Daily tips for November 24

Note: Bets are listed in three categories – 1) Suggested (likely bet but yet to be finalised); 2) Confirmed (locked in at the price listed); and 3) Leans (tips, but not recommended bets); all times quoted are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).


Racing for November 24

Horse racing: Ballarat (Vic), Goulburn (NSW), Sunshine Coast (Qld), Clare (SA), Bunbury (WA), Grafton (NSW), Kilmore (Vic). Harness racing: Gunbower (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Hobart (Tas), Redcliffe (Qld). Greyhound racing: Healesville (Vic), Sandown Park (Vic), Canberra (ACT), Sale (Vic), Gawler (SA), Albion Park (Qld).

If it’s Cup racing you’re after today, how’s this for choice – Goulburn, Ballarat (pictured) or Japan! The international spotlight will be on the 33rd running of the AUD $5.1 million Japan Cup in Tokyo, with Craig Williams taking the ride on Admire Rakti. Melbourne Cup contenders Dunaden and Simonen join the 17-horse field but it’s local hopes Gold Ship and Gentildonna that top the market. Closer to home, the Doyles On The Beach Goulburn City Cup is worth $100,000 while the purse for this afternoon’s Listed Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup is $200,000. My best of the day comes up in the unique $100,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 3yo Classic, which is run in a clockwise direction. #9 Star Beauty saluted in her only start to date at Mornington on November 11 for Matt Laurie, hitting the line impressively to win by two lengths. We’re getting a very generous quote of $9, as my ratings have her almost half that quote.

Confirmed bets

Ballarat R4 #9 Star Beauty (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Goulburn R4 #11 All Salsa (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Grafton R2 #5 Lady Guevara (E/W 1x2) 1st ($2.90/$1.60)
Bunbury R1 #9 Lady Natesa (E/W 1x4) 1st ($6.80/$1.90)

Tokyo R11 # #13 Gold Ship (win) LOSE (U/P)

Leans

Ballarat R3 #9 Make Mine Brandy (E/W 1x2) 3rd ($1.60)

Ballarat R7 #2 Trust In A Gust (win) 1st ($1.90)

Ballarat R8 #14 Hornet’s Nest (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Ballarat R9 #9 He’snotthemessiah (win) LOSE (2nd)

Goulburn R5 #7 Shout To The Top (win) 1st ($1.70)

Goulburn R7 #13 Any Day Will Do (E/W 1x2) 1st ($6.10/$2.30)

Kilmore R3 #5 Boer (win) 1st ($1.30)

Kilmore R4 #4 Aces And Angels (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Grafton R3 #2 Kentucky Charm (E/W 1x4) 3rd ($1.60)Sunshine Coast R7 #1 Achievements (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.50)

NHL for November 24

Chicago Blackhawks (15-4-4, 34pts) @ Vancouver Canucks (12-8-4, 28pts), Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Sunday, November 24, 2.10pm

Only six clubs have the day off on a huge day of NHL action and I’m heading to Vancouver for my best of the day where the Canucks host the reigning champion Blackhawks. Daniel Sedin (pictured with twin brother Henrik) and the Canucks will try to get back to a winning streak against a Chicago side that hasn’t handed Vancouver a regulation loss in two years. The Canucks ended a five-game winless run Friday with a 6-2 home victory over Columbus. They came in having scored a total of six goals during the 0-3-2 stretch, their longest since an 0-5-3 mark from January 9-31, 2009. Sedin had gone six games without a point before his first-period goal. It was his longest such streak since a 10-game run in 2002-03. He ended the night with a goal and two assists and has five points in his last two against the Blackhawks. Henrik Sedin scored twice and has three goals in his last three games after going 10 straight without one. He has five points in his last three against Chicago.

Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo faced just 16 shots against the Blue Jackets. He is 3-0-1 with a 1.42 goals-against average and .956 save percentage in his last four starts against Chicago while facing an average of 34.3 shots. The power play continues to be an issue for the Canucks (12-8-4). An 0-for-4 night dropped them to 29th in the NHL at 10.7 per cent. The Chicago penalty kill has been just as bad, ranking 29th at 72.7 per cent, while the Canucks are first at 88.9. The Blackhawks (15-4-4) continued their recent erratic one-step-forward, one-step-back routine with Thursday’s 6-3 win at Winnipeg. They’ve gone 2-2-0 in their last four with alternating results, and each game has been decided by three goals or more with a minus-9 differential in the two losses. The win followed Tuesday’s 5-1 loss at Colorado, which kicked off a season-high seven-game road trip. Jonathan Toews had a goal and three assists, while Patrick Kane also had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to nine. The Blackhawks’ 3.56 goals per game lead the league.

