Daily tips for October 4

NHL for October 4

Calgary Flames @ Washington Capitals, Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia, Friday, October 4, 9.05am

For my first official play of the new NHL season, I’ll be making a small play on the Washington Capitals to make it 11-1 in season openers as they host the Calgary Flames. With several familiar faces no longer around, the Calgary Flames could be in for a bumpy ride this season as they try to avoid a fourth consecutive season-opening loss. After trading away long-time captain Jarome Iginla before last season’s deadline, Calgary officially lost former Vezina Trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff to retirement last month. Forward Alex Tanguay and defenceman Cory Sarich are also gone. Calgary will be counting on contributions from newcomers David Jones, Shane O’Brien, and T.J Galiardi, along with Karri Ramo, who was signed to help fill Kiprusoff’s void. Ramo, though, hasn’t appeared in the NHL since going 4-10-7 for Tampa Bay in 2008-09. Veteran defenceman Mark Giordano was named team captain.

The Capitals (0-1-0), meanwhile, had the unenviable task of opening their season on Wednesday at Chicago after the Blackhawks raised their Stanley Cup championship banner. Mikhail Grabovski's third goal of the game early in the third period gave Washington a 4-3 lead, but Chicago scored three unanswered en route to a 6-4 victory. Grabovski (pictured) will be an excellent addition to the Capitals’ power-play unit. Washington led the NHL during the 2012-13 season with a power-play percentage of 26.8. The Caps’ power play was spearheaded by Mike Ribeiro (now with Phoenix) and his 27 power-play points, which tied for the league lead in that category. Braden Holtby, who went 9-1-0 in his final 10 regular-season games last year, stopped 29 of 34 shots. The Capitals are 7-2-0 with one tie against the Flames since 2002. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist Tuesday and has six goals with six assists in six career match-ups versus Calgary. The Capitals had won 10 straight home openers before falling 4-2 to Winnipeg last season.

Suggested bets: Capitals WIN (2.5 units @ $1.44) WIN, game total +5.5 (one unit @ $1.85) WIN (4-5)

Daily tips (no other bets, leans listed below)

Lightning @ Bruins +5.5 $1.90 LOSE (1-3)

Devils @ Penguins +5.5 $2.01 LOSE (0-3)

Kings @ Wild WIN $2.06 LOSE (3-2)
Rangers @ Coyotes WIN $1.80 WIN (1-4)
Panthers WIN $2.40 @ Stars WIN (4-2)

Canucks @ Sharks WIN $1.75 WIN -5 $2.23 PUSH (1-4)

MLB playoffs for October 4

NLDS game 1: Pittsburgh Pirates @ St Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium, St Louis, MS, Friday, October 4, 7.05am

The St Louis Cardinals endured a season-long battle with division rivals Pittsburgh and Cincinnati before winning the National League Central, but they will line up against a familiar foe when they host the Pirates in Game 1 of the NL Division Series here. St Louis surged into the playoffs with a six-game winning streak while allowing only six runs. Pittsburgh will have to slow the highest-scoring team in the NL in its first post-season appearance since 1992. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (19-9, 2.94) led the majors in complete games (5) and tied for the NL lead in victories after winning his last four decisions, including seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Pittsburgh on September 7. He absorbed consecutive beatings by Cincinnati before rebounding to permit only seven runs in his last five starts. Wainwright (pictured) is 9-6 with a 2.53 ERA and four complete games in 17 home starts. The Cardinals earned some time off after winning six in a row to end the season. They won their first NL Central crown since 2009 and secured home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are riding high after their first post-season victory in 21 years. They're confident they can beat anybody, anywhere. Pittsburgh won the season series 10-9 and beat up on the Cardinals at home, but St Louis took the last four match-ups, including a three-game sweep in September that served as a springboard for a 17-5 finish. The Pirates rely on a strong home-field edge (see the raucous crowd in Tuesday's 6-2 wild card win over Cincinnati) but they were among the best teams in the majors with a 44-37 record on the road. The return of Jason Grilli as closer could give the Pirates an edge at the back of the bullpen. Pirates starter RH A.J. Burnett (10-11, 3.30 ERA) enters the playoffs off back-to-back wins against Cincinnati to give him nine consecutive seasons with double-digit victories. He'll be facing St Louis for the seventh time this season and the results have been different between home and away. Burnett gave up two runs in 21 innings at PNC Park but was tagged for 10 runs over 7 1/3 innings in two late-season starts in St Louis.

