What’s on today
There’s a full card of EPL games scheduled tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday morning which
kicks-off with an intriguing clash between Crystal Palace (with new manager
Tony Pulis presiding over his first home fixture) and West Ham United. There
are eight games scheduled in the NBA with the visit of Phoenix to Memphis
arguably the pick of the card while in the NHL, the visit of LA to nearby Anaheim
is the standout game on a nine-game slate. The midweek racing card takes us
to Sale, Ipswich, Balaklava and Bunbury with a metro meeting at Canterbury and
night racing at Launceston.
Racing for December 4
Horse racing: Sale (Vic – dead 5), Canterbury (NSW –
good 3), Ipswich (Qld – good 3), Balaklava (SA – slow 6), Bunbury (WA – good 3),
Launceston (Tas – night/dead 5). Harness racing: Bathurst (NSW), Bendigo (Vic),
Redcliffe (Qld). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Bendigo (Vic), Richmond
(NSW), Angle Park (SA), Bulli (NSW), The Meadows (Vic), Cranbourne (Vic), Cannington
(WA), Ballarat (Vic), The Gardens (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld).
Melbourne has just been drenched by a line of
thunderstorms meaning the rain will sweep across East Gippsland and Sale just about the time of
the first race on the eight-event card this afternoon. The track is currently
rated a dead 5 but watch for a likely downgrade. The leans
listed below are based on a dead 5 so there’ll be no confirmed bets for Sale
today.
Best of the day: In contrast, the weather is fine
with the mercury set to climb into the high 20s for today’s seven-race card at
Canterbury. The opening event is the Australian Turf Club Handicap over 1250
metres for one-metro wins. Just six horses will jump with #3 Darciwood looking
hard to beat. The 4yo gelding has won two of four starts including a narrow
victory here over 1200m on November 14. Kiwi hoop James McDonald (pictured) takes the ride for Team
Hawkes and look for the son of Darci Brahma to race on the speed before
dispatching of this bunch.
Canterbury R1 #3 Darciwood (win) LOSE (2nd)
Other confirmed bets
Canterbury R3 #4 Pentometer (win) LOSE (3rd) – another small
field here with just seven to go around in this one-metro win handicap over
1900m. This 4yo gelding from the Waller stable has won his past two including
first-up here on November 20 over 1580m. Look for him to make three in a row
here.
Balaklava R7 #7 Night Breeze (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.45) – nothing went
right for this 4yo gelding last time out at Morphettville but he was just
pipped at the post. He’s down in weight for this 0-62 affair over 1050 metres
and, from barrier 2, Joe Bowditch should steer him to his first win for Peter
Macdonald.
Adding: Ipswich R4 #3 Monicelli (E/W 1x3) 1st ($5.10/$1.80)
Leans
Canterbury R4 #4 Miss Fearless (E/W) LOSE (U/P)
Canterbury R7 #8 Lady De Chine (E/W) LOSE (4th)
Sale R2 #11 Zedi Gold (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.60)
Sale R4 # 6 Riviera Riches (E/W 1x4) 3rd ($1.40)
Sale R5 # 2 Sunset In Venice (win) SCRATCHED
Sale R6 #1 Cadel Triomphe (win) 1st ($2.30)
Ipswich R7 #3 Lucia (win) LOSE (U/P)
Balaklava R2 #7 Coup De Beel (win) LOSE (2nd)
Balaklava R3 #4 Leahone (win) LOSE (2nd)
Harness racing tip: Bendigo R4 #5 Major Deed (win) 1st ($1.90)
Greyhound racing tip: Ballarat R7 #4 Born Ali (win) 1st ($2.60)
NHL for December 4
San Jose Sharks (18-3-5, 41 pts) @ Toronto Maple
Leafs (14-10-3, 31 pts), Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada, Wednesday,
December 4, 11.10am
NHL best of the day: The San Jose Sharks have an NHL-low three regulation
losses, in part because of how they’ve jumped on teams in the first period. They’ll
try to continue that early game dominance as they go for their sixth straight
win against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that’s dropped four in a row. The Sharks’
92 goals scored are among the most in the league and their 60 allowed are among
the fewest. San Jose is in first place in the Pacific Division, emerging as one
of the top teams in a loaded Western Conference. San Jose has built its gaudy
record in part by beating up on East teams, going 7-1-2. It appears to have a
good chance to pad that mark during a four-game road trip that features three
opponents from that conference to start the stretch. First up is Toronto, which
the Sharks have beaten in five of the past six meetings and is 0-2-2 in its
last four overall. The Maple Leafs (14-10-3) have scored two or fewer goals
five times in the previous six contests, going 1-3-2. The S/U price is a bit
short so I’ll take the Sharks to win this in regulation.
