Daily tips for December 10

What’s on today

Swansea face a tricky home fixture against Hull City to complete the weekend’s round of EPL games with my tip posted here to kick-off Tuesday’s card; the NFL’s Monday Night Football game features two sides desperately clinging to their playoff hopes as Dallas heads to a frigid Chicago; six mostly one-sided games comprise the NBA slate for today and it’s a similar case in the NHL where four games are scheduled for the day – I’ll have selections for these + more throughout the day.

Racing for December 10

Horse racing: Taree (NSW), Ararat (Vic – abandoned), Mackay (Qld). Harness racing: Menangle (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Ararat (Vic), Gloucester Park (WA). Greyhound racing: Gawler (SA), Devonport (Tas), Goulburn (NSW), Horsham (Vic), Ipswich (Qld), Lismore (NSW), Warragul (Vic), Gosford (NSW), Townsville (Qld), Mandurah (WA).

Confirmed bets

Taree R3 #2 Mr Smart (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.50)

Taree R5 #10 Murtajack (E/W) 1st ($20.90/$5.40)

Mackay R4 #3 Accelero (win) 1st ($2.20)

Leans

Taree R5 #2 Raise The Ante (E/W) 2nd ($2.20)

Taree R7 #2 La Disco (E/W 1x2) LOSE (4th)

Mackay R3 #2 Lokelani (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.70)

Mackay R6 #5 (E/W 1x4) Heroic Action 3rd ($1.40)

Harness racing tip: Ararat R4 #4 Viva Courage (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.70)

Greyhound racing tip: Gosford R6 #1 Billy Buzzard (win) 1st ($1.20)

NHL for December 10

Carolina Hurricanes (13-12-5, 31 pts) @ Vancouver Canucks (17-10-5, 39 pts), Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Tuesday, December 10, 2.10pm

The upset alarm sounded when I first looked at the four-game card for the NHL today with all games featuring big underdogs. Instead, I’ll be playing the total today with the standout spot coming in the visit of Carolina to Vancouver. Fresh from what their coach Kirk Muller (pictured) described as their best performance of the season, the Hurricanes look to extend their longest win streak to four games. That would mean taking two points in a city where they haven't won in more than 14 years, however. Carolina (13-12-5) hasn't lost since a 3-2 home defeat to Vancouver on December 1. The Hurricanes have scored at least four goals in each game of their winning streak after tallying four-plus goals only three times in their first 27 contests. Their four third-period goals in Friday’s 5-3 victory over San Jose marked their most in a single 20-minute frame this season. Elias Lindholm (the fifth overall pick in June’s draft) had a goal and two assists for his first multi-point game. They had been 1-8-2 when trailing after two periods.

The Hurricanes have also won their last three away from home; however, they’ve lost eight of their last nine trips to Vancouver, including five in a row since October 15, 1999. The Canucks (17-10-5) also come in playing well. Their four-game win streak started by beating Carolina last week, and Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Colorado marked their fifth win in six contests. Roberto Luongo made 28 saves, coming up eight seconds shy of his third shutout when he allowed a late goal to Jamie McGinn. Vancouver extended its lead with two early third-period scores, a fitting response to coach John Tortorella’s criticism after Friday’s 3-2 overtime win over Phoenix after his team surrendered two third-period goals against the Coyotes. Mike Santorelli had two goals Sunday, and has seven points in his last six games. He has scored eight times after tallying two goals in 34 games last season. His linemates also played well with Ryan Kesler scoring his team-leading 15th goal and Chris Higgins recording two assists. The Canes’ are certainly worth a value play but a safer bet is the game total, which I expect to go ‘under’.

Confirmed bets

Carolina Hurricanes @ Vancouver Canucks -5.5 (one unit @ $1.70) WIN (0-2)

New York Islanders @ Anaheim Ducks WIN NT (one unit @ $1.77) WIN (2-5)

Leans

Philadelphia Flyers @ Ottawa Senators WIN $1.74 WIN (4-5)

Columbus Blue Jackets TT -2.5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins $1.73 WIN (1-2)

Carolina Hurricanes WIN $2.30 @ Vancouver Canucks LOSE (0-2)

NBA for December 10

Dallas Mavericks (13-8, 4-6 away) @ Sacramento Kings (5-13, 3-9 home), Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA, Tuesday, December 10, 2.10pm

A day after agreeing to acquire high-scoring forward Rudy Gay (pictured) from Toronto, Ben McLemore and the Kings will look to end a four-game home losing streak against the Dallas Mavericks here. Gay won’t play in this game, with the deal that will send Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes to the Raptors expected to become official Monday. Sacramento also will receive Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. Gay, traded from Memphis to Toronto last season, is in his eighth season and has averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his career. While the Kings wait for their big acquisition to arrive, they’ll continue to rely on McLemore. The seventh pick in this year’s draft has watched his playing time and production rise as the season has progressed. He logged a season-high 38 minutes Saturday at Utah and hit a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining to force overtime. Sacramento (5-13) went on to win 112-102, and McLemore finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins led the way with 28 points and Isaiah Thomas scored 23 of his 26 after half-time.

