Weekend tips for April 6-7

MLB for April 7 

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, April 7, 11.20am

It’s going to be mighty task for Clayton Kershaw to top his Opening Day performance, but he’ll be out to impress once again when he takes on Pittsburgh’s visiting ace AJ Burnett. Kershaw enjoyed about as good a game a starting pitcher can have in a 4-0 whitewash of the San Francisco Giants.

It was business as usual between these two sides last night when LA posted a 3-0 victory behind Zack Greinke, making his Dodgers debut. The victory was the 10th for Los Angeles in the past 11 meetings, and seventh straight over the Bucs at Chavez Ravine. Low scores have been the order of the season so far in LA, and we’ll tip the trend to continue.

Suggested bet: Game total -6 (two units) WIN

Other tips

Angels WIN @ Rangers WIN ($2.20) 
Royals @ Phillies +8 LOSE
Cardinals @ Giants +7 WIN

NHL for April 7

Boston Bruins @ Montreal Canadiens, Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Sunday, April 7, 9.15am

The Bruins are heating up. They’ve won three straight and were boosted by the trade deadline acquisitions of Jaromir Jagr and Wade Redden. Their defence and goaltending are back to their best once again as they've shutout two of their last three opponents while giving up two goals in their last three.

However, Boston is struggling for goals as they are playing without Patrice Bergeron. He had two goals and five assists in the last two meetings between the teams. Not having him on the ice is a big loss to the Bruins and tick in the direction of the Habs.

Suggested bet: Game total -5 (two units) WIN

Other tips

Flames @ Canucks -1.5 WIN
Flyers @ Jets WIN WIN 
Lightning @ Islanders +5.5 WIN

NBA for April 7

Charlotte Bobcats @ Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, Sunday, April 7, 10.45am
 
After being smashed by the Heat’s B Team, the Bobcats have to now travel into Brooklyn to play the Nets. While Miami may have their playoff spot locked up, the Nets do not, and they will be playing full strength here.

Charlotte’s offence on the road is shocking, as they only average about 90 points per game. Back in December, the Cats only mustered 81 points, and in Charlotte about a month ago, they only scored 78 against the Nets.

On the second game of a back-to-back this season, the Cats are only 6-14 ATS. Plus, Brooklyn is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings with the Cats; including two wins ATS this season.

Suggested bet: Nets -14.5 points (two units) LOSE

Other tips

Pacers @ Wizards -184 LOSE
Hawks +8 @ Spurs WIN

Tooheys New Golden Slipper Day – April 6

What a weekend to start this blog with all four major local footy codes up and about, a full offering of US sport and European football but all overshadowed by the richest day of racing on the Australian calendar.

Golden Slipper Day has arguably surpassed Victoria Derby Day as the highlight of the Australian turf calendar. With more than $7.5 million in prizemoney up for grabs, the meeting features five Group 1s including the $2.25 million BMW and the $3.5 million Tooheys New Golden Slipper.

The massive x-factor at Rosehill today will be the state of the track – after a wet week in Sydney, the track is currently rated a slow 7 but could be downgraded during the day.

Best of the day: Most of our form went straight into the trash with news of the heavy going, but there is a standout on the program coming in the opening race on the card. Trained by Peter Moody, # 1 Lights of Heaven has a win and a second to her name in the heavy going to go with her recent second in the Sunline Stakes. She rises to the 2000m in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes here but third-up, and given the compressed weights through the nine-horse field, we like Luke Nolen to open the card with a winner.

Tip: Rosehill R1 #1 Lights of Heaven (win two units) WIN $2.90

Other racing tips for April 6

Rosehill R3 #3 Philippi (E/W) WIN $6.50/$2.50
Rosehill R4 #4 Habibi (E/W) 3rd $1.70
Rosehill R5 #11 Silent Achiever (E/W) 3rd $2.50
Rosehill R6 #1 More Joyous (win) U/P
Rosehill R7 #11 Overreach (E/W) WIN $2.90/$1.70
Rosehill R8 #11 Pierro (win) WIN $1.40
Rosehill R9 #4 Skytrain (E/W) U/P

Moonee Valley R5 #3 Honey Train (win) 3rd 
Moonee Valley R6 #10 Vittoria (win) WIN $3.60 
Moonee Valley R8 #4 Go The Knuckle (E/W) 2nd $3.40

Best roughie: Rosehill R7 #8 Charlie Boy U/P

AFL round 2

Port Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney, AAMI Stadium, Saturday, April 6, 7.10pm
 
All the talk in AFL circles last week concerned Melbourne’s shocking performance against Port Adelaide, with few pundits lauding the efforts of the Power in their first outing under new coach Ken Hinkley.
 
