Daily tips for December 9

What’s on today

Today’s card kicks-off with two EPL games, highlighted by the visit of in-form Everton to league leaders Arsenal; week 14 of the NFL serves up some mouth-watering treats with none better than the visit of Carolina to New Orleans; four of the five NHL games scheduled for today could go either way while Indiana heads to Oklahoma City in the pick of the five NBA games on today’s slate; look out for racing + more to follow throughout the day.

Racing for December 9

Horse racing: Terang (Vic), Armidale (NSW), Dubbo (NSW). Harness racing: Charlton (Vic), Goulburn (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Globe Derby (SA), Pinjarra (WA). Greyhound racing: Shepparton (Vic), Grafton (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Northam (WA), Geelong (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Nowra (NSW), Ballarat (Vic), Launceston (Tas).

Confirmed bets

Terang R1 #7 Zan Zena (win) 1st ($2.30)

Dubbo R6 #2 Shiraz (win) 1st ($1.70)

Armidale R6 #9 Sorelle (E/W 1x2) 3rd ($2.10)

Leans

Terang R5 #3 Emerald Jim (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.60)

Armidale R3 #3 Mullet Man (E/W) 1st ($7.30/$2.40)

Armidale R7 #9 Border Flight (E/W 1x2) LOSE (U/P)

Dubbo R2 #4 Excellent Morning (E/W 1x3) 1st ($3.50/$1.60)

Dubbo R7 #2 Roger That (win) LOSE (U/P)

Harness racing tip: Charlton R6 #3 Clancy’s Fobwatch (win) 1st ($2.40)

Greyhound racing tip: Ballarat R11 #6 Natie’s Girl (win) 1st ($2.00)

NHL for December 9

San Jose Sharks (19-5-5, 43 pts) @ Minnesota Wild (17-9-5, 39 pts), Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, MN, Monday, December 9, 11.10am

A brief rest may have helped both the San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild. San Jose looks to end its four-game trip on a positive note here by avoiding a sixth straight road loss to Minnesota as both clubs play their third game in four days. The Sharks (19-5-5) snapped a six-game winning streak with a 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh; then allowed four third-period goals in the 5-3 defeat at Carolina. Joe Thornton extended his point streak to eight games with an assist on Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s goal in the first. Antti Niemi should be back in net after backup Alex Stalock made 30 saves against the Hurricanes. Niemi, 6-1-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average over his last seven starts, is 6-2-1 with a 1.89 GAA in nine outings against the Wild. However, the Sharks have made some tired looking plays in the past two games and have the look of a side ready to head home and catch their breath.

The Wild (17-9-5) earned an emotional 4-3 win over defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago on Thursday, scoring twice in the final six minutes, but they seemed listless the following night in being outshot 41-20 in a 4-0 loss at Columbus. Zach Parise (pictured) scored against Chicago, but that's his only goal to go along with one assist over his last six games. San Jose won the final two meetings with the Wild last season on its home ice, including a 6-1 victory April 18 as Logan Couture had two goals and two assists. Parise scored in the first match-up, a 2-0 win at home March 23. San Jose hasn’t won a road game against Minnesota since April 2, 2010. Niklas Backstrom made 37 saves against Columbus, and he could be back in goal for this contest despite going 0-3-0 with a 2.68 GAA over his last three starts. He’s 2-5-0 with a 3.30 GAA in his last seven against the Sharks.

