in Other Props
City of Champions - Boston Sports Props
by Charles Jay
Sports Proposition betting
LOOKING AT BOSTON SPORTS PROPS
Let's try some of these on for size:
FIRST BOSTON TEAM TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP
Red Sox +125
Patriots +150
Celtics +225
Bruins +500
(First Boston area team to win a league title. If no title is won by the end of the 2013 Seasons Wagers will be refunded)
To me, this one is easy. I like the Boston Red Sox to roll to the World Series title. Their pitching staff is so deep and so rich with bullpen standouts that not even injury can spoil it. They've got guys who are capable but can't even break into the rotation, like Justin Masterson, Clay Bucholz and Michael Bowden. There won't be one easy inning for any team in any game, and that gets even worse for opponents in the post-season, because Terry Francona will have more choices.
Unless there are, like, a hundred rainouts, I'm going with the RED SOX (+125 at BetUS) to get it done first, and that means this year.
BOSTON TEAM WITH THE BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE
Patriots +125
Red Sox +200
Celtics +175
Bruins +400
(Team with the best winning percentage in 2009 for MLB/NFL, 2009/10 for NBA/NHL)
Okay, this one is not so easy. The Red Sox are not a contender here, because even if they went, say, 108-54, which they won't do, that gets beat by an 11-5 record from the Patriots or a 55-27 record by the Celtics. If the Patriots go 12-4, the Celtics would have to win 62 games to win this prop. My own opinion is this - I figure the CELTICS (+175 at BetUS) are more likely to win 60 games, or very closely to it, than the Patriots are to win 12 games. This past weekend Danny Ainge demonstrated that he isn't fooling around, as he picked up Rasheed Wallace on the free agent market. At the very least, Wallace is going to be a great sixth man, filling in at all three front court positions with offense and rebounding. He is a huge acquisition, and helps the hoopsters forge ahead of Orlando and probably even Cleveland in the East. Grant Hill may also be on the way, unless the Knicks come up with a big offer.
FIRST BOSTON COACH-MANAGER FIRED
Doc Rivers Even
Claude Julien +125
Bill Belichick +350
Terry Francona +300
(The First Coach or Manager to be fired or not resigned by their current team. Any Wagers placed after results become public Knowledge will be graded no action)
I really don't see the Celtics playing badly enough to get Doc Rivers fired. Danny Ainge likes him, and he has learned enough about stability from being around the Celtics for many years. It is silly to think that Bill Belichick will be fired, now or in the near future. Francona is no genius, but it would be difficult to fathom that after winning two World Series titles and what will (I think) be his third division title in four years, that Francona hasn't built up some goodwill with Red Sox management. The only guy left is CLAUDE JULIEN (+125 at BetUS) and that might be logical; he has been bounced from two previous jobs, once right before the playoffs after a first-place division finish. He has yet to get past the second round of the playoffs in his six-year coaching career. Sooner or later you have to get further. He is the only coach in this prop who hasn't won a league title.
FIRST BOSTON COACH TO WIN COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Bill Belichick +180
Terry Francona +175
Doc Rivers +225
Claude Julien +275
This one is tough because often, coaches win an award like this for taking a team from a place of despair to a state of contention. Bill Belichick has won the NFL's award twice, most recently in 2007. I doubt that those who vote for this thing would give him enough consideration simply for taking a team that gets Tom Brady back and going to the playoffs. There would be some precedent for Doc Rivers, the winner in the 1999-2000 season, to win it again, as Mike Brown did last year for taking Cleveland to a 66-16 record. However, I don't know that even having the #1 record in the conference would be exceeding expectations all that much for the Celtics. Julien just won the NHL's award this season. Actually, TERRY FRANCONA (+175 at BetUS) has never won a manager of the year award, and I think he may just have a chance to do it this season. Cito Gaston of Toronto is losing a little juice, and the guy who I consider the front-runner, Don Wakamatsu of Seattle, may or may not keep his Mariners in contention.
TOTAL REGULAR SEASON GAMES PLAYED BY TOM BRADY IN 2009
Over 15½ -130
Under 15½ -110
I'd be willing to take a small shot with the UNDER here (-110 at BetUS), because a lot of NFL quarterbacks miss a game or two. I will say this - the Pats, with only Kevin O'Connell, a raw, unproven player in reserve, are likely to do everything they can to keep Brady in the starting lineup, no matter what happens.
PATRIOT WITH THE MOST RECEIVING YARDS IN 2009
Randy Moss -130
Wes Welker -110
Welker is more of a dinker and a dunker. I like MOSS (-130 at BetUS) here, because with Brady back the Patriots are going to go back to a downfield passing game that is going to stretch defenses. Say what you want about the Larry Fitzgeralds and the Andre Johnsons of the world. When you want to go deep in the NFL, there is no one more dangerous than Randy Moss.
WHERE WILL JOSH BECKETT FINISH IN CY YOUNG VOTING?
1st - Win the Cy Young Award +450
2nd Place +250
3rd Place +225
4th Place +275
5th Place or Worse +200
As I'm writing this Beckett is 9-3 with a 3.67 ERA, but he has some ground to make up. I would put a number of guys ahead of him, including Zach Greinke of Kansas City (10-4, 2.00), Felix Hernandez of Seattle (8-3, 2.62 ERA), Roy Halladay of Toronto (10-2, 2.79), Justin Verlander of Detroit (8-4, 3.54 ERA, 130 strikeouts), and possibly a few others, maybe Jered Weaver of the Angles, Mark Buehrle of the White Sox, Kevin Millwood of the Rangers, and perhaps even a couple of relievers, like Joe Nathan of the Twins and Boston teammate Jonathan Papelbon. The best bet here is 5TH PLACE OR WORSE (+200).
WILL RAY ALLEN BE A CELTIC ON OPENING NIGHT?
Yes - Still with the Celtics Ev
No - With Another Team -140
(Any Wagers placed after results become public knowledge will be grade No Action)
I am leaning a little more toward the idea that Ray Allen will be a part of the Celtics on opening night - YES (Even money at BetUS). What I think might be happening is that sometime during the season, maybe at the deadline, he could be attractive for some team that wants his expiring contract as the Celtics decide what they need for the stretch run.
WILL RAJON RONDO BE A CELTIC ON OPENING NIGHT?
Yes - Still with the Celtics -140
No - With Another Team Ev
(Any Wagers placed after results become public Knowledge will be grade No Action)
YES he will still be with the Celtics (-140 at BetUS). I saw some of those trade rumors, and it would be silly for them to make that kind of a deal unless they got truly elite players in return. Rondo is ready to take it to the next level.
