Daily tips for January 2

What’s on today

I trust everyone had a safe and enjoyable New Year’s Eve and you’re ready to put another beating on the books! My EPL selections for this morning’s games are posted here along with a tip for the NHL Winter Classic as Detroit and Toronto go to battle in The Big House; it’s also a huge day of College Football bowl games highlighted by the Rose Bowl featuring Stanford and Michigan State; there’ll be more to come throughout the day; GL punters!

Racing for January 2

Horse racing: Geelong (Vic – turf; heavy 8), Wyong (NSW – good 3), Dalby (Qld – good 3), Murray Bridge (SA – good 3), Sapphire Coast (NSW – dead 4), Geraldton (WA – good 3). Harness racing: Newcastle (NSW), Redcliffe (Qld), Charlton (Vic), Penrith (NSW), Ballarat (Vic). Greyhound racing: Warragul (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Maitland (NSW), Warrnambool (Vic), Sandown Park (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Hobart (Tas), Dapto (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Mandurah (WA).

Confirmed bets

Geelong R7 #2 Cadel Triomphe (win) LOSE (U/P)

Wyong R1 #7 Salvaged (win) 3rd (NTD)

Sapphire Coast R5 #1 Grey Drama (E/W) 2nd ($3.30)

Dalby R5 #5 Seen (win) 1st ($1.50)

Leans

Geelong R4 #1 Coronation Benny (win) 1st ($2.50)

Geelong R5 #3 Sweet As Bro (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($1.60)

Wyong R3 #9 Commanding Wit (win) 1st ($2.20)
Sapphire Coast R4 #1 Girls Own (win) LOSE (U/P)
Sapphire Coast R6 #1 Alerted (E/W 1x2) LOSE (4th)

Dalby R3 #5 Lots Of Merit (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.50)

Murray Bridge R1 #4 Demaruga Star (win) LOSE (3rd)

College Football (late games) for January 2


Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio: 5 Stanford Cardinal (11-2, 7-2 Pac-12) v 4 Michigan State Spartans (12-1, 8-0 Big Ten), Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA, Thursday, January 2, 9.10am

The 100th edition of the Rose Bowl Game features Michigan State’s first appearance in the game in 26 years. The Spartans have already set a school record for victories but the achievement will feel even better if the fourth Rose Bowl win in program history is the topper. Stanford, playing in a BCS bowl for the fourth straight season and making its 14th Rose Bowl appearance, dispatched of Wisconsin in last year’s contest in Pasadena. The defenses are expected to set the tone as Michigan State leads the nation in total defence (247.8) and Stanford ranks 14th (339). The Spartans also lead the nation in rushing defence (80.8) and the Cardinal excel at pounding standout running back Tyler Gaffney (1618 yards, 20 touchdowns) between the tackles. Stanford ranks third at stopping the run (91.2) and is tied for the national lead with 40 sacks. In a contest featuring hard-nosed play in the trenches, some top-notch athletes like Stanford receiver/returner Ty Montgomery and Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard could shine. Montgomery caught 58 passes for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns and averaged 31.2 yards and scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns. Dennard (four interceptions) is the consensus top defensive back in the nation after winning the Thorpe Award.

Confirmed bet

5 Stanford Cardinal v 4 Michigan State Spartans +42 (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (20-24)



Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: UCF Knights (11-1, 8-0 American) v Baylor Bears (11-1, 8-1 Big 12), University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ, Thursday, January 2, 12.30pm

Fifth-ranked Baylor brings the nation’s top attack (53.3 points per game) into the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl but No. 15 Central Florida is no offensive slouch. The Knights average 33.2 points behind quarterback Blake Bortles, who ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Bears quarterback Bryce Petty, who has thrown 30 touchdowns against two interceptions while rushing for 11 scores, ranks second in pass efficiency. Both teams are making their first appearance in a BCS bowl. Baylor had national championship aspirations until getting blitzed at Oklahoma State 49-17 on November 23, while Central Florida finished the season on an eight-game win streak to earn the American Athletic Conference’s automatic BCS bid. While Central Florida boasts an outstanding running back duo in Storm Johnson (1015 yards, 14 total touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, 29 catches) and William Stanback (six rushing scores), Baylor features a dangerous trio in Lache Seastrunk (1060 yards, 11 rushing TDs), Shock Linwood (862, eight) and Glasco Martin (490, six). Seastrunk missed nearly three games with a groin injury but returned on November 30, running for 172 yards in season-ending victories over Texas Christian and Texas.

