bowl season. Thoughts? Prayers? Send them to stocklemonblog@gmail.com and let us know what you think.

Our Less Confident Than Last Week Free NFL Picks (61% YTD)

2011-12-10T00:40:00.005-06:00

We felt really, really good about our Free NFL Picks last weekend. And we went 2-3.

This weekend, we're not as confident. So hop aboard the money train!

The picks are in:

49ers -3 1/2 over Cardinals

Falcons -3 over Panthers

Broncos -3 1/2 over Bears

Who says people in the Bay Area are gigantic pussies? Not us, we love the 49ers this week, trap game and all.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 3-0
Week 13: 2-3
Total: 33-21-2... 61%

Big Weekend Ahead For Free NFL Picks (63% YTD)

2011-12-02T06:35:00.002-06:00

Coming off a perfect Free NFL Picks weekend, we've got a five-play card that we're feeling way too good about. That said, you've been warned. It's never a good thing to be too confident about your picks, so we very well could go 0-5 Sunday.

Either way, we really see this as a make or break weekend to see where our picks really stand.

There's the possibility that we have a Monday night play as well, so stay tuned.

Falcons -1 1/2 over Texans

Broncos +1 over Vikings

Jets -3 over Redskins

Packers -7 over Giants

Lions +9 over Saints

Good luck!

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 3-0
Total: 31-18-2... 63%

Small Championship Weekend Free NCAA Football Card (54% YTD)

2011-12-01T06:29:00.000-06:00

After a very disappointing weekend to close the regular season, we're going with just two Free NCAA Football Picks on championship weekend and then it's time to go bowling (we were 9-1 in bowls last season).

Virginia Tech -7 over Clemson

Wisconsin -9 over Michigan State

Good luck!

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Week 12: 3-2
Week 13: 1-3
Total: 38-33-2... 54%

A Wednesday Free NHL Pick

2011-11-30T07:39:00.004-06:00

There isn't a lot going on tonight, which is why we're excited to have a Free NHL Pick at our disposal. Hopefully, we don't wish we threw it down the disposal.

Tampa Bay Lightning ML +152 over the Detroit Red Wings

Taking a bit of a gamble with the road dog at a good price.

Good luck!

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 2-2
Units: +.85

Thankful For a Perfect Free NFL Picks Weekend (63% YTD)

2011-11-29T07:15:00.001-06:00

Finally, we are back to giving thanks to our Free NFL Picks.

After a 1-0 Thanksgiving day that woulda coulda shoulda been 2-0 had we pulled the trigger on the Ravens, we followed up with some leftovers on Sunday.

Both the Texans and Panthers covered as small road favorites to give us a perfect 3-0 woulda coulda shoulda been 4-0 weekend.

After an 8-8-1 stretch in the last four weeks, we are finally thankful for our Free NFL Picks once again.

Hopefully, this momentum carries over to the month of December, as our 63% Free NFL Picks continue their best season yet.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 3-0
Total: 31-18-2... 63%

Our First Free CFL Pick is a Grey Cup Winner!

2011-11-28T11:20:00.000-06:00

Our first foray into handing out Free CFL Picks came in this year's Grey Cup, the Super Bowl of Canadian football.

And we wish we would have been betting on the CFL all season.

The B.C. Lions took care of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 34-23, covering a -7 spread in what essentially was a home game for the Lions.

So, in what has been an impressive season of football betting here at Stock Lemon (for the most part), we can add the CFL to our list of winning records for the season at an impressive 1-0... that's 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not How We Wanted to Close the College Football Regular Season...

2011-11-27T21:52:00.000-06:00

Aaaaaaand we're back to our horrible habit of alternating winning weeks and losing weeks in college football. Just when we thought we were beginning to get back on track with our Free NCAA Football Picks, we go 1-3 for the second time in three weeks and knock ourselves to 54% on the season.

The good news? We step our game up for the postseason. Last year, we posted a 9-1 record in bowl games and we look forward to more of the same this year. But first, we have a few conference championship games to throw down on.

And hey, the good thing about alternating winning and losing weeks is that we can fairly confidently say that next week will be a winning week in college football here at Stock Lemon.

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Week 12: 3-2
Week 13: 1-3
Total: 38-33-2... 54%

Free CFL Grey Cup Pick

2011-11-27T08:00:00.002-06:00

Oh Canada...