Confirmed bets

San Jose Sharks @ Minnesota Wild WIN (one unit @ $2.00) WIN (1-3)

Colorado Avalanche @ Vancouver Canucks WIN (one unit @ $1.77) WIN (1-3)

Leans

Boston Bruins @ Toronto Maple Leafs WIN $2.05 LOSE (5-2)

Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers -5.5 $1.74 WIN (4-1)

Florida Panthers @ Chicago Blackhawks -1.5 $1.90 WIN (2-6)

Colorado Avalanche @ Vancouver Canucks +5 $1.75 LOSE (1-3)

NBA for December 9

Toronto Raptors (6-12, 3-6 away) @ Los Angeles Lakers (10-9, 6-4 home), STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, Monday, December 9, 1.40pm

He’s back. Kobe Bryant's torn left Achilles has healed up just in time for the Los Angeles Lakers’ star guard to try sending Toronto home with another loss. The future Hall of Famer will make his season debut against the Raptors, a team he's gone 13-1 against at home in his career including 10 straight wins. Toronto (6-12) is one of two teams Bryant (pictured) has a career scoring average of better than 28 points against, and his career-high 81 points on January 22, 2006 came against them at Staples Center. He scored 41 in the last meeting, a 118-116 home win on March 8. With wins in six of their last eight since November 17, the Lakers (10-9) are in reasonable shape in the Pacific Division after a 4-7 start. Friday's 106-100 win at Sacramento ensured they'd have a winning record when Bryant returned. Six Lakers scored in double figures, led by Pau Gasol and Jodie Meeks with 19 each.

The Raptors will look to spoil the party and close out a three-game road trip by snapping a five-game losing streak. Their latest disappointment came Friday in a 106-97 loss at Phoenix. Amir Johnson scored a team-high 22, while Rudy Gay had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Toronto was outrebounded 53-36, including 18-11 on the offensive glass. Power forward Tyler Hansbrough leaving the game in the first quarter with a sprained left shoulder didn’t help. He was scheduled to have it evaluated Saturday in Los Angeles. Playing in the laughably bad Atlantic Division the Raptors are just 2-7 ATS at home but things have been better away with a 5-4 record. The Raptors do have their problems on the road as well so they are by no means a lock at any venue in the NBA this season, if you were to pick them to cover on the road would be the spot to do it. So I’m going to the ‘under’ the Lakers will want Bryant to find the ball and may have to slow down their offence to do so.

Confirmed bets

Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Lakers -203.5 (one @ $1.91) WIN (106-94)

Boston Celtics +6 @ New York Knicks (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (114-73)

Orlando Magic @ Houston Rockets -12 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (88-98)

Leans

Miami Heat @ Detroit Pistons +197 $1.91 WIN (110-95)

Orlando Magic @ Houston Rockets -210 $1.91 WIN (88-98)

Indiana Pacers +4.5 $1.98 LOSE @ Oklahoma City Thunder +194.5 $1.91 WIN (94-118)

Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Lakers -4.5 $1.92 LOSE (106-94)

NFL (week 14) for December 9

Kansas City Chiefs (9-3. 4-1 away) @ Washington Redskins (3-9, 2-4 home), FedEx Field, Landover, MD, Monday, December 9, 4am

The Kansas City Chiefs' dream season has come crashing back to reality with three straight losses, but they can move a step closer to clinching a playoff spot with victory here. The Chiefs can punch their ticket to the post-season with a win over the Redskins and a loss or tie from Miami or Baltimore. While both teams come in riding losing streaks, the downturn has to come as more of a shock to Kansas City, which has seen its hopes of claiming the AFC’s top seed dwindle after a 9-0 start. Kansas City has found itself unable to keep pace in shootouts the past three weeks, losing to Denver twice with a heartbreaking defeat to San Diego sandwiched between. This is a much better match-up for the Chiefs, who allow an AFC-low 17.8 points per game and boast an NFL-best turnover margin of plus-14. The injury bug has hit the Chiefs at a bad time with linebacker Justin Houston (team-high 11 sacks) out with an elbow injury and left tackle Branden Albert (knee) and tight end Anthony Fasano (concussion) unlikely to play.

