Each week we will present the selections of some of the nation's leading handicapers
as they compete for cash prizes and handicapping acclaim. Two such contests have
attracted national notoriety. One of the contests, sponsored by the Las Vegas
Hilton, is a season-long contest with the same contestants making selections
each week against the Las Vegas pointspread.
The second contest, sponsored
by the LeRoys Sports Book chain, is a contest similar to the now-defunct Stardust
Invitational that was held for 11 seasons between 1995 and 2005. 16 Contestants,
each of whom has paid an entry fee of $5,000, are participating in a one-on-one elimination
format that runs for 15 weeks with the final two of the 16 contestants meeting to
determine the $ 80,000 "winner-take-all".
Contest Format -- 16 handicappers shall participate in this 15 week Tournament,
fashioned along the lines of the old Stardust Invitational which ran for 11 years.
However, unlike the Stardust Tournament, each of the 16 participants in the Money
Talks contest has put up $ 5,000.oo for a total of $ 80,000.oo in the "winner-take-all"
prize pool. Each week will feature a head-to-head matchup of two of the 16 handicappers.
Each handicapper will make 7 selections against the LeRoys pointspread that exists
shortly before air time. All selections will be of equal weight with one Best Bet
to serve as a tie breaker. The winner will be the contestant with the better winning
percentage for the week. The contest will be held Friday evenings in Las Vegas at
Hooters Hoten & Casino and will be broadcast LIVE from 3 to 4 PM over local radio
in Las Vegas. The public is welcome -- and encouraged -- to attend. The contest airs
over Las Vegas radio station KLAV (AM 1230) at 3:00 PM Pacific time and is also expected
to be available for broadcast live on the Internet at www.americanwagering.com --
just click on the Leroys link and follow other links to reach the broadcast). The
two contestants who win their first 3 matches will meet in the Finals to be held
on Friday, December 18, 2009 to compete for the winner-take-all purse of $ 80,000.
Lance Blankenship's Selections (4-3, BB-W) -- 2009 Runner Up
====================================================================
Central
Florida + 2 1/2 over Rutgers (St Petersburg Bowl) -- LOSER
Dallas Cowboys + 7
over New Orleans Saints -- WINNER
Dallas Cowboys & New Orleans Saints OVER
53 1/2 -- LOSER
##### Green Bay Packers + 2 over Pittsburgh Steelers ##### --
WINNER
San Francisco 49ers + 8 over Philadelphia Eagles -- LOSER
San Francisco
49ers & Philadelphia Eagles UNDER 42 -- WINNER
BEST BET -- Oakland Raiders
+ 14 over Denver Broncos -- WINNER
Steve Fezzik's Selections (4
- 2 - 1; BB-L) -- 2009 Champion
=====================================================================
Wyoming
+ 11 over Fresno State (New Mexico Bowl) -- WINNER
Middle Tennessee State &
Southern Mississippi OVER 57 -- WINNER
##### Pittsburgh Steelers - 2 over Green
Bay Packers ##### -- LOSER
Carolina Panthers + 10 over Minnesota Vikings -- WINNER
Cleveland
Browns & Kansas City Chiefs OVER 37 -- WINNER
Tennessee Titans - 3 over Miami
Dolphins -- PUSH
BEST BET -- Washington Redskins + 3 over N Y Giants -- LOSER
#####
OPPOSING SELECTIONS IN SAME GAME #####
***** BOTH HANDICAPPERS MADE SAME SELECTION
*****
NEXT
WEEK:
End of 2009 Contest
FUTURE MATCHES --
-----------------------------------------------------
End
of 2009 Contest
Contestants in This Season's Field Expected to Include
Ken
"The Shrink" Weitzner
Bill Edler
Jack Ross
Nick Bogdonavich
Sal
Selvaggio
Adam Meyer
Paul Stone
Dave Hochman
Lance Blankenship
Steve
Makinen
Tony Ricci
Steve Fezzik
Johhny Bono
Tim Trushel
Paul Bovi
Wayne
Peters
Results of Previous Matches
===================================================================
First
Round Results
====================
Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner (3-4,
BB-L) defeated Bill Edler (2-5, BB-L)
Paul Bovi (6-1, BB-W) defeated Nick Bogdonavich
(4-3, BB-L)
Tim Trushel (4-3, BB-L) defeated Paul Stone (2-4-1, BB-L)
Steve
Fezzik (6-1, BB-W) defeated Johnny Bono (3-4, BB-W)
Adam Meyer (4- 3, BB-W) defeated
Sal Selvaggio (2-5, BB-L)