While there's plenty of crappy NFL games to watch today, we only have two Free NFL Picks, which does not meet our football wagering quota for a Sunday.

To alleviate this problem, we'll have our first ever Free CFL Pick in the 99th Grey Cup between the British Columbia Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

B.C. Lions -7 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

This year's Grey Cup takes place in Vancouver, so it is a home game for B.C. Aside from that, they have been covering spreads left and right down the stretch, and we think they'll do the same in the big game tonight.

Unfortunately, we don't have the appropriate knowledge to go crazy with Grey Cup prop bets, as we do with our Super Bowl prop bets, so this line pick against the spread will have to suffice.

Best of luck and enjoy the clash of Canada's finest.

Miami Heat Top Odds to Win the 2011-12 NBA Championship

2011-11-26T07:46:00.001-06:00

With the end of the NBA lockout apparently in sight, we thought we'd take a look at the odds to win the NBA Championship in this shortened 66-game season.

Keeping in mind that goofy things can happen in shortened seasons (the eighth-seeded Knicks made the NBA Finals in 1998-99 after a 50 game season), we still like a couple of the favorites.

We seem destined for a Heat/Bulls Eastern Conference Finals and a Lakers/Thunder Western Conference Finals, and from that grouping we like the Heat and Thunder to emerge.

And at 5/2 odds, we're picking the Heat to win it all in the 2012 NBA Finals.

Fair warning, though. We are kind of squares when it comes to the NBA. We stopped wagering on the league a couple years ago when our Free NBA Picks--previously our pride and joy--began to taper off. We couldn't find a solution and eventually conceded that we could no longer cut it in the NBA, what with Tim Donaghy controlling the outcomes and such. In fact, we really only bet on college hoops during March Madness, leaving us devoid of any basketball picks for most of the year.

So take our advice with a grain of salt, but we consider the Heat at 5/2 odds to be a lock to win the NBA Championship this season, followed by the Thunder at 15/2.

Full 2011-12 NBA Championship odds are below.

NBA Championship Odds
Miami Heat... 5/2
Los Angeles Lakers... 11/2
Chicago Bulls... 7/1
Oklahoma City Thunder... 15/2
Dallas Mavericks... 17/2
Boston Celtics... 12/1
New York Knicks... 20/1
Memphis Grizzlies... 25/1
Orlando Magic... 25/1
Portland Trailblazers... 25/1
San Antonio Spurs... 28/1
Atlanta Hawks... 40/1
Denver Nuggets... 50/1
Houston Rockets... 50/1
Los Angeles Clippers... 50/1
Phoenix Suns... 70/1
Indiana Pacers... 75/1
New Jersey Nets... 75/1
New Orleans Hornets... 75/1
Philadelphia 76ers... 75/1
Utah Jazz... 75/1
Charlotte Bobcats... 100/1
Golden State Warriors... 100/1
Milwaukee Bucks... 100/1
Minnesota Timberwolves... 100/1
Washington Wizards... 100/1
Cleveland Cavaliers... 150/1
Detroit Pistons... 150/1
Sacramento Kings... 150/1
Toronto Raptors... 150/1

Week 12 Free NFL Picks (62% YTD)

2011-11-25T19:01:00.000-06:00

We said we were disappointed in ourselves for our unwillingness to pull the trigger on the Harbowl last night, and a big part of our disappointment stems from the fact that we have just two more Free NFL Picks for the week--even with every team in action.

We're taking down the AFC South on Sunday...

Texans -4 over Jaguars

Panthers -3 1/2 over Colts

Good luck! We'll be sure to let you know which picks we should have played... after we know the results of the games.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 1-0
Total: 29-18-2... 62%

Packers Cover the Thanksgiving Spread

2011-11-25T08:09:00.000-06:00

Once again, we enjoyed success in the NFL yesterday. And once again, we regret not playing a lean and making it an even better day.

The Packers did their part against the Lions, easily covering the smallest spread they're likely to see from here on out (-6), while the Ravens (-3) beat the 49ers in the Harbowl.

Unfortunately, as we tweeted in between helpings of stuffing and mashed potatoes, we didn't end up making the Ravens a Free NFL Pick.

(Oh by the way, we didn't really mention this but our new twitter handle is @stocklemonblog, as we strive for some consistency in the way that we market ourselves. If you're not following us on twitter, you should probably do so now. If you already were one of the 443 geniuses following our every electronic word, you don't need to manually change our name to continue following us or anything. Simply a heads up.)

