Daily tips for January 1

What’s on today

I hope everyone had a great New Year’s Eve and you’re ready to kick-off 2014 with some winners after another day in the green! Tips for the first two College Football bowl games of the day are posted here with two more to follow later in the morning; today’s card also features 11 NHL games and eight NBA match-ups, with the Oklahoma City v Portland Trail Blazers clash a clear highlight of the day; it’s also a huge day of racing around the country highlighted by the running of the Perth Cup at Ascot; GL punters!


Racing for January 1

Today’s highlights

Flemington R5 Listed $150,000 Bagot Handicap (2800m)

Flemington R6 G3 $150,000 Standish Handicap (1200m)

Randwick R5 Listed $100,000 Tattersalls Club Carrington Stakes (1100m, quality, 3yo+)

Randwick R6 Listed $100,000 Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m, quality, 3yo+)

Ascot R6 Listed $100,000 Schweppes Summer Scorcher (1000m, quality, 3yo+)

Ascot R7 G1 $500,000 Golden River Developments Perth Cup (2400m, quality, 3yo+)

Ascot R8 Listed $100,000 Ascend Sales Trophies La Trice Classic (1800m, SWP, 3yo+ fillies & mares)

Horse racing: Flemington (Vic), Randwick (NSW), Eagle Farm (Qld), Morphettville (SA), Ascot (WA), Mornington (Vic), Terang (Vic), Inverell (NSW), Port Macquarie (NSW), Fannie Bay (NT). Harness racing: Echuca (Vic), Kilmore (Vic), Leeton (NSW), Redcliffe (Qld). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Bendigo (Vic), Richmond (NSW), Angle Park (SA), Bulli (NSW), The Meadows (Vic), Cranbourne (Vic), Ballarat (Vic), Rockhampton (Qld).

New Year’s Day is one of the greatest racing days of the year. There’s black-type racing in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth (highlighted by the running of the Perth Cup) to go with numerous picnic meetings around the nation in venues as diverse as Hanging Rock (pictured), King Island and Wallabadah. The money in the Perth Cup has been flowing for #2 Rohan, but I’m leaning more to #3 Black Tycoon. This is a pretty mediocre class of stayers, which makes the 8yo gelding’s win in the Tattersall’s Cup all the more telling. He was also making up ground late in the CB Cox Stakes (2100m). From his draw in barrier 7, Damien Oliver should have him parked in the first half a dozen in running and, with only 55.5kg on his back, he will take some beating.

Confirmed bets

Flemington R2 #3 Gig (E/W) 1st ($5.60/$2.10)

Flemington R5 #2 Unchain My Heart (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Randwick R1 #2 Laidback Larry (win) 1st ($1.60)

Randwick R6 #3 Destiny’s Kiss (win) LOSE (3rd)

Eagle Farm R2 #10 Pantalettes (E/W) 1st ($43.40/$7.30)

Ascot R7 #3 Black Tycoon (E/W 1x2) 1st ($4.80/$2.10)

Leans

Flemington R3 #8 Kaiser Sun (win) 1st ($2.40)
Flemington R4 #1 Amaethon (E/W) 3rd ($1.80)
Flemington R7 #4 Index Linked (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.60)
Flemington R8 #12 Galway Warrior (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Randwick R2 #12 Estonian Princess (E/W 1x3) 1st ($3.50/$1.60)

Randwick R4 #6 Atmospherical (win) 1st ($1.80)
Randwick R5 #8 Prettyfamous (E/W) LOSE (4th)
Randwick R8 #1 Shelford (E/W 1x3) 1st ($3.20/$1.50)

Eagle Farm R3 #11 Beatnicks (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($2.50)
Morphettville R8 #5 Real Delight (win) 1st ($2.00)
Ascot R3 #1 Mountain Haze (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.50)
Ascot R5 #11 Tudor Royal (E/W) LOSE (U/P)
Mornington R6 #2 Couperin (E/W) LOSE (4th)
Singapore R3 #2 Flying Ahead (win) LOSE (2nd)
Singapore R11 #5 Exquisitely Sweet (E/W)


NHL for January 1

Philadelphia Flyers (19-16-4, 54 points) @ Calgary Flames (14-19-6, 34 points), Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB, Canada, Wednesday, January 1, 1.10pm

A pair of third-period comebacks have the Philadelphia Flyers in position to win three in a row on the road for the first time this season. Facing the Calgary Flames may not provide too tough a hurdle. Philadelphia (19-16-4) entered this six-game road trip with only two wins in their last 10 there. It hasn’t taken very long to match that win total, but it has needed some dramatics. The Flyers snapped a five-game losing streak away from home Saturday, winning 4-3 in a shootout at Edmonton and scoring with 46.8 seconds left in regulation before Steve Mason turned aside all three shootout attempts in a 4-3 win at Vancouver. A visit to Calgary (14-19-6) may keep the Flyers rolling into the new year by sweeping the Western Canada portion of this trip. They visit Colorado on Thursday. Before that, Philadelphia will try to extend its four-game winning streak at Scotiabank Saddledome, dating to a loss there on March 22, 2001.

