LAS VEGAS
Everyone knows that I LOVE bagels, with lox of course (see below), and we can tell you that the Siegel's Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship happens here in Vegas on January 13 at 11 a.m.
I have been in training for this my WHOLE LIFE, and totally ready to go down and KILL IT next week. Sadly, just heard that the LEGEND, Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut, is gonna be on the same stage.
UH OH!
If you're in town, c'mon down to Bagelmania, which is on the Strip just North of the Wynn Hotel and I'll be happy to say hey.
Last year, Geoff Esper dominated with a staggering 17.75 bagels. Not sure what the .75 part of the bagel looks like, but will dive in and find an answer. The winner will pocket $10,000 bucks, $5,000 for 2nd, $2,750 for 3rd, $1,300 for 4th and $650 for 5th. Not expecting to take down Joey Jaws, or even score a top five finish, but we DO know how to circle the wagons, actually the matzo balls!!!
WHALE BURGER!!!
Staying with the gastronomy theme, we found maybe the most EXPENSIVE hamburger in Vegas. It's the Whale Burger and it'll cost you a full Benjamin ($100).
After looking at the ingredients, it kinda looks like a bargain. It includes a half pound of Wagyu beef, a full tempura battered and fried lobster tail, black truffle cheese, billionaire bacon and the best onion jam in the city.
Not sure what billionaire bacon is, but it sounds tasty.
You also get a gold brushed brioche bun and the split of cold Moet champagne. Slater’s 50/50 is the joint that sells the Whale, but it isn’t on the menu. What? You have to look for a hidden QR code in a piece of art inside the restaurant to order this slice of heaven. Food & mystery, what a combo!
LOX & BAGELS!!!
After cashing the OVER in the Alabama/Michigan game and collecting with Washington, everyone is expecting Ecks to bang another W into the bank. Gotcha! I'm READY for the Natty with #1 Michigan against #2 Washington.
You can reverse those numbers when it comes to the #1 ranked passing attack, it's Washington, and the #2 ranked passing defense, it's Michigan.
Of course we gotta start the convo with the left arm of Michael Penix. His performance against Texas was not quite Joe Burrow in the National Championship game against Clemson, but it was pretty darn close. Penix was 29 of 38 (76.3%) for 430 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Burrow was 31 of 49 (63.3%) for 463 yards with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. Can he do it against the Wolverines stingy D? BETTING on it.
Michigan totally disrupted Alabama's offense with the blitz package and several different looks. But that was against a sophomore QB, Jalen Milroe, and a center that COULD NOT snap the ball three STINKIN' feet to his QB. Penix has been around the block for SIX years, four at Indiana, two with Washington, and enjoys the protection of the beasts up front who won the Joe Moore Award as the nation's BEST offensive line. An O-line that allowed only 11 sacks all year, and DID NOT allow one against Texas.
Hats off to Michigan for a 14-0 perfecto, but Jim Harbaugh's kids have NOT seen an offense like this from any team in the Big Ten. I mean, c'mon. Here are the offensive rankings for the teams that Michigan played this season. Rutgers (#120), Nebraska (#116), Minnesota (#122), Indiana (#99), Michigan State (#125), Purdue (#69), Penn State (#53), Maryland (#63) and Ohio State (#47). Think you get my drift. Once again, gonna make another HUSKY bet on the Huskies at +4.5, or +5 which we found at the Wynn sportsbook here in town. And if you check out my website, I'll have some DELICIOUS prop bets over the weekend.
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Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America's Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other papers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit his Email...ben@americasline.com.
