One reason I bet Miami on Sunday is that they showed big signs of life in their smacking around the week before vs favored New England.
Also bet them because the Merriman-less Chargers don't have the same solid D as last season.
But the main reason, the capper, was that San Diego had to travel 3 times zones to play at what amounted to 10 in the morning on the West Coast.
I'd noticed this years ago. What with the Pat Kirwan article on it on the NFL site (below also) it's now "public info."
First quarter and first half bettors may be interested in the "sluggish" info Kirwan offers.
Pat Kirwan on the NFL site1.
Three time zones too much to overcome
So far this season, five teams have traveled across three time zones from the west to the east and they are 0-5. Week 5 perpetuated the issue, as the Chargers looked sluggish in a loss to the Dolphins in Miami while the Seahawks looked like they never got off the plane as the Giants dominated them in every phase of the game. I've heard people say this trend has more to do with the five West Coast teams just not being that good or letting the travel get to their heads. I've even heard a businessman say, "I travel all the time from California to New York and it doesn't affect me."
I don't think comparing a desk job to playing professional football works. I don't think you can chalk it up to the recent record of some of the West Coast teams, either. The situation is worth a deeper look.
Since 2003, when the Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks travel to the Eastern time zone for a 1 p.m. game, they have a combined record of 19-59 -- a winning percentage of .243. When you look at games played at 4 p.m. or at night, the West Coast teams are 3-5 (.375 percentage). When you look at the whole picture since 2003, West Coast teams win 25.5 percent of their East Coast games.
Some of these West Coast teams have struggled in recent years, so let's take a specific look at the Seahawks, who have been in the playoffs every year since 2003. Seattle's west-to-east record is 6-12 in that time. The Raiders have been on hard times lately, but back in 2000-02 -- when they went 33-15 and made the playoffs all three years -- their west-to-east record was 2-3.
Coaches I spoke to that have coached in this situation all felt it is a real issue, even though it's hard to put a finger on why it happens. They all mentioned a "sluggish" feeling, especially early in games. Anyone can dig up a game like Seattle's 42-0 win at Philadelphia in 2005 and say it's all hogwash, but the numbers over time suggest something different. Maybe it's time to figure out how to at least schedule these games in the later time slot.
Also bet them because the Merriman-less Chargers don't have the same solid D as last season.
But the main reason, the capper, was that San Diego had to travel 3 times zones to play at what amounted to 10 in the morning on the West Coast.
I'd noticed this years ago. What with the Pat Kirwan article on it on the NFL site (below also) it's now "public info."
First quarter and first half bettors may be interested in the "sluggish" info Kirwan offers.
Pat Kirwan on the NFL site1.
Three time zones too much to overcome
So far this season, five teams have traveled across three time zones from the west to the east and they are 0-5. Week 5 perpetuated the issue, as the Chargers looked sluggish in a loss to the Dolphins in Miami while the Seahawks looked like they never got off the plane as the Giants dominated them in every phase of the game. I've heard people say this trend has more to do with the five West Coast teams just not being that good or letting the travel get to their heads. I've even heard a businessman say, "I travel all the time from California to New York and it doesn't affect me."
I don't think comparing a desk job to playing professional football works. I don't think you can chalk it up to the recent record of some of the West Coast teams, either. The situation is worth a deeper look.
Since 2003, when the Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks travel to the Eastern time zone for a 1 p.m. game, they have a combined record of 19-59 -- a winning percentage of .243. When you look at games played at 4 p.m. or at night, the West Coast teams are 3-5 (.375 percentage). When you look at the whole picture since 2003, West Coast teams win 25.5 percent of their East Coast games.
Some of these West Coast teams have struggled in recent years, so let's take a specific look at the Seahawks, who have been in the playoffs every year since 2003. Seattle's west-to-east record is 6-12 in that time. The Raiders have been on hard times lately, but back in 2000-02 -- when they went 33-15 and made the playoffs all three years -- their west-to-east record was 2-3.
Coaches I spoke to that have coached in this situation all felt it is a real issue, even though it's hard to put a finger on why it happens. They all mentioned a "sluggish" feeling, especially early in games. Anyone can dig up a game like Seattle's 42-0 win at Philadelphia in 2005 and say it's all hogwash, but the numbers over time suggest something different. Maybe it's time to figure out how to at least schedule these games in the later time slot.