Confirmed bet

UCF Knights +17.5 v Baylor Bears (one unit @ $1.87) WIN (52-42)

Lean

UCF Knights v Baylor Bears +73.5 $1.91 WIN (52-42)


NBA for January 2

Charlotte Bobcats (14-18, 6-8 away) @ Los Angeles Clippers (21-12, 13-3 home), STAPLES Center (pictured), Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, January 2, 1.40pm

Here’s a theory that many of my NBA betting colleagues believe holds true on New Year’s Day. Highly paid and pampered NBA stars are more than happy to party hard while watching the new year arrive, and their performances suffer accordingly the next day. As such, the sharp picks point to ‘unders’ right across the board of five games. But the one game that looks to have total posted a little low (193) is the battle of the Bobcats and Clippers in Los Angeles. The first-place Clippers seek their sixth straight victory over the Charlotte Bobcats, who will try to avoid a 17th consecutive road loss to a Western Conference opponent here. LA’s five-game winning streak at home ended as Phoenix closed to within a half-game of the Pacific Division leaders with a 107-88 victory on Monday. The Clippers committed 20 turnovers and shot a season-worst 36.5 per cent, losing for the third time in four games overall. They had averaged 110.6 points and 46.4 per cent shooting in their previous five home games.

After allowing the Suns to shoot 48.2 per cent with 12 three-pointers, Los Angeles may be able to tighten things up against a Charlotte team that ranks near the bottom of the league with 92.5 points per game, a 42.1 field-goal percentage and a 32.5 mark from three-point range. While the Bobcats (14-18) have improved this season, they’re looking to avoid a season-worst fourth straight loss after dropping their first two on a season-high five-game trip. Charlotte’s last six losses have come by an average of 3.3 points, but it’s lost 16 consecutive road games to West foes by a 19.2 margin dating to last season. The Bobcats fell to 0-4 against the West this season after Utah’s Trey Burke made a go-ahead layup with 19 seconds left in Monday’s 83-80 loss. Gerald Henderson has played well with 22.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game in his last four on the road. For the first time in franchise history, the Clippers are heading into New Year’s Day without a losing streak of more than two games in a full season.

Confirmed bets

New Orleans Pelicans @ Minnesota Timberwolves -212 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (112-124)

Charlotte Bobcats @ Los Angeles Clippers +193 $1.91 WIN (85-112)

Leans

Dallas Mavericks @ Washington Wizards -1.5 $1.91 LOSE (87-78)

Indiana Pacers @ Toronto Raptors -190 $1.91 WIN (82-95)

Philadelphia 76ers +9 $1.91 @ Denver Nuggets WIN (114-92)
Charlotte Bobcats +11 @ Los Angeles Clippers (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (85-112)

College Football (early games) for January 2

Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) v 22 Georgia Bulldogs (8-4, 5-3 SEC), Everbank Field, Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, January 2, 4am

Georgia and Nebraska have been mirror images, making it appropriate the two schools meet for the second time in a year in the Gator Bowl. The Bulldogs downed the Cornhuskers in the Capital One Bowl last season, but both teams will be without the record-setting quarterbacks who appeared in that game. Georgia’s Aaron Murray tore his ACL in late November while Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez missed most of the season with a foot injury. With the QB roles likely to be minimised (Hutson Mason for Georgia and either Ron Kellogg III or Tommy Armstrong Jr. for Nebraska), the Bulldogs’ Todd Gurley and the Cornhuskers’ Ameer Abdullah figure to show their wares as two of the nation’s top running backs. Gurley closed the season by gouging Georgia Tech for 122 yards on the ground and four total touchdowns while Abdullah ranks 7th in the country in rushing. Nebraska and Georgia are among the most frequent visitors to the post-season in college football history. The Cornhuskers will celebrate their 50th bowl-game appearance (only Alabama and Texas have more) against the Bulldogs, who will appear in their 49th bowl game.

