Get in the Game - with Nigel Ridgway of bet365 *US Edition*
Nigel Ridgway
NFL - GB Packers @ CAR Panthers
Live betting - Mo Sep 13 - 9:00 pm EST (ABC)/ Sep 14 - 01:00 GMT
Current NFC South Champions Carolina can kick off their season with victory over Green Bay in Monday night's big game. At 15/8 the Panthers look a good bet at this stage for a divisional repeat, while the Super Bowl runners-up cannot be overlooked in our outright market at 18/1 either. Last season's defensive line may have been re-shaped but the majority of the team remains intact and should have gained confidence from their achievements. Receiver Steve Smith is an inspiration for the offence, while QC Jake Delhomme is cool under pressure, and. running backs Steven Davis and DeShaun Foster are both talented. The Packers arguably overachieved last season but even so they should have made the NFC Championship game, their defence embarrassingly allowing the Eagles to convert on fourth and 26. Veteran QB Brett Favre will be well protected by an excellent line, which should clear big holes for running back Ahman Green. Their defensive front should be stiffer than at the start of last season but the secondary remains a concern. Recommendation: Carolina -3.0 @ 20/23.
bet365 Game Lines:
Point Spread: GB Packers (+3.0) @ 20/21, CAR Panthers (-3.0) @ 20/23.
Totals: 43.5 @ 10/11.
Money: Packers 29/20, Panthers 20/33.
Join us for live betting on Monday night's game, where our markets will include: Point Spread; Game Total; Team To Make Next Score; and Next Score Of The Game.
bet365 NFC South prices... Panthers 15/8, Buccaneers 9/4, Falcons 12/5, Saints 4/1.
bet365 selected Super Bowl prices... Patriots 7/1, Eagles 9/1, Colts 11/1, Seahawks 12/1, Broncos, Ravens 16/1, Chiefs, Panthers 18/1, others on bet365 website. Win only.
NCAAF - Auburn @ Mississippi State
Live betting - Sa Sep 11 - 9:00 pm EST (ESPN2)/Sep 12 - 01:00 GMT
Auburn make their Southeastern Conference debut at Wade Stadium on Saturday against Mississippi State. Both teams are coming off big wins. The Tigers completed a 31-0 demolition of Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday, with the promise of better to come. One of things that receivers coach Greg Knox has been working on is yards after the catch, and against Louisiana they managed 73 yards of the team's 186 yards passing. Against Mississippi State, how well the receivers do will depend on how well they run their routes. The Bulldogs allowed 135 yards passing in their 28-7 win over Tulane last week. The secondary for Mississippi State is active. Free safety Slovakia Griffith recorded five tackles against Tulane. Cornerback Kevin Dockery had three tackles and one of the team's two pass break-ups. Whoever wins the struggle down the field will give their team a big advantage, in what will be a hard fought contest all the way to the end. Join us for live betting on this game.
bet365 SEC Championship prices... Georgia, LSU, Florida 3/1, Auburn 4/1, Tennessee 11/2, Mississippi State 80/1, others on bet365 website. Win only.
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PGA Tour Golf, Canadian Open
Th Sep 9 - 2:30 pm EST (ESPN)/18:30 GMT
Fr Sep 10 - 3:00 pm EST (ESPN)/19:00 GMT
Sa Sep 11 - 3:30 pm EST (ESPN)/19:30 GMT
Su Sep 12 - 3:00 pm EST (ESPN)/19:00 GMT
This week's event returns to the Jack Nicklaus designed Glen Abbey for the first time since 2000, and has attracted a decent field due to it's proximity to next week's Ryder Cup, with no less than seven US team members using the event as warm-up. The field is headed by the relentless Vijay Singh, who could have been excused for having a week off now that he has finally wrestled the No.1 spot off Tiger Woods. His price of 4/1 may be nothing to get excited about, but at least you know you are on a trier, which is more than can be said about second favourite Phil Mickelson, who is almost certainly going to be experimenting ahead of next week. Singh does not have the best Canadian Open record, however, so for the winner at value odds it could pay to take a look at Justin Leonard. The Texan's record here of three top-six finishes, including a joint third at 'the Glen' back in 1999, merits him the utmost respect, while his overall level of play has improved recently (joint second at the PGA Champs) after an indifferent season. Daniel Chopra is in the form of his life at the moment (4th at the Deutsche Bank last week), and 66/1 looks a fair price for the Swede who has shown gradual improvement since graduating from the Nationwide Tour in May. His ability to win on the main Tour has not yet been tested, but he is certainly capable of squeezing into our five places at least! The final pick goes to long hitter Hank Kuehne, again at 66/1, whose game appears to have turned the corner after a poor start to the season. His 6th place in the Deutsche Bank was very encouraging, his 3rd top-20 finish in his last five starts. Finally, it is worth mentioning the fine performance of David Duval last week (13th after just making the cut), who has set his target on a win before the season is out, although he may need another outing or two before he can be seriously backed.
