This Saturday night at Richmond will not feature the mad dash to the finish in the race to the Chase like we’ve seen over the last few years because the field is basically set. Two spots are open in the 12-driver field with five drivers eligible, but it would take some serious craziness to happen for the two that are in, Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer, to miss out. All Biffle has to do is finish 42nd or better while Bowyer has to finish 28th or better. No driver in the short race to the Chase history has overcome such a deficit coming to the final race to make it. For whatever it’s worth, just because they are still mathematically alive, Ryan Newman is 117 points out, Jamie McMurray 128 points out and Mark Martin is 147 points out. This week’s race gives the Chase drivers one last chance to gain bonus points for the 10-race Chase for the Championship. Every driver in the Chase will be set at 5,000 points and will have 10 bonus points added on for each of their wins during the first 26 races of the season. Currently, Jimmie Johsnon and Denny Hamlin would be given 50 bonus points for their five wins on the season followed by Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch with three wins each. Look for the Joe Gibbs teammates, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, to take Richmond, followed by the Hendrick and Childress drivers.
Less than seven hours after completing the linking of Pai Gow progressive jackpots at gaming tables for all 10 Station Casinos, a Virginia man hit that progressive with a 7-card straight flush that included a joker. He won more than $200,000.
The New York Giants just completed a startling three-game run through the NFC playoff jungle with a 3-0 mark ATS. By contrast, the New England Patriots enjoyed a first-round bye and home playoff wins over underdogs Denver and Baltimore.
Wynn Las Vegas sports book director Johnny Avello tried to hang on with the Patriots -3 as long as he could, but finally had to give in on Thursday morning when the culmination of Giants money over the first 11 days of action became too much.
From the time we knew who would be playing in the Super Bowl, I’ve always had a lean on the Patriots to win. As great as the Giants have been on their march to the Super Bowl, I still can’t get their bad losses out of my head.
Being in Las Vegas, it’s easy to forget just how many people are betting the Super Bowl "illegally" around the nation. A survey released Tuesday found that at least 25 million Americans will bet money on this Sunday’s Patriots-Giants NFL title game.
