Daily tips for December 30

What’s on today

It’s the final week in the NFL regular season with marquee match-ups all over the schedule; I have seven bets available and also recommend punters consider the Titans SU in a game the Texans have no interest in winning; it’s also a big night in the EPL with all eyes on Stamford Bridge where Chelsea will host Liverpool in the most anticipated match of the day; five NBA games are on the slate with Houston’s trip to Oklahoma City the trickiest on the card; a total of 10 NHL games are on offer, with the west coast clash between Anaheim and San Jose the pick of the day; GL punters!

Racing for December 30

Horse racing: Ararat (Vic – good 3), Coffs Harbour (NSW – good 3), Corowa (NSW – dead 4). Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Globe Derby (SA), Stawell (Vic), Parkes (NSW). Greyhound racing: Ballarat (Vic), Nowra (NSW), Cranbourne (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Angle Park (SA), Warrnambool (Vic), Wentworth Park (NSW), Launceston (Tas), Albion Park (Qld), Mandurah (WA).

Technology doesn’t seem to assisting when it comes to the recent run of incorrect decisions made by Victorian race officials adjudging photo finishes. Racing Victoria (RV) stewards took the unprecedented decision to remove the judge from his duties at Saturday’s Mansfield picnic meeting after he posted the wrong result in a two-horse race. RV steward Peter Ryan, who chaired the meeting, stood down judge Shaun Quin after he declared Vixenite, the $1.24 favourite, the winner of the Mal Ryan and Glen Trophy (1100m) by a nose over The Blue Angel. Subsequent to correct weight being declared the photo finish operator approached the stewards regarding the result. After viewing the photo finish image stewards detected an error in the placings and removed Quin, appointing another steward to act as judge for the remaining three races. You only had one job …

Confirmed bets

Coffs Harbour R2 #4 Lucky Meteor (win) LOSE (U/P)

Coffs Harbour R4 #10 Lizards Lover (win) 1st ($1.40)

Corowa R7 #1 Game Of Shadows (win) 1st ($2.40)

Leans

Ararat R6 #7 Choisance (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($1.95)

Ararat R7 #5 Emdee (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Ararat R8 #2 Ardroy (E/W 1x2) 1st ($5.80/$2.00)

Coffs Harbour R5 #13 De Crillon (E/W 1x2) 1st ($10.10/$4.00)

Coffs Harbour R6 #2 Cultural (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.70)

Corowa R4 #4 Eklands (win) LOSE (3rd)

Corowa R6 #2 Talbanga (win) LOSE (4th)

NHL for December 30

Vancouver Canucks (22-11-6, 50 points) @ Calgary Flames (14-18-6, 34 points), Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB, Canada, Monday, December 30, 11.40am

An injury to goaltender Roberto Luongo has forced back-up Eddie Lack (pictured) into the starting role for the time being, and that’s quite all right with Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella. Lack looks to help Vancouver stay hot after a six-day break as it visits the slumping Calgary Flames. The Canucks (22-11-6) improved to 9-1-1 over their last 11 with a 2-1 victory over Winnipeg last Sunday, but Luongo exited toward the end of the first period with a lower-body injury. Lack entered and stopped 15 of 16 shots to earn the victory. Though Luongo went into that contest 5-1-1 with a 1.75 goals-against average over his previous seven starts, Lack appears ready to carry the load for as long as Luongo is out. The rookie is 6-2-0 with a 1.93 GAA in seven starts and four relief appearances. He’s 4-0-0 with a .955 save percentage this month. Lack will be returning to the site of his first career start. He made 32 saves before Mike Santorelli scored his second goal of the game in overtime to help the Canucks beat the Flames 5-4 on October 6.

Vancouver has won three straight meetings with the Flames (14-18-6), who are 1-3-2 over their last six after falling 2-0 to Edmonton on Friday. Calgary has split the first two on its five-game homestand. The Flames were shut out for the second time in their last five games after not being blanked at all through their first 33. Reto Berra stopped 26 of 27 shots, but again didn't receive much offensive support. He’s 2-3-0 over his last five starts despite a 1.79 GAA. Berra has started the last two, but Karri Ramo could get the nod against the Canucks. Ramo is 0-1-2 with a 3.26 GAA over his last three outings. Flames 19-year-old rookie Sean Monahan, who has no points in his last five but is tied for fourth on the team with 16, scored in the first meeting with Vancouver. I love the Canucks in this spot – they face a tough stretch after this game but will derive maximum benefit from almost a week’s rest. The SU price of $1.70 is excellent value too.

