Celebrity/Media NFL Picks Week 12: Marc Savard is lighting up the leaderboard — and his neighborhood

Sal DeFilippo

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 | 6:28 p.m.

On stage, Marc Savard is a renowned comedy hypnotist, entertaining audiences nightly at Planet Hollywood.

At home, however, he applies a different skill set, one which also requires considerable talent – juggling life with four young daughters.

“Joanna and I welcomed our newest daughter Lorelle to the family on Aug. 26th, and with juggling four daughters now, it can be overwhelming at times,” Savard said of his emerging softball team. “We are having a lot of fun though. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Four daughters, a successful show, and near the top of the leaderboard in the Chase for the Golden Nerf. Not much could be better for Savard, but to top it off, we’re entering the holiday season. For Savard, that means a light show at his house that would make Danny Devito’s character in "Deck the Halls" jealous.

“The show is doing great. I’ve been fortunate to be busy, and the crowds are still coming!” Savard said. “Moving here from Canada, I felt that without snow, Christmas was missing something. Back home growing up, the holidays were all about spending time with family and we would do so many gatherings, that the holidays lasted so long. Christmas Eve drinks, Christmas Day parties, on the 26th outdoor ice skating on the frozen lakes … on the 27th we might organize a snowmobile excursion, and this would go on until the 3rd of January.

“Since moving here with no relatives close by, Christmas lasted only Christmas morning and then it was over. So, I decided to create a new tradition for my kids and make it last 6 weeks! I set up 85,000 lights, 416 individual channels and program a light show choreographed to music. It turned out beautifully. So now, my my family and I enjoy spreading holiday cheer throughout the valley. People come from all over to check out the lights. Santa has even shown up a few times to hand out candy canes to guests standing outside the gate! The lights operate from Thanksgiving Night until New Year’s Day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit 1420 E. Robindale Road to check it out.”

Take it from someone who saw this production firsthand last year – it’s amazing. It also must be pretty time consuming. Fortunately for Savard, he doesn’t need to be glued to the TV each Sunday to pick football winners.

“Being a dad of 4 girls, my Sundays consist of playing with Barbies, not watching football. I don’t even have a favorite team. I really do enjoy picking each Sunday to try and win the Golden Nerf trophy, and my strategy is very unorthodox. I am afraid to share my secrets as they are almost fool-proof for picking winners. One week I might pick all birds, like the Eagles, Cardinals, and Ravens, whereas the next week I might pick all cats like the Jaguars, Lions, and Panthers. Another week I might pick teams wearing red, or the team with the hottest cheerleaders,” Savard said.

“During one week, I was naming the teams out loud, and whenever my baby would burp, I would select the team that she burped during. This week, my three oldest daughters, aged 9, 7, and 5, picked the teams. I think they are solid picks, so I am looking to expand my lead.”

Win or lose, Savard is enjoying everything about living in Las Vegas.

“After doing the show for almost 7 years, and living in Las Vegas for over 10 years, we have really settled in and proud to call this city our home,” he said. “There are so many wonderful people here, and the community has really welcomed my family and we are forever grateful for that. I love that Las Vegas has so much to offer on and off the Strip. Date night has a million choices of great restaurants, shows, and things to do. We love it here!”

Sal DeFilippo’s picks (15-17-1):

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The media/celebrity picks:

Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" (18-15)

Cardinals -2 vs. Colts

Patriots +2½ vs. Broncos

Redskins +5 vs. 49ers

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Marc Savard, comedy hypnotist at Planet Hollywood (17-12-4)

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

Bears +1 at Rams

49ers -5 at Redskins

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Terry Fator, Mirage headliner (18-14-1)

Jaguars +10 at Texans

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

Panthers -3½ at Dolphins

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Andrew Freeman, "Raiding the Rock Vault" performer at LVH (18-15)

Buccaneers +9½ at Lions

Panthers -3½ at Dolphins

49ers -5 at Redskins

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John Katsilometes, the Kats Report (17-15-1)

Chiefs-Chargers under 41½

Texans -10 vs. Jaguars

Raiders -1 vs. Titans

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Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas ambassador (15-17-1)

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

Broncos -2½ at Patriots

Jaguars +10 at Texans

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Carolyn Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas (15-17-1)

Panthers -3½ at Dolphins

Giants -2½ vs. Cowboys

49ers -5 at Redskins

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Donny Osmond, Flamingo Las Vegas headliner (14-17-2)

Cowboys +2½ at Giants

Cardinals -2 vs. Colts

49ers -5 at Redskins

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Carla Pellegrino, celebrity chef and owner of Bratalian (15-17-1)

Broncos -2½ at Patriots

Steelers +2 at Browns

49ers -5 at Redskins

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Frankie Moreno, Stratosphere headliner (12-19-2)

Steelers +2 at Browns

Bears +1 at Rams

Colts +2 at Cardinals

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Jason Feinberg, KVVU-TV morning personality (12-20-1)

Broncos-Patriots over 56

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

Giants-Cowboys over 47

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Mark & Mercedes in the Morning, Mix 94.1 (12-17-4)

Lions -9½ vs. Buccaneers

Panthers -3½ at Dolphins

Giants -2½ vs. Cowboys

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Claire Sinclair, star of Pin-Up at Stratosphere (11-20-2)

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

Cowboys +2 at Giants

Ravens -3 ½ vs. Jets

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Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist (12-20-1)

Dolphins-Panthers under 41

Rams-Bears over 46

Cardinals-Colts over 44½

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Dana White, UFC president (11-22)

Lions -9½ vs. Buccaneers

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

49ers -5 at Redskins

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Carrot Top, Luxor headliner (9-22-2)

Chiefs -5 vs. Chargers

Giants -2½ vs. Cowboys

Cardinals -2 vs. Colts

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