Permit us to gloat. Our last post predicted the winners of the AFC and NFC championships based on the relative sizes of their consumer markets. We told you that the team representing the largest potential markets would win and move to the Super Bowl. That is exactly what happened. Check off the list: the advertising people are happy; the networks are thrilled and the bookies banked their winnings. So far so good. If you want proof that you’re not really watching an honestly contested game consider the odd moves made by coaches, players and Officials over the course of a game. Let’s take one example that clearly proves our point. In January, 2019, the New Orleans Saints played the LA Rams. As the Saints were driving toward a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of regulation play a pass was thrown to a receiver on the 11 yard line–11 yards away from a TD that probably would have won the game for the Saints. Two officials less than 3 yards away from the play watched as two defenders tackled the receiver BEFORE the ball got there. FYI, this is a clear pass interference call and the Saints should have been awarded the yardage and a first down. Instead NEITHER official made the call. The announcers were speechless, the coaches were stunned. Later this call was judged the worst call in football history and the Saints actually filed a suit to overturn the game results. But–back to the game–the Saints tied the game on a field goal and in overtime the Rams won with a field goal. Obviously LA is a much bigger consumer market that New Orleans. So the outcome was predictable. And–as further proof–the betting line on the game was Saints +3 or LA. Because the game ended up 27 to 24 only the bookies won. Ties always go to the house. So again we say, enjoy the games and bet with the largest consumer market team. You’ll win a lot more often.
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