Confirmed bets

Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks +5.5 (one unit @ $2.10) LOSE (2-1)

Anaheim Ducks @ Phoenix Coyotes WIN NT (one unit @ $1.97) LOSE (4-2)

Carolina Hurricanes @ Boston Bruins WIN (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (2-3)

New Jersey Devils @ San Jose Sharks WIN NT (one unit @ $1.70) WIN (1-2)

Leans

Minnesota Wild WIN $1.86 @ Winnipeg Jets WIN (3-2)

Washington Capitals @ Toronto Maple Leafs +5.5 $2.07 LOSE (1-2)

Pittsburgh Penguins WIN $1.87 @ Montreal Canadiens LOSE (2-3)

Ottawa Senators @ Detroit Red Wings TT +2.5 $1.88 LOSE (4-2)

New York Islanders @ Philadelphia Flyers WIN $1.65 WIN (2-5)

Dallas Stars @ St Louis Blues +5.5 $1.75 WIN (1-6)

New York Rangers WIN $1.91 @ Nashville Predators WIN (2-0)

Anaheim Ducks @ Phoenix Coyotes -5.5 $1.91 LOSE (4-2)

Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks WIN $1.91 LOSE (2-1)

Colorado Avalanche @ Los Angeles Kings -5 $2.05 WIN (1-0)

NBA for November 24

Minnesota Timberwolves (8-6, 2-4 away) @ Houston Rockets (8-5, 5-2 home), Toyota Center, Houston, TX, Sunday, November 24, 12.10pm

On a dark day for the NBA with news of injuries to Derrick Rose and Marc Gasol, 22 other teams prepare for battle and I’m heading to Houston for what promises to be a free-flowing shootout between the Rockets and Timberwolves. After their frustration boiled over during a late-game collapse on Wednesday, the Houston Rockets will be hoping to remain composed as they attempt to extend their winning streak back on their own floor. Dwight Howard and the high-scoring Rockets (8-5) appeared to be on its way to a fourth straight win overall at Dallas with an 18-point third-quarter lead before the Mavericks stormed back for a 123-120 victory. With the Rockets leading 116-111, Howard drew a technical foul when he tossed the ball into the seats while turning toward the court. The Mavericks were awarded a free throw that helped them close the contest on a 9-1 run. He was fined $25,000 for his actions. Howard will try to build on one of his best performances, making his first 11 shots on the way to a season-high 33 points on 12-of-16 shooting.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to a hot start at home, but they’re still trying to figure out how to win on the road. Although the Timberwolves were one of the league’s biggest surprises during a 5-2 start, they’ve dropped four of their last seven contests. With five starters scoring in double figures, they snapped a two-game losing streak Friday with a 111-81 victory over visiting Brooklyn. Kevin Love, who ranks among league leaders with 24.8 points per game, finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds against the Nets. He’s tallied 62 points on 21-of-31 shooting with 24 rebounds in his last two trips to Houston, but missed last year’s visit because of a broken right hand. With Kevin Martin averaging 23.1 points per game, Minnesota is the only team with two players among the league's top 10 in scoring. The Timberwolves, one of the league’s highest scoring teams at 107.3 points per game, should be able to find open looks against a Houston squad that has allowed the second most points (105.9).

Confirmed bets

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets +216 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (101-112)

Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks -9 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (94-87)

Charlotte Bobcats @ Milwaukee Bucks -182.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (96-72)

Sacramento Kings +11 @ Los Angeles Clippers (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (102-103)

Leans

Philadelphia 76ers 1H +8 $1.91 @ Indiana Pacers WIN (52-56)

New York Knicks +1 $1.91  @ Washington Wizards LOSE (89-98)

Orlando Magic 1H +7.5 $1.91 @ Miami Heat WIN (55-38)

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets (1-10) $2.75 LOSE (101-112)

Charlotte Bobcats @ Milwaukee Bucks -2 $1.91 LOSE (96-72)

Cleveland Cavaliers @ San Antonio Spurs +192 $1.91 WIN (96-126)

Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets -5.5 $1.91 LOSE (100-102)

Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors -3.5 $1.91 LOSE (113-101)

College Football (week 13) for November 24

It’s approaching the business end of the College Football season in the USA, meaning some schools are tuning up for bowls games or a shot at the BCS title. But for others, the end of the campaign can’t come quick enough as evidenced by some of the massive lines on offer in today’s games. The three biggest on offer are Alabama A&M at Georgia Tech (-51.5), Chattanooga at Alabama (-49) and Idaho at Florida State (-57) with plenty more at 30 points or more. Florida State punters are no strangers to these massive lines. The Seminoles opened as 70.5-point favorites versus Savannah State last September and were bet down to a closing line of -67. The game was actually called after three quarters due to lightning with FSU leading 55-0, deeming it “no action” by most books who actually offered the beefy spread.

The 57 points Florida State is giving Idaho is tied as the fifth-biggest college football spread since 1987. However, it’s not even the biggest spread NCAAF bettors have had to deal with this season. Books tabbed Oregon as a 59-point home favorite versus Nicholls State in Week 1, with the Ducks winning and covering in a 66-3 victory. Miami was a 60-point favorite hosting Savannah State in Week 4 – the second-highest NCAAF spread since 1987 – and won SU and ATS 77-7. This season alone, bettors have dealt with spreads of 60, 59, 54.5, and 52.5 points, with the favorite going 2-2 ATS in those games. However, there’s just 5.5 points start on offer in the match of the day.