Claude Giroux (pictured) has one goal and two assists in two career visits to Calgary. He assisted on goals by Jakub Voracek and Braydon Coburn before scoring in the shootout of a 5-4 win there on February 25, 2012. The Flames have dropped six of seven games (1-4-2), and they’ve been shut out three times during that stretch. That includes back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Edmonton on Friday and two days later to Vancouver, managing just 18 shots versus the Canucks. Calgary has never been blanked in three straight games. Michael Cammalleri leads the Flames with 12 goals, but he’s scored just once in 12 home games despite taking 40 shots. He's failed to get on the scoresheet in three straight meetings with Philadelphia. Sean Monahan doesn't have a point in six games. The center, the sixth overall selection in June's draft, is third on the team with 10 goals, but has just one in the past six home contests. Calgary’s average of 2.36 goals on the season rank 25th.

Confirmed bets

New York Islanders @ Boston Bruins +5.5 (one unit @ $2.05) WIN (5-3)

Philadelphia Flyers WIN @ Calgary Flames (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (4-1)

Montreal Canadiens WIN @ Carolina Hurricanes (one unit @ $1.87) LOSE (4-5)

New York Rangers WIN @ Florida Panthers (one unit @ $1.83) WIN (2-1)

St Louis Blues WIN @ Minnesota Wild (one unit @ $1.74) WIN (2-1)

Buffalo Sabres @ Winnipeg Jets 1P -1.5 (one unit @ $1.74) WIN (0-1)

Leans

Pittsburgh Penguins @ New Jersey Devils -5 $2.11 WIN (1-2)

Los Angeles Kings WIN $2.08 @ Dallas Stars LOSE (2-3)

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Colorado Avalanche WIN $1.71 WIN (3-5)

San Jose Sharks @ Anaheim Ducks WIN $1.91 WIN (3-6)

Edmonton Oilers @ Phoenix Coyotes +5.5 $1.95 WIN (3-4)

NBA for January 1

Sacramento Kings (9-20, 3-9 away) @ Houston Rockets (21-12, 13-4 home), Toyota Center, Houston, TX, Wednesday, January 1, 11.10am

It wasn't long ago when newly acquired Rudy Gay (pictured) sparked a victory over the Houston Rockets in his home debut with Sacramento. The Kings will need Gay at his best to avoid a sixth loss in seven games away from home while the Rockets seek their 12th win in 14 home games. In his first home game after being acquired from Toronto, Gay walked off the court to a standing ovation after his 26 points led the Kings to a 106-91 victory over Houston on December 15. Gay is averaging 19.3 points in nine contests with the Kings after scoring 19.4 per game for Toronto, but he’s been far more efficient with a 48.1 field-goal percentage. He was shooting a career-worst 38.8 per cent in 18 games with the Raptors. With 24 points in a 112-104 loss at San Antonio on Sunday, Gay has scored at least 20 in four of six road games for the Kings. Sacramento has dropped five of those contests, however, and has a Western Conference-worst 3-9 road record.

Sacramento faces another difficult road test against the Rockets, who have won three straight and 10 of 12 meetings on their home floor. Houston, though, is hoping to regroup after having its three-game winning streak snapped with a 117-86 loss at Oklahoma City on Sunday. James Harden had a season-low eight points while missing 7 of 9 from the floor for the second time in three games. He twisted his ankle in the first matchup with the Kings but stayed in to finish with 25 points. In the most recent meeting with Sacramento in Houston, Harden scored 29 on 11-of-16 shooting with nine assists in a 121-100 win April 14. Dwight Howard also is coming off a subpar performance with nine points and nine rebounds Sunday, three days after finishing with two and six in a 100-92 win over Memphis. He is a doubtful starter here. Howard contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting, while DeMarcus Cousins finished with 21 points, 10 boards and five assists for Sacramento.

Confirmed bets

Atlanta Hawks +2.5 @ Boston Celtics (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (92-91)

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers -13 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (76-91)

Sacramento Kings +9.5 @ Houston Rockets (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (110-106)

Portland Trail Blazers +6 @ Oklahoma City Thunder (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (98-94)

Leans

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers -197.5 $1.91 WIN (76-91)

Golden State Warriors -6 @ Orlando Magic $1.91 WIN (94-81)

Sacramento Kings @ Houston Rockets -213 $1.91 LOSE (110-106)

Brooklyn Nets @ San Antonio Spurs -12 $1.91 WIN (92-113)

Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls +186 $1.91 LOSE (85-79)

Milwaukee Bucks @ Los Angeles Lakers +202 $1.91 LOSE (94-79)

College Football (late games) for January 1

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Rice Owls (10-3, 7-1 C-USA) v Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-6, 3-5 SEC), Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN, Wednesday, January 1, 8am