Suggested bets: Cardinals WIN (3.5 units @ $1.65) WIN, game total +6.5 (1.5 units @ $1.83) WIN (1-9)

Other tips

NLDS game 1: Los Angeles Dodgers WIN ($1.72) WIN @ Atlanta Braves, game total +6 ($2.05) WIN (6-1)

Football (Europa League matchday 2) for October 4

Group K: FC Anzhi Makhachkala v Tottenham Hotspur, Saturn Stadium, Ramenskoye, Moscow, Russia, Friday, October 4, 5.10am

The dream of Suleyman Kerimov (pictured) to turn a small club in Dagestan into one of Europe's strongest through sheer weight of cash is over. Tottenham Hotspur have arrived in Moscow (to where the game has been moved) but the circus has already left town. The big names – Guus Hiddink, Roberto Carlos and Samuel Eto’o – have all gone, no longer performing for the billionaire showman who just wanted to bring some entertainment to his home region. The supporting cast too – Christopher Samba, Lassana Diarra, Willian, Yuri Zhirkov, Igor Denisov and the rest – have all followed, finding other clubs to employ them now that Kerimov has dramatically turned the tap off. Anji received a crash course in English football last season, exchanging 1-0 home wins with Liverpool FC in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League before being eliminated 1-0 on aggregate by Newcastle in the last 16. Their record against EPL sides is W1 D1 L2 (W1 D1 L0 at home – W0 D0 L2 in England).

Tottenham are the exact opposite. They have been spending big in the summer and with good effect. It remains to be seen just how many of their signings feature here with a big Premier League match coming up on Sunday but the consensus is that Erik Lamela will play, as will Jermain Defoe who is looking for a regular starting berth for Andre Villas-Boas’ side. Aaron Lennon and Etienne Capoue remain long-term injury victims. This will be Tottenham's fourth meeting with Russian opponents with their three previous encounters, all in the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League group stage, ending W1 D1 L1 (W1 D1 L0 in London; W0 D0 L1 in Russia). Spurs maintained their impressive start to the season with a 3-0 win against Tromsø IL on matchday one; they have won all three of their games in this season’s competition, scoring 11 goals and conceding none. This is Tottenham's sixth UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League group stage campaign. They have only once missed out on the knockout phase in those campaigns, in 2011-12.

Suggested bet: Tottenham WIN (four units @ $1.44) WIN, correct score 0-2 (one unit @ $5.00) WIN (0-2)

Other tips

Wigan Athletic v NK Maribor DNB $4.35 LOSE (3-1)

Swansea City v FC St. Gallen 1TS $1.99 WIN (1-0)

Esbjerg FB v RB Salzburg BTS $1.55 WIN (1-2)

Dnipro Dnipropetrovk WIN $1.97 v AC Fiorentina LOSE (1-2)

Chernomorets Odessa DNB $2.30 v PSV Eindhoven LOSE (0-2)

Ludogorets Razgrad v NK Dinamo Zagreb +2.5 $2.15 WIN (3-0)

KP Legia Warszawa v Apollon Limassol FC 1TS $2.15 WIN (0-1)

Sevilla FC 2+ $2.10 v SC Freiburg WIN (2-0)

Apoel Nicosia FC v Eintracht Frankfurt WIN $1.88 WIN (0-3)

Tromsø IL v FC Sheriff Tiraspol WIN $2.30 LOSE (1-1)

Trabzonspor v Lazio Roma DNB $1.95 WIN (3-3)

NCAAF (week 6) for October 4

Pac 12: (12) UCLA Bruins (3-0, 1-0 away) @ Utah Utes (3-1, 0-1 Pac 12), Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT, Friday, October 4, noon