Dave Hochman (3-4, BB-L) tied Wayne Peters (3-4, BB-L)
PLAYOFF
-- Dave Hochman (7-0, BB-W) defeated Wayne Peters (4-3, BB-W)
Steve Makinen (2-5,
BB-L) defeated Tony Ricci (No Selections Submitted -- Forfeit)
Lance Blankenship
(5-2, BB-W) tied "Fat Jack" Ross (5-2, BB-W)
PLAYOFF -- Lance Blankenship
(2-4-1, BB-L) defeated "Fat Jack" Ross (2-5, BB-L)
Quarter Finals
Round Results
===============================
Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner
(5-2, BB-W) defeated Paul Bovi (3-4, BB-L)
Steve Fezzik (4-3, BB-L) defeated Tim
Trushel (3-3-1, BB-W)
Adam Meyer (5-2, BB-W) defeated Dave Hochman (2-5, BB-L)
Lance
Blankenship (4-3, BB-W) defeated Steve Makinen (4-3, BB-L)
Semi-Finals
Round Results
=====================================
Steve Fezzik (4-3; BB-W)
defeated Ken "The Shrink"Weitzner (3-4, BB-L)
Lance Blankenship (4-2-1,
BB-L) defeated Adam Meyer (3-4, BB-W)
The FINALS
====================================
Steve
Fezzik (4-2-1, BB-L) defeated Lance Blankenship (4-3, BB-W)
Through
all 15 weeks of this season's contest the handicappers have combined to go
122
- 104 - 2 overall for 53.98 % including Best Bets going 15 - 18 for 45.45 %
When
both handicappers agreed on a selection the results for that selection are 7 - 7
- 0 ( 50.00 %)
CLICK HERE
To View Past Matchups, Selections & Results from this season's Contest
Contest Format -- The SuperContest is open to anyone who pays the entry
fee. Each entrant pays a $1,500 entry fee with 100% of the fees being returned
to the winners. Only the top 20 places (and ties) are paid. Historically, a 60%
winning percentage will finish in the Top Twenty. Each contestant must make five
selections each week vs. the pointspread (generally the lines at the Hilton as of
noon on Tuesdays). Each winning selection counts 1 point; a push counts 1/2 point;
losses are 0 points.
2009 Prize Structure
Based on 328 Contestants
1st Place -- $ 196,800.00
2nd
Place -- $ 78,720.00
3rd Place -- $ 39,360.00
4th Place -- $ 24,600.00
5th
- 10th Place -- $ 17,220 each
11th - 20th Place -- $ 4,920.00 each
Total
Prize Pool is $ 492,000.00
Generally Posted by 11 PM Pacific Time on Saturday Nights
BUFFALO
(41) - 6 1/2 vs.Indianapolis (20)
CAROLINA (31) - 7 vs. New Orleans (28)
CLEVELAND
(52) Pick 'em vs. Jacksonville (30)
DALLAS (33) - 3 vs. Philadelphia (68)
Chicago
(57) - 3 vs. DETROIT (19)
HOUSTON (24) - 8 vs. New England (48)
Pittsburgh
(42) - 3 vs. MIAMI (35)
MINNESOTA (13) - 9 vs. N Y Giants (44)
N Y JETS (14)
- 10 vs. Cincinnati (68)
San Francisco (29) - 7 1/2 vs. ST LOUIS (21)
Atlanta
(45) - 3 vs. TAMPA BAY (35)
ARIZONA (25) - 3 1/2 vs Green Bay (27)
DENVER (12)
- 13 vs. Kansas City (78)
Baltimore (38) - 10 1/2 vs OAKLAND (37)
SAN
DIEGO (53) - 3 1/2 vs Washington (23)
Tennessee (51) - 4 vs. SEATTLE (34)
HOME
TEAM shown in CAPS
Top 5 selections are in Bold type
# in
parentheses indicates contestants selecting that team
(i.e. 41 contestants took
BUFFALO - 6 1/2 vs. Indianapolis)
* There may be weeks when fewer than
all contestants submit selections
5 Top Selections Based On Times
Selected
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 -
Kansas City (78) -- WINNER
2 (tie) - Philadelphia (68) -- LOSER
2 (tie) - Cincinnati
(68) -- LOSER
4 - Chicago (57) -- WINNER
5 - SAN DIEGO (53) -- LOSER
5
Top Selections Based On Widest Margins
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1
- Kansas City (+ 66) -- WINNER
2 - Cincinnati (+ 54) -- LOSER
3 - Chicago (+
38) -- WINNER
4 - Philadelphia (+ 35) -- LOSER
5 - N Y Giants (+ 31) -- LOSER
"Squares"
vs "Sharps"
===================================
# of Consensus Choices
That Are Favorites -- 9 (6 - 2 - 1; YTD: 63 - 62 - 4)
# of Consensus Choices That
Are Underdogs -- 6 (3 - 3; YTD: 61 - 53 - 3)
Pick 'em Games -- 1 (1 - 0; YTD:
4 - 3)
Evenly Divided Games -- 0 (YTD: 3)
CLICK
HERE for Previous Weeks' Consensus Selections and Results
Current
Season Result Summary Appears Below
BUFFALO (2) - 6 1/2 vs.Indianapolis (1)
CAROLINA (1) - 7 vs. New
Orleans (1)
CLEVELAND (1) Pick 'em vs. Jacksonville (1)
DALLAS (1) - 3 vs.
Philadelphia (3)
Chicago (1) - 3 vs. DETROIT (1)
HOUSTON (0) - 8 vs.
New England (3)
Pittsburgh (2) - 3 vs. MIAMI (2)
MINNESOTA (0) - 9 vs.
