Have you ever seen a fellow human being at such a distressed time and mental imbalance that they are hitting themselves?
It is a very sad situation, and requires professional intervention to assist in their recovery.
We have a parallel situation currently happening in the National Football League. Without trying to be overly glib or make light of a real world tragedy, I offer professional advice for those that week-after-week continue to wager on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Why?
Are they not aware that no team in the NFL has allowed more points though the first five weeks of the regular season than Kansas City’s 163? Do they not know that the Chiefs have the worst point spread record in the league since last November 1? For the record, in their last 14 regular season games the Chiefs are 1-12-1 against the point spread.
And still, the public wagers on them week-after-week … except, surprisingly, last Sunday night when the Buffalo Bills visited Arrowhead Stadium. In that matchup, 63% of all wagers were backing the visitors in the Sunday night contest.
How did that work out for people betting against the Chiefs?
Very nicely. Buffalo sliced, diced and mutilated the Chiefs by a final score of 38-20.
Was that so difficult? Betting against Patrick Mahomes?
Yes.
The Chiefs with likeable head coach Andy Reid and the heir apparent to Tom Brady as the best quarterback in the game, are tough to bet against. But, like the poor soul beating on himself out of desperation, the public is back on the Chiefs this week for their game against the Washington Redskins.
They have their reasons.
The Redskins (until they come up with a real new name for their team), have two wins this season but only a single point spread triumph. The Redskins first victory was a one point win over the talent challenged New York Giants, and their only conquest that also resulted in a point spread triumph was gained two weeks ago in a four point win at Atlanta. In that game, the Redskins were favored by two points and won the game, 34-30.
Washington won the NFC East Division last season, a distinction that was akin to a comment made by National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal after his Orlando Magic were eliminated from the playoffs. In defense of himself, the young center said, “I have won championships at every level except college and pro.”
This statement was made obviously before he won titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his defense for losing as a pro, and even in college, brings up the question of what he was referring to? Did he mean he won his cub scout league, junior high or high school and that somehow was a defense for not winning either in college or as a paid professional?
Winning the NFC East last year required only seven wins in a 16 games schedule, so the Redskins division title can be taken with a sheepish acknowledgement of success. But, this year, Washington, under second-year head coach Ron Rivera, was expected to be better. They have a defense that has great personnel in their front line and an offense that was scheduled to be guided by veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
After starting for a record ninth NFL team, Fitzpatrick was injured in Washington’s opening game against the Los Angeles Chargers and is still sidelined with a hip subluxation. That forced the Redskins to turn to veteran Taylor Heinicke, an undrafted player out of Old Dominion who has spent his seven years in the NFL on the roster of five different teams.
While Heincke will never be confused for Patrick Mahomes, he has played as well as a backup with no prior starting experience could be expected. But, while he has excelled to the top of his skill level, the once highly regarded Washington defense has not lived up to press clippings.
Last season, after cracking the playoff field, the Redskins gave eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay all it could handle in a Wild Card game while beating the spread against Tom Brady and company. This year, they have allowed an average of 30 points per game, not exactly stats that are going to allow a backup quarterback much success on the scoreboard.
So, it is tough again to bet against the Chiefs.
Right. More than 80% of the initial bets on this game have come down on the Chiefs side.
Stop beating yourself people, and know that the Chiefs are a last place team with a defense that stops opponents like a screen door shields wind.
Qoxhi Picks: Washington Redskins (+7) over Kansas City Chiefs