Daily tips for December 2

Note 1: Bets 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).


NHL for December 2

With no bets for today’s three-game card, here’s a look at who’s hot and who’s not in the NHL with almost 30 games of the 2013-14 season completed (with thanks to covers.com):

Chicago Blackhawks (4-0 SU): The Hawks are currently enjoying a six-game winning streak overall (despite playing seven straight on the road) and were 4-0 in the past week. Patrick Kane has returned to his best. His 12-game point streak was snapped Friday, but he notched a goal and one assist in Saturday's win over the Phoenix Coyotes. They return to home ice on Tuesday as to host the Dallas Stars.

Toronto Maple Leafs (0-4 SU): Toronto started the season as good as any side but after a loss to the Montreal Canadiens capped off an 0-4 week, that hot start seems like a distant memory. You'd be hard pressed to find a better 1-2 punch than Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk, but it's the goaltending that has let the Leafs down. James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier rotated starts this week, but allowed nine goals each this week.

Anaheim Ducks (3-0 O/U): The Ducks may have dropped two of three games this week, but they cashed in for ‘over’ bettors. Goalie Jonas Hiller gave up eight goals in his two starts this week and has lost four of this last six starts overall. Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry continue to be one of the hottest lines in the NHL. They have a tough week upcoming, hosting the Kings Tuesday, before hitting the road to face the 'Hawks and Blues.

New York Islanders (0-3 O/U): Things are not good for the Isles. Many thought the Islanders would parlay an impressive playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins into a decent 2013-14 season. Not so. New York has dropped six-straight hockey games and are having troubles scoring. The team was blanked by the Detroit Red Wings midweek and mustered just four goals in their three games.

Confirmed bets

None

Leans

Vancouver Canucks WIN $1.83 @ Carolina Hurricanes WIN (3-2)

Detroit Red Wings WIN $2.05 @ Ottawa Senators WIN (4-2)

Edmonton Oilers @ Dallas Stars WIN $1.63 LOSE +5.5 $1.93 LOSE (3-2)

NBA for December 2

New Orleans Pelicans (7-8, 2-5 away) @ New York Knicks (3-12, 1-6 home), Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, Monday, December 2, 11.40am

I’m going to bit left-field for today’s top pick as the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden to lick their wounds before hosting the high-flying Pelicans of New Orleans. The dressing room was shut tight after the Knicks 93-80 loss against the Clippers last week as players and officials discussed their plight. There was an immediate response in a narrow loss to the Nuggets, and I’m expecting there’ll be more improvement at home as they try to avoid the franchise’s longest skid in almost eight years. New York’s eight-game slide is its longest since it dropped nine in a row March 19-April 4, 2006. That team finished 23-59, the franchise’s worst record since 1964. The Knicks (3-12) are coming off a four-game road trip where they shot just 42 per cent, and haven't scored more than 100 points in seven straight contests. Carmelo Anthony (pictured) has led the team in scoring in all 15 games this season, the only player in the NBA to be his team's top scorer in every game. New York is averaging 92.4 points per game to rank 25th in the NBA.

Although the Knicks are averaging 5.6 points more at home than on the road, they’ve lost six straight at Madison Square Garden since a season-opening win over Milwaukee. Unlike the Knicks, the Pelicans (7-8) do not have one primary, go-to scorer. Instead New Orleans relies on its depth, with six players scoring more than 10.5 points per game. Anthony Davis leads the way at 19.6 per game, to go along with 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks. Forward Ryan Anderson has been a key in recent weeks, averaging 19.0 points since returning from a toe injury on November 16. The Pelicans snapped a four-game road-losing streak Friday with a 121-105 victory over the 76ers. Eric Gordon led five players in double figures with a season-high 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting and Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 13 assists in his return to Philadelphia. The Knicks have dominated the Pelicans of late, winning eight of the past nine games. They swept last season’s series, with Anthony averaging 28.0 points.

Confirmed bets

Charlotte Bobcats @ Miami Heat -10.5 (one unit @ $2.00) LOSE (98-99)

Philadelphia 76ers @ Detroit Pistons -8 (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (100-115)

Denver Nuggets @ Toronto Raptors +201.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (112-98)

New Orleans Pelicans @ New York Knicks WIN (one unit @ $1.81) LOSE (103-99)

Leans

Indiana Pacers -1.5 $1.98 @ Los Angeles Clippers

Golden State Warriors -4.5 $1.93 @ Sacramento Kings LOSE (115-113)

Charlotte Bobcats @ Miami Heat -188.5 $1.91 LOSE (98-99)

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder -8.5 $1.91 WIN (103-113)

New Orleans Pelicans @ New York Knicks +198.5 $1.97 WIN (103-99)

Portland Trail Blazers -3.5 $1.91 @ Los Angeles Lakers WIN (114-108)

NFL (week 13) for December 2

Atlanta Falcons (2-9, 0-5 away) @ Buffalo Bills (4-7, 3-3 home); Rogers Centre (pictured), Toronto, ON, Canada; Monday, December 2, 8.10am

The best thing that can be said about Atlanta’s season is that they’re headed towards their highest draft pick since selecting quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008. Ryan’s struggles away from home are a major reason for the team’s sub-standard record, and he’ll look to help Atlanta end a five-game losing streak when it faces the Buffalo Bills. This game won’t be played at a frigid Ralph Wilson Stadium; rather under the roof at the Rogers Centre, just a short trip around the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto, Canada. The Falcons (2-9) went 13-3 and hosted the NFC championship game in 2012, but they’ll finish this season under .500 for the first time since going 4-12 in 2007. Atlanta is tied with Jacksonville and Houston for the NFL’s worst mark. Coach Mike Smith has eluded to the use of players off the bench being afforded a chance to impress during the final month of the regular season. Ryan has completed 72.4 per cent of his passes while posting a 106.2 rating in Atlanta, but he has a 60.5 completion percentage, eight touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 70.2 rating in five road games (all losses).

