Covers.com's Jason Logan is back with his favorite exotic props and futures plays from around the wagering world. Formally known as the Betting Grab Bag, each week's column will explore the most notable alternative bets sportsbooks are offering.
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By the way my hands looked, you'd swear I slap boxed a puffer fish for 12 rounds. There were little nicks and slices filling in with blood like Edward Scissorhands and I had just completed our secret handshake. My joints ached as if I were a 84-year-old retired pickle jar opener.
It's silly to think a four-inch plastic toy could dish out so much agony. But there I stood shaking and sweating on Easter morning, cursing the purchase of two Transformers action figures. Like any good Easter Bunny, I granted the wishes of my girlfriend's four year old: First, to buy the toys and then to transform them from cars into robots and then back into cars.
If jostling with the $10 action figures is as intense as the upcoming movie sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, then peg me first in line for the June 24 release.
Oddsmakers at SportsInteraction expect more than a few fans of the cartoon-turned-movie-franchise to take in the second live-action offering from director Michael Bay. They've set Transformers 2 as a -125 favorite to have the highest domestic gross at the box office this year.
The film boasts an all-star cast including molten-hot Megan Fox, who's under-the-hood scene in the first movie still lives in the hearts and pants of Transformers nerds everywhere. If that wasn't enough to draw truckloads of cash, the introduction of classic characters Soundwave, Jetfire and Sideswipe should provide more eye-popping action and special effects.
Going toe-to-toe with Transformers this summer is everyone's favorite little Wizard. No, not Gilbert Arenas.
The sixth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is also listed at -125 to rake in the most money. The latest installment looks to be a little darker than the previous chapters with Harry and his homeboys going to battle with evil wizard Voldemort. The Harry Potter movies are the second-highest grossing film franchise, making $4.48 billion world wide. Now that's magic baby.
Also among the notable motion pictures is Pixar's latest animated feature Up (+150), J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (+250), X-Men spinoff Wolverine (+250) and Terminator Salvation (+350), which has the most bad-ass trailer of all these movies.
Rumor has it Arnie provides the voice for one of the Terminators but won't make an appearance in the film. So much for all that “I'll be back” talk.
T.O. takes New York
As a Dallas Cowboys fan, Terrell Owens has the potential to earn me more money as a member of the Buffalo Bills than he did catching balls in Big D the past few seasons.
All I need is a little of the old T.O.
You know, the guy who called Jeff Garcia gay. The player who got into a brawl with his Eagles teammates and pretty much pissed off the entire city of Philadelphia. The guy who has reporters count out his sit-ups in the driveway. Yeah, that's the guy I need.
Oddsmakers at BetOnline are offering lines on whether the Bills will fine or suspend Owens this upcoming season. They've given the six-time Pro Bowler the benefit of the doubt, pricing his suspension at +500 and a fine at +200.
For those Bills fans, who share the same optimism I did when Owens joined the Cowboys in 2006, you can wager on T.O.'s total receiving yards, games played and a head-to-head matchup with teammate Lee Evans.
Owens is listed as a -150 favorite to become the team's No. 1 receiving option and you know if he could, he'd bet on himself. And I'm sure Evans would throw some coin on T.O. as well.
Dancing for dollars
Anyone that says dancing is for sissies should spend time in someone else's tap shoes. Season 8 of ABC's Dancing With The Stars produced more injuries than the XFL's version of the coin toss.
Before the show even began, both singer Jewel and Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell were down with broken legs and a torn meniscus. Even Jackass stunt man Steve-O missed time due to a back injury and that guy has let a snake bite his junk.
The show is down to its Sweet Six. After Monday night's performances, gymnast Shawn Johnson is still the favorite after opening at +100 with betED.com on March 9.
She and partner Mark Ballas hung a 28 out of 30 on the competition but was outdone by Bachelor starlet Melissa Rycroft, who stepped in for O'Dell, and her partner Tony Dovolani who scored a 29 with their Tango.
Still holding value is Rodeo stud Ty Murray, who opened the competition at +1,100. He and partner Chelsie Hightower scored a 24 Monday but avoided elimination when former New York Giants linebacker and all-around terrifying man, Lawrence Taylor (+600), was given the boot after notching just a 21.
The original L.T. appeared to be tired of the whole dancing thing, despite getting to nuzzle up to Polish hottie Edyta Sliwinska every day. Now he can get back to playing golf and haunting Joe Theismann's dreams.
Make sure to tune into Covers Radio with the Prez and Ted Sevransky today at 2:30 p.m. ET.