NFL Thanksgiving Pickings: dp's Poker Profit Parlay

dp killed the $1-$2 no limit hold 'em table at the Venetian Wednesday night, turning a $200 buy-in into an $851 windfall in three hours while he waited for his bro Zeke (the suited connector) to get off work. Zeke got an early out at 10 p.m., giving dp a few more hands until his big blind came up. As so often happens, dp got involved in a monster pot in his last hand, making a full house on the river to beat two flushes and more than double his stack. dp tipped the dealer ten bucks (any less and Zeke, a dealer himself, would have been embarrassed), and the p boys bounced over to the sportsbook.

To celebrate (and as added incentive to wake up before 9:30 a.m. to watch Green Bay beat Detroit, dp made two $20 bets on Turkey Day football games. First, he made a 3-leg 6-point Teaser, taking Green Bay to +3, the Jets to +21, and the Colts to - 5.5 for a potential $28 win ($48 payout). Second, he made a 4-leg parlay, taking Green Bay (-3), the Packers-Lions under (47.5), the Cowboys-Jets over (47.5), and the Colts-Falcons over (41) for a potential $200 win.

If nothing else, the added action may prevent dp from succumbing to a tryptophan coma at halftime of the Cowboys game. Check back Saturday for dp's usual Upset Specials column.

But if you're really anxious to get some action down for the weekend, here's a sneak peek at dp's early picks: Denver at Chicago (-2.5), Seattle (-3) at St. Louis, New Orleans (-1) at Carolina.