Confirmed bet

Nebraska Cornhuskers v Georgia Bulldogs -59.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (24-19)

Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by Plainscapital Bank: UNLV Rebels (7-5, 5-3 MW) v North Texas Mean Green (8-4, 6-2 C-USA), Cotton Bowl, Dallas TX, Thursday, January 2, 4am

When its comes to the two most unlikely teams to be playing in a New Year's Day bowl game, you’d be hard-pressed to beat UNLV and North Texas. Both teams combined to win a total of just six games a year ago and the Rebels entered the season following back-to-back-to-back two-win campaign. Both teams also overcame slow starts – UNLV began 0-2 while North Texas started 2-3 – to end long bowl droughts and wind up playing at the Cotton Bowl on one of college football's most sacred days. The Mean Green play a short drive north up I-35 in Denton, Texas and is making its first bowl appearance since 2004 when it lost the last of four consecutive New Orleans Bowls to Southern Mississippi, 31-10. UNLV is playing in its first bowl game since 2000 when it upset Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl, 31-14. The Rebels lead the all-time series with the Mean Green, 4-0, and won the last meeting in 2000 in Las Vegas, 38-0. Watch for UNLV QB Caleb Herring. He passed for 2522 yards and 22 touchdowns and was intercepted just four times.

Confirmed bet

UNLV Rebels +7.5 v North Texas Mean Green (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (14-36)

Lean

UNLV Rebels v North Texas Mean Green -54.5 WIN (14-36)

Outback Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) v 16 LSU Tigers (9-3, 5-3 SEC), Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL, Thursday, January 2, 5am

The spotlight here will be on freshman quarterback Anthony Jennings when LSU meets Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Jennings will make his first career start in replacing Zach Mettenberger, who suffered a torn ACL in the Tigers' 31-27 victory over Arkansas on November 29 in their regular-season finale. The Tigers averaged a potent 37 points with Mettenberger at the controls and their 200.8 rushing yards per game could be a big help to Jennings. Jeremy Hill ran for 1185 yards and 14 touchdowns. Meanwhile Iowa is riding a three-game winning streak including victories over Michigan and Nebraska and wound up second in the Big Ten's Legends Division behind Rose Bowl-bound Michigan State. The Hawkeyes boast the No. 7 defence in the country at 303.2 yards per game – 11th against the pass (182.4) and 17th versus the run (120.8). LSU won its last two games over Mississippi State and Texas A&M to finish third in the SEC West Division behind Auburn and Alabama. The only previous meeting occurred on January 1, 2005 when Drew Tate threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Warren Holloway as time expired to lift the Hawkeyes to a 30-25 victory in the Capital One Bowl.

Confirmed bet

Iowa Hawkeyes v 16 LSU Tigers -48 (two units @ $1.91) WIN (14-21)

Capital One Bowl: 19 Wisconsin Badgers (9-3, 5-2 Big Ten) v 9 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2, 6-2 SEC), Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL, Thursday, January 2, 5am

The last time South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney played in a bowl game, he became a national sensation based on one brutal hit. The Gamecocks star will try to provide another highlight in possibly his last college game when the Gamecocks face Wisconsin. The Badgers had a six-game winning streak snapped in the regular-season finale and are stepping back after three straight trips to the Rose Bowl. Clowney is a likely top-five draft pick should he choose to leave school after his junior season and is hoping to help South Carolina to a third straight bowl win over a Big Ten School. The Gamecocks ended the regular season with five straight victories, including wins over top-10 opponents Missouri and Clemson. QB Connor Shaw passed for 21 touchdowns and just one interception during the regular season. Wisconsin finished second in the Big Ten Leaders Division, robbing it of a chance to make a fourth straight trip to the Rose Bowl as champion of the Big Ten. The Badgers rely on a strong running game and tight defense led by a pair of backs – Melvin Gordon (1466) and James White (1337) – who combined for 25 touchdowns on the ground.

Confirmed bet

19 Wisconsin Badgers v 9 South Carolina Gamecocks +51 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (24-34)

NHL for January 2

Toronto Maple Leafs (20-16-5, 45 points) @ Detroit Red Wings (18-14-9, 45 points), Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI, Thursday, January 2, 5.10am

As the novelty of playing hockey outdoors seems to be wearing off, the NHL is hoping bigger is better at the Winter Classic. The league has been playing at least one game outdoors annually since 2008 (other than last season because of the lockout). Six games are scheduled to be played in the elements this season. With a lot more fans and two Original Six teams, including one from Canada for the first time, the NHL is confident the 2014 Winter Classic will be different. The league said 105,500 tickets have been sold for the game Wednesday between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium. That almost doubles the average of 53,045 spectators who watched the first five Winter Classics. If every person who paid for a ticket braves temperatures in the teens on a snowy afternoon, a record will be broken. In the same football stadium, known as the Big House, Michigan and Michigan State set a hockey attendance record of 104,173 in 2010.