The Chiefs have won seven of eight all-time meetings, including a 14-6 victory at Washington in the most recent clash in 2009. Washington is out of playoff contention after squandering a 14-point lead against the New York Giants for its fourth straight loss last week. Three of Washington's four consecutive losses have come by eight points or fewer, and the league's best ground game has been impressive of late. Quarterback Robert Griffin III turned in one of his best efforts of the season last week, completing 24-of-32 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown and rushing for a season-high 88 yards on 12 carries. The defence has been one of the worst in the league but gave up a season-low 286 total yards last week against the Giants. The Chiefs are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings while the Redskins are 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall. The ‘under’ is also a strong play here – 7-1-1 in the Chiefs’ past nine road games and 5-2 in Redskins last seven games following a ATS loss.

Confirmed bets

Kansas City Chiefs -3 @ Washington Redskins (three units @ $1.95) WIN (45-10)

Cleveland Browns +11 @ New England Patriots (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (26-27)

Minnesota Vikings @ Baltimore Ravens -41.5 (one unit @ $1.95) LOSE (26-29)

Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals -7.5 (one unit @ $2.02) WIN (28-42)

Buffalo Bills @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5 (one unit @ $1.92) WIN (6-27)

Tennessee Titans +13 @ Denver Broncos (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (28-51)

Leans

Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers -47.5 $1.95 WIN (21-22)

Oakland Raiders @ New York Jets -3 $1.97 WIN (27-37)

Detroit Lions @ Philadelphia Eagles -2.5 $1.85 WIN (20-34)

Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers -3 $1.91 LOSE (34-28)

Buffalo Bills @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -42.5 $1.97 WIN (6-27)

Minnesota Vikings +6 $1.93 @ Baltimore Ravens WIN (26-29)

St Louis Rams +4 $2.00 @ Arizona Cardinals LOSE (10-30)

New York Giants @ San Diego Chargers -4 $1.96 WIN (14-37)

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers -2.5 $1.91 LOSE (17-19)

Carolina Panthers +3 $1.95 @ New Orleans Saints LOSE (13-31)

EPL for December 9

Arsenal (11-1-2, 34 pts) v Everton (7-6-1, 27 pts), Emirates Stadium, London, England, Monday, December 9, 3am

Everton have enjoyed a great start to the 2013-14 EPL season. Just one problem for them here – Arsenal have enjoyed an ever better start. The naysayers who declared the Gunners couldn’t win the title this season are slowly swinging with the wind, although their season will be defined in the next three weeks with games against Manchester City and Chelsea before Christmas – and this game against Everton, which currently looms as tough an examination as any. Even the queries over the depth of the Arsenal squad are starting to lose strength. Nicklas Bendtner’s goal against Hull on Wednesday will have pleased manager Arsene Wenger, along with Lukas Podolski’s impending return from injury. Theo Walcott (pictured) is making an impact from the bench while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still to make his mark. Arsenal is expected to restore Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Olivier Giroud to the starting line-up after they were rested midweek while Bacary Sagna (hamstring) has been ruled out and Mathieu Flamini is doubtful having injured his groin against Hull.

Roberto Martinez’s side is still on a high after Wednesday’s first win at Old Trafford since 1992. They have no new injury concerns so they could field the side that started in their win at Manchester United. Centre-back Antolin Alcaraz is included in the squad, but Leighton Baines, Arouna Kone and Darron Gibson are out. This is an equally tough ask for Everton as was the trip to Manchester United. The Toffees have not won at Arsenal since a 2-1 win at Highbury in January 1996, nine months before Wenger arrived in the Gunners hot seat. Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis scored the goals in a comeback win. Everton have lost 14 and drawn three of the subsequent 17 trips to Arsenal. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 12 League meetings with Everton (W8, D4), with both of last season's matches ending in draws. There have been just four goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between the clubs. The Toffees have lost only one game in the league this season (away to Manchester City), the fewest in the division.

Confirmed bets

Arsenal WIN v Everton (one unit @ $1.70) LOSE (1-1)
Fulham v Aston Villa -2.5 (one unit @ $2.05) WIN (2-0)

Leans

Arsenal v Everton -2.5 $2.10 WIN (1-1)
Fulham v Aston Villa DRAW $2.90 LOSE (2-0)

• 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.