Daily tips for December 31

What’s on today

It’s New Year’s Eve in my half of the world so Happy New Year for 2014 folks, “May the best of your yesterdays be the worst of your tomorrows”; well, after a 6-1 run on the NFL and 5-0 on NHL, it can’t get much better! The line-up for today includes four College Bowls (two games are posted here, two to come), seven NBA games and four NHL games highlighted by the Kings’ trip to Chicago; there’ll be no racing tips tomorrow as I’m taking my 16-month-old son to the beach!! GL punters!

NHL for December 31

Los Angeles Kings (25-10-4, 54 points) @ Chicago Blackhawks (27-7-7, 61 points), United Center (pictured), Chicago, IL, Tuesday, December 31, 12.10pm

Only on the rare occasion do the Chicago Blackhawks fail to record at least a point. The same can be said of Patrick Kane. Kane puts his career-best 14-game point streak on the line here when the Blackhawks try to send the visiting Los Angeles Kings to their first three-game skid in nearly a year. The reigning Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks (27-7-7) are again among the league's elite, leading the Central Division and battling for the NHL’s best record. Chicago has lost just once in regulation in its last 11 games (7-1-3), including a 5-0-2 mark at home (where it hasn’t lost before overtime since December 3). A third straight victory was within their grasp Saturday in St Louis, but the Blackhawks squandered a two-goal lead in the final 3:51 of regulation before falling 6-5 in a shootout. Kane had a goal and an assist in Chicago’s second three-goal first period in two nights, while Patrick Sharp continued his torrid scoring with his 22nd goal. Kane hasn’t been held without a point since November 29, tallying eight goals and 17 assists during those 14 games.

Kane has recorded at least one point in 26 of 27 contests, including an assist in Chicago’s 3-1 victory over Los Angeles on November 25 in the teams’ first meeting since the Blackhawks eliminated the Kings in June in the Western Conference finals. Captain Jonathan Toews has three goals and 12 assists over his last 10 games. He also produces at a high rate at home against Los Angeles, collecting seven goals and 18 points in 15 contests. Of bigger concern now for the Kings is avoiding their first three-game skid since opening last season 0-2-1. Jeff Carter’s goal (his third in four games) with 37 seconds left Saturday in Nashville appeared to give the Kings at least a point, but the Predators’ Mike Fisher scored 10 seconds later for a 3-2 victory. One bright spot for the Kings was Anze Kopitar’s power-play goal, the team’s first in six games. Los Angeles, however, allowed an opponent to score on the man advantage for the third consecutive game. Ben Scrivens made 28 saves against Nashville in his first start since losing to the Blackhawks.

Confirmed bets

Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks WIN (one unit @ $1.68) WIN (0-1)

Detroit Red Wings @ Nashville Predators +5 (one unit @ $1.74) WIN (4-6)

Leans

Washington Capitals @ Ottawa Senators WIN $1.83 WIN (1-3)

Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks -5.5 $1.85 WIN (0-1)

Philadelphia Flyers @ Vancouver Canucks +5 $1.73 WIN (4-3)

NBA for December 31

Phoenix Suns (18-11, 7-7 away) @ Los Angeles Clippers (21-11, 13-2 home), STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, Monday, December 31, 2.10pm

The presence of Chris Paul made the talented Eric Bledsoe (pictured) expendable in the Clippers’ backcourt, though a deal to ship him out of Los Angeles wasn’t without its obstacles. The Phoenix Suns are certainly glad it didn't fall apart. The Suns have been the NBA’s biggest surprise thus far largely thanks to Bledsoe, who returns to Staples Center to face his former team for the first time in a showdown between the Pacific Division’s top two teams. Los Angeles (21-11) dealt Bledsoe to Phoenix in a three-team deal while landing J.J. Redick and former Sun Jared Dudley. The trade almost didn’t go through, as it was reported that Clippers owner Donald Sterling, long a fan of Bledsoe, nearly vetoed the deal. But Sterling changed his mind, the trade went through and the Suns (18-11) have turned into a surprise contender. Phoenix has won nine of 11 after Saturday’s 115-101 victory over Philadelphia, and Bledsoe is leading the way for a Suns team that leads the league with 19.1 fast-break points per game. He's averaging 18.4 points, 5.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals – one of just four players in the league to hit those marks.

Paul is also playing at an incredible high level of late. After totaling 60 points, 27 assists and eight steals in back-to-back losses at Golden State and Portland, he finished an assist shy of a triple-double and had five steals in Saturday’s 98-90 win over Utah. All he wanted to talk about after the victory, though, was Blake Griffin. The Clippers' power forward had 40 points and 10 rebounds against the Jazz and has averaged 30.2 points on 55.0 percent shooting in his last five games. Griffin was held to a total of 21 points and 13 boards in the Clippers’ last two games against the Suns last season, including a 93-88 loss in Phoenix on January 24 that Paul missed with a bruised knee. Goran Dragic took advantage of Paul's absence, going for a game-high 24 points and eight assists, and along with Bledsoe this season, has been an instrumental part of Phoenix’s success. The Suns are 7-2 when Dragic, who’s averaging 18.1 points, scores 20 or more. Miles Plumlee had a career-high 22 points and 13 rebounds two games after going for 17 and 20 in a victory over the Lakers.