The road has been surprisingly kind to No. 10 Texas A&M, which looks for a school-record 11th consecutive win away from home when it travels into one of the Southeastern Conference's most hostile environments to face No. 19 Louisiana State on Saturday. LSU is 55-7 in Tiger Stadium during coach Les Miles' nine-year tenure, but the Aggies have won in their last two trips there, most recently in 1994. Texas A&M has yet to lose a road game under second-year coach Kevin Sumlin, whose personal road winning streak is up to 15 games dating to his time at Houston. The Aggies are out of the SEC championship race, but they still have a shot at playing their way into a BCS bowl if they can survive tough games at LSU and Missouri.

Confirmed bets

Texas A&M @ LSU +71 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (10-34)

Cincinnati @ Houston -59 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (24-17)

Virginia +20.5 @ Miami (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (26-45)

Baylor @ Oklahoma State -78 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (17-49)

Tex San Antonio @ North Texas -7 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (21-13)

Michigan State -6.5 @ Northwestern (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (30-6)

The Citadel @ Clemson -39.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (6-52)

Hawaii @ Wyoming +62 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (56-59)

Oregon -18.5 @ Arizona (one unit @ $1.94) LOSE (16-42)

New Mexico @ Fresno State +67 (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (28-69)

Leans

Duke @ Wake Forest +6.5 $1.95 LOSE (28-21)

Michigan @ Iowa +43.5 $1.95 WIN (21-24)

Pittsburgh @ Syracuse +1 $1.95 PUSH (17-16)

East Carolina -5 $1.95 @ NC State WIN (42-28)

Mississippi State @ Arkansas +2 $1.95 LOSE (24-17)

Texas A&M +4 @ LSU $1.90 LOSE (10-34)

New Mexico @ Fresno State -32.5 $1.91 WIN (28-69)

New Mexico State +22 $1.97 @ Florida Atlantic LOSE (10-55)

BYU +1 $1.85 @ Notre Dame LOSE (13-23)

Hawaii +6 $1.93 @ Wyoming WIN (56-59)

Missouri @ Mississippi -58 $1.94 WIN (24-10)

USC -16 $1.91 @ Colorado WIN (47-29)

Baylor -8 $2.00 @ Oklahoma State LOSE (17-49)

Wisconsin -17 $1.98 @ Minnesota LOSE (20-7)

Bowling Green -24 $1.95 @ Eastern Michigan WIN (58-7)

Colorado State @ Utah State -11 $1.97 WIN (0-13)

California @ Stanford +59 $1.94 WIN (13-63) 

Oregon @ Arizona +67.5 $1.92 LOSE (16-42)

EPL for November 23-24

Newcastle United (5-2-4) v Norwich City (3-2-6), St James’ Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, November 24, 2am

Successive Premier League wins over Chelsea and Tottenham might have been unexpected results, but they were certainly impressive ones for a buoyant Newcastle United. After last month’s derby defeat to Sunderland, the Magpies have responded impressively after another typically up and down start to the season. A collection of World Cup-bound Frenchmen will only add to the positive atmosphere in the camp, with Mathieu Debuchy (though suspended for this game), Yohan Cabaye, Mohamed Sissoko and Loic Remy (pictured) all returning triumphant after the dramatic play-off win against Ukraine. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Hatem Ben Arfa and maybe even the uncapped but in-form Yoan Gouffran could join them on the Charles de Gaulle-to-Rio flight next year. As rich a run as it has been, Newcastle’s last back-to-back wins were followed by the campaign’s only home league defeat to Hull. But eight of the last 10 meetings between these two clubs in all competitions have ended as home wins.

Norwich manager Chris Hughton’s latest return to St James’ Park finds him in the same position he seemed to be in for much of his time as boss at Newcastle – with murmurings about his future. The win against West Ham last time out did plenty to ease the chatter, but he knows that has to be built on. Norwich will again be without record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel because of a toe injury. Anthony Pilkington has overcome a hamstring problem, but Mark Bunn and Alexander Tettey are out. The Canaries have conceded 15 goals in their last three games on the road and, with only three away league wins to cheer since the start of last season, it’s seemed an even longer road home to East Anglia far too often. Norwich hasn’t won at St James’ Park since 1988 when Dale Gordon and Robert Fleck gave them a 2-0 victory. The Canaries scored as many goals against West Ham (three) in their last match as they had done in their previous seven league games.

Confirmed bets

Newcastle United WIN v Norwich City (two units @ $1.78) WIN (2-1)

Arsenal WIN v Southampton (1.5 units @ $1.73) WIN (2-0)

Stoke City v Sunderland – double chance (one unit @ $1.70) LOSE (2-0)

Leans

Everton v Liverpool DRAW $2.90 WIN (3-3)

Arsenal v Southampton -2.5 $1.95 WIN (2-0)

Fulham v Swansea City WIN $2.40 WIN (1-2)

Newcastle v Norwich City 2-0 $9.00 LOSE (2-1)

Newcastle v Norwich City 3-0 $15.00 LOSE (2-1)

Hull City v Crystal Palace -1.5 $2.75 WIN (0-1)
West Ham v Chelsea WIN $1.75 WIN (0-3)

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