San Jose Sharks WIN NT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (one
unit @ $2.00) WIN (4-2)
Other confirmed bets
11.10am: Tampa Bay Lightning (16-9-1, 33 pts) @
Columbus Blue Jackets (10-14-3, 23 pts) -5.5 (one unit @ $1.68) WIN (0-1) – Tampa Bay
(16-9-1) is 0-3-1 in its last four on the road and closed out November with a 3-0
home defeat to Pittsburgh last Friday. The Lightning converted at 9.1 per cent
on the power play in that month to finish ahead of only Dallas' 7.3 mark. This
also figures to be a low-scoring contest since these teams do not shoot much.
Tampa Bay averages 27.9 shots on goal and Columbus 27.1 to rank among the
league's lowest figures.
11.40am: Ottawa Senators (10-13-4, 24 pts) @ Florida
Panthers (7-15-5, 19 pts) WIN (one unit @ $2.00) LOSE (4-2) – the hosts represent solid
value in this spot. Ottawa has won 12 of the past 14 meetings with Florida
(7-15-5), including a 3-2 home win on November 9 but have dropped seven of 10
games since. Panthers goalie Tim Thomas has a 1.81 GAA and two shutouts while
winning seven of his last 10 against the Senators. He made 29 saves
against them last month. I’m expecting at least three Florida goals, which
should be good for victory.
Adding – 11.10am: Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York
Islanders +5.5 (one unit @ $1.83) LOSE (3-2)
Leans
Pittsburgh Penguins WIN $1.65 @ New York Islanders WIN (3-2)
Carolina Hurricanes @ Washington Capitals WIN $1.65 LOSE (4-1)
Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks WIN NT $1.77 LOSE (4-3)
Vancouver Canucks WIN $1.77 WIN @ Nashville Predators -5
$2.08 WIN (3-1)
Phoenix Coyotes @ Edmonton Oilers WIN $2.08 LOSE (6-2)
Los Angeles Kings @ Anaheim Ducks WIN $1.79 LOSE (3-2)
NBA for December 4
Toronto Raptors (6-10, 3-4 away) @ Golden State
Warriors (10-8, 5-2 home), ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA, Wednesday, December 4, 2.40pm
NBA best of the day: Coming off a much-needed win, the
Golden State Warriors are hoping they've put their recent struggles behind
them. A visit from the Toronto Raptors could help them take another step in the
right direction. Golden State (10-8) had lost five of six before bouncing back in
Sunday’s 115-113 win at Sacramento. Stephen Curry made a pair of free throws
with 8.6 seconds left and Andrew Bogut (pictured) blocked a potential game-tying layup in
the closing moments. The Raptors have not been in first place in the Atlantic
Division since 2007 and despite losing three games in a row and sitting at 6-10
for the season, they lead their division in the putrid Eastern Conference where
only two teams have winning records. The Raptors had a chance this week to take
a pseudo-strangle hold on the division, but were only able to go 1-3 in a four
game homestand. The Raptors dropped to 1-8 when allowing at least 92 points.
That doesn't bode well for a team that's surrendered 113.1 per game during a
3-12 stretch against Golden State. Toronto is 0-3 SU and 0-3 ATS ion their past
three, and I’m not expecting things to improve here.
