Daily tips for August 16

AFL (round 21) for August 16

Hawthorn (16-3) v Collingwood (13-6), MCG, Friday, August 16, 7.50pm AEST

Hawthorn’s past four scores against Collingwood read 145, 135, 138 and 137. All four were played at the MCG, Collingwood scored at least 90 points in each game and the Hawks won them all. In a period when both sides have been among the competition’s better sides, that’s an alarming stat. Throw the return of the Buddy Franklin into the mix and almost a full list available for selection, and the Hawks look good things here. Not so quick – the Magpies stunned the Swans in Sydney with their most impressive win of 2013 last week while the Hawks have looked flat in the past fortnight. However, I must side with the Hawks here – it’s going to a very windy night, which will negate the role of the big forwards and Collingwood’s defence has been an Achilles’ heel against the better sides all year. With more scoring options and top four implications, Hawthorn looks a solid prospect at this line.

Suggested bet: Hawthorn -12.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN, game total +183.5 (two units @ $1.80) WIN (119-84)

MLB for August 16

Cincinnati Reds (68-52, 31-32 away) @ Milwaukee Brewers (52-68, 27-31 home), Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI, Friday, August 16, 10.10am

Superb pitching has the Cincinnati Reds on a roll, and they’re hoping a favourable stretch of schedule will keep it that way. Tony Cingrani, however, is looking for some help this time. Cingrani looks to give the Reds another strong performance on the mound, as they face the last-place Milwaukee Brewers for the first of seven meetings in a 10-game span. Cincinnati (68-52) holds one of league’s two wild-card spots. The team is also third in the NL Central, one-half game behind second-place St Louis and 3 1/2 back of Pittsburgh for first. The Reds are gaining momentum in an effort to close that gap, winning seven of eight since an embarrassing 15-2 home loss to the Cardinals on August 4. The pitching staff has been terrific since, compiling a 1.62 ERA over the past eight games. That may only continue in this four-game set with the Brewers, who are tied with Chicago in the division basement.

Cingrani (5-2, 2.87 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the first time since being charged with the Reds' only defeat over the past eight games. The rookie left-hander allowed two unearned runs and two hits with five strikeouts in five innings of a 3-1 loss to San Diego on Saturday, but he tossed 92 pitches since the defense committed three of its four errors behind him. The Brewers are expected to turn to Kyle Lohse (8-7, 3.26), who hasn't lost at home since falling to Texas on May 8. The journeyman right-hander is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA over his last seven starts at Miller Park, and Milwaukee has emerged victorious in each. He’s also 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last five games overall, and the Brewers have also won each of those. Lohse extended his winning streaks Friday, earning a 10-5 victory at Seattle while allowing three runs with a season high-tying seven KOs in seven innings.

Suggested bet: Reds WIN (2.5 units @ $1.69) WIN, game total -7.5 (1.5 units @ $1.90) WIN (2-1)

Other tips

AL: Angels WIN $1.95 @ Yankees WIN (8-4)

AL: Astros @ Athletics -1.5 WIN -7.5 $2.16 WIN (0-5)

AL: Red Sox WIN $1.81 LOSE @ Blue Jays +8.5 $1.88 LOSE (1-2)

AL: Royals @ Tigers -1.5 $2.11 WIN (1-4)

AL: Mariners @ Rays +8 $1.88 PUSH (1-7)

AL: White Sox @ Twins -8.5 $2.02 WIN (3-4)

NL: Pirates @ Cardinals WIN $1.80 WIN +7 $2.04 WIN (5-6)

NL: Giants @ Nationals WIN $1.61 LOSE +8 $1.88 LOSE (4-3)

NL: Mets WIN $2.33 @ Padres WIN (4-1)

NFL pre-season (week 2) for August 16

Atlanta Falcons (0-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-0), M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD, Friday, August 16, 9.30am

LAC managed 7-2 in NFL pre-season games last week, which was really thanks to the transparency of several teams and their aims for the pre-season. If we can exploit that information, so be it, but I again advise to bet these games with caution as you can never be 100 per cent sure of the level of motivation. The Ravens came out and destroyed the Bucs in week 1, scoring 44 points. Joe Flacco played two full series, which spanned the entire first quarter. Neither drive ended in a touchdown, and the first ended in an interception.

However Flacco looked OK, going 7/9 for 57 yards in his two drives. The Falcons lost to the Bengals 34-10. Mike Smith has never been known as a preseason coach. Matt Ryan played three series in the first quarter, with one leading to a field goal. Looking at the back-up QBs, I have real doubts about Falcons back-up Dominique Davis at this level while Sean Renfree is also saddled with a weak arm. The Ravens’ starters should play the majority of the first half and John Harbaugh will again be confident sending Tyrod Taylor into the game after his impressive showing last week.

Suggested bet: Ravens -4.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE, game total +41.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (23-27)

Other tips

Lions WIN @ Browns LOSE (6-24)

Panthers +3 @ Eagles LOSE (9-14)

Chargers @ Bears +37 WIN (22-33)

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