What’s on today
Not too many folks in my part of the world are hockey
fans, but hopefully a few were converted after watching a world record crowd at
yesterday’s Winter Classic (pictured above); there’s a big 10-game NHL slate on offer today for
those seeking another dose of the greatest show on ice; there’s just one
College Football bowl game scheduled but it features two of the most storied
programs in the game – Oklahoma and Alabama – battling for the Allstate Sugar
Bowl title; the NBA slate shows seven games with one for the masochists: Milwaukee
@ Utah! I’ll also have racing and A-League previews during the day; GL punters!
A-League (round 13) for January 3
Adelaide United (3-4-5, 13 points) v Sydney FC (6-0-6,
18 points), Coopers Stadium, Adelaide, Friday, January 3, 7.30pm
Adelaide have breathed new life into their season (and
released some of the pressure on coach Josep Gombau) with seven points from
their past three matches including last weekend’s spiteful 1-0 win over
Newcastle. What's more impressive though is they have managed to keep a clean
sheet in all of those matches and they have looked a far more resolute outfit.
They do have some injury worries heading into this one though, with Osama Malik
(ankle) and Marcelo Carrusca (groin) both in serious doubt, while Jeronimo
Neumann is suspended. But winger Fabio Ferreira is a chance to return. With a
host of key players out of the side (or at least not 100 per cent fit)
Adelaide's depth is going to be severely tested at a time where they need to
continually picking up points. But the return of Bruce Djite (pictured) provides a real
focal point to the Adelaide attack and his ability to hold up the ball and
bring others into the game is vitally important. Djite is starting to find his
range in front of goal too – his strike against the Jets was his second for the
campaign.
After a four-game winning streak a few weeks back,
Sydney are suddenly in freefall after three defeats from their past four
matches. The Sky Blues were blown away by league leaders Brisbane last time
out, crushed 5-2 on their home turf at Allianz Stadium. Skipper Alessandro Del
Piero lasted only 45 minutes of that match but is expected to be right to face
the Reds. Joel Chianese is a chance to return from injury while youngster Corey
Gamiero is pushing for a starting berth after two strong performances off the
bench in the last fortnight. Once again under pressure as a coach, Frank Farina
needs to find a way to re-energise his side after they looked horribly tired
and slow in the defeat to the Roar. It might have had something to do with the
fact the average age of the side was more than 30, the oldest team in Sydney
FC's history. While the experience of the likes Del Piero, Brett Emerton,
Richard Garcia and Matt Thompson is important, it might be an idea to get a few
more youngsters in the team to add the pace and spark needed.
Confirmed bet
Adelaide United v Sydney FC +2.5 (one unit @ $1.72) WIN (2-2)
Lean
Adelaide United WIN $1.95 v Sydney FC LOSE (2-2)
Racing for January 3
Horse racing: Wangaratta (Vic), Tamworth (NSW),
Rockhampton (Qld), Taree (NSW), Esperance (WA), Cranbourne (Vic – night).
Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Bankstown (NSW), Gloucester Park (WA),
Melton (Vic), Parkes (NSW), Port Pirie (SA). Greyhound racing: Geelong (Vic),
Grafton (NSW), Ipswich (Qld), Mount Gambier (SA), The Gardens (NSW), Traralgon
(Vic), Wagga (NSW), Wentworth Park (NSW), Mandurah (WA).
Normally it’s rain that threatens the running of race
meetings but Racing Queensland stewards have an emergency plan in place should
predicted temperatures eventuate at the Gold Coast and Ipswich race meetings on
Saturday. Temperatures as high as 45C are forecast for Ipswich, where the
second south-east Queensland meeting will be held on Saturday. The prediction
is for temperatures in the mid- to high-30s on the Gold Coast for the
Goldmarket meeting. Chief steward Wade Birch said stewards would use a water
bulb to check the humidity remained at an acceptable level. A review would be
undertaken on Saturday morning and if necessary, horses would be allowed to
arrive on course later and also have a delayed entry into the mounting
enclosure.