So, as it stands, we're happy to go into Sunday up a game on the weekend already, but we're once again disappointed that we didn't capitalize on an opportunity Thursday. We've been preaching (and practicing) selectivity in our picks, and we've hurt ourselves more than we've benefited from doing so.

Or so it seems.

The rest of our Week 12 Free NFL Picks card will be up shortly. Enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend!

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1

Week 12: 1-0
Total: 29-18-2... 62%

A Free Helping of NCAA Football Picks on Thanksgiving Weekend (55% YTD)

2011-11-24T13:53:00.001-06:00

Our Free NCAA Football Picks are searching for a fourth winning week in the last five on this Thanksgiving weekend, with a small card of Friday and Saturday action.

Northwestern +6 over Michigan State

Florida State -1 1/2 over Florida

Arkansas +12 over LSU

Georgia Tech +5 1/2 over Georgia

Stuff your face with some turkey and your wallets with some extra cash from this holiday weekend.

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Week 12: 3-2
Total: 37-30-2... 55%

Giving Thanks to Our Free NFL Picks (61% YTD)

2011-11-23T13:33:00.000-06:00

Our Free NFL Picks have been a little dicey lately, but all in all, it's been a pretty good season of football betting here at Stock Lemon. So, while we've spent some weeks running around like turkeys with our heads cut off, our picks have been mostly successful to the tune of 61%.

We're hoping that we'll continue to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day, with a Thursday pick to get us off on the right foot this weekend.

Green Bay Packers -6 over Detroit Lions

We sort of bet the Packers a lot, we've realized, but hey, they are undefeated. This is a great price for the best team in the NFL, and frankly we still aren't sure as to how good the Lions really are. Granted, Detroit is better if they have discovered a running game again, but we think the Packers feast on the Lions.

We're still looking at the late game tomorrow with a possible Free NFL Pick, but we wanted to give you the main course before we skip to dessert.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1
Total: 28-18-2... 61%

A Winning Sunday For Free NFL Picks (61% YTD)

2011-11-22T12:23:00.000-06:00

Our Free NFL Picks have seemingly leveled off, as we struggle for anything better than a .500 week (just one winning week since Week 7).

As evidenced by the Jaime Edmondson picture above, the Raiders covered along with the Lions to get us a couple of Sunday wins.

All told, we turned in another .500 week in Week 11. However, to make ourselves feel a little better, we can take pride on the fact that we did have a 2-1-1 Sunday (including a backdoor push by the Bengals against the Ravens). So, had it not been for our first Thursday pick of the year, we would be ending the week on a slightly more positive note.

This week, we expect to have a pick on Thanksgiving, so we'll once again set the tone for our Sunday picks. And with no more bye weeks scheduled, we'll have a full slate of games to pick from now until the playoffs.

Perfect time for our Free NFL Picks to bounce back.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 2-2-1
Total: 28-18-2... 61%

Our Second Free NHL Pick Win of the Year!

2011-11-21T23:00:00.000-06:00

Over the last 10 months, the only thing you saw less of than our Free NFL Picks has been Sidney Crosby. But when Sid the Kid made his triumphant return tonight, we weren't going to miss it.

The Penguins defeated the Islanders 5-0, cover the -1 1/2 (+130) puck line behind Crosby's involvement on four goals (2 goals, 2 assists).

The win puts our Free NHL Picks back up to .500 and in positive unit territory again. Interestingly enough, we're 2-0 on "underdog" bets that net us positive juice, and 0-2 on favorites. Proof that we don't completely know what we're doing quite yet.

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 2-2
Units: +.85

Sid the Kid Returns to Lift Free NHL Picks

2011-11-21T14:35:00.001-06:00

After a big win to begin our 2011-12 foray into the NHL, our Free NHL Picks have now lost two straight and are losing us money.

We're hoping that tonight, with Sidney Crosby's return, comes the return of our winning ways.

Penguins -1 1/2 (+130) over the Islanders

The Isles are not playing good hockey at the moment and we expect the Pens to get a big boost from their star player.

Good luck!

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 1-2
Units: -.45

Another Winning Week for Free NCAA Football Picks (55% YTD)

2011-11-21T12:22:00.000-06:00

For the third time in four weeks, our Free NCAA Football Picks found enough success to compile a winning record. And once again, we feel it could have been better.

