Nigel Ridgway
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Houston Open, Redstone GC, Texas
Th Apr 22 - 3:00 pm EST (USA)/20.00 BST
Fr Apr 23 - 3:00 pm EST (USA)/20.00 BST
Sa Apr 24 - 2:00 pm EST (CBS)/19.00 BST
Su Apr 25 - 2:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 BST
Redstone hosts this event for only the second year, and judging by last year's results long hitters are going to be in their element this week. Two of the biggest hitters on Tour, Hank Kuehne and John Daly finished runner-up and seventh respectively, while winner Fred Couples regularly hits it around the 300 mark. Daly is coming off a couple of lack-lustre displays but must surely contend this week on the only course where he shot four sub-par rounds in 2003. Aussie rookie Mark Hensby is fast making a name for himself after twice going close this year to breaking his duck. One of his drives last week was clocked at 378 yards, and although he went on to miss the cut, he can be expected to put up a better show on a course that will play to his strengths. Before that he was second to Bell South rookie hero Zach Johnson, who himself looks sure to become one of the Tour's regular winners, with another Aussie Scott Hend back in third. At 306 yards, the latter has now moved ahead of Daly in second place to Kuehne in driving distance stats, and merits respect this week. Vijay Singh, whose eight trips to Houston have resulted in six top ten finishes, will again be hard to beat.
bet365 pre-tournament prices … Singh 5/1, Choi 18/1, Allenby, Couples & Haas, 25/1, Johnson 40/1, Hensby 66/1, Hend 125/1. Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5. Bet IN-RUNNING subject to TV coverage.
NBA Playoffs
LA Lakers @ HOU Rockets (Live betting)
Fr Apr 23 - 9:30 pm EST (ESPN)/Sa Apr 24 - 02.30 BST
After a poor start to their playoff campaign, the Lakers finally got their act together on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead over the Rockets. It is not very often that Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone have two bad games in a row, and their efforts helped the Lakers overcome Shaquille O'Neal's lowest scoring playoff game ever. Bryant scored 17 of his 36 points in the thirds quarter, and Malone had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lakers past the Rockets 98-84. O'Neal, in foul trouble most of the game, had seven points and seven rebounds. The best-of seven series now moves to Houston for games 3 and 4 Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
SAC Kings @ DAL Mavericks (Live betting)
Sa Apr 24 - 7:00 pm EST (ESPN)/Su Apr 25 - 00.00 BST
The Mavericks squandered a fantastic opportunity to secure a 1-1 split in this series mainly because they shot miserably in Game 2. They shot 32% from the floor, missed 17 of their 19 3-point game attempts and lost most of all because they didn't pull away from Sacramento when the host, in one late stretch, missed 17 of 19 shots from all ranges. Dallas Head Coach Don Nelson's decision to run a play for an ailing Michael Finley, with the Mavs down by less than a basket and less than 10 seconds to go in regulation, was a curious choice at best! Now they must rally to beat the Kings four times in the next five games, starting with their home game on Saturday night.
Join us for live betting on the above games where our betting will include: Point Spread; Game Total; and Who Will Win the Quarter.
bet365 latest NBA Western Conference prices … LA Lakers 5/4, SA Spurs 13/5, MIN TWolves 4/1, SAC Kings 4/1, others at bet365 website.
MLB
NY Mets @ CHI Cubs (Live betting)
Fr Apr 23 - 3:20 pm EST/20.00 BST
The Chicago Cubs jumped out early again on Wednesday night, this time tagging Pittsburgh with an opening-inning eight-spot. Corey Patterson banged out a career high five hits while Moises Alou and Derrek Lee each drove in three runs as part of a 15-hit outburst. Sergio Mitre blanked the Bucs on four hits through six innings to earn his first Major League win. On Friday it is the turn of Mike Piazza and the struggling Mets, who will be hoping to turn around their season. Their 2-1 Wednesday night loss to the Expos was their sixth one-run game this season, and their fourth in the last six games. Only one of those games figured in the Mets favor. Join us for live 'Money Line' betting on this game.
