Ali Marpet: “I Really Don’t Care”
September 5th, 2018
Ali Marpet
How bout your Bucs! Getting 9 1/2 points, they’re the biggest Sunday NFL underdog on the board across various betting outlets nationwide.
That would be completely meaningless drivel if the Vegas oddsmakers weren’t so successful at their craft, and they weren’t dumping millions into the mathematical, football and emotional science of it all.
Anyway, that big spread was a topic in the Bucs locker room Monday when the sage of Tampa Bay sports, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, broached the subject with starting guard Ali Marpet.
Marpet’s response (Tweet below) was a metaphorical middle finger at the naysayers and so-called experts.
G Ali Marpet on the lack of national love for the Bucs: "I really don't care what anyone says about us, as far as the media or Las Vegas is concerned. I know what this team is capable of.''
— Ira Kaufman (@IKaufman76) September 3, 2018
Excellent response! Part of this team’s problems was paying to much attention to outside noise — good and bad — over the past two years. None of it should matter. However, Joe suspects Dirk Koetter might mention the huge underdog point total to his team.
For those who like to wager, Nola.com offered up some relevant info.
Vegas is expecting a high scoring affair with the over-under point total at 49.5 second highest of the opening slate of NFL games. Since midway through the 2010 season, the Saints have have a strong 30-20-2 record against-the-spread as home favorites That also means they’ve won a much higher percentage of those games outright, which is all that matters to Joe.
Tough spot for the Bucs on Sunday, but still very winnable if they decide to come out fast, focused and physical.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:05 am
1-0..only way to think
September 5th, 2018 at 7:06 am
Saints score no more than 19. Bucs win with 23.
And Vegas gets it wrong again.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:20 am
Sounds right to me Bonsai. Go Bucs !!!
September 5th, 2018 at 7:20 am
“No trap game for the Saints since their last regular game loss at tampa is still very fresh
Sean Peyton vs Klueless animosity
Saints animate in starting fast and not getting in a 0-2 start again
30-17 Kwonie gets exposed over and over”
Kobe Faker
September 5th, 2018 at 7:23 am
BUC DAT!!! Buc the who dats! I hate the saints and there fans. I hope Kwon breaks Brees’s leg since the nfl won’t let these guys hit! End Brees.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:24 am
These points do NOT represent the opinion of what Vegas thinks…they represent what half the betting public thinks or in the case of the opening line what the Vegas bookies believe the betting public thinks.
The Vegas oddsmakers are simply posting a number they believe will bring in an equal number of $$$ bet on each team and so they simply collect their % off the top.
Bookies DO NOT CARE about which team is better. They care about figuring out which team the betting public thinks is better and then try to halve the action.
Vegas cannot lose!!!
What this line really means is that the rest of the nation and the gamblers in particular think we suck. Big deal.
So if a lot of people jump on the Bucs because of that spread guess what will happen? The line will go down. If it drops to 7 1/2 by game time does that mean we suddenly got better as a team? No it means too much money was coming in on the Bucs on the original line and the bookies had to adjust.
As the son of a bookie here is what drives me most nuts. People who sell “tout” sheets. Buy their predictions and you will make money. Yeah.
How stupid would it be for a guy who truly is a whiz at handicapping to share his knowledge and influence the line in manner that would be detrimental to his bets.
If you can really handicap and make money you live in Vegas or the Caribbean or Hawaii…wherever and simply make your money. Why go through all the gyrations of marketing and producing a tipsheet? You don’t need the money if you’re a winner and you don’t need the aggravation.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:24 am
If I didn’t know that I would jinx them, I would bet big on the Bucs to cover that spread.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:27 am
Marpet = class act. Should be in the pro bowl this year.
Saints are coming off one of the finest preseason games. They look like a top 5 team. They have had bad luck the last few years by losing the first game of the season. Perhaps the trend will continue.
I only see us winning if we stop their running game (Mark Ingram is out). They have the one of the best Quarterbacks, DE and young cornerback in the league. They will be tough to bring down. Honestly, I think we lose by a touchdown.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:28 am
@Joe … “Tough spot for the Bucs on Sunday, but still very winnable if they decide to come out fast, focused and physical.” Great bottom line Joe. Now you have to put Positive Joe back in the closet or 813BucBoi, Lakeland & a few others might think that they got teleported to Alice’s Wonderland and freak out.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:30 am
I agree with Marpet. Vegas don’t know chit about this year’s Bucs.
So with a 50 point over/under and a 10 point spread – Vegas is predicting a 30-20 victory by the Saints Eh?
I’ll take the under and the Bucs who will do more than cover the spread.
