Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Like ballots, NFL games tricky for former Floridian

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Nov. 10, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

All these years of picking losers against the spread and I thought it was always my inability to pick the right team.

Now, the real problem has been exposed -- it's the way the games are deceptively listed on the odds board.

To the average sports fan, it must seem fairly simple and straightforward -- two teams are listed with a number between them. You either choose the team on the left or the team on the right.

But not for me. You see, I hail from a place where forms are always difficult to read and you have to check every number carefully and multiple times.

I grew up in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Until this week, I thought it was just a lack of comprehension on my part. But apparently it remains a statewide epidemic, magnified during elections and with an exceptionally high breakout in the Palm Beaches.

After things settle, I'm going to make a call to my old high school and college and ask for a recount on all those tests I failed, because I really thought I was choosing some of the right answers.

With all the talk of potential legal action, I figured I'd try a similar tactic here. I took all of my losing parlay tickets to the sports book whence they came and approached the ticket writer.

"Excuse me, I know these games are over, but I just noticed that I picked the Colts against the Bears but I really thought I was picking Chicago, and I was wondering if I could get that changed," I told the man behind the counter.

"Sorry sir, but once the games are played, you can't do much about that," he replied.

Time for a change of strategy. "OK, fine. I think Indianapolis actually won the game. I'd like a verified recount of the scoring, please."

He walks over toward a video monitor, drapes a hood over his head, stares at it for about 15 minutes, and returns. "Sorry sir. After further review, the game stands as called -- 27-24, Chicago."

It's a good thing that the NFL doesn't follow the lead of the electoral bodies. Could you imagine if, at the start of the fourth quarter of the New York Jets-Miami Dolphins thriller three weeks ago, Peter Jennings suddenly appeared on-screen and said, "ABC is now able to project that the Miami Dolphins are winners."

What if this week, instead of allowing Antonio Freeman's remarkable catch to end Monday night's game, the referees had simply said it was "too close to call?"

Whoever wins White House Bowl XLIII certainly will have waited through his fair share of delay-of-game penalties in the Sunshine State, and I'll forever have a no-confidence vote in my old stamping grounds.

Last week

I finished 2-2-1 against the number, but the sports books have asked for a recount, so that total is unofficial. The season mark is still struggling at 21-26-3 against the number.

My top five

TENNESSEE -4 vs. Baltimore -- The Ravens could give Tennessee fits with their ability to stop the run -- Baltimore has gone an NFL-high 27 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. But despite his three-touchdown performance of last week, line Trent Dilfer up against any real defense and Matt Stover can start working on another points streak.

Tennessee 20, Baltimore 12.

MINNESOTA -13 1/2 vs. Arizona -- After a couple of tough road losses, the Vikings return home, where they have won nine straight. Arizona begins a stretch of four road games in five weeks. Expect interim head coach Dave McGinnis to deliver his concession speech at halftime.

Minnesota 42, Arizona 20.

PHILADELPHIA +3 1/2 at Pittsburgh -- The Steelers have now gone five games without allowing a touchdown, reminiscent of the Steel Curtain dominance of the 1970s. Despite Pittsburgh's history, though, Philadelphia is 44-26-3 in the all-Pennsylvania matchup.

Philadelphia 15, Pittsburgh 10.

PANTHERS +2 vs. Saints -- The Panthers are coming off an upset win over the Marshall Faulk-less Rams. The Saints have won five in a row for the first time since 1993, but Saints have no place around elections, so I'll take Carolina.

Carolina 24, New Orleans 20.

NEW YORK JETS +6 at Indianapolis -- Here's an amazing fact -- this is the first time that these franchises have met since they squared off in Super Bowl III that both teams have entered the game with winning records. That's more than 30 years of cumulative futility. The Jets have won five of their last six road games and the Colts often struggle in the role of home favorite.

New York Jets 19, Indianapolis 16.