A lot of snow, though, and 15 km/h wind could become a problem for the Red Wings and Maple Leafs, who enter the game tied in the Eastern Conference standings with 45 points halfway through their seasons. Toronto has lost seven of its last 11 (4-5-2) while Detroit has dropped eight in that span (3-6-2). Despite his team’s struggles, Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf has every reason to smile after signing a seven-year contract extension worth $49 million this week. Phil Kessel scored twice to reach the 20-goal plateau for the sixth straight season as Toronto skated to a 5-2 victory over reeling Carolina on Sunday. Phaneuf, who scored against the Hurricanes, also tallied in Toronto’s 5-4 shootout loss to Detroit on December 21. RW Daniel Alfredsson scored the shootout-winning goal. The veteran tested his back on Tuesday but left his availability in doubt as he exited without speaking to reporters. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard will join Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick and Buffalo’s Ryan Miller as goaltenders for Team USA in the 2014 Winter Olympics next month.

Confirmed bet

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Detroit Red Wings +5 (one unit @ $1.83) PUSH (3-2)

Leans

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Detroit Red Wings WIN $1.80 LOSE (3-2)

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Vancouver Canucks WIN NT $2.00 LOSE (4-2)

EPL for January 2

Manchester United (10-4-5, 34 points) v Tottenham Hotspur (10-4-5, 34 points), Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Thursday, January 2, 4.30am

Perception is a funny thing. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both lie on 34 points in sixth and seventh spots respectively and are perceived to be in the midst of disappointing seasons. Both lie just one win out of the top four and within just eight points of leaders Arsenal but I’d rather be riding the Red Devils bandwagon at this point. In the immediate aftermath of their 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane, Manchester United lost successive home league games in the most difficult days yet under David Moyes' management. But six wins in a row since then have lifted the gloom to the extent that many see them as genuine title challengers again. It is their best winning run since a six-match streak in August-September 2012, which ended – coincidentally – with a 3-2 loss at home to Tottenham.  As the momentum builds, there seems to be a change in Moyes. On Boxing Day at Hull he was the most animated he's been yet as United boss. Danny Welbeck (pictured) has scored four goals and assisted one in his past four EPL appearances.

It was a dull December for United compared to Spurs’ month. After that 2-2 draw they won their next two games, and yet one thumping by Liverpool later it was all change at the Lane. Tim Sherwood is now manager, but he’s started well. Spurs have the chance here to go four games unbeaten for the first time this season.  They’ll be buoyed by winning their past three away league games and boasting the third-best away record in the Premier League this season. Spurs won this fixture 3-2 last season, claiming their first victory at Manchester United since December 16, 1989. The victory ended a winless run of 26 games (D4, L22) away to the Red Devils. Since then the sides have drawn twice at White Hart Lane, meaning Tottenham are unbeaten in their past three against United. Tottenham have also scored seven goals in their past three EPL games, as many as they managed in their final seven top-flight matches under Andre Villas-Boas. The 3-0 win against Stoke was Spurs’ biggest EPL victory since beating Aston Villa 4-0 on Boxing Day 2012.

Confirmed bets

Manchester United WIN v Tottenham Hotspur (one unit @ $1.80) LOSE (1-2)

Arsenal -1.5 v Cardiff City (one unit @ $2.08) WIN (2-0)

Crystal Palace WIN v Norwich City (one unit @ $2.40) LOSE (1-1)
Swansea City v Manchester City WIN (one unit @ $1.73) WIN (2-3) 
Southampton (double chance) v Chelsea (one unit @ $1.70) LOSE (0-3)

Leans

Swansea City v Manchester City (to nil) $3.10 LOSE (2-3)

Fulham v West Ham United -2.5 $2.10 LOSE (2-1)

Liverpool v Hull City +3.5 $2.50 LOSE (2-0)

Stoke City v Everton -2.5 $1.67 WIN (1-1)

Sunderland v Aston Villa (double chance) $1.70 WIN (0-1)

West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United WIN $2.85 LOSE (1-0)
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur +2.5 $1.62 WIN (1-2)

• 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.