Macca

I'll have a go at 2 this week @Dee Zephyr as part of our 3pick (?) Nice wide-buffer with the margins in my 2 choices so here's hoping! NFL Monday $2.60 Baltimore (1-13) vs LA Chargers $2.40 Chicago (1-13) vs Philadelphia

I was concerned with Lamborghini DZ and the horse has now beaten Creedence at its last 2 starts. Anyway, 'Heart Conquered' salutes ... another winner for you DZ. You're in good form! With all the scratchings I'm surprised HC drifted in the market though. 2: 1 - 1 - 0 for the day so our strike rate is slowly but surely improving. Best Bet Strike Rate 75: 27 - 11 - 10 Australian Group & Listed Races

I've had an exacta in the race DZ and have included the top 3 in the market as well as Cappo D'oro (overs at 25-1?) on top for a bit of value ... also included Khartoum, Elegant Blast & Perfect Jewel in for 2nd to hopefully boost up the dividend. I'm quite confident of getting it but am obviously looking for the right combination. 'Gatting' (which has drawn wide) and 'Action' will probably both be coming from the back so they both might need luck in the running. By contrast, 'Mississippi Delta' seems to have drawn well in 6. Should be a good race. Here's the field

Not sure we've had any Beach Boys posted ... as always, great harmonies.

Not sure anyone has got close with all 4 (including the margins) as in previous years the best result for any of the first 2 weeks has generally been 3 from 4 DZ. Also, in this year's 1st week the lines seem awfully close as compared to other years. I honestly reckon all 4 games are 'Pick 'em' affairs so I just went for the home teams ... but at least 1 of the road teams will probably win. That's been the trend for years now. The Chargers bring the best overall form from the wild-card teams but Seattle, Eagles & the Colts are all very capable. The 4 road teams winning is paying 33-1 with Philadelphia the biggest outsider at 9-4.

Best Bet Caulfield Race 7 No.10 Creedence $5.00

Colts 23 Houston 28 Seattle 21 Dallas 24 Chargers 22 Baltimore 27 Philadelphia 17 Chicago 20

I believe it's the lowest winning total GTB but in terms of degree of difficulty, it's been off the charts this season so the winning total by DS needs to be looked at that way. I think Clint set the high-score record last year of around about 14 or 15 points but I'd have to scroll back to check the other 4 seasons. Previous to Clint's record the high-score might have been 12 or so. One thing I do know is that the last week regularly delivers the 3 points to most of the participants ... but again, the form is easier to read with teams resting players whilst other teams that have to win usually do so. With the odd exception such as the Vikings against the Bears.

Here's an interesting read from ESPN Barnwell's 2018 lessons: What this NFL season means for 2019 And the lines for next weekend Indianapolis @ Houston (-2.5) Seattle @ Dallas (-2.5) Chargers @ Baltimore (-2.5) Philadelphia @ Chicago (-5.5)

Happy New Year Wadda and the same to all the punters out there including the regulars here in DZ & BM. And we kick off the year with a decent card at Flemington today - no rest for the wicked! Looking forward to seeing how the boom filly 'Enood' runs today - races in 5 minutes actually. The Standish Hcp & Bagot Hcp are good races too.

Whilst I'm here ... had a bit of a small do-over of the post season tipping comp and came up with the following points system. Remembering that straight winners (home or away) only are required and we've traditionally given scorelines as an add-on. But whilst the scorelines haven't been needed previously, I've incorporated the scorelines into the SB match so as to add some interest and to keep people interested. Week 1 - For each winner - I point Week 2 - For each winner - 1 point Week 3 - For each winner - 2 points SB - Winner - 3 points plus ... an extra 2 points if the actual winning score (not margin) of the winning team falls within 3 points of your team's nominated winning score. Example - Actual score ends up as Ravens 30 Seattle 28 If your scoreline had the Ravens winning and if the score you post up is anywhere from 27 - 33 points for the Ravens, you'll be awarded 3 points for the win and 2 extra bonus points from the example provided. n.b. Your scoreline has to have the Ravens winning to qualify for the 2 bonus points. The losing team's score in the SB is not relevant with regards to the possible bonus points available. So it's fairly straight forward apart from SB week where you can gain a total of 5 points if your scoreline is on the money. If we can get 4 or 5 starters or more, we can go ahead with it. And if you've got some thoughts on the post-season tipping comp, feel free to express those thoughts. Anyway, here are the games for week 1 Schedule for next week (all times AEDT) Sunday 8.35am Colts @ Houston Sunday 12.15pm Seattle @ Dallas Monday 5.00am Chargers @ Baltimore Monday 8.30am Philadelphia @ Chicago

Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2018 DeeSpencer Clintosaurus, Gorgoroth, Dappa Dan Dee Zephyr, Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 Clintosaurus Go the Biff Dappa Dan --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell Clintosaurus/ DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell/ Macca JV7/ DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 Dappa Dan DeeSpencer Gorgoroth --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 cowboy_from_hell/ pantaloons/ Gorgoroth Strafford Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2017 Macca Clintosaurus Go the Biff/ JV7/ Gorgoroth --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth/ JV7 Clintosaurus Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 JV7/ cowboy_from_hell Gorgoroth/ Macca DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 JV7/ pantaloons Gorgoroth/ Go the Biff Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboyfhell/ Macca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall Medal Tally Gold Silver Bronze Macca 3 1 4 Gorgoroth 3 0 6 JV7 2 2 1 ---------------------------------------------------- cowboy_from_hell 1 3 1 DeeSpencer 1 2 2 Clintosaurus 1 2 2 Go the Biff 1 1 1 Dappa Dan 1 1 1 Strafford 1 0 0 titan_uranus 1 0 0 DeeSpencer 1 2 2 pantaloons 0 2 0 DemonDave 0 1 0 Dee Zephyr 0 0 1

And we have a winner in the tipping comp for the 2018 season! Congratulations go out to @DeeSpencer ... well played and well done! DeeSpencer scored heavily in the 2nd half of the season and even missed a couple of weeks so is a worthy winner. Hard luck to former winners in @Clintosaurus & @Dappa Dan in coming equal 2nd on points gained ... it came down to the very last game to decide things so the whole comp couldn't have been scripted better. Another former winner in @Gorgoroth shared 3rd place on points along with @Dee Zephyr and yours truly. Commiserations go out to @JV7 & @Dr. Gonzo who both led the Comp for a long period there and then both got passