Super Bowl Weekend

So, it's Super Bowl weekend here in Dublin and frankly the city just doesn't give a damn. It's enlightening to find out how little the rest of the world cares about American sports. If you could picture how much we care about soccer, you'd have an inkling into how little the Irish care about the Super Bowl. Yes, there are fans, but there's barely even a realization that the Super Bowl is going on this weekend.

So what do a handful of American expatriates do for the Super Bowl when we're in Ireland? We're planning to go to an Australian pub called the Woolshed Baa & Grill. That's not a typo; follow the link. It's got everything a good American needs at a Super Bowl party: Full Game Shown, Food Served 'Til Late, Free Entry.

Food Served 'Til Late? Just how late does food need to be served? I'm guessing food needs to be served until at least 3am - after all the game doesn't kickoff until 11:30pm over here.

Perhaps the halftime show will garner some interest over here. After all, The Who are headlining.

Nah, I doubt it.

The big events over here this weekend surround The Six Nations Championship. That would be rugby, my friends. Six Nations is a huge tournament where Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy compete to flaunt their rugby dominance. France is the odds-on favorite to win the championship, even though Ireland won the Grand Slam last year (i.e. went undefeated in the round-robin tournament). France is at 3/2 to win the whole thing and Ireland is at 9/4. The next highest odds go to England at 5/1. As you can see, it looks like a two horse match between France and Ireland.

Today Ireland has 1/33 odds to win the home match over Italy. Yes, that means you bet $33 and if Ireland wins, you get your $33 back plus $1 to boot. Enticing, eh? Perhaps a bet on Italy at 25/1 might be a better value bet . . . or bet the draw at 50/1.

This weekend: Ireland vs. Italy; England vs. Wales; Scotland vs. France.