Big Game in LV

It's been about a week since we last posted, so it's time to catch up a bit.

After Tricia and Kevin left town, Helen and I settled back into our routine. It was great fun having them visit and we're now looking forward to our next visitors, the Edsons from Traverse City and the Tunes from Arizona. They will all be here in two weeks. Nick and Lois are staying at Bellagio, while John and Janet are across the Strip at Ballys. Helen and I have two nights comped on Ballys on the 19th and 20th. Should be great fun!

The buzz here in Vegas is about The Big Game. Sports books are busy with bettors, mostly who are putting down cash on Carolina. The odds have been steadily climbing from Carolina -4 to 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6. I have $25 on Carolina -5 and may get some action on a few prop bets. Some of them I am considering are:
   Shortest TD over 1.5 yards
   First score a FG
   CJ Anderson total receiving yards over 13.5
   CJ Anderson total receptions over 1.5
   Greg Olsen total receptions over 5.5
   Cam Newton to score at least one TD
   Will Panthers Score in All 4 Quarters - Yes
   Total QB Sacks by both teams Over 5
   Largest lead by either team - under 13.5

I think it will be a defensive game for the first half with the first score a FG. With the solid Carolina defense, Manning will use his safety valve CJ Anderson 4 or 5 times. Likewise, Cam Newton will look for Greg Olsen about 10 times over the course of the game. I see Carolina taking a 13-10 halftime lead, but then pulling away in the second half, scoring in both the 3rd and 4th quarters to build a 26-13 lead. With Peyton forced to pass to catch up, he gets sacked 4 times in the second half. Denver gets a late TD and Carolina tacks on a late FG to make the final score 29-20.

Helen has been feeling a bit under the weather lately, so we haven't been doing much outside the apartment together. She's been on the phone with friends and family and catching up on some movies on TV. We've both been enjoying Downton Abbey on Sunday nights. We've also been watching some basketball together. Usually we go to a sports book to see hoops, but she just hasn't felt good enough to go out lately.

My card playing has continued to reap profits. For the month of January, I had 28 winning days and only 3 losing days. Yes, I played every single day! And so far in Feb, it's been more of the same with four winning days and NO losing days. This winter has been an extraordinary run of good fortune. Part of the success is due to the fact that I have a bankroll that lets me hang in there when I lose early. There have been several sessions where I get down early, but hang in there until the cards turn my way and press up bets when they do.

And so our LV adventure continues...