Broseph's Bits And The Mid-Week Gospel

This has been a wild college basketball season. Outside of undefeated Ohio State, can you really say there is a dominant team. Heck, the Buckeyes have played multiple one possession games as of late pulling them all out. Yesterday helped me reaffirm a few of my basic gambling tenets. First, the road favorite is like kryptonite at times for me. If you've followed these picks, you'd probably notice I'm on mostly home teams. Something about the fans being behind the team makes me want to take the home squad. Ideally, I'd like them to be favored, but that's not a must as in college basketball, the home underdog is money. I feel more confident when the team I bet on is at home.

Tenet number two is that I rarely take the under. Ironically, I have no problem doing so in college football, but for some reason in basketball I just can't do it. It doesn't feel right rooting against baskets. It's like rooting for the Russians during the Cold War or throwing money on the "don't pass" in a craps game. It's hard to watch a game and root for ugliness. I'm not saying that the under is a bad bet because there are some with the stomachs and non-white hair to make bets like this. I stick to the overs.

Tenet number three is to NEVER say "this looks good" or "that's a guaranteed winner." You might as well rip up that ticket if someone tells you that. I guarantee Mark Buerhle doesn't throw a perfect game if someone told him about it. You just don't jinx someone in a situation like that. There's so much that can happen especially in a short period of time. Let's take the case of the over in the Houston/Marshall game on Tuesday night. After the first 25 mins or so, these two teams were on a great pace for the over when it suddenly turned into a defensive struggle. Not making excuses, but you'll also hear the consummate gambler say this..."I was on the right side, with the wrong result."

Basically, the above exercise was a way for me to apologize to the reader for the poor day. It happens in gambling. It's why the Yankees, Lakers and Flyers don't win all of their games. Yes, I put the Flyers in there, because I love hockey and I love my Flyers. We'll bounce back with these winners.

Providence -6.5 -- The Friars return home after losing at Seton Hall. They'll host South Florida who has yet to win on the road this season. In five conference road games, they have put up 66 points or less in each contest. The team has lost nine of their last 11 games. One of the wins in that stretch was at home against Providence who has equal issues on the road. The Bulls average just 63 points per contest which is good for 133rd overall. They lean on Augustus Gilchrist (12.9 ppg), Jawanza Poland (10.3 ppg) and Hugh Robertson (9.2 ppg). Meanwhile, Providence is averaging almost 78 points per game. They are giving up over 72 per contest which is why they are 13-9, 2-7 in the Big East. The Friars are led by Marshon Brooks (23.3 ppg), Vincent Council (14.5 ppg) and Gerard Coleman (10.9 ppg). They have won two straight at home knocking off Louisville and Villanova. The Friars have the edge at guard in this one and should be able to make up for the lack of forward depth.

Ohio -2 -- The Bobcats hit the road for the 2nd straight time as they take on Central Michigan on Wednesday night. Ohio has won two straight and is almost at .500 for the season. The team is playing better basketball as of late coming off a win at Ball State last time out. Ohio has won at Akron, at Ball State, at Illinois State and at Santa Clara. The Bobcats score 73.5 points per game while also allowing nearly that much. D.J. Cooper (17 ppg), DeVaughn Washington (11.7 ppg) and Tommy Freeman (10.6 ppg) join two others who average nine points per contest on this balanced Bobcat squad. Central Michigan is in the midst of a lost season. The Chippewas are 5-15, 2-5 in the MAC conference. They score just 57.8 points per contest with the majority of them coming from Trey Zeigler (17 ppg) and Jalin Thomas (15.2 ppg). CMU has scored over 60 points in just four games since December 20th. Their five wins have come against Illinois Chicago, Cal State Fullerton, Cornerstone University, Toledo and Northern Illinois. Most good teams with a pulse that have come to their building have walked away with an easy victory. We think Ohio will do the same.

America's Cup Looking To Rhode Island For 2013...?

Organizers of the next America's Cup say Rhode Island is a top contender to host the next round in 2013.

Golden Gate Yacht Club board member Tom Ehman says that organizers are serious about hosting in Newport, Rhode Island, but need assurances that Fort Adams State Park can be ready in time.

Newport is competing with San Francisco and other locations to host the competition. A decision is expected by the end of the year.

Rhode Island officials say hosting the event could produce thousands of jobs in a state with about 11 percent unemployment rate, but Governor-Elect Lincoln Chaffee wants to weigh hosting versus cost before committing.

The state launched an aggressive bid this year to bring the America's Cup races back to Newport, which hosted the competition from 1930 until 1983.

Yes, we all remember Ted Turner peeking out from underneath the table when Captain Courageous won the Cup himself...

And it was awesome...

Here's coverage of the update, thanks from our friends at WPRI-TV in Providence...

America's Cup letter presented to EDC: wpri.com

New England Patriots Mascot favors the Working Girls

Looking around the Internet this afternoon, we had a thought "Hmmm. Wonder what kind of wacky stuff is going on in the world today?". Strangely enough, after only a few minutes of searching, we found it.

Apparently the guy who works as the New England Patriots mascot found himself a part of a prostitution sting in Providence, Rhode Island on Friday. Robert Sormanti, who on the weekends was "Pat Patriot" the New England mascot, was one of 17 people arrested in the prostitution sweeps.

More from the Providence Journal RIGHT HERE

((Pat Patriot likes the ladies//Courtesy: turnto10.com))

We guess it probably isn't funny to Mr. Sormanti and we don't know how funny the Patriots will think it is either. If you happen to watch the Patriots game on TV Sunday, look on the sidelines, seem if "Pat" is there. It may be Mr. Sormanti...or it may not...the question is...how do you tell?