Dead Guy Angle

Dead Guy Angle [url]https://thebiglead.com/2013/10/21/tennessee-titans-owner-bud-adams-has-died-at-90/[/url] Titans owner Bud Adams just died which brings up a topic that gets debated when a significant member of a team (personnel or management) passes. Do teams play better, more inspired football when events like this happen? The Giants lost Wellington Mara in 2005 and the next game the team played out of their minds, shutting out the rival Redskins 36-0 in a game dedicated to the NFL pioneer. Bud Adams has a somewhat similar significance to the Titan franchise. Was hoping to get some bets in this morning but the Titans are on a bye this week. Next game up is @ St Louis. Would have preferred a home game but not so sure the extra week off doesn't help a little. This weekend will not be the mess it would have been had a game been taking place. LVH will have the look ahead line up tomorrow and might be a good idea to take Tenn then before the whole Dead Guy angle gets the inevitable media attention. Whether it's a valid reason to bet the Titans is probably irrelevant. Money will probably show on Tenn. The following week the Titans are at home vs Jax and that may of may not be a good spot depending on the outcome of the St Louis game. One game at a time though. Taking the Titans at first opportunity and will go from there. RIP Bud Adams. [url]https://m.spokesman.com/stories/2005/oct/31/giants-win-one-for-mara/[/url]

Look ahead line on Tenn @ St L was Tenn -3 -120 at the LVH. Certainly did not expect to see a number like that. Interestingly, both coaches in this game have had close dealings with Adams with Jeff Fisher having coached the Titans prior to Mike Munchak. This is not shaping up well. If the Titans lose to the Rams then they get the Jaguars at home where there will certainly be some pre game tribute to Bud Adams. Problem is that the Titans will be double digit faves over the Jags and with Jax off a bye it may not be the greatest spot. Coach Mike Munchak, who was drafted in the first round by Adams and the Houston Oilers will certainly try and make this a farewell game and should get the win but this will be nearly three weeks after he passed. Not so sure there will be the same emotion present as there would be if they played this week or the next.

Did better by passing on the look-ahead line and waiting but that's primarily because St Louis looked so good on defense on MNF vs the Seahawks. What they did was very impressive but the way the game ended makes me think they may have emptied the tank somewhat in that effort. Getting back up to that level on a short week after a very disappointing loss may be asking a lot. They should have won that and they outplayed Seattle in a real physical game. Being off a MNF game is always a bit of a disadvantage with the short week. In 2013, teams that play Seattle have failed to win the following week as well so it is easy to look at the Rams as being at a physical disadvantage vs the Titans who come in rested and healthy off a bye. The line now offers the better side of the 3 instead of a juiced 3 and that's because the Rams looked so tough against a tough team. I opted for a bet of -140 money line because I want to be on Tenn to just get the outright win and the value is decent - although I think with good outs you get slightly cheaper by game day. I locked some in though at -140. The Bud Adams tribute will consist of the Titans wearing a BUD patch and I'm sure some brief pregame deal in St Louis. The big production will come next week in Tennessee when they host the Jaguars. The look-ahead line on that game is 12.5 at the LVH and since I'm leaning to the Titans winning this game, I may take that number with the reasoning that their stock will rise some after beating the Rams. Jax will not draw much money so even if this game opens lower due to a Titan loss I think it still gets there and beyond due to all the Jag-faders. The path to Tenn -14 may just be different. Talked to several people about this game and the motivation, if any, that the Dead Guy Angle may offer. Most agreed but a couple do think it's nonsense and that it's selective memory when these games cover. On this one I think there is ample justification for a bet even without the Bud Adams issue. If it wins it will only fuel more of the same thinking the next time a significant member of a team dies mid-season. If it loses, maybe we bury (bad pun intended) the whole idea.

The Jaguars Justin Blackmon has been suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season for repeatedly violating the leagues substance abuse policy. He was their most valuable offensive player and a target monster when in there. This already awful team may just be on auto-pilot the rest of the year and should offer little resistance to the Titans in their post bye-week match-up. Took the Titans -12.5 at the LVH and recommend that bet purely on a lead position basis. This line should close 14 and maybe higher.