Issue April 21-24, 2005

Houston Open

Th Apr 21 – 4:00 pm EST (USA)/20:00 GMT

Fr Apr 22 – 4:00 pm EST (USA)/20:00 GMT

Sa Apr 23 – 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 GMT

Su Apr 24 – 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 GMT

Geoff Ogilvy looks value for a few dollars each-way at 25/1. Results of 10th last year and 7th in 2003 are impressive enough, but his Tour form this season has been a career best, including his first win in Tucson. Vijay Singh is the only top ten player taking part. He is worth a saver. John Daly’s form has been terrible, which is a shame as huge course is perfect for him, so it could pay to side with the other big hitters: Brandt Jobe and Jimmy Walker. Both have massive drives and decent form this years plus they are at very tasty three-figure odds.

Nigel’s Three Off The Tee ... Geoff Ogilvy @ 28/1, Brandt Jobe @ 100/1, Jimmy Walker @ 125/1. Each-way 1/4 odds, 1.2.3.4.5. Betting In-Play available throughout.

Subway Fresh 500

Sa Apr 24 – 7:30 pm EST (FOX)/23:30 GMT

This week’s night race is one of two races this year at Phoenix International Raceway, one of the most celebrated and picturesque tracks on the circuit. Most of the year’s racing so far has been on the uniform 1.5 mile tracks, which has allowed the heavyweight teams of Roush and Hendrick to dominate. Not surprisingly, their car’s set-up is geared towards these similar tracks where the majority of the season’s racing takes place. However, the uniqueness of PIR, while not excluding the top drivers, does at least give some of the smaller teams chance to compete this week. One of those teams is Childress, and two of their drivers, Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick, are both worth consideration at tasty odds. During his stint with Roush, Burton virtually owned Phoenix with back-to-back wins in 00 and 01 and, despite moving cars, has had respectable finishes in the last three races there. The fact that Childress used up one of their limited test dates in Phoenix last week, suggests that they believe his No. 31 car is close to winning. At 40/1 he’s surely worth an interest, while his team-mate, Harvick, with a solid 4th place finish last year, also merits respect at 20/1. Last Sunday’s pick, Jimmie Johnson, was 3rd to Greg Biffle, his seventh top-10 in as many starts this season, and the current points leader is our 13/8 favourite for the championship.

Nigel’s Checkered Flag: Jeff Burton @ 40/1, Kevin Harvick @ 20/1 (both each-way 1/5 1.2.3)

NBA Playoffs

starts this weekend

Six months and 82 games all lead up to this – the NBA Playoffs – 16 teams fighting to win 16 games and the coveted NBA Title, but what a difference a year makes! A year after the Lakers and the Timberwolves squared off in the Conference finals, both teams failed to advance to this year’s play-offs, while Phoenix, an abysmal 29-53 last year, enter this year as the top seed. The Suns have the best record in the league at 62-19, and will have homecourt advantage as long as they remain in the playoffs, but are only joint third in our list of odds to capture their first championship. Our joint favourites are Western conference top-seeds San Antonio, winners of the 1999 and 2003 championships, and Miami, top-seeds in the East. Both owe their places, and positions in the market to a large extent, to the play of their centers, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal respectively. At the same price as the Suns, we have defending champions Detroit. The Pistons have wrapped up the Central Division title, and are trying to repeat as league champions for the second time in team history.

NBA PARLAY BONUS
This weekend sees the opening-round games tipping off and, here at bet365, you can earn up to 50% more on your postseason basketball parlays. The Bonus applies to winnings on 2 - 14 team parlays on the following 6 markets:
Point Spread; Game Total; First Half Point Spread; Second Half Point Spread; First Half Total and Second Half Total.

Week 13 – TB Storm @ NAS Kats

Su Apr 24 – 1:00 pm EST/17:00 GMT

Tampa Bay go into this game as our 7-point favourites having won their last three games, their longest winning streak of the season. Standing at 7-4 they are also in excellent shape for a playoff spot in the tough AFL Southern Division. However, if they have an Achilles heel, it’s their record on the road. In fact, all four of their losses have come away from home and, while not tipping them to win, Nashville could well be capable of covering the line this week. After starting the season 1-7, the Kats are undefeated in their last three games, including their first win at home last week over Los Angeles (51-48). The last time these two teams met was July 01 when the Kats won 45-38, in Nashville.

Pick: Kats (+7.0) @ 10/11.

Our live game this weekend is AUS Wranglers @ ARZ Rattlers (Friday April 22nd, 10.00pm ET), when you can join us for ‘In-Play’ Point Spread and Game Total betting

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Get in the game and be lucky!


Nigel

Please be aware that prices are subject to change. All times are subject to change. Check local listings for TV coverage on these event.

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