If you're going to gamble, which you shouldn't, because you'll lose, here's a fun way to do it both because it's cost efficient and because the action feels like it lasts for weeks and weeks.  Not that I would know about gambling, but if I did, here's what I would have been doing for the last several years with both professional baseball and football.  I would have picked anywhere between two and four "long shots" put a little money on them early to mid way through the year and then monitored every game as if I had bet on each and every one.  This year in baseball I had Texas at 15-1 and Pittsburgh at 100-1.  Obviously one of those was more fun than the other.  The year the Astros lost in the World Series, I got in on them in June at 200-1 (no, I didn't hedge, because I'm an idiot).  Last year I had the Packers and Steelers.  Usually I won't take a team that has shallower odds than 10-1 but I made an exception for the 7-1 Steel Curtain last year.  Of course, some years this theory doesn't work out, but it's always fun.

What got me to thinking of that, other than still having the Rangers going, was how much the playoffs have become "anybody's series" matchups.  I just watched the Yankees and Phillies go down, so everybody's World Series picks are gone now.  You know what that means?  If you have a team at 10-1 in the playoffs, you've got a pretty good bet.  Of course, if you bet on more than one team, you've got to go for longer odds to make it worthwhile but you also have the chance of more than one team making it.  Again, it's a lot of fun.  Especially when your favorite baseball and football teams are the Dodgers and Raiders.  So it's nice to root for teams that have a chance of winning something.

My method is as follows:

1.  Pick a team with 10-1 odds or worse.
2.  For baseball, make sure the team is willing to spend money at the trade deadline rather than shed payroll (hence the Astros pick the year they started out horribly then acquired Beltran after I placed my wager).
3.  For football, make sure your team has a good QB (sorry 25-1 NY Jets).
4.  Buy low.  Go for your team after a loss or losing streak.
5.  Look for teams with injured players whose injuries are not major, thus making for a better team than the current record will suggest.
6.  Do NOT jump on a bandwagon.  If everybody likes a team, then Vegas knows this and adjusts the odds accordingly (sorry 8-1 Detroit Lions).
7.  Make your picks somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 way through the season.
8.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy dozens of meaningful games on just a few wagers.

Here are my NFL possibilities this year as we head into Week 5:

Note:  I was tempted with the 25-1 Falcons but just don't see it as much as I like Matt Ryan, the running game, and White/Julio.

Pittsburgh Steelers (14-1)

No, I'm not just taking this off Bill Simmons.  I already jumped on them last week.  In other words, I got in on them either one or two weeks early.  WARNING:  MAKE SURE BEN IS HEALTHY BEFORE GETTING IN.  I would wait a week on this one.  Either Ben looks good and the odds only drop to 12-1, or they lose, go to something like 18-1 and become a better bet.  Either way, if Roethlisberger is legitimately hurt, stay away.

New Orleans Saints (10-1)

For the life of me I have no idea how they're still 10-1.  Drew Brees has returned to form.  Through four games he has a 69% completion percentage, has thrown for 1,410 yards, and has 10 TD's to 4 INT's.  The defense may not be the greatest in the world but they're playing motivated after last season and really, they're a 4th and goal bust away from being 4-0.  If Ingram pounds that ball in (or if Payton had let Brees do his thing), the Saints would be 6-1 at worst right now.

Note:  I also like Josh Freeman and the Bucs at 25-1 but I couldn't talk myself into taking two teams from the same division. 

Dallas Cowboys (25-1)

I know Tony Romo has taken a beating, but for some reason, maybe it's Skip Bayless' voice in my head, but I don't see Romo as a choke artist.  The Cowboys are 2-2 and should really be 4-0.  I know, that's a sign of a team just not getting it done, but I like Jason Garrett and I love Rob Ryan.  I hated losing him as a Raiders fan.  The Cowboys to me are a few minor adjustments away from being there.  But here's why I really love them, their next game is at New England.  If they lose there, they may drop to 30-1.  Then after that, their non-divisional schedule consists of St. Louis, Seattle, Buffalo, Miami, Arizona, and Tampa Bay.  That smells an awful like 5-1 to me.  Remember, all you have to do is get into the playoffs (see:  Giants, New York and Packers, Green Bay). 

So there you have it.  You can have Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Dallas at 14-1, 10-1, and 25 (or 30) -1.  Have fun.

WEEK 5 PICKS

Kansas City +2 at Indianapolis
Minnesota -3 vs. Arizona
Buffalo +3 vs. Philadelphia
Oakland +6 at Houston
New Orleans -6.5 at Carolina
Cincinnati +2 at Jacksonville
Pittsburgh -3 vs. Tennessee
New York Giants -9.5 vs. Seattle
Tampa Bay +3 at San Francisco
New England -7.5 vs. New York Jets
San Diego -4 at Denver
Atlanta +6.5 vs. Green Bay
Chicago +5 at Detroit

Last Week:  8-8
Season:        30-29-5