GWS performed admirably against an underdone Sydney last but face a side this that looks totally rejuvenated. Throw in tributes to former Port player John McCarthy, who lost his life late in 2012, and the revenge factor of last year’s loss to the Giants here.

Suggested bet: Port Adelaide -33.5 points (two units) WIN


West Coast v Hawthorn, Patersons Stadium, Sunday, April 7, 2.40pm
 
Finalists in 2012, neither the Eagles nor Hawks will want to slip to 0-2 after losing in the opening round. Decimated by injury, the Eagles struggled against Fremantle, but a timely 15-day break should have them much fresher here.
 
Hawthorn blew a 30-point lead on Easter Monday, slumping to its 10th straight loss against Geelong. It was telling that the Cats ran over the top of the Hawks in the second half. With just a six-day break and the mercury set to top 30C in Perth, it might be a long afternoon for Al Clarkson’s men.

Suggested bet: West Coast WIN (three units) LOSE

NRL round 5

Eels v Sharks, Parramatta Stadium, Saturday, April 6, 5.30pm

Boy, do the Eels have some incentive here. They’ll be playing for the Jon Mannah Cup in memory of their former prop’s recent death, former coach Ricky Stuart meets his former side for the first time and they’ll be desperate to atone for that shock 50-0 loss to the Rabbitohs last week.

But their opponents here, the Sharks, have worries of their own. They lost to the Dragons last week and will be without chief playmaker Todd Carney. No doubting the strength of the Cronulla forward pack but with a small start, we reckon the Eels will cover.

Suggested bet: Eels +4.5 (two units) WIN

Warriors v Rabbitohs, Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday, April 7, 4pm (NZ time)

The Warriors will certainly be buoyed by their best 40 minutes of football in some time to chase down the Cowboys and end a run of 11 successive losses. But there will still issues on both offence and defence, and the Cowboys are hardly elite competition at this point of the season.

In contrast, the Rabbitohs have started 2013, 4-0, put away a solid Bulldogs side last week and have already stamped themselves as premiership contenders. Just can’t see how the Warriors will control a Souths pack that will provide its classy backs with plenty of scoring opportunities.

Suggested bet: Rabbitohs -8.5 (three units) LOSE

EPL

West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal, The Hawthorns, Sunday, April 7, 1am

WBA have a pretty smart home record with nine victories, two draws and just four defeats compared to Arsenal’s tepid away record of six victories, five draws and four losses. Arsenal may have scored 20 goals and conceded 13 on their travels but West Brom have scored 23 and conceded 14 at home.

Casting the net a little bit wider it is interesting to note that in the last five meetings between these two sides there has only been two clean sheets and they have both belonged to Arsenal while the Gunners have conceded four goals in their past two trips to the Hawthorns.

Suggested bet: Both Teams Score (four units) WIN

Liverpool v West Ham United, Anfield, Sunday, April 7, 10.30pm

The Reds have looked strong at Anfield of late, winning five of their past six matches including some dominant wins over Fulham (4-0), Sunderland (3-0), Norwich City (5-0) and Swansea City (5-0).

There is still a sizable gap between Liverpool and the top four, however, and the Reds are five points back of fifth and a Europa League spot. In short, there’s no other option but a win for Liverpool at this point.

We must also take into consideration West Ham's horrendous form away from home. Out of 15 matches, West Ham has won just three times away from Upton Park. They’ve lost 10 of those matches, while scoring only nine goals and allowing 26.

Suggested bet: Liverpool by 2+ goals (three units) LOSE

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