Gambling

As usual, we turned to Thistledown publicist Bob (Railbird) Roberts for his Kentucky Derby Pick and here it is.

Sidney's Candy 5-1

Bob had a gaudy reputation as a skilled handicapper when he was the racing writer for The Plain Dealer in his previous life. Remember that in 1993 he picked Sea Hero and he had back-to-back winners in 2006 and 2007 with Barbaro and Street Sense. One of his great triumphs was picking Lemon Drop Kid to win the 1999 Belmont Stakes at 30-1.

So, why Sidney's Candy in this year's Derby?

"I'm a big workout guy," Roberts explained. "I like to see a horse get to Churchill Downs early and get a feel for the track. He's had two sensational workouts. He's feeling good and likes the track."

This is the recommended wager of the weekend. The proposition bet Chagrin Falls vs. the Cleveland Browns. Who will score more points this weekend, the Chagrin Falls Tigers in their state championship game Saturday morning or the Cleveland Browns Sunday vs. San Diego? The Browns are favored by 2 1/2 points. Take Chagrin Falls. Bet the house on it.

Mooney 12 38 Columbus DeSales

Ursuline 3 54 Coldwater

Winton Woods 14 1/2 62 Maple Hts.
SATURDAY

Kettering Alter 18 45 Chagrin Falls

Delphos St. John 8 1/2 49 Norwalk St. Paul

Glenville 3 1/2 42 Hilliard Davidson

PROPOSITION WAGERS

Who will score more, Chagrin Falls or Cleveland Browns?

Browns favored by 2 1/2.

Will Winton Woods outscore Bengals and Cincinnati Bearcats combined?

Bengals/Bearcats combined bet 100 to win 120

To enliven debates, here are the official lines on this weekend’s playoff games. Heaviest favorites are Mooney (25), Kettering Alter (21), Delphos St. John (19) and Glenville (17½). Here we go. Good luck to all the teams. Favorites on the left. Spread, Over/Under.

DIVISION I
Glenville 17½ 39 Solon
Canton McKinley 5½ 48 Massillon
Dublin Coffman 1 31 Hilliard Davidson
Cincinnati Elder 8 50 Cin. Anderson

DIVISION II
Lake Catholic 8 52 Ashland

The following lines on every high school playoff game in Ohio this weekend are for information and conversational purposes only. Any other use of this information is strictly prohibited.

Favorites on the left. The number in the middle. The over and under for selected games on the right. Enjoy the information. Next week Bernie will release his odds to win championships.

You can make a lot of money betting against the Browns. They rarely cover the spread. Yesterday, for instance, the Browns were 13-point underdogs and they lost by 24 to the mediocre Chicago Bears. No number is too big for our Browns.

Last week a wise old head in a newsroom which will not be identified suggested that the best time to bet against the Browns is when they're at home because the oddsmakers automatically allow three points for home field advantage. The Browns have no home field advantage. They're equally pitiful home or away.

Keep that in mind in two weeks when the Browns come off the bye week and play Baltimore here at home. While that's the best time, remember that there is no bad time.