Toronto Raptors @ Golden State Warriors -7.5 (one
unit @ $1.91) WIN (103-112)
Other confirmed bets
11.40am: Detroit Pistons (7-10, 2-5 away) @ Miami
Heat (14-3, 9-1 home) -10 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (107-97) – the Heat look to extend their
latest winning streak to 11 games Tuesday night when they host the Pistons. Miami
lead the NBA in field goal percentage (51.3) with LeBron James shooting 59.8
per cent from the field and a staggering 64.8 per cent in the past seven games.
The Pistons had a plus-5.3 margin against the Heat last season but lost two of
three meetings. The Heat have won seven of the past eight meetings at home by
an average of 12.0 points.
12.10pm: Phoenix Suns (9-8, 4-5 away) @ Memphis
Grizzlies (8-8, 3-5 home) +190 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (91-110) – the Suns are still one of the best teams ATS,
but after putting a stop to the Portland Trailblazers winning streak and two
contests against the hapless Utah Jazz, the Suns have also become a great ‘over’.
They’re 10-7 O/U overall thanks to a good balance on offence and defence. They
are in the top half of the league when it comes to scoring at 101.7 points per
game and they give up 99.7 points per game. Memphis is also coming off a 97-88
loss to Brooklyn.
Leans
Orlando Magic @ Philadelphia 76ers -3.5 $1.91 LOSE (125-126)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics NO LEAN
Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets +4.5 $1.91 LOSE (111-87)
Charlotte Bobcats @ Dallas Mavericks -194.5 $1.91 WIN (82-89)
Oklahoma City Thunder -6.5 $1.91 LOSE @ Sacramento Kings -203 $1.91 WIN (97-95)
EPL for December 4
Crystal Palace (2-1-10, 7 pts) v West Ham United
(3-4-6, 13 pts, Selhurst Park, South Norwood, London, England, Wednesday,
December 4, 7am
Crystal Palace welcomed 14 new players to the club
after their promotion back to the EPL. After 13 games and just two wins, Palace
have shed manager Ian Holloway for Tony Pulis (pictured), who needed just one game on the
touchline in tracksuit and cap to decide the squad needed
tweaking! It will take a huge swing in momentum for the Eagles to avoid the
drop, but they’re only six points from safety and have lost only one of their
past three. If Pulis can get a win in his first home game in charge – against a
West Ham team that falls firmly into the ‘catchable’ category – then Palace
could be on their way. Coming off a 1-0 loss to Norwich over the weekend,
Palace will probably again go with Marouane Chamakh and Cameron Jerome up front
for the opening game of this midweek round of EPL games. Palace are unbeaten in
their last four league matches with West Ham at Selhurst Park but have only won
two of 13 home meetings in total (W2, D6, L5).
The Hammers aren’t exactly setting the world on fire
with a run of five without victory before the weekend’s 3-0 win over Fulham. West
Ham striker Carlton Cole (who’s short-term contract expires next month) is
pushing for his first start of the season after scoring in that game off the
bench. Ravel Morrison is also in line for a recall, but George McCartney has
been left out of the squad. Palace's 2-0 win at Upton Park in April 1992 was
the last time the away team triumphed in this fixture. There have been four
home wins and four draws since that game. They are yet to earn a point after
going behind this season. The last Premier League meeting between these sides ended
3-3 at Selhurst Park in May 1998, and three of the last five league meetings
between the sides have ended level. Given the Hammers’ own anaemic form in
front of goal, expect a low-scoring affair here and I’m sure Pulis would be
happy with one point in his first game on the sidelines in south London.
Confirmed bets
Crystal Palace v West Ham -2.5 (1.75 units @ $1.67) WIN (1-0)
Crystal Palace v West Ham (0-0) (0.25 units @ $9.00 LOSE (1-0)
Leans
Crystal Palace v West Ham DRAW $3.10 LOSE (1-0)
Crystal Palace v West Ham -1.5 $3.10 WIN (1-0)
• 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment