Macca

Couple of Listed races at Gosford coming up on Thursday ... both good betting races too if you can sort out the form. There are numerous chances in either race. As for the weekend, there's a dearth of quality races although the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington sees 'Champagne Cuddles' making a return to racing in the 1000m dash. Gosford Gold Cup - Thursday Takeover Target Stakes - Gosford (Thursday) Kensington Stakes - Flemington (Saturday)

Extended highlights of today's games - click on the youtube link to view

It will be one hell of a match-up. Same goes for the AFC. In the end, we got the best 2 teams from each conference so bring it on.

Yeah, I was hearing Foles to Tate a fair bit but must have been on the earlier drives. Speaking of drives, good teams seem able to have long drives as part of who they are. The Saints being no exception with that 90+ yard, 18 play drive that seemed to go on forever ... proved the difference as the Eagles just couldn't get hold of the ball and then keep it. Yet, a couple more completions on that last drive and you possibly/probably win the game.

Leaderboard - Post-Season Tipping Comp (Gorg looking for the clean-sweep!) 8 - Gorgoroth 6 - Go the Biff 5 - DeeSpencer, Macca 4 - JV7, Dappa Dan 3 - DemonDave, Dee Zephyr 2 - Clintosaurus 1 - titan_uranus 0 - TWSNBN 2 points on offer for each winner next week n.b. A total of 5 points available for the SB winner with 2 of those points acting as bonus points if your winning team's score falls within 3 points of the actual winners score. So there is a total of 9 potential available points for the last 3 games of the playoffs. Next Week's Schedule Monday 7.05am LA Rams @ New Orleans (-3.5) Monday 10.40am New England @ Kansas City (-3.0)

Hard luck there @Dappa Dan ... only radio my end but it sounded like the Eagles put in a mighty effort. The Saints covered Tate very well who seemed to be Foles' go-to man (more so late in the game?) Stopped your run as well but you still could have won the game with an extra completion or 2. But at New Orleans is always difficult and the home crowd noise via the radio coverage was deafening. Going up 14 - 0 had no effect on the 12th man. It will be the same next week for the Rams who will also need to find a way to quell Rivers, Kamara, Ingram & Thomas.

Go here for a live feed from BBC Radio 5 Live. Not sure whether the actual games are available as well but we'll found out soon enough.

Leaderboard - Post-Season Tipping Comp 6 - Gorgoroth 4 - Go the Biff, Dappa Dan 3 - JV7, DeeSpencer, Macca 2 - DemonDave, Clintosaurus 1 - Dee Zephyr, titan_uranus 0 - The Usual Suspects

Rams win in impressive style with a supreme running game being the standout feature ... either at home to the Eagles next week or at the Saints. Either way, the Rams have got their game going again - they're going to be hard to stop.

Not exactly home field advantage for the Rams with so many Cowboy fans in the building ... it's more like a neutral field. Dallas 7 Rams 3 after that Amari Cooper TD. Edit: And just like that the Rams go out to a 20 - 7 lead with 2 minutes to go in the first half. Dallas with the ball. The Cowboys don't seem to have an answer to the Rams running game - a massive 162 yards already with Anderson & Gurley dominating.

KC way too good ... smashed the Colts in yards gained especially in the first half. But the surprise was the KC defence - superb. The stats were padded-out in the 2nd half but the Colts were never in it. All that without a Mahomes TD pass so the upside is there as well. At home again next week vs Pats or Chargers.

Hammers win again and now up to 8th after defeating the Gunners for only the 2nd time in the last 20 meetings between the 2 clubs ... close to 60k at the London Stadium too. Pellegrini has done a remarkable job with a squad that isn't exactly star-studded. Strange seeing Samir Nasri running around for West Ham but he played very well tonight and is a welcome addition. And the word is that Arnautovic could be leaving and the destination might be China. Spurs vs Man Utd is the feature EPL game on this weekend ... Monday morning at 03.30am. I'm tipping we'll see a few goals in the game. Might go 3 - 2 either way.

Paging @DeeSpencer @titan_uranus @DemonDave @Dr. Gonzo @layzie @WERRIDEE ... or anyone else who might like to participate in the post season tipping comp. Straight winners and (optional) scorelines only are needed. I point for each winner this week, 2 points for each winner in week 3 and a total of 5 points up for grabs for the SB winner (2 bonus points apply for the SB) Leaderboard (Post Season Tipping Comp) 4 - Gorgoroth 2 - Go the Biff, Dappa Dan, DeeSpencer 1 - JV7, titan_uranus, Clintosaurus, Macca 0 - TWSNBN Schedule Sunday 8.35am Colts @ KC (-6.5) Sunday 12.15pm Dallas @ LA Rams (-6.5) Monday 5.05am Chargers @ Patriots (-4.5) Monday 8.40am Eagles @ Saints (-8.5)

I'll add with 1 choice again this week DZ. Portuguese Premeira Liga Monday 07.00am $3.30 Rio Ave Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score vs Vitoria Setubal Amounts to 16-1 (boosted) ... 10 units will return 170 units if successful.