Confirmed bets

Chicago Bulls @ Memphis Grizzlies +179.5 (two units @ $1.91) WIN (95-91)
Miami Heat -2.5 @ Denver Nuggets (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (97-94)

Phoenix Suns +8 $1.91 @ Los Angeles Clippers (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (107-88)

Leans

Washington Wizards @ Detroit Pistons +202.5 $1.91 WIN (106-99)

Dallas Mavericks +4 $1.93 @ Minnesota Timberwolves WIN (100-98)

Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Pelicans +2 $1.91 PUSH (108-110)

Charlotte Bobcats @ Utah Jazz -2 $1.91 WIN (80-83)

Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Clippers -210 $1.91 WIN (107-88)

College Football (late games) for December 31

Valero Alamo Bowl: 10 Oregon Ducks (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) v Texas Longhorns (8-4, 7-2 Big 12), Alamodome, San Antonio, TX, Tuesday, December 31

This might be Texas coach Mack Brown’s swan song with the Longhorns but the Oregon Ducks are deserved two-TD favourites to take out the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. Texas announced on December 14 that Brown will step down after 16 seasons, during which he has compiled a 158-47 record. Oregon went from national championship contender to having its streak of four straight BCS bowls snapped thanks to November losses at Stanford (26-20) and Arizona (42-16), but the Ducks say they won't lack motivation despite the lower-tier postseason invitation. The Ducks’ up-tempo spread offense is similar to the system employed by Baylor, which rolled up 508 total yards in a 30-10 win over the Longhorns in the regular-season finale. Texas will need defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat (the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year) to be a constant fixture in the backfield to disrupt Oregon's timing and give the Longhorns a chance to keep pace on the scoreboard. Even with former coach Chip Kelly now plying his trade in the NFL, the Ducks continue to put up prolific offensive numbers, ranking second in the nation in total yards (573.1) and third in scoring (46.8).

Confirmed bet

Oregon Ducks -14.5 v Texas Longhorns (one unit @ $1.87) WIN (30-7)

Lean

Oregon Ducks v Texas Longhorns -67.5 $1.91 WIN (30-7)

National University Holiday Bowl: 17 Arizona State Sun Devils (10-3, 8-1 Pac-12) v Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-5, 4-5 Big 12), Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA, Tuesday, December 31

The Rose Bowl was the preferred destination but Arizona State plans to take the National University Holiday Bowl seriously as it looks for the school’s first 11-win campaign since 1996. The Sun Devils had a seven-game winning streak snapped with a loss to Stanford in the Pac-12 title game but are rising under second-year coach Todd Graham. Texas Tech collapsed after a 7-0 start and is saddled with a five-game losing streak. Red Raiders quarterback Baker Mayfield (12 touchdown passes) decided to transfer in the second week of December so it appears Davis Webb will be the starter against the Sun Devils. Webb (16 TD passes) started five games this season and ended up with the same number of yards (2,315) and interceptions (nine) as Mayfield. Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said Michael Brewer (10 pass attempts) will compete with Webb for the starting role. The status of Arizona State running back Marion Grice (lower-leg injury) remains uncertain after he missed the past two games. The multi-purpose threat has rushed for 996 yards and 14 touchdowns and found the end zone six more times as a receiver. I suspect the Red Raiders will respond here in a genuine letdown spot for the Sun Devils.

Confirmed bet

Arizona State Sun Devils v Texas Tech Red Raiders +17 (two units @ $1.91) WIN (23-37)

Lean

Arizona State Sun Devils v Texas Tech Red Raiders -72 $1.91 WIN (23-37)

College Football (early games) for December 31

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (8-4, 6-2 C-USA) v Navy Midshipmen (8-4), Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX, Tuesday, December 31, 3.45am

Middle Tennessee finished the regular season with a flourish, cruising to five straight wins by scoring an average of 42.6 points. That streak earned the Blue Raiders a date with Navy in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. The Midshipmen crushed rival Army in their annual showdown on December 14 and enters bowl season with a four-game winning streak thanks to a dominating ground attack. Middle Tennessee doesn’t run it quite as much as Navy but can pile up yards on the ground behind Jordan Parker and Reggie Whatley, who combined for 1372 rushing yards in the regular season. Quarterback Logan Kilgore finished the season strong with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions during the season-ending winning streak for the Blue Raiders.  No team in college football throws it less than the Midshipmen, who dominate on the ground with a triple-option attack. Navy QB Keenan Reynolds averaged 10.1 pass attempts and 23.3 rushing attempts in guiding an offence that puts up an average of 34.3 points. Navy’s game plan has bamboozled opposition sides all season and despite the time the Blue Raiders have had to prepare, I like the Midshipmen to roll here.

Confirmed bet

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders v Navy Midshipmen -6.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (6-24)

Lean

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders v Navy Midshipmen -56.5 $1.91 WIN (6-24)


Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Ole Miss Rebels (7-5, 3-5 SEC) v Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-5, 5-3 ACC), LP Field, Nashville, TN, Tuesday, December 31, 7.15am

Two highly productive offences will be on display when Georgia Tech meets Mississippi in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville. The Yellow Jackets are fifth in the nation in rushing (311.7) with a variety of weapons and Ole Miss has shown a bit more balance with QB Bo Wallace throwing for 3090 yards and 17 touchdowns. Georgia Tech is 4-5 since beating Duke and North Carolina while the Rebels finished with two losses, but own solid victories over LSU and Texas. The key may be which defence can come up with a big play to turn the momentum. All-SEC defensive back Cody Prewitt has six interceptions for Ole Miss, including one each in the last two games, and Georgia Tech defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu is tied for second in the country in sacks with 12. Georgia Tech plays in a bowl game for the 17th straight season and is 23-18 overall after snapping a seven-game losing streak with a 21-7 victory over USC in last year’s Sun Bowl. The Rebels are 22-12, including wins in nine of their last 10 bowl games, and have split with the Yellow Jackets – winning the 1971 Peach Bowl and losing the 1953 Sugar Bowl.

Confirmed bet

Ole Miss Rebels WIN v Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (one unit @ $1.67) WIN (25-17)

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