Buffalo has endured injury problems of its own, but rookie QB EJ Manuel returned from a three-game absence to throw for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Jets while the Bills’ defence picked off New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith three times in that 34-17 win on November 17 before the Bills’ bye week. Jarius Byrd had two of those interceptions and has three in his past two games. His 21 picks since entering the league in 2009 rank second overall. The Bills (4-7) ended a three-game losing streak and are anticipating receivers Stevie Johnson (groin) and Robert Woods (ankle) back after resting during the bye. Almost unbelievably, Buffalo is still holding on to slim playoff hopes, though it would have to jump ahead of multiple teams to capture an AFC wild-card spot. The Bills haven’t been to the playoffs since losing to Tennessee in the Music City Miracle in 1999. The Falcons are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games on fieldturf while the Bills are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games. I’ve bought back inside a field goal, but love the Bills here.

Confirmed bets

Atlanta Falcons @ Buffalo Bills -2.5 (two units @ $1.65) LOSE (34-31)

New York Giants WIN @ Washington Redskins (1.5 units @ $1.95) WIN (24-17)
New England Patriots -7.5 @ Houston Texans (one unit @ $2.00) LOSE (34-31)

Jacksonville Jaguars +7.5 @ Cleveland Browns (one unit @ $1.95) WIN (32-28)

Miami Dolphins +2 @ New York Jets (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (23-3)

Cincinnati Bengals @ San Diego Chargers +48.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (17-10)

Leans

Tennessee Titans +3.5 $1.91 @ Indianapolis Colts LOSE (14-22)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns +40 $1.91 WIN (32-28)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7.5 $1.83 @ Carolina Panthers LOSE (6-28)

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings WIN $1.80 WIN (20-23)

St Louis Rams +7.5 $1.87 @ San Francisco 49ers LOSE (13-23)

Denver Broncos -6 $1.95 @ Kansas City Chiefs WIN (35-28)

Cincinnati Bengals @ San Diego Chargers -1 $1.91 LOSE (17-10)

EPL for December 2

Manchester City (7-1-4) v Swansea City (4-3-5), Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday, December 2, 3.10am

4-2-4-5-1-3-7-5-6-4 – that’s the number of goals Manchester City has scored in its home games so far this season. With that free-scoring form, it’s not unreasonable to expect that the trend will continue against Swansea City. With 41 goals in all competitions at home this season, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are full of confidence – they were devastating against Tottenham, with Jesus Navas coming in from the right and Samir Nasri from the left to support Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo (pictured) up front as they rattled six into the Spurs’ net. But the defence hasn’t looked as settled without Vincent Kompany, and Pellegrini is yet to decide to go with Joe Hart or Costel Pantilimon in goal. Defender Matija Nastasic is also likely to miss the next three weeks with a calf injury. City is the only team in any of the four English leagues to have a 100 per cent home record. They have scored in 56 consecutive Premier League home games, 10 short of the record of 66 held by Manchester United.

Despite winning at Fulham last week, Swansea have been struggling recently and their confidence will have been further dented by a Europa League defeat to Valencia on Thursday. Swansea have won two, drawn two and lost two of their six league matches immediately following a midweek European match. Matters were made worse by the hamstring injury suffered to striker Wilfried Bony who is likely to be out for several weeks. Angel Rangel misses here with a calf injury but Wayne Routledge is fit. Swansea have lost on their past seven visits to Manchester City. Their last win there was a 2-1 victory in an old Second Division match in March 1951. Swansea’s first-ever Premier League match was at the City of Manchester Stadium in August 2011. Sergio Aguero scored two goals on his debut as City won 4-0 – and went on to win the title that season. Swansea have performed better away than at home in this season's Premier League, winning three of their six matches, including at Fulham last weekend.

Confirmed bets

Manchester City 2.5+ v Swansea City (two units @ $2.10) WIN (3-0)

Hull City v Liverpool WIN (two units @ $1.60) LOSE (3-1)

Chelsea v Southampton +2.5 (one unit @ $1.73) WIN (3-1)

Tottenham v Manchester United DNB (one unit @ $1.68) PUSH (2-2)

Leans

Tottenham v Manchester United WIN $2.50 LOSE (2-2)

Hull City v Liverpool (HT/FT) $2.35 LOSE (1-1/3-1)

Chelsea v Southampton +1 $2.35 LOSE (3-1)

Manchester City 3.5+ v Swansea City $4.00 LOSE (3-0)

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