Three dogs came through for us Saturday, while our two big favorites--Wisconsin and Stanford--did not. We've been riding the Badgers and Cardinal for a while and it looks like that well has run dry.

We seem to be finding our way a little bit with these picks, which seem to be slightly more consistent than they had been. But still, it's been a strangely disappointing season as, much like with our Free NFL Picks, we just seem to be missing opportunities for more success.

We'll hope to find that success next week.

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Week 12: 3-2
Total: 37-30-2... 55%

Free NFL Picks Hope to Rediscover Winning Ways (60% YTD)

2011-11-18T12:02:00.000-06:00

We started the week out the wrong way, with a Thursday night loss, though that won't deter us from some Thanksgiving Day betting to kick of Week 12.

For now, though, we're looking forward to the remainder of Week 11, the last week of the season that includes byes. As such, we didn't fall in love with too much on this card, but think we have some good value picks lined up for Sunday.

Raiders -1 over Vikings

Packers -14 over Buccaneers

Lions -7 over Panthers

Ravens -7 over Bengals

We're going with four (mostly) big favorites, and feeling pretty nervous about it. Allow us to justify:

We're most nervous about Oakland, and likewise the entire AFC West. If this falls through, that's probably it for us betting on that division.

The Packers have given up 10 points in their last two home games, and while we're dealing with spreads that are uncomfortably large in the NFL, we're also dealing with a team on and a quarterback on a mission. Lot's of similarities between this team and the 2007 Patriots, so bet accordingly (potentially including betting on a double-digit dog in the Super Bowl).

We think the Lions, despite dropping some home games recently, will feast on the porous Panthers defense similar to the field day they had against Denver, and we're expecting the Jekyll and Hyde Ravens to show up again against the division.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Week 11: 0-1 (sorry, God)
Total: 26-17-1... 60%

Forgive Us Our Sins! We Repent!

2011-11-18T08:05:00.000-06:00

And deliver us to Tebow!

We've prayed on it, and we've decided never to bet against Tim Tebow, and therefore against God, ever again. Lucifer's grip hath held us down for too long.

At least, that's our explanation for picking the Jets (-6) over Tebow's Broncos last night.

Not only did siding with Satan cost us the Thursday nighter and get us off on the wrong foot for our Free NFL Picks on Sunday, it also cost us our third Free NHL Pick of the season, putting us in the red on units (-.45) early in the process when the Oilers were destroyed by the Senators.

At least they weren't playing the devils.

We'll have our remaining Week 11 Free NFL Picks out later this morning and hope for forgiveness from the man upstairs.

A Free NHL Pick to Compliment Thursday Night Football

2011-11-17T14:56:00.001-06:00

Our Free NHL Picks are 1-0 on days when there is NFL football, and we're looking to build off that and any other stat we can use to ignore the fact that we suffered a loss on Tuesday.

We've got action on a good ol' fashioned Canadian showdown tonight.

Edmonton Oilers ML (-125) over the Ottawa Senators

With free picks in both football and football on ice tonight, we're hoping for a profitable Thursday. Our YTD (year-to-date for those who have been wondering) hockey total is below:

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 1-1
Units: +0.55

A Thursday Night Free NFL Pick (62% YTD)

2011-11-17T08:55:00.000-06:00

We'll unveil the rest of the Free NFL Picks card tomorrow (mostly because it isn't quite complete as of yet), but we're kicking off our week on Thursday Night Football for the first time this season.

Jets -6 over the Broncos

We already regret not getting this earlier at -4 1/2, but ultimately don't think it will matter. We're comfortable taking the Jets up to a touchdown and see them winning by 10 or 14. The Broncos have three wins with Tim Tebow, sure, but they haven't been beating fantastic teams here.

Not including a blowout loss to the Lions, the Broncos resume reads as follows: flukey comeback against the winless Dolphins, divisional win over Oakland in Carson Palmer's first start, and an unorthodox use of a pro offense in a win over the off-and-on Chiefs (also a divisional game).

While we like Tebow and the Broncos to an extent, that extent doesn't include a Jets team that is better than their record and coming off a tough loss to their bitter rivals. We don't even mind that they are turning around from a Sunday nighter to tip-off the next week's slate.

Our records to date:

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Total: 26-16-1... 62%

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the rest of our Week 11 selections as we try to notch another week of NFL action.