Confirmed bets

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Columbus Blue Jackets 1P +1.5 (one unit @ $2.00) WIN (1-1)

New York Rangers WIN @ Tampa Bay Lightning (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (4-3)

Montreal Canadiens @ Florida Panthers WIN (one unit @ $2.04) WIN (1-4)

Washington Capitals @ Buffalo Sabres -5.5 (one unit @ $1.79) WIN (1-2)

Vancouver Canucks WIN @ Calgary Flames (one unit @ $1.70) WIN (2-0) 

Leans

Winnipeg Jets @ Colorado Avalanche WIN $1.65 LOSE (2-1)

St Louis Blues WIN $2.05 @ Dallas Stars WIN (3-2)

Carolina Hurricanes @ Toronto Maple Leafs -5.5 $1.83 LOSE (2-5)

Vancouver Canucks @ Calgary Flames -5.5 $1.72 WIN (2-0)

New York Rangers @ Tampa Bay Lightning -5 $2.10 LOSE (4-3)

New York Islanders @ Minnesota Wild +5 $1.72 WIN (5-4)
Anaheim Ducks WIN $2.35 @ San Jose Sharks LOSE (1-3)

NBA for December 30

Houston Rockets (21-11, 8-7 away) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (24-5, 13-1 home), Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK, Monday, December 30, 11.10am

There were plenty of frustrated NBA punters out there yesterday – this one included. Chris Bosh sinks the Blazers at the death; the Pacers cover the 13.5-point line by the minimum; the Wizards smash the Pistons; the Grizzlies pummel Denver and the Jazz cover against the Clippers. It’s character-building stuff, if nothing else! OK, back to the grind! The Houston Rockets' three-game win streak has coincided with James Harden’s return from a brief absence. He’ll try to keep the Rockets heading in the right direction against Oklahoma City. The Thunder managed to win their first game without star point guard Russell Westbrook but will have a more difficult challenge here. After missing two games with a sprained ankle, Harden has averaged 25.3 points (6.0 more than any other Rockets player) during his team’s winning streak. Houston (21-11) earned two of those wins over last season's Western Conference finalists before rallying for 107-98 victory against New Orleans on Saturday. The Rockets have been red-hot when playing back-to-back games, going 7-1 this season including wins over Portland and San Antonio.

Oklahoma City earned an 89-85 win in Charlotte on Friday day as Durant had 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 12 rebounds. The Thunder didn’t receive more than 12 points from any other player. Durant was held to 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting in his most recent regular-season matchup with Houston but averaged 32.5 in the playoff series. Including the postseason, the Thunder have won six of the last nine match-ups with the Rockets and seven of nine at home. To feed its desire to go deeper in the postseason, Houston signed Dwight Howard in the off-season, but Oklahoma City has been effective at shutting him down lately. He’s scored a combined 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting (28.6 per cent) in his last two match-ups. While hopefully getting a better performance from their big man, the Rockets will seek a season-high third straight road win here. Oklahoma City hasn’t dropped back-to-back regular-season games on its own floor since March 13-16, 2012, a skid that started with a one-point defeat to Houston.

Confirmed bets

Houston Rockets +4.5 @ Oklahoma City Thunder (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (86-117)

Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers +7.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (108-104)

Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Lakers -215.5 $1.91 WIN (111-104)

Leans

Atlanta Hawks @ Orlando Magic +202 $1.91 WIN (102-109)

Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers +205 $1.91 WIN (108-104)

Sacramento Kings +12.5 $1.91 @ San Antonio Spurs WIN (102-112)

Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder -210 $1.91 WIN (86-117)

Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Lakers -7 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (111-104)

NFL (week 17) for December 30

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6, 5-2 away) @ Dallas Cowboys (8-7, 5-2 home), AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, Monday, December 30, 12.40pm

It’s the final week of the NFL regular season with numerous scenarios at play. Some sides are chasing playoff berths; others out to improve their playoff seeding or secure home-field advantage while for a handful, the end of the season can’t come quickly enough. Check the scenario for each match carefully – for instance, the Kansas City Chiefs have secured their playoff berth and cannot improve their finish so are expected to rest many of their starters while their opponents, San Diego, require victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Then there sides like the Houston Texans, who have absolutely no interest in damaging their chances of securing the top pick in next year’s NFL Draft as they head to Tennessee as seven-point underdogs. The $1.33 on the Titans to win is as good as buying money. The other unique feature of this week’s games is number of games offering a line of a touchdown or more. With only one or two exceptions, I’m going to steer clear of most of them. Take Seattle for example – they’re in a must-win situation against an underrated Rams side while coming off a shock loss to Arizona. This has “bounceback” written all over it, but 11.5 is a big start.

