The Tribune

By John Ford

MANY sports fans know that gambling sustains big-time college and professional sports around the world and is the main reason why television coverage is so lucrative and why audiences are so vast.

This is particularly true in the US, where professional oddsmakers are among the oracles of sport. Las Vegas is the high temple for such wise men, but you can place a bet on a sports event in a lot of places.

As a service to and perhaps entertainment for our sports-minded readers, the Tribune has enlisted an American contributor to offer advice and analysis in advance of American sporting events.

The Blind Seer’s commentary will appear on intermittent Fridays, and will be limited to major sporting events. Maybe our expert will prove to be a wizard. Perhaps he will be revealed as a fool. Readers can choose either to follow his lead or see where he is going and run, quickly, in the other direction.

We’re going to begin with the NFL conference championships this weekend:

Jacksonville Jaguars

at New England

Patriots

Most commentators cannot seem to imagine that the underdogs from Florida stand much of a chance against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

The Patriots may have the best to ever play at the game’s most critical position in quarterback Tom Brady, who is still playing well at age 40. He’s also a terrific looking man and is married to a super model and seems to have a genuine modesty in his demeanor.

The coach is secretive Bill Belichick, a coach’s son whose early history in Cleveland and New York gave few clues to his ultimate mastery of the pro game. He wears a gray hoodie most of the time. New England’s defense is overlooked but opportunistic. Both offensive and defensive coordinators are tipped to win NFL head coaching jobs after the Patriots win the championship again.

So does Jacksonville have a chance? Well, no one gave them much of a chance to upset the Steelers in Pittsburgh last weekend, despite their three touchdown win in Pittsburgh earlier this season. The Jags actually shredded a Pittsburgh defense missing leading linebacker Ryan Shazier, and the game was not as close as the three point final margin. After the game, the Steelers fired their offensive coordinator and more changes may lie ahead. Jacksonville, with former head coach and renowned tough guy Tom Coughlin now returned to the front office to oversee the team, has a great rookie running back and an opportunistic defense. It’s a combination that could and has dominated many teams this year. In fact, in an NFL season full of pleasant surprise teams such as the Rams, Chargers, Titans, 49ers, Vikings, Eagles, Bills and Chiefs, the Jags have stood out.

Bottom line. At press time, the betting line consensus had the Patriots favored by 8 points, and the over/under for total points at 46. The Blind Seer says bet on the Patriots to cover the 8 points and bet the under on total points.

Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles. Everyone assumed the Eagles were done when their phenomenal second-year quarterback Carson Wentz was hurt before the end of the regular season. But they finished the campaign with the best record in the NFL. Their substitute quarterback, Nick Foles, has had his moments, but is still regarded as a journeyman at best. He was still good enough to beat last year’s Super Bowl chokers, the Atlanta Falcons, last week. Using a running back picked up during the season from the Dolphins, the Eagles did enough to beat Atlanta in a very low-scoring game in the cold. Philadelphia’s defense is often formidable and they are playing before the league’s most vociferous fans. Remember when Philly fans booed Santa Claus?

The Vikings under head coach Mike Zimmer and newly crowned offensive genius coordinator Pat Shurmur have two first round drafted quarterbacks on their roster in Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater. But they have ridden to the NFL semi-final game behind uncelebrated Case Keenum, who has bounced around the league for several years. He is playing like Superman this season. Minnesota is playing for the privilege of becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to participate in the championship game at its home stadium. Wily wide receivers, a stout defense and a series of breaks such as the injury to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers have smoothed the Vikings’ path this year. Then they edged the Saints last week on one of the NFL’s all-time game-ending plays when a good New Orleans defender made an unforgettable goof and the game was over in the stunning blink of an eye.

Bottom Line. The betting line at press time favors the visiting Vikings by 3 and the over/under at 38 points. The Blind Seer says bet on the Eagles giving 3 points and bet the under on total points.