Confirmed bets
Taree R9 #2 Cracker Night (win) 1st ($2.50)
Tamworth R6 #3 Watt Luck (win) 1st ($1.80)
Tamworth R8 #1 Sharp Note (E/W) LOSE (4th)
Wangaratta R1 #5 Basic Model (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.40)
Leans
Taree R6 #3 Leo’s Spirit (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($2.60)
Taree R7 #5 Overshadows (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($1.85)
Tamworth R1 #7 Subtlety (win) LOSE (2nd)
Tamworth R7 #1 Snip Of Magic (win) 1st ($1.85)
Wangaratta R5 #8 Speedastro (E/W) LOSE (4th)
Wangaratta R6 #10 Steel Brom (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.70)
Rockhampton R3 #3 King Ray (win) LOSE (4th)
Rockhampton R5 # #1 That’s Pops (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.50)
Harness racing tip: Melton R8 #3 Ifu Seek Flight
(win)
Greyhound racing tip: Mandurah R3 #6 Uno Reltub (win)
• Tip’s for tonight’s Cranbourne meeting will follow
later in the day
NHL for January 3
Montreal Canadiens (23-14-4, 50 points) @ Dallas
Stars (20-12-7, 47 points), American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, Friday, January
3, 12.40pm
Erik Cole’s recent performances are a big reason why
the Dallas Stars have kept their lengthy point streak going. Their next
opponent knows all too well how potent a scoring threat he can be. The winger
(pictured) had one of his best seasons while with the Montreal Canadiens and will try to
help send his former club to a third consecutive defeat here. Cole scored two
goals with the game-winner for the second time in three games in a 3-2 victory
over Los Angeles on Tuesday. Tyler Seguin contributed his team-high 20th goal
and an assist as Dallas (20-12-7) improved to 5-0-2 in its last seven and 2-0-1
on a five-game homestand. The Stars’ overall point streak is its longest since
an 11-gamer from February 21-March 13, 2012. Seguin and Cole had power-play
goals, marking the first time the Stars have scored twice with the man
advantage since October 11. Dallas, which was 3 for 63 on the power play in its
first 17 home games, is 4 for 17 in its last four overall after previously
converting at an 11.2 per cent clip.
Cole took advantage of his chances in his relatively
brief time with Montreal (23-14-4). After signing a four-year deal in July
2011, he set a career high with 35 goals and matched another with 61 points.
The Canadiens shipped him to Dallas on February 26. The Canadiens haven’t
visited Dallas since a 5-2 loss on December 21, 2010, and they return to close their
longest road trip of the season. They’ve gone 2-2-1 thus far as their usually
stingy defence has faltered, allowing 18 goals. Montreal is among the best
defensive teams in the league with 2.22 goals allowed per game but have given
up a combined nine in back-to-back losses. The Canadiens led 3-0 at Carolina on
Tuesday after soon-to-be U.S. Olympian Max Pacioretty’s second goal, but they
fell 5-4 in overtime. Montreal scored twice on the power play after going 3 for
35 in the previous 12 games. The Canadiens, though, let the Hurricanes have 10
power plays, and two resulted in goals in the third period. Carey Price made 26
saves to outduel Kari Lehtonen in the last meeting with Dallas.