After winning its first three games in convincing fashion, UCLA begins Pac-12 play on Saturday at Utah, where the 13th-ranked Bruins have been outscored 75-12 in their last two visits. The Utes have the personnel to keep pace with a UCLA offense averaging 52.7 points, but Utah's defense remains a question mark. Both teams are coming off a bye week, and UCLA should be particularly well rested after routing New Mexico State 59-13 on September 21. UCLA started this season ranked at #21 and has been steadily climbing week after week, they are now at #12 on the AP poll. The Bruins’ key will be QB Brett Hundley – his continued improvement has given UCLA passing game huge boost to go along with the already proven Bruins running game that will serve them well in the expected cold and wet conditions here, with snow possible.

Utah opened the last two seasons with four straight conference losses before dropping this year's opener 51-48 in overtime to Oregon State on September 14. The Utes followed the close loss with an impressive 20-13 win at BYU on September 21, when sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson continued his solid play with 273 passing yards and two touchdowns. Wilson needs a repeat performance against UCLA, which is seeking its first 4-0 start since 2005 after winning its first three games by a total of 93 points. As divisional rivals in the South division of the Pac 12, they should be well accustomed to what the other will attempt on the field. The defence of Utah will be tested against balanced attack of PAC 12's second best offence. Just looks as if the Bruins have an edge in too many areas here.

Suggested bet: UCLA -5.5 (three units @ $1.91) WIN, game total +61.5 (one units @ $1.91 LOSE (34-27)

Other tips

Texas -7 LOSE @ Iowa State +55 WIN (31-30)

Western Kentucky -7 @ UL Monroe WIN (31-10)

NFL (week 5) for October 4

Buffalo Bills (2-2, 0-1 away) @ Cleveland Browns (2-2, 1-1 home), FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH, Friday, October 4, 10.25am

What had the makings of a lost season has evolved into a remarkable turnaround for the Cleveland Browns, who will seek their third consecutive victory when they host the Buffalo Bills. The Browns appeared to have raised the surrender flag after losing their first two games and trading away star running back Trent Richardson. Instead, third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer has guided Cleveland to two straight wins and into a tie atop the AFC North. First-year coach Rob Chudzinski is not about to tamper with a winning formula, saying he will stick with Hoyer at quarterback – even though 2012 first-round pick Brandon Weeden is ready to return after missing two games with a thumb injury. Hoyer, the first Cleveland QB to win his first two starts since Mark Rypien in 1994, has developed a great chemistry with tight end Jordan Cameron (pictured), who had 10 catches in Sunday’s 17-6 win over Cincinnati and has 16 receptions and four touchdowns in the past two games. Cleveland’s defence limited the Bengals to 266 total yards, including 63 on the ground in 20 attempts. A Cleveland passing attack that ranks 14th in the NFL with 247.8 yards per game has made up for a rushing attack that’s 27th at 76.0 yards per game. 

The Bills expected some growing pains with rookie E.J. Manuel as their starting QB, but they are coming off an impressive 23-20 home victory over Baltimore to get back to .500. Manuel struggled against the defending Super Bowl champions, but Buffalo rode an impressive ground game and stout defensive performance to stifle the Ravens. The Bills and Browns have split six all-time meetings, with Buffalo prevailing 24-14 in Cleveland last season. Buffalo has major injury concerns entering this match-up as running backs C.J. Spiller (ankle) and Fred Jackson (knee) were both hurt after combining for 164 yards on the ground against Baltimore. Jackson said he has a torn MCL in his left knee but expects to play while X-rays revealed no structural damage for Spiller, who will test the ankle before this game. Manuel threw for only 167 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and a lost fumble, but Buffalo's defense collected four sacks and intercepted quarterback Joe Flacco five times, including two by rookie linebacker Kiko Alonso. He is only the fourth linebacker in league history to intercept four passes in September.

Suggested bets: Game total -40.5 (two units @ $1.91) LOSE, Cleveland -4 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (24-37), Brian Hoyer -267.5 yards passing (one unit @ $1.87) WIN

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