By Sonny Palermo 

"I know that there are angry spirits and turbulent mutterers of stifled treason, who lurk in narrow places, and walk out  to whisper curses to the night; discontented ruffians, and desperate libertines who brawl in taverns."

- Lord Byron 

Byron forgot to add, "and discontented wagerers, who scream profanities at their TV's." 

Sunday night, Colts vs. Chargers, and I'm rooting for the Dungy's. Am I Colt fan? Nope, my cheering them on has nothing to do with anything as pure as fandom, I am rooting for them for the reason I root for most teams on most nights - I bet money on their asses. And I expect a return on my investment! 

So, I got the Dungy's -3, and used it for my column space here last week so I have that for a little extra incentive to root home a winner. But Peyton is doing his Eli impression, and has already tossed about a half dozen interceptions - and I'm getting my ass kicked 23-0.  

Second half, the Colts manage a comeback, aided by Norv's brain and River's slippery hands. All of a sudden, in the final minutes, I'm back in it, and driving for the lead AND an ATS cover. And then, me and the rest of the world found out the refs had the Chargers.  

Follow this: Indy gets a first and goal, but wait - the booth calls for a replay on the spot. Dungy is flipping out (he was later quoted as having never seen this type of challenge, a replay challenging a spot in the final minutes.) The ball is moved back, fourth and goal now. Down by 2 points I needed the 7, and was most likely screwed now, as Indy would kick a FG. But wait - salvation! Dungy decides there's too much to forego the FG (which would allow SD to get the ball back with over a minute left to take back the lead) and go for it on fourth down. Everyone is aware the Colts may be trying to draw an offside for an easy first down. Manning barks out the signals, the line shifts, and . . .the refs cal a motion penalty on Indy.  

Only problem is, the Colts run this play a lot. And just last week the league ruled the shift to be a legal one. Maybe they should have told the officials. Or maybe they did and the officials decided to pretend they forgot. Either way, there can be no excuse for this. This is supposed to be professional football and we're stuck with amateur land, a place where the league rules one way, and in the same week of the ruling the refs call the play another way. Amateurland or BS, take your pick. Either way, a miracle for Charger bettors, and I'm screwed because the Colts are going for a 3 point FG, to take the lead by 1 point, and I'm laying 3 points. And it is at exactly this point that I do what ALL bettors do when faced with a similar situation - I turn Turncoat. I change loyalties. I become Benedict Bettor, and utter the mantra - "If ya ain't gonna cover for me, then I hope you lose outright, ya bastards!" 

But, with rock steady dead-eye/firm footed Adam Vinatieri coming in for chip shot field goal, I realize my wish will most likely not come true, instead it will be a Colts win and Charger cover. But then, something happened that was as strange as the two calls against the Colts. The refs may have had the Chargers, but God must have had the Colts -3 as Vinatieri missed!  

I lose, but so do the Colts. And I take a little satisfaction in that. 

In other screw ups by the refs this week we had a five play possession in UCF/Al Birmingham. Late in the fourth quarter, Al-Birm has the ball, time running out, they spike it on first down. This is followed by an incomplete pass, then a short run up the middle. Fourth down, right? Nope. The QB gets sacked, and the refs give them another down. I'm desperately hanging on to an Under, if the ball goes to UCF they will run out the clock, I'm screaming in my living room but no one hears, and Al-Birm goes on to score a meaningless TD in the final minute. Same thing happened years ago, I think it was Colorado that got the extra down. I don't understand how mistakes of this magnitude happen, but they do. Unfortunately, it was such a low level game that neither Sports Illustrated or ESPN have the play by play in their recap section, so I can't see if the charted it properly. But I know what I saw . . . 

Review/Selections

As detailed above, the Colts screwed me, and the column record now stands at 7-5 in foots, 8-5 with selections in other sports included.  

This week, I am going to Motown, where I expect the Giants to begin to play more like their co-habitating counterparts, the Jets. The G-men lost their first two games of the season, to Dallas and Green Bay, surrendering 80 points in the process. When they followed this up with six straight wins and dropped their points scored against average from the 40 allowed in the first two games to a measly 13 in their next six, most people said they had corrected their problems on defense. And they were a popular play against Dallas. But I had the ‘Boys. Why? Because in those 6 wins the Giants faced 6 teams that are not known for scoring and do not possess a balanced attack, or anything even close to resembling a solid passing attack, like they saw with Romo and Favre. In fact, only one of the six has a winning record - the Redskins.  

In Detroit this week, they get a passer in Kitna, at home, in his element. Many laughed when God-boy Kitna called for a double digit win season for the Lions, but he's stifled critics en route to a 6-3 record. The remaining schedule is tough, and if they are going to get to ten wins they have to start this week, with a won over a New York team that had home field and rest off a bye but still couldn't beat Dallas. NY is 1-3 against teams with a winning record, while Detroit is undefeated at home - and getting a point! By game time you may see this switch to Detroit favored by one, but no matter.

Take the Lions and watch the Giants slide continue.