NBA and Baseball Bonus
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Basketball: Game Pointspread; Game Total; First Half Spread; Second Half Spread; First Half Total; Second Half Total; Money Line.
Baseball: Run Line; Game Total; Money Line.
NHL Playoffs
MON Canadiens @ TB Lightning (Live betting)
Fr Apr 23 - 7:00 pm EST (ESPN2)/Sa Apr 24 - 00.00 BST
In the first round Tampa Bay dismantled the Islanders 4-1, anchored by goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who tied an NHL playoff record with three shutouts. Next up are the Montreal Canadiens, who won three games in Boston to rally from a 3-1 deficit to stun the second-seeded Bruins. The Canadiens have won 23 Stanley Cup titles, while the Lightning are in the second round for only the second time in their 12-year history. However, while the Canadiens were surviving three elimination games, the Lightning were at home resting from their physical series. By the time the series gets under way, Tampa will have had a week off, while Montreal have had just three days off between games.
Join us for live betting on Friday night's first game in the series where our markets will include: Puck Line; Game Total; Next Goal Scored; Most Shots on Goal; Who Will Win the Period; and Next Period Total.
bet365 latest NHL Eastern Conference prices … TB Lightning 7/4, PHL Flyers 2/1, TOR M Leafs 9/4, MON Canadiens 6/1.
NFL Draft
NFL fans will have more than a passing interest, no pun intended, in this weekend's Draft to be held in New York. With so many talented wide receivers available, a record might have been set before any of them catches a pass from an NFL quarterback, with the 1998 standard of six receivers picked in the first round in jeopardy. There are potentially eight to nine receivers with first round ability, with Larry Fitzgerald of Pittsburgh being regarded by many analysts as the top pick, after he set a college record with a touchdown catch in 18 consecutive games, and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. Here at bet365 we have come up with the following NFL Draft prop:
'Wide Receivers Drafted in 1st Round' … Over 5.5 5/8, Under 5.5 6/5. Check out bet365 for other NFL Draft props.
Vitaly Klitschko v Corey Sanders (Live betting)
Sa Apr 24 - 7:00 pm EST/Su Apr 25 - 00.00 BST
Vitali Klischko will not only be looking to take the vacant WBC Heavyweight title against Sanders at the Staples Center in LA, but also to gain revenge and restore family pride against the man who ruthlessly exposed his kid brother in Germany just over a year ago. On that occasion, South African Sanders sent the boxing world into shock by battering Wladimir Klitschko to defeat in two rounds to land the WBO title, in the biggest turn-up in recent boxing history. A win for Sanders on Saturday would be another massive turn-up. Vitali is 32-0 as a pro, and the experience and confidence he gained by running Lennox Lewis so close should make the difference this time, while all the signs point to him having a better chin than his sibling. However, Sanders looks sure to have a shot at landing some big punches, especially early on. His fights have ended between rounds 1-5 on no less than 26 occasions, and he has a 91% career KO ratio. Given what is at stake it is difficult to see these two punchers hanging around, whoever lands first might be the winner, just don't blink or you might miss it! On the night join us here at bet365 for live round by round betting.
bet365 'To Win Fight' prices … Klitschko 1/6, Sanders 7/2.
bet365 'Total Round' betting … Over 5.5 6/5, Under 5.5 5/8.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Aaron's 499
Su Apr 25 - 1:00 pm EST (FOX)/18.00 BST
This is held at the Talladega Superspeedway, the biggest and fastest of all the NASCAR tracks, which means restrictor plate racing and another likely win for the DEI cars. Five of the last six races here have been won by either Dale Earnhardt or Michael Waltrip, and their dominance looks set to continue. Their chances are reflected in their prices, however, so for a bit of value this week a chance is taken with Tony Stewart, whose car ran very well at Daytona. Others to consider are Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler, who have both shown a liking for restrictor plate racing.
bet365 latest prices … Earnhardt Jr. 2/1, Waltrip 9/2, Harvick 8/1, Sadler 10/1, Stewart 10/1, at bet365 website.
Be lucky!
Nigel.
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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