For my best of the day, I’m going with the final game of the day and the battle for the NFC East title as the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles. With QB Tony Romo watching from the sideline, the Cowboys will start veteran back-up Kyle Orton as they taking on second-year stud Nick Foles (pictured) and the explosive Eagles offence, with the winner earning a home playoff game next weekend. Philadelphia is relatively healthy and coming off arguably its best game of the season, while Dallas had lost four of six prior to last week's dramatic win over Washington. Dallas will also be without star linebacker Sean Lee. Without Romo, the Cowboys' offence will likely rely on DeMarco Murray, who has rushed for 439 yards and five touchdowns in his past four games Philadelphia owns the rare distinction of having the NFL's leader in passer rating (Foles, 118.8) and the league's top rusher (LeSean McCoy, 1,476), not to mention electric receiver DeSean Jackson and his career-high 79 catches for 1304 yards. Philadelphia has allowed 21 points or fewer in 10 of its last 11 games and, combined with their offensive clout, I’m expecting the Eagles to light up AT&T Stadium.

Confirmed bets

Philadelphia Eagles -7 @ Dallas Cowboys (one unit @ $1.91)

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons -46 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (21-20)

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots -7 (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (20-34)

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans WIN (five units @ $1.33) WIN (10-16)

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins -41.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (20-7)

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers -44 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (7-20)

San Francisco 49ers WIN @ Arizona Cardinals (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (23-20)

Leans

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants WIN $1.60 WIN (6-20)

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals +43 $1.91 WIN (17-34)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts -45 $1.91 WIN (10-30)

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings +51 $1.91 LOSE (13-14)

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers -7 $1.91 WIN (7-20)

Green Bay Packers WIN $1.65 @ Chicago Bears WIN (33-28)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +11 $1.95 @ New Orleans Saints LOSE (17-42)

Denver Broncos -10.5 $1.91 @ Oakland Raiders WIN (34-14)

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals -43 $1.91 PUSH (23-20)

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers +44.5 $1.91 WIN (24-27)

St Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks -43 $1.91 WIN (9-27)

EPL for December 30

Chelsea (11-4-3, 37 points) v Liverpool (11-3-4, 36 points), Stamford Bridge, London, England, Monday, December 30, 3am

The unpredictability of EPL games at this time of year was again underlined yesterday – when Hull City start winning games 6-0 (at odds of 1000-1), you know crazy things are happening! If nothing else, we’re assured a plenty of niggle as Luis Suarez and Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge for the match of the weekend. All cameras will be watching another battle between Suarez and Branislav Ivanovic (pictured), which could be just one of the highlights/lowlights of this clash. Suarez scored a second-half equaliser in both league meetings with Chelsea last season. In contrast, Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers are likely to play it clean as Rodgers was first youth, and then reserve-team manager, at Chelsea during Mourinho’s first stint at the Bridge. Rodgers' Liverpool side emerged with plenty of credit in their game at Manchester City but with no points, so avoiding defeat at Stamford Bridge is crucial.  Liverpool should be encouraged that they have lost just one of their last eight games against Chelsea, though they'd have preferred that defeat not to have been in the FA Cup final.

Scoring is Chelsea’s big difficulty. Samuel Eto’o has been putting in performances that add considerable weight to the theory that Didier Drogba, and not Eto’o, is the best striker Africa has ever produced, whilst Demba Ba continues to show why he’s being used sparingly. Between them, Chelsea's three strikers have scored five Premier League goals this season; that’s a total matched by Norwich’s Gary Hooper! Midfielder Ramires received his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea and will serve a one-match suspension while Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to return in place of Ashley Cole and Fernando Torres could start. The Blues have only lost one of their last eight league games have kept two clean sheets in a row after achieving one in their previous 11. Mourinho’s stunning record (54 wins, no losses in 69 EPL matches as a manager) has to be respected but Liverpool have the firepower to end that run here. We’re getting a great price for the Reds to do so as well.

Confirmed bets

Chelsea v Liverpool BTS (two units @ $1.53) WIN (2-1)

Newcastle United v Arsenal +2.5 (one unit @ $1.67) LOSE (0-1)

Leans

Chelsea v Liverpool WIN $3.50 LOSE (2-1)

Everton v Southampton +2.5 $1.80 WIN (2-1)

Newcastle United v Arsenal WIN $2.05 WIN (0-1)

Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City BTS $1.91 LOSE (3-0)

• 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.