Daily tips for September 8

Racing for September 8

Horse racing: Bendigo (Vic), Moruya (NSW), Port Augusta (SA), Kalgoorlie (WA), Sunshine Coast (Qld), Warracknabeal (Vic), Mudgee (NSW), Hobart (Tas), Pioneer Park (NT). Harness racing: Launceston (Tas), Bendigo (Vic). Greyhound racing: Healesville (Vic), Mount Gambier (SA), Sandown Park (Vic), Canberra (ACT), Sale (Vic), Albion Park (Qld), Strathalbyn (SA).

Today’s tips

Bendigo R7 #10 Marwood (win) 1st ($1.70)

Bendigo R8 #2 Colicchio (win) LOSE (4th)

Moruya R4 #2 Zuccherina (win) 1st ($2.40)

Moruya R7 #2 Sydney Melody (E/W 1x4) 1st ($2.90/$1.60)

Mudgee R2 #8 Totally Wild (win) 1st ($1.60)

Mudgee R3 #1 Forest Way (win) LOSE (4th)

Mudgee R6 #3 Braggart (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($1.80)

Sunshine Coast R2 #5 Dazzle Me Red (win) 1st ($1.90)

Sunshine Coast R4 #2 Major Showdown (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.90)

Sunshine Coast R6 #3 Crashing (win) LOSE (U/P)

Port Augusta R2 #2 Tiggy (win) 1st ($2.60)

Hobart R6 #2 Artie Luvstoparty (win) LOSE (U/P)

Alice Springs R2 #1 Thumbtacks (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

AFL (week 1 finals) for September 8

First Elimination Final: Richmond (15-7) v Carlton (11-11), MCG, Sunday, September 8, 3.20pm

Oh the irony – the one year that ninth would have put Richmond into the finals, they finish fifth while their traditional rivals Carlton ended up as the beneficiaries of Essendon’s finals suspension. Even then, the Blues needed an eight-goal to three last-quarter splurge to pip Port Adelaide by one point last week to earn that privilege. This is the one game that has stumped most pundits but, on paper, it’s the easiest to decipher. Damien Hardwick has had at least four weeks to counsel and prepare his charges for the club’s first final since 2001. Incredibly, Richmond’s last finals victory was also over Carlton while the Blues were the last team to defeat the Tigers in a Grand Final (1982). Mick Malthouse will be coaching in his 51st finals’ match here, while it will be Hardwick’s first. Richmond didn’t impress in either game against the Blues this year and Carlton has famously dominated the Tigers well back into the past decade.

Richmond coughed up a seven-goal lead to prevail by five points in the season opener, then lost by 10 points in a lacklustre showing in round 21. History shows that the Tigers had a tough week on the track before that game, and look ideally prepared for this one. Jack Riewoldt’s return is important but the Tigers have unearthed several key forward options in recent weeks with Aaron Edwards, Ty Vickery and Ivan Maric rotating through the key attacking posts. The Blues just don’t appear to have the cattle to stop them. I watched Chris Judd last week, and he looked very sore. He’ll likely play, along with Brock McLean and Heath Scotland, to provide more muscle at the stoppages. If the Tigers can go 50/50 at the clearances, I can’t see them losing here. They create more possession chains, move the ball more efficiently and have one of the best defensive forward units in the game.

Suggested bet: Richmond 1-39 (two units @ $2.05) LOSE, game total +187.5 (two units @ $1.90) WIN (96-116)

CFL (week 11) for September 8

BC Lions (6-3) @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-5), Alumni Stadium, University of Guelph, ON, Sunday, September 8, 6.10am

The BC Lions stayed perfect at home when they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. Now, the Lions will try for a rare road win when they visit the Tiger-Cats in Guelph. BC quarterback Travis Lulay carried the offence against Hamilton with his first 300-yard passing game since 2012 and will need to continue that production until running back Andrew Harris (limited to 113 rushing yards over the last three games) can regain his early season form. Harris is fourth in the league with 572 rushing yards. Linebacker Adam Bighill leads the defence with 43 tackles despite missing time with a sprained ankle. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian has 42 tackles to go with two interceptions, while Bighill also has three sacks to lead a strong BC defense. Defensive ends Khreem Smith and Brandon Jordan each have four sacks. Lulay’s favorite target is wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux, who has caught 30 passes for a team-leading 614 yards and four touchdowns.