Confirmed bets
Edmonton Oilers @ San Jose Sharks -1.5 (one unit @ $2.15) WIN (1-5)
Winnipeg Jets @ Ottawa Senators WIN $1.80 WIN (3-4)
Chicago Blackhawks WIN NT @ New York Islanders (one
unit @ $1.82) LOSE (2-3)
Montreal Canadiens @ Dallas Stars +5 $1.74 WIN (6-4)
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Phoenix Coyotes TT +2.5 (one
unit @ $1.64) LOSE (2-0)
Leans
Nashville Predators @ Boston Bruins -1.5 $2.70 LOSE (2-3)
Winnipeg Jets @ Ottawa Senators -5.5 (one unit @
$1.83) LOSE (3-4)
Carolina Hurricanes @ Washington Capitals +5.5 $2.00 WIN (4-3)
Los Angeles Kings WIN $2.13 @ St Louis Blues LOSE (0-5)
Philadelphia Flyers @ Colorado Avalanche WIN $1.80 WIN (1-2)
Montreal Canadiens @ Dallas Stars WIN (one unit @
$1.74) LOSE (6-4)
Edmonton Oilers @ San Jose Sharks +5.5 $1.91 WIN (1-5)
Cricket (Ashes Series) for January 3-7
Fifth Test: Australia v England, SCG, Sydney, Friday,
January 3, 10.30am
Firstly, a shout-out to my good mate Bruce Eva and
the team at Fairfax Radio for their coverage of this series. For (too) long the
domain of the ABC, the addition of a new player in this space was long overdue.
Many of us spend a disproportionate amount of time in the car at this time of
year so we rely on the radio for coverage of the summer’s cricket. The Fairfax
team has been a breath of fresh air, and kudos for liberating Henry Calthorpe
Blofeld from the clutches of that bore-a-torium Jim Maxwell. So on to Sydney
where England arrive a broken and battered team looking to avoid their second
5-0 whitewash in three Ashes tours of Australia. It could so easily have been
quite a different result. Dropped catches at crucial moments, soft dismissals,
mid-tour departures … take Melbourne where England was well ahead of the game,
at one stage leading by 116 runs with all 10 second-innings wickets in hand.
Barely a day later they had lost by eight wickets. In many ways it was the most
damaging, dispiriting defeat of the tour.
What that game did show, though, was a definite
lessening of the intensity that saw Australia romp home in the first three
Tests. They should still win this fifth game to complete the whitewash - if
they can’t get the job done themselves, it looks fair to assume England will
help them out along the way. The home side was hopeful of naming the same XI
for a fifth consecutive Test, which in a large part explains their success in
the series. There are doubts over the fitness of Shane Watson and Ryan Harris.
Watson picked up a groin injury in the win in Melbourne while Harris suffers
from a chronic knee problem. Harris has never made it through a five-Test
series before so if he does turn up it is a superb achievement. Alex Doolan,
the uncapped Tasmania batsman, has been called up as a potential replacement
for Watson. Nathan Coulter-Nile and the bookies’ favourite James Faulkner stand
by in case Harris does not make it.
Confirmed bets
Australia WIN v England (one unit @ $1.70)
Leans
Australia most runs (1st innings) David Warner $4.25
England most runs (1st innings) Kevin Pietersen $4.50
NBA for January 3
Golden State Warriors (20-13, 9-9 away) @ Miami Heat
(24-7, 14-2 home), AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL, Friday, January 4, 11.40am
The Golden State Warriors have put together a nice six-game
winning streak during a lengthy road trip that lands in Miami here. The
Warriors took the first two of a seven-game trip and are enjoying their longest
winning streak in six years while thriving at the defensive end. But Golden
State will need to be at its best at that end against the Heat, who have won
eight of nine and are returning home after a four-game trip. The Warriors do
not get a lot of credit for their defense but are one of the best in the league
at limiting opponents. Golden State has gotten some strong performances from
Stephen Curry during its winning streak and leaned on the interior and the
bench in a 94-81 victory in Orlando on Tuesday. Andrew Bogut and David Lee
provide a match-up issue for the Heat, and the Warriors figure to use their
advantage on the inside.