Rice picked up its first outright conference title since 1957 with a victory in the Conference-USA championship game and is headed to a bowl game in consecutive seasons for the second time in school history. The Owls’ reward for a strong season is a date with Mississippi State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Bulldogs needed to pull out overtime victories in their final two games to gain bowl eligibility. Rice coach David Bailiff was named C-USA Coach of the year by his peers after guiding the Owls to the second 10-win season in school history and can set a record with an 11th triumph. Rice ended the season with four straight wins, including a 41-24 triumph over Marshall in the C-USA championship game, and will go after the Bulldogs defense with a strong running attack. Mississippi State endured a particularly brutal regular-season schedule and counts its six losses against ranked teams Oklahoma State, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Alabama. Quarterback Dak Prescott returned late in the season-ending win over rival Mississippi after a two-game absence due to a nerve injury in his non-throwing shoulder and should be healthy for the bowl game.

Confirmed bet

Rice Owls +7 v Mississippi State Bulldogs (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (7-44)

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Duke Blue Devils (10-3, 6-2 ACC) v Texas A&M Aggies (8-4, 4-4 SEC), Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, January 1, noon

Johnny Manziel could play his final collegiate game when Texas A&M meets Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. Manziel, who burst onto the scene to become the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012, finished fifth in the voting this season and said he will seek feedback from the NFL before declaring for the draft prior to the January 15 deadline. If Manziel learns he may not be selected in the first round, he said he would probably return to Texas A&M. Most of the current Blue Devils got their feet wet in the post-season with a 48-34 loss to Cincinnati in the 2012 Belk Bowl, but sharing the stage with the Aggies is a far bigger step. It is expected to be a high-scoring affair with the total betting line set at 73.5. Texas A&M is sixth in the nation in scoring at 43.6 points but 88th among the 123 FBS teams at 30.9 points allowed. Duke averages 31.6 points scored and 24.7 against, but struggled to stop the No. 2 scoring offence in its 45-7 loss to top-ranked Florida State in the ACC championship game on December 7.

Confirmed bet

Duke Blue Devils v Texas A&M Aggies +72 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (48-52)

Lean

Duke Blue Devils v Texas A&M Aggies -13.5 $1.91 LOSE (48-52)

College Football (early games) for January 1

AdvoCare V100 Bowl: Arizona Wildcats (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12) v Boston College Eagles (7-5, 4-4 ACC), Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA, Wednesday, January 1, 4.30am

All eyes will be on star running backs Andre Williams and Ka’Deem Carey as this match-up features two of the nation’s top rushing attacks. Williams, who rushed for a Boston College-record 2102 yards and 17 touchdowns, edged out Carey for the Doak Walker Award before finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. Carey, a two-time All-American, also had 17 touchdowns while ranking fifth behind Williams in FBS play with 1716 yards. The Wildcats had a somewhat awkward finish to the regular season, losing three of their last four but making the one win memorable, pounding then-No. 5 Oregon 42-16 on November 23. The luster of that victory was wiped away in a 58-21 loss to rival Arizona State the following week, which clinched the program’s 15th straight season with at least five losses. The Eagles used to make a living in bowl games, reaching 12 straight from 1999-2010 before two down years without an entry. The Wildcats are in a bowl game for the fifth time in the last six seasons. I really like the Eagles here – they won four straight down the stretch before dropping the season finale at Syracuse on a late touchdown.

Confirmed bet

Arizona Wildcats v Boston College Eagles +7.5 (one unit @ $1.83) LOSE (42-19)

Lean

Arizona Wildcats v Boston College Eagles +57 $1.91 WIN (42-19)

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Virginia Tech Hokies (8-4, 5-3 ACC) v 17 UCLA Bruins (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12), Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX, Wednesday, January 1, 6am

The Bruins, who play Virginia Tech here, have one of the top defensive ends in the nation in Anthony Barr and a talented sophomore quarterback in Brett Hundley, who must soon decide whether to enter the NFL Draft. But no player has generated more buzz than Myles Jack. The freshman linebacker added running back to his duties last month and totaled 267 yards and seven touchdowns in the final four games. The Hokies weren’t a strong ground team before losing leading rusher Trey Edmunds to a fractured right tibia in the regular-season finale against Virginia. Now they’ll have to lean on J.C. Coleman, who has carried the ball just 75 times for 262 yards this season, and possibly gamble with freshman Jerome Wright, who's yet to touch the ball. Virginia Tech is dealing with a handful of other injuries that could impact the game, most notably to cornerback Kyle Fuller. The Bruins are aiming for their first 10-win season since 2005, a year that also culminated with a victory in El Paso. Hundley has played a major role in UCLA’s outcomes this season, not only leading the Bruins in every passing category but also leading the team in rushing.

Confirmed bet

Virginia Tech Hokies v UCLA Bruins -7 (two units @ $1.87) WIN (12-42)

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