Hamilton continued its recent strong run of play in Friday’s 29-26 defeat as quarterback Henry Burris added to his league-leading passing yards total by tossing for another 352. The Tiger-Cats’ biggest issue was their slow start as they failed to record a first down until the second quarter. Hamilton has looked even better at home, including a 37-14 rout of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 9, as it grows more comfortable playing at Alumni Stadium. Burris has thrown for 632 yards to wide receiver Greg Ellingson, 583 to Bakari Grant and 394 to Samuel Giguere. Andy Fantuz, who missed significant time due to injury, has 320 receiving yards. Running back C.J Gable has 306 yards on the season after battling injuries early on. Hamilton’s defence is led by defensive lineman Brandon Boudreaux, who has four sacks. The Tiger-Cats have made only four interceptions, but their run defense has improved – they have not surrendered more than 100 rushing yards in a game since a Week 5 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Suggested bet: Hamilton WIN (two units @ $1.91) WIN, game total -54 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (29-37)

MLB for September 7-8

Milwaukee Brewers (60-80, 29-40 away) @ Chicago Cubs (60-80, 29-44 home), Wrigley Field, 29-44 home), Sunday, September 8, 6.10am

As they battle to avoid finishing in last place in the NL Central, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers have their eyes on the future. Jake Arrieta and Johnny Hellweg, who oppose each other Saturday at Wrigley Field, are hoping to be a part of their teams’ plans in 2014. Arrieta (2-1, 3.77 ERA) has pitched pretty well for the Cubs since being acquired two months ago, but Milwaukee's Hellweg didn’t find the same success in his first stint in the majors. Arrieta has allowed one run or less in three of his five starts with Chicago after coming over as part of a four-player trade with Baltimore on July 2. The right-hander gave up one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-1 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. Arrieta’s first start for Chicago came against the Brewers at Wrigley on July 30. He allowed one run and two hits over six innings but did not receive a decision as the Cubs lost 3-2.

Hellweg (0-3, 10.97) made his major league debut for Milwaukee on June 28 in Pittsburgh, and it did not go well. The 6-foot-9 right-hander was knocked out after giving up seven runs (five earned) and six hits while walking two in 1 2/3 innings of a 10-3 loss. He was also roughed up in a relief appearance and another two starts before being sent back to the minors. The Brewers recalled Hellweg on Tuesday, giving him another chance to show why he is rated one of the organisation’s top prospects. Chicago (60-80) tied Milwaukee (60-80) for fourth place in the division and pulled within one victory of matching last season’s total with an 8-5 win in the opener of this three-game series Friday. The Cubs have won four of six and will be attempting to register three straight victories for the first time since sweeping the Giants in San Francisco from July 26-28. Milwaukee has dropped six of seven and is inching closer to its first losing season since 2010.

Suggested bet: Cubs WIN (two units @ $1.80) LOSE (5-3)

Other tips

IL: Mets WIN $2.46 @ Indians LOSE (4-9)

AL: Red Sox @ Yankees +9 $1.95 WIN (13-9)
AL: Astros +1.5 $1.88 WIN @ Athletics -8 $2.00 WIN (1-2)
AL: White Sox @ Orioles -8.5 $1.98 WIN (3-4)
AL: Tigers WIN $1.80 LOSE @ Royals -8 $2.03 WIN (3-4)
AL: Blue Jays WIN $2.05 @ Twins WIN (11-2)
AL: Rangers WIN $1.75 @ Angels LOSE (3-8)