Free NHL Picks Plummet to 50% YTD!

2011-11-16T13:44:00.000-06:00

Our Free NHL Picks have gone cold!

The Washington Capitals failed us in our second hockey bet of the year, falling in Nashville to the Predators, 3-1.

We liked the Caps in this spot on the road, which tells us that we may have few bumps in the road as we bet hockey consistently for the first time in our site's nearly four-year history.

We're still up a half a unit thanks to our first win on Sunday, but would have liked to continue posting the obnoxious '100% YTD' headline for a little longer.

We'll bounce back with a pick either tonight (have a lean but not sure we're pulling the trigger) or likely tomorrow.

Stay frozen, friends.

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 1-1
Units: +0.55

Week 12 Free NCAA Football Picks (55% YTD)

2011-11-16T07:04:00.000-06:00

Our Free NCAA Football Picks took a step back last week just when we thought they were ready to turn the corner, but we're ready to rebound this week with some familiar favorites (Stanford and Wisconsin) and three underdogs.

USC +15 1/2 over Oregon

Stanford -18 1/2 over California

Tennessee +1 1/2 over Vanderbilt

Wisconsin -14 over Illinois

Rutgers +3 over Cincinnati

As you can see, not only are we sticking with Stanford, we're picking against Oregon again, even after they embarrassed our Stanford pick last week. This week, though, we've got the secret weapon: posting a picture of USC fan Julie Henderson, who we've posted on this here site before.

And if that doesn't do it, well, we should probably stop betting against Oregon.

The weekly records are below:

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Total: 34-28-2... 55%

A Tuesday Free NHL Pick (100% YTD, +1.55 Units)

2011-11-15T17:51:00.001-06:00

We told you we would have frequent plays in the NHL, and we have another one tonight after starting the season off with a win on Sunday. We may not pump out hockey content at the same rate as our friends over at The Program, but we're doing our best.

Washington Capitals ML over Nashville Predators (-109)

For those of you not used to us tracking units, we are wagering one unit to win .91 units. Good luck!

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 1-0
Units: +1.55

Packers Blowout Gives Free NFL Picks Another Winning Week (62% YTD)

2011-11-15T14:11:00.001-06:00

The Packers salvaged a weird week of NFL action for us, blowing out the Vikings on Monday Night Football and giving our Free NFL Picks a 3-2 week.

Basically, we went with the wrong NFC East lean, going with the Eagles (vs. Arizona) over the Cowboys (vs. Buffalo) and looking downright stupid for it.

Every week we end up kicking ourselves for getting a lean wrong, but to make matters worse the Eagles pick was actually added to our original Free NFL Picks post. We would have felt a lot better about a 3-1 week, obviously, especially given that we now have three consecutive weeks with two losses and are just .500 over that time at 6-6 after a dominant 67% start (20-10-1).

Have we hit a wall? Maybe. But optimistically speaking, we've improved each week after suffering our first losing week since Week 1, and plan on improving yet again next Sunday with our picks that are still hitting a respectable 62% on the season.

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 3-2
Total: 26-16-1... 62%

College (Football) Is Hard (Free NCAA Football Picks Now 55% YTD)

2011-11-15T06:38:00.002-06:00

Another week, another maddeningly inconsistent college football card. After stringing together consecutive winning weeks and thinking that we finally turned the corner at the end of the season, it's back to the drawing board yet again after the Badgers were the only team to cover for us Saturday (and barely did so at that).

Our three losses were infuriatingly off, giving us a losing week and knocking us down to 55% on the season in college football.

Once again, we'll study even harder this upcoming week and try to ace our Free NCAA Football Picks next week, but there was nothing good to draw from this past Saturday.

The breakdown:

2011 Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-1
Week 2: 4-2-1
Week 3: 3-3
Week 4: 2-4
Week 5: 2-1-1
Week 6: 3-4
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 1-3
Week 9: 4-2
Week 10: 5-3
Week 11: 1-3
Total: 34-28-2... 55%

Monday Night Free NFL Pick Reminder

2011-11-14T12:20:00.001-06:00

After a disappointing 2-2 day that included two more completely off-base picks, we're looking to come out on top by picking the Super Bowl champs to cover a big Monday Night spread.