N Y Giants (0)
N Y JETS (0) - 10 vs. Cincinnati (2)
San Francisco (0) - 7 1/2
vs. ST LOUIS (0)
Atlanta (1) - 3 vs. TAMPA BAY (3)
ARIZONA (1) - 3 1/2
vs Green Bay (1)
DENVER (0) - 13 vs. Kansas City (5)
Baltimore (2) -
10 1/2 vs OAKLAND (0)
SAN DIEGO (1) - 3 1/2 vs Washington (0)
Tennessee (2)
- 4 vs. SEATTLE (2)
HOME TEAM shown in CAPS
Top 3 selections,
and ties, will be shown in Bold type
Final Results Through 17 Weeks
==============================
The
Contest Winner went 53 - 29 - 3 -- 54.5 of 85 Possible Points -- ( 63.76 %)
There
were 6 contestants at 51 - 31 - 3 or better -- 52.5 of 85 Possible Points -- ( 61.76
%) or better
There were 13 contestants at 51 - 34 - 0 / 49 - 32 - 4 or better
-- 51.0 of 85 Possible Points -- ( 60.00 %) or better
It took a total of 50.0
points to cash in the Top 20 (and ties) -- 58.82 % -- 50.0 Points tied for places
16 through 22
............... Last Week. Season To Date .......... ... ----------- -------------- Overall Consensus Teams 10- 5 - 1 65.6 % [6] 128 - 118 - 7 52.0 % Overall Selections 570- 520 -85 52.1 % 12900 -12740-780 50.3 % Top Consensus Selection 1- 0- 0 [1] 9 - 8 - 1 52.8 % 2nd Consensus Selection 0- 2- 0 [11] 9 - 8 - 0 52.9 % 3rd Consensus Selection 0- 0- 0 [2][7] 9 - 10 - 0 47.4 % Top 3 Consensus Selections 1- 2- 0 27 - 26 - 1 50.9 % Top 5 Consensus Selections 2- 3- 0 [4][10] 41 - 44 - 2 48.3 % Team With Greatest Margin 1- 0- 0 8 - 9 - 0 47.1 % 2nd Greatest Margin 0- 1- 0 [3][9] 10 - 10 - 0 50.0 % 3rd Greatest Margin 1- 0- 0 [8] 7 - 8 - 1 46.9 % Top 3 Margins 2- 1- 0 25 - 27 - 1 48.1 % Top 5 Margins 2- 3- 0 [5] 37 - 48 - 1 43.6 % Consensus Favorites 6- 2- 1 63 - 62 - 4 50.4 % Consensus Underdogs 3- 3- 0 61 - 53 - 3 53.4 % Pick 'em Games 1 -0- 0 4 - 3 - 0 57.1 % Evenly Divided Games 0 3 NOTES -- [ 1] 2 teams tied for the most selected team in Week 2. [ 2] 2 teams tied for third most selected team in Weeks 3, 4 and 6. [ 3] 2 teams tied for second greatest margin in Week 3. [ 4] 2 teams tied for fifth most selected team in Week 7. [ 5] 2 teams tied for fifth greatest margin in Week 7. [ 6] 1 game had the same number of contestants select each side in Weeks 9, 12, and 16. [ 7] 3 teams tied for third most selected team in Week 10. [ 8] 2 teams tied for third greatest margin in Week 11. [ 9] 3 teams tied for second greatest margin in Week 14. [10] 3 teams tied for fourth most popular selection in Week 16. [11] 2 teams tied for second most popular selection in Week 17.
========================================================================= History of Contestants Hitting 60.0% or Better Throughout the 2009 Season ========================================================================= After 1 Week ( 3- 2 / 3.0 points or better) 197 of 328 60.06 % After 2 Weeks ( 6- 4 / 6.0 points or better) 146 of 328 44.51 % After 3 Weeks ( 9- 6 / 9.0 points or better) 110 of 328 33.54 % After 4 Weeks (12- 8 / 12.0 points or better) 87 of 328 26.52 % After 5 Weeks (15-10 / 15.0 points or better) 71 of 328 21.65 % After 6 Weeks (18-12 / 18.0 points or better) 51 of 328 15.55 % After 7 Weeks (21-14 / 21.0 points or better) 53 of 328 16.16 % After 8 Weeks (24-16 / 24.0 points or better) 32 of 328 9.65 % After 9 Weeks (27-18 / 27.0 points or better) 32 of 328 9.54 % After 10 Weeks (30-20 / 30.0 points or better) 29 of 328 8.84 % After 11 Weeks (33-22 / 33.0 points or better) 38 of 328 11.59 % After 12 Weeks (36-24 / 36.0 points or better) 36 of 328 10.98 % After 13 Weeks (39-26 / 39.0 points or better) 26 of 328 7.93 % After 14 Weeks (42-28 / 42.0 points or better) 26 of 328 7.93 % After 15 Weeks (45-30 / 45.0 points or better) 19 of 328 5.79 % After 16 Weeks (48-32 / 48.0 points or better) 17 of 328 5.18 % After 17 Weeks (51-34 / 51.0 points or better) 13 of 328 3.96 %