NL: Dodgers WIN $2.11 LOSE @ Reds -7 $2.01 PUSH (3-4)
NL: Braves WIN $1.61 LOSE @ Phillies +8 $1.88 WIN (5-6)
NL: Nationals WIN $2.01 WIN @ Marlins -7.5 $2.02 LOSE (9-2)
NL: Pirates @ Cardinals WIN $1.63 WIN -7.5 $1.95 WIN (0-5)
NL: Rockies WIN $2.26 LOSE @ Padres -7 $1.83 WIN (1-2)
NL: D'backs WIN $2.27 @ Giants WIN (2-1)

NCAAF (week 2) for September 7-8

Big Ten: Cincinnati Bearcats (1-0) @ Illinois (1-0), Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL, Sunday, September 8, 2am

Cincinnati is on the cusp of the Top 25 after rolling over Purdue, 42-7. The going was easy enough that the Bearcats had to take only a shallow dive into their playbook in week one. Illinois opened with a win, too, but the Illini (1-0) held on by their fingernails for a 42-34 squeaker over a Football Championship Subdivision school, Southern Illinois. The Illini also dealt with turmoil during the week when coach Tim Beckman kicked one of his top signings, sophomore backup running back Dami Ayoola, off the team for violating unspecified team rules. Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville has extended his quarterback competition into the opening weeks of the season. Incumbent Brendon Kay was in line to start until he developed a sore passing shoulder in camp, sidelining him for several practice sessions. Munchie Legaux, who lost the job to Kay last season, started against Purdue and accounted for a pair of touchdowns. Kay’s shoulder is better this week and both are likely to play.

Cincinnati leaned heavily on the run against Purdue, piling up 221 yards. But Illinois' struggles last week against the pass probably aren't lost on the Bearcats. The Illini gave up 341 yards and three passing touchdowns. And Illinois barely got a hand on Salukis quarterback Kory Faulkner. As Illinois looks for a ground game – SIU held the Illini to 49 rushing yards – it won't be looking much to senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. He ran for 868 yards in 2010, his first season as a starter. But running often left him banged up the past two seasons, and last week none of his seven runs (for minus-27 yards) were planned. Illinois will put its running fortunes in the hands of Donovonn Young, the starting tailback, and Josh Ferguson. The latter had 49 yards on nine carries against a smallish SIU defence, but Young, running behind an ineffective offensive line, had just six yards on nine carries. And Cincinnati will be bigger, and likely more physical.

Suggested bet: Cincinnati -4.5 (two units @ $1.91) LOSE (17-45)

Other tips

Florida @ Miami-FL -48 $1.91 WIN (16-21)

Houston -3 $1.95 @ Temple WIN (22-13)

Oregon -23.5 $1.93 @ Virginia WIN (59-10)

Arkansas State +10.5 $1.92 @ Auburn LOSE (9-38)

Western Kentucky @ Tennessee +58 $1.91 WIN (20-52)

San Diego State +27.5 $2.03 @ Ohio State LOSE (7-42)

Idaho @ Wyoming -28 $1.92 WIN (10-42)

Texas -7 $1.88 @ BYU LOSE (21-40)

Utah State -9.5 $1.95 @ Air Force WIN (52-20)

Buffalo @ Baylor -27.5 $2.01 WIN +68.5 $1.91 WIN (13-70)

Navy @ Indiana +68 $1.93 WIN (41-35)

Oklahoma State @ UTSA +59.5 $1.90 WIN (56-35)

Notre Dame @ Michigan -50 $1.91 LOSE (30-41)

• Prices with thanks to Centrebet, correct at time of publication – for most people gambling is an exciting and fun recreational pursuit. For others it can become a problem with devastating consequences for them, their families and friends. We want you to enjoy your gambling experience. We want you to stay in control of your gambling and not allow your gambling to control you.