Week 14 contest picks
Dec. 7, 2002
For a large material inducement, Station Casinos and the Las Vegas Hilton turned up over 400 optimists for their NFL contests this year. If you had the idea you should have been one, the Hilton wanted $1,500 up front for its $451,000 ?SuperContest,? and the buy-in for the $129,000 ?Gambler?s Challenge? at the Stations was $1,000.
For this kind of money, you had to like your game a lot.
First-place money at the Hilton (which drew 281 entrants) is $168,000. At Stations, which took in 129 entrants during its inaugural year, first place is worth $64,500. From there, the purse money drifts down proportionately among the first 25 finishers at the Hilton, and the first 20 at the Stations.
For those who may have just stumbled on the home site, I should probably tell you that the rules of the game at both places are the same. Contestants select five games against the spread each week, with one point assigned for a win, no points for a loss, and a half-point for a tie. The only difference in the two contests is that you may play selected college sides and pro ?totals? at the Stations contest.
With just four weeks remaining in the 17-week season, here?s how the leaders stand:
LAS VEGAS HILTON SUPERCONTEST
I Walk A Beat (44 points), C.C. 5 and Hollywood Al (43), Ghost (42), Candyman and Jersey Red (41 1/2), Frank Lubisky and I Don?t Know (41) and Don Albanito, P Mac?s Back and Frogtownsports (40 1/2).
STATION CASINOS? GAMBLER?S CHALLENGE
Roland Phillips and R.G. Sports No. 2 (42 points), Vegas Connection (40 1/2), JPN and MRO (40), The Bookie Destroyer and Popitup (39 1/2), Jersey Boyz and Tony Salinas (38 1/2), Robert Burns (38).
Week 14 master consensus appears below
PATRIOTS VS. BILLS Hilton: Pats (-4 1/2) 34, Bills 60. Stations: Pats (-4 1/2) 11, Bills 24.
PANTHERS VS. BENGALS Hilton: Panthers (-3 1/2) 14, Bengals 47. Stations: Panthers (-3 1/2) 3, Bengals 19.
JAGUARS VS. BROWNS Hilton: Jaguars (-2 1/2) 24, Browns 39. Stations: Jaguars (-2) 2, Browns 17.
CHIEFS VS. RAMS Hilton: Chiefs (-4) 91, Rams 25. Stations: Chiefs (-5) 29, Rams 20.
STEELERS VS. TEXANS Hilton: Steelers (-13 1/2) 21, Texans 19. Stations: Steelers (-13 1/2) 6, Texans 5.
BUCCANEERS VS. FALCONS Hilton: Bucs (-3 1/2) 50, Falcons 49. Stations: Bucs (-3 1/2) 9, Falcons 26.
TITANS VS. COLTS Hilton: Titans (-1 1/2) 40, Colts 67. Stations: Titans (-2) 10, Colts 30.
REDSKINS VS. GIANTS Hilton: Redskins (-2 1/2) 27, Giants 30. Stations: Redskins (-2 1/2) 10, Giants 12.
49ERS VS. COWBOYS Hilton: 49ers (-4 1/2) 42, Cowboys 65. Stations: 49ers (-5 1/2) 16, Cowboys 29.
EAGLES VS. SEAHAWKS Hilton: Eagles (-3) 29, Seahawks 66. Stations: Eagles (-3) 14, Seahawks 17.
SAINTS VS. RAVENS Hilton: Saints (-1 1/2) 37, Ravens 40. Stations: Saints (-1 1/2) 23, Ravens 8.
CARDINALS VS. LIONS Hilton: Cardinals (-1 1/2) 22, Lions 47. Stations: Cardinals (-1) 9, Lions 14.
BRONCOS VS. JETS Hilton: Broncos (-1 1/2) 38, Jets 49. Stations: Broncos (-1) 12, Jets 19.
RAIDERS VS. CHARGERS Hilton: Raiders (-3) 49, Chargers 47. Stations: Raiders (-3) 11, Chargers 18.
PACKERS VS. VIKINGS Hilton: Packers (-9 1/2) 22, Vikings 33. Stations: Packers (-10) 3, Vikings 19.
DOLPHINS VS. BEARS Hilton: Dolphins (-8 1/2) 58, Bears 19. Stations: Dolphins (-9 1/2) 13, Bears 10.
BEST BETS:
Hilton: Chiefs, Dolphins, Eagles
Stations: Vikings, Bengals, Browns