Miami will test that defence with a healthy LeBron
James, who returned from a one-game absence due to a groin injury and put up 26
points and 10 assists in 40 minutes at Denver on Monday. James returned but
Dwyane Wade went down with back spasms against the Nuggets and is considered
day-to-day. Miami has been cautious with Wade all season and the team is used
to playing without the All-Star, especially if Chris Bosh can maintain his
current level of play. The veteran forward was named the Eastern Conference
Player of the Week on Monday after putting up 22.3 points and eight rebounds in
four games, and followed it up with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting in Monday’s
97-94 triumph that closed out a 3-1 trip. The road team is 12-3-2 ATS in the
last 17 meetings between these sides while the ‘over’ is 7-3 in the past 10 games
in Miami. The Heat should cover the five-point line but I like the ‘under’ with
Miami undermanned the Warriors defence performing well.
Confirmed bets
Golden State Warriors @ Miami Heat -205.5 (one unit @
$1.91) LOSE (123-114)
New York Knicks @ San Antonio Spurs +202 (one unit @
$1.91) WIN (105-101)
Brooklyn Nets @ Oklahoma City Thunder -12 (one unit @
$1.91) LOSE (95-93)
Leans
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers +196 $1.91 LOSE (81-87)
Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls -183 $1.91 WIN (82-94)
Memphis Grizzlies @ Phoenix Suns -5.5 $1.91 LOSE (99-91)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Utah Jazz -5.5 $1.91 WIN (87-96)
Charlotte Bobcats +11.5 @ Portland Trail Blazers LOSE (104-134)
Philadelphia 76ers @ Sacramento Kings +216.5 $1.91 WIN (113-104)
College Football for January 3
Allstate Sugar Bowl: 11 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 7-2 Big
12) v 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1, 7-1 SEC), Mercedes Benz Superdome, New
Orleans, LA, Friday, January 3, 12.30pm
There might be just one College Football bowl game
scheduled today, but it’s one of the more intriguing match-ups across the
schedule. Alabama’s chances to play for a third consecutive national
championship were dashed on the final play of the regular season, so an obvious
question is whether the third-ranked Crimson Tide will suffer a major letdown
when they face No. 11 Oklahoma in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. A
stunning 109-yard kickoff return by bitter rival Auburn as time expired in the
regular-season finale derailed Alabama's three-peat hopes and now the team must
regroup for the match-up with the twice-beaten Sooners. It will be the
five-year anniversary of The Crimson Tide's last visit to the Sugar Bowl, when
they were waxed by Utah after their perfect season ended against Florida in the
SEC Championship game. Despite the string of success under Stoops that includes
a dozen 10-win seasons since 2000, Alabama's Nick Saban has four national
championships under his belt. One of them came at the expense of Oklahoma, when
Saban guided LSU to a 21-14 victory over the Sooners in the Sugar Bowl in 2003.
Oklahoma is a decided underdog after losing to Texas
and getting mauled by Baylor, but it finished the season on a high note,
registering a last-minute victory at arch-rival Oklahoma State. The Sooners
will be making their 15th consecutive bowl appearance under coach Bob Stoops.
He must still decide on a starting quarterback versus Alabama – the options
being senior Blake Bell and redshirt freshman Trevor Knight. The Tebow-esque
Bell, nicknamed the Belldozer, started eight games and was superb in rallying
the Sooners past Oklahoma State when Knight went down with a shoulder injury.
Knight, however, is a dual threat and Alabama’s defense surrendered its two
highest point totals against similar-style QBs for Texas A&M and Auburn.
The Crimson Tide have no such question marks under center with senior A.J.
McCarron, the Maxwell Award winner and runner-up in the Heisman Trophy
balloting. McCarron threw for 26 TDs against only five interceptions this
season. Alabama features a stellar defence that ranked No. 2 nationally,
allowing 11.7 points per game and holding nine of 12 opponents to 10 points or
fewer.
Confirmed bet
Oklahoma Sooners v Alabama Crimson Tide -51.5 (one
unit @ $1.91)
Lean
Oklahoma Sooners v Alabama Crimson Tide 1H -9.5 $1.91
• 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.