The Kings need McLemore’s development to continue as they rank 24th in the NBA with a 43.0 per cent field-goal percentage. McLemore is second among rookies in points per game at 10.1, but he’s averaged 13.7 over the last six games. The Mavericks (13-8) have dominated the Kings in recent years, going 23-3 against them since April 4, 2006 including victories in the past five meetings. Dallas is coming off a dramatic 108-106 victory over Western Conference-leading Portland on Saturday. Monta Ellis sank a 21-foot jumper as time expired to give the Mavs their third consecutive victory. Dirk Nowitzki has played well over the last four games, averaging 24.3 points on 53.4 per cent shooting. Against Portland, he scored 28 to go with seven assists and six rebounds. Even with Ellis leading the team in scoring at 21.6 points per game, Nowitzki remains the catalyst on offence for the Mavericks. The win over the Trail Blazers was the second on a four-game road trip for Dallas. Bench players are going to feature prominently here, so the ‘over’ looks a pretty solid play.

Confirmed bets

Dallas Mavericks @ Sacramento Kings +205.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (97-112)

Portland Trail Blazers -7.5 @ Utah Jazz (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (105-94)

Multi – Warriors/Clippers/Blazers (one unit @ $2.24) LOSE

Leans

Los Angeles Clippers @ Philadelphia 76ers +206.5 $1.91 LOSE (94-83)

Golden State Warriors @ Charlotte Bobcats +193 $1.91 WIN (111-115)

Denver Nuggets -1 $1.91 @ Washington Wizards PUSH (75-74)

Orlando Magic @ Memphis Grizzlies -8.5 $1.91 WIN (85-94)

NFL (week 14) for December 10

Dallas Cowboys (7-5, 2-4 away) @ Chicago Bears (6-6, 4-2 home), Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, Tuesday, December 10, 12.40pm

There’s always plenty of discussion at this stage of the season regarding the performance of teams that play in domed stadiums when they have to face the elements on offer at this time of the year. There were four games that were impacted by extreme cold or snow that featured dome teams on the road yesterday. Those sides – Indianapolis, Detroit, Minnesota and Atlanta – all lost. A fifth, Dallas, heads to Chicago for Monday Night Football, where the temperature is expected to be -10ºC. The margin for error is slim for both sides with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. The host Bears can't afford a third straight loss, as they trail Detroit by a game in the NFC North and lost both head-to-head meetings with the Lions. The Cowboys have won two straight and are tied with Philadelphia atop the NFC East. The Cowboys bolstered their playoff chances with a 31-24 win over Oakland on Thanksgiving. The Bears won 34-18 last year in Dallas, intercepting Romo five times and taking two of them back for touchdowns.

Chicago’s hopes of an NFC North title took a hit when Robbie Gould missed a potential game-winning field goal in a 23-20 overtime loss at Minnesota last week. Quarterback Jay Cutler has been ruled out here, meaning Josh McCown will make his fourth straight start and his fifth in six games. The defence has struggled, especially against the run, and linebacker Lance Briggs will miss his sixth straight game with a shoulder injury. This is a tough game to call – the ground game is going to be extraordinarily important, with the Bears holding a slight edge but their 154 yards per game allowed is the worst in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ ground game has come to life with DeMarco Murray scoring a career-high three touchdowns against the Raiders. But behind the highly efficient McCown (1461 yards with nine touchdowns, one interception and a 103.6 QB rating) and the experience of RB Matt Forte (who needs 29 rushing yards to reach 1000 for the fourth time in his career), I’m leaning to the home side.

Confirmed bets

Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears WIN (one unit @ $1.80) WIN (28-45)

Total rushing yards Matt Forte +82.5 (one unit $1.87) WIN (102 yds)

Leans

Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears +48.5 $1.95 WIN (28-45)

Total passing yards Josh McCown -268.5 $1.87 LOSE (348 yds)

EPL for December 10

Swansea City (5-3-6, 18 pts) v Hull City (5-2-7, 17 pts), Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales, Tuesday, December 10, 7am

I love this quote from BBC 5live commentator Steve Wilson relating to the two sides contesting the final EPL game of the weekend: “Nine seasons ago, Swansea and Hull met in the bottom division of English football in front of fewer than 6000 people in the old Vetch, a stadium so unappealing it made the prison alongside it look like a contender for the Stirling Prize for architecture. I defy anyone who was there to have predicted, or even dreamt, that within a decade they'd not only be meeting in the Premier League, but meeting with mid-table security in sight.” Indeed, having clinically dispatched of Newcastle midweek and then watching the Magpies take all three points at Old Trafford from Manchester United on Saturday, the Swans could have reason to be particular bullish here. Swansea strikers Michu (pictured) and Wilfried Bony trained on Sunday in a boost for Michael Laudrup’s squad but Alvaro Vazquez is ruled out.

The Swans could have done without this game moving to Monday as they head to Switzerland to play St Gallen on Thursday with Europa League qualification not yet in the bag. Hull’s success this season has been based on their form at home. The three points they earned at Newcastle in September are still their only points on the road this season. That said, the Tigers are just one point behind Swansea on the table and have been reasonably tough to breakdown at the back, except for the first 30 minutes of the season against Chelsea. These sides have never met in the Premier League while Hull are unbeaten in their last four league meetings (W3, D1). Hull have won just one of their last 31 EPL away games (D7, L23) and after three wins in their opening six Premier League games, Hull have won just two of their last eight. Only Sunderland has a worse away record than the Tigers (L6, W1) this season. I’ve seen predictions of a big Swansea win here, but I think they’ll keep something in the tank and be satisfied with the three points.

Confirmed bet

Swansea City WIN v Hull City (one unit @ $1.73) LOSE (1-1)

Lean

Swansea City v Hull City -1.5 total $3.25 LOSE (1-1)

• Selections 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); prices with thanks to Centrebet (except where markets are not available), 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.