I was with Exhilarates ... I had to be after talking the horse up all week! Dubious just found one better DZ. Gallant in defeat and another one to watch. Unite and Conquer shouldn't be forgotten either - was 4 wide without cover and never really had a chance.

Another winner @Dee Zephyr ... you're on fire! I got on to Turnberry with the help of some bonus bets and Robbie Dolan did well to get the horse out. Winner/Winner. Strike Rate today 2: 1 - 1 - 0

'Exhilarates' wins the MM 2YO Classic ... came from the rear of the field and swamped them. Looks a real horse for the future - very impressive. Only a little horse but the closing speed is there to see. The James Cummings stamp obviously.

Chauffeur wins the 1100m sprint under a new trainer at good odds. Form was way below average but DK Weir does it again. He really is the master trainer. Wasn't on it but I did look at it ? My earlier tip at the Gold Coast 'Manicure' just got pipped but ran a good race for 2nd placing. Edit: Classic finish in the MM Guineas ... Boomsara holds out Bondi who were both running from wide barriers. Outback Barbie 3rd although there's a protest 3rd against 2nd. With $190k being the difference in prizemoney from 2nd & 3rd, I'm not surprised.

They went quite quick up front and 'Spirit of Nia' was a bit of a nuisance for a time. I thought El Mag ran very well and it boxed on to the line. It looks like they ran under 01:18 for the 1300m so the horse could be looking for further than just the 1000m. Still early doors but encouraging signs. Missed the F4 but only had a small outlay for a small percentage so no great loss DZ. Threw in a few roughies looking for the big dividend ... the theory only works if enough of the roughies get into the finish! One of them was 'Spirit of Nia' and it was looking good for a while there. And yeah, all Cranbourne trained horses won tonight according to Terry Bailey. Over to the soccer again now (leading 2 - 0)

The money has come again for El Mag @Dee Zephyr I've taken out a F4 in the race and just got the winner in the previous race with Pissaro thanks to a pre-race tip from Terry Bailey & Ben Asgari. Won well too but the horse did have some decent group racing history (4th to Ace High in a Derby)

Bumper crowd again in Adelaide tonight - the Stars could be chasing a few. Here's the table before tonight's game. Keep in mind the BBL is now a 14 game season. Michael Hussey reckons that 7 wins with a healthy net run rate could secure a finals berth.

CA receive upwards of $7Million from the BCCI for each one of the ODI's that we play against India. The ODI's aren't going anywhere. There is too much money at stake and it is always about the money. But I don't see why the players can't play in the Big Bash and the ODI's. Major League baseball players play a 162 game season with very few days off. They call it the 'Grind' over there but they all seem to manage ok. By contrast, a player playing in the ODI's, International t20's and the Big Bash would be playing 25 games max. No comparison really is it?

Before you know it we'll be a good side again ... and it may happen quicker than many think. Out of all these young blokes we only have to produce 2 or 3 gems and then away you go. Bancroft is in the mix as well whilst players like Maddinson, Silk and 1 or 2 others might make it. If our Demons can come good then so too can the Australian test side. After the Ashes are completed in September, Pakistan & NZ are here next summer for 2 & 3 tests respectively followed by 2 tests against Bangladesh in early 2020. A bit easier but ... there is a gap before India are here again in the summer of 2020/21 for another 4 Tests. If I recall correctly, we went to India twice in the recent past without a return series here in the middle of those 2 series. So that is probably the reason why we are playing them twice in a row on Aussie soil. By the way, CA make a stack of money selling the broadcast rights whenever we play India ... it is an absolute cash-cow in real terms. That is why we play them at International level every year. Business is business. And we'll be able to judge Paine better if he has a much better team to work with. Let's face it, Langer isn't being scrutinised that harshly as most have come to the realisation that we aren't all that talented (more so with the batting)

Best Bet Gold Coast Race 6 No.5 Manicure $3.20

Paine is an excellent keeper and would probably make more runs in a better side. As for the captaincy, there aren't any real alternatives. Smith is ineligible for another 15 months and Khawaja doesn't seem the type. Nor do any of the bowlers. The real issue is the batting and it is going to take quite some time to build a solid top 6. Because of that situation, the captaincy becomes somewhat of a non factor. "If it is to be it is up to me" has to be the motto for any batsman - anytime. For any team. The captain can't bat for them. Overall talent = Wins.