Nigel's Three Off The Tee... Leonard 33/1, Chopra 66/1, Kuehne 66/1.
bet365 pre-tournament selected prices... Vijay Singh 4/1, Phil Mickelson 7/1, Davis Love 14/1, Stewart Cink 22/1, Justin Leonard, 33/1, Daniel Chopra, Hank Kuehne, David Duval 66/1. Each way ¼ 1-2-3-4-5. Bet the tournament In-Running throughout.
Ice Hockey World Cup Semi Finals
USA v Finland
Live betting - Fr Sep 10 - 7:00 pm EST (ESPN2)/23:00 GMT
Czech Republic v Canada
Live betting - Sa Sep 11 - 6:30 pm EST (ESPN2)/22:30 GMT
The Xcel Center in St. Paul is the venue for the first semi-final in the World Cup of Hockey, as a hard-skating team USA battles red-hot goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and the surprise packages of the competition Finland. The Air Canada Centre in Toronto hosts the second semi-final, as two red-hot teams face off in goalie Martin Brodeur's powerful Team Canada and Jaromir Jagr's Czechs, who surprised Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Join us for live betting In-Running on both semi finals, where our markets will include: Puck Line; Game Total; Who Will Win the Period; and Next Period Total.
bet365 World Cup of Ice Hockey Outright prices... Canada 1/2, USA 9/2, Finland 5/1, Czech Republic 6/1.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series - Chevy Rock and Roll 400, Richmond
Sa Sep 11 - 7:00 pm EST (TNT)/23:00 GMT
This is the final race before the playoff field is set for the 'The Chase for the Championship' (top-10 drivers in the standings qualify). With that in mind, when placing your bets this weekend it could be worth keeping those drivers that are racing for much more than the win. Kevin Harvick is going to need all the points he can get if he is to qualify for the playoffs, after a mediocre season by his standards. It is testament to his maturity and patience that he is still in contention, and he will be looking to qualify well and get the opportunity to get out front early in the race to get maximum bonus points (five points for leading, five points for leading for the most laps). He could be value at 22/1 in our outright market, in a race where it is difficult to find a favourite (3 co-favourites at 8/1). Considering his record on the track it is not surprising that Tony Stewart is one of our favourites this week. He's a three-time winner here, although the last one was five races ago, and can be expected to put up another fine performance this week. Bobby Labonte has had an awful two-year stretch, but this is one track that has been kind to him, with a second, sixth, and a third in this year's three-quarter mile track back in May. A good performance can see him jump past McMurray and Kahne in the standings to make him eligible for the playoffs.
Nigel's Checkered Flag... Kevin Harvick @ 22/1 (each way).
bet365 Chevy Rock and Roll 400 selected prices... Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart 8/1, Bobby Labonte 16/1, Kevin Harvick 22/1, others on bet365 website. Each way 1/5 1.2.3.
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 events
NIGEL RIDGWAY, an experienced punter and betting shop owner of many years, believes that "The key to successful gambling is getting value for money." Nigel was once forced by local bookmakers, to stop writing a tipping column in a UK newspaper, because he was costing them a fortune. Find out what offers and lines are hot at bet365.com
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