Bucs WIN – 20-17
Go kick some ass Ali – and start your All Pro 2018 season off the right way with at least 3 pancake blocks this Sunday…
September 5th, 2018 at 8:06 am
Count me as another who could give a rat’s a$$ about Vegas!
I do think that it will be a higher scoring game than most expect though.
Bucs 30 Saints 24!
After the game, Saints bloggers will rename the stadium, “The Temple of Doom!”
September 5th, 2018 at 8:06 am
I love the kids attitude. Let’s hope it rubs off on the others.
Let’s go Bucs!!!!
September 5th, 2018 at 8:06 am
This should be the year that we go back to the days when other teams used to fear the Bucs. OTOH. Those meat hooks! Huge! Ali could crush someones skull with one hand.
September 5th, 2018 at 8:31 am
They might have one damn good corner, but that WON’T BE ENOUGH bettO STOP THIS MACHINE! Has anybody just happened to have noticed this receiving corp as of late?
It turns out that this under dog has the best group of wide outs and T.E. in modern football!
Marshawn BETTER have his running shoes on and he damn well habetter have EATEN HIS WEATIES!
We WILL SEE when the bell rings in the 4th quarter “THE TRUTH OF THE TRUTH! ”
10-6 WITH A PLAY OFF BERTH! GO BUCS!!!!!
September 5th, 2018 at 8:47 am
“Fast, focused and physical”
That needs to be the 2018 mantra.
September 5th, 2018 at 8:48 am
Seems my new pad and I haven’t come to an understanding yet. It looks like I’m practicing English if nothing else.
O well, WHEATIES damn it!
BUCCANEERS 10-6 with a PLAY OFF BERTH!
September 5th, 2018 at 10:31 am
INSPIRED or Anthony Robbins Twin
first put the bottle down. i love daytime drinking as much as anyone does but before 10 am is not good. Second, this team will NOT win 10 games over the course of the next 2 seasons and certainly not this year with the weak roster and glazers running the show. As far as a playoff birth…. I am 100% convinced this team will NOT even SNIFF a playoff birth with glazers running show. After they clean out this front office and coaching staff they will be stupid enough to try and relive a failed past by bringing dungy the clown in which will set the franchise back another decade plus. I am the voice reason…. This team is screwed. 4-12…
September 5th, 2018 at 10:56 am
Pound the rock! Throw when you can! D has to be present to even have a shot to win! Let’s go!
September 5th, 2018 at 11:28 am
I’m not worried about the spread. I am worried about DPOY candidate Cameron Jordan.
Can anybody talk me down from the ledge. How do we block Jordan? Double teams with an addition chip from the RB? I honestly do not know. Jordan is one bad dude.
I’m not putting down our OL even though it’s clearly a work in progress. Jordan destroys a lot of OL’s…13 sacks…48 tackles and 2 forced fumbles last year.
September 5th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
The Bucs are 9 and a half point dogs, what! Where is the local sports betting outlet that should be up and running so I can take those points? This state drags its feet on everything the people want, like legal cannabis. Dyed in the wool and stuck in the mud political reps who offer no representation unless you are a big corporation underhandedly buying your corrupt mouthpieces to stifle what the people want.
September 5th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
DR
nawl you got it wrong young lady….
I’m always positive…..and joe is correct…this is a winnable game…..
the goal is to go 1-0 every week…..
but you and a few others see no wrong in this staff and constantly make excuses for them…..that’s when you get exposed!!!!!…..my advice to you is to STOP living in Wonderland and hold this staff accountable…..we just went 5-11 with the #32 ranked defense and couldn’t score in the end zone…..but its everyones fault except the coaches…..BS…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
September 5th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
Um for those of you throwing stones at Vegas and week 1 NFL odds. Here is something to ponder:
In the past 5 years, vegas has been the most accurate in………..week 1.
Week 3,4 and 10 is where vegas has shown more weakness regarding the line accuracy.
I am just saying. My prediction: [Aints 31 Bucs 28] Saints dont cover bet the over on these bad DEFs!!!
September 5th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Face it.
The Bucs for their past season performance deserve to be laughed at until they start winning games.
I don’t give a rat’s posterior how they look on paper. I refuse to drink the Kool-Aid when it comes to this team.
Winning fixes everything. Continue losing and we will be back on the Head Coach and even a starting QB carousel by the end of the season.
I liked how the offense threw & ran the ball in preseason, but that is preseason. And again, not drinking it up until I see “W’s” racking up when it counts.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:01 pm
@REO
Im starting to agree with you on your prediction
Its a Glazer trademark move to bring back Dungy
and yes another lost decade comith