If you've been following us this season, you know that we rarely feel comfortable with double-digit NFL favorites. And since we enjoy humiliating ourselves, we bet on two such spreads this week.

The other, Philly -14 over the Cardinals, resulted in a straight up loss for the Eagles in a play that we added to our card late. Per usual, it was between that and the Cowboys at -5 1/2, who went on to pound the Bills.

Our ability to narrow a card down has been a source of frustration all season, but we still hold to our theory that less is usually more. We just need to make sure to pick the right games.

A loss here would give us our third consecutive NON-winning week, fresh off our streak of six consecutive non-losing streak.

So consider this a reminder, and an excuse to post another of Jaime Edmondson's NFL photos, that we're capping off the week with the Packers at home tonight against the Vikings.

Packers -13 over the Vikings

We've had just one other Monday Night Football Pick this season, earning a win in Week 6--the last time we had a five-play card. How about that symmetry!

Anyway, good luck!

2011 Free NFL Picks
Week 1: 2-4
Week 2: 4-1-1
Week 3: 4-0
Week 4: 1-1
Week 5: 3-1
Week 6: 3-2
Week 7: 3-1
Week 8: 1-2
Week 9: 2-2
Week 10: 2-2 (Monday Night pending)
Total: 25-16-1... 61%

Free NHL Picks Start the Season With a Win! (100% YTD)

2011-11-14T04:20:00.000-06:00

On a frustrating day for our Free NFL Picks (more on that later), we found salvation in the first of our 2011-12 Free NHL Picks, watching the Blackhawks defeat the Oilers 6-3 to easily cover the -1 1/2 puck line and net us 1.55 units.

If our first pick of the season is any indication (it probably isn't), we're going to enjoy this hockey betting thing quite a bit.

More plays will be coming throughout this week, and the next, and the next, etc. You know where to find us, hockey fans. EDITOR'S NOTE: Actually, most hockey fans probably don't know where to find us, so be sure to pass our site along to your puck-happy friends out there.

2011-12 Free NHL Picks
Record: 1-0
Units: +1.55

Our First Free NHL Pick of the 2011-12 Season!

2011-11-13T10:03:00.000-06:00

We promised that we'd actually bet on hockey with some consistency this season, and to show our dedication, we're starting with a play on a day we normally reserve for one sport and one sport only.

That's right, our first Free NHL Pick of the season is today, on football Sunday of all days.

Chicago Blackhawks -1 1/2 over Edmonton Oilers (+155)

Since hockey bets are either a puck line (like above) or a straight money line, we'll be keeping track of our record as well as our total units. This doesn't make as big a difference in football, since we normally bet the spread and not money lines, but in hockey it does indeed. So above, we're wagering one unit to win 1.55 units.

And in case we fail to live up to our hockey betting promise (again), you can find some more consistent hockey coverage from our friends over at The Program.

But we promise you can find it here, too! We think.

Introducing the Mami Marlins!

2011-11-12T07:38:00.003-06:00

We like to consider ourselves fairly up to speed with uniform related matters in the world of sports, and are always interested when a team rolls out a new uniform, jersey, and in this case, name. With the Florida Marlins becoming the Miami Marlins, alterations needed to be made to the jerseys to reflect the change.

The Marlins showed off their new duds yesterday, and already a potential problem has arisen. The 'I' in Miami is too close to the seam of the jersey, causing it to disappear at the slightest overlap of the buttons and creating a uniform that says 'Mami' rather than Miami.

While not at all relevant to our usual content, we found this pretty funny, and were reminded of this classic:

Adding a Fifth Week 10 Free NFL Pick

2011-11-12T01:05:00.004-06:00

The line is up on the Eagles/Cardinals game, and it is high. And we are still riding with Philly.

Eagles -14 over the Cardinals

Coming off a tough home loss on Monday Night, we think the Eagles feast on one of the worst teams in the league. Add this to a card that already includes the following:

Steelers -3 over Bengals

Buccaneers +3 1/2 over Texans

49ers -3 over Giants

Packers -13 over Vikings

That gives us our first five-play card since Week 6. It also means that for the second time this season, we're riding both Pennsylvania clubs. We have the tendency to get comfortable with certain teams and bet them more frequently than others, and if that's not been the case with the Eagles, it certainly has with the Steelers. Don't let us down, Quaker Nation!

Our Free NFL Picks are 62% on the season, and this week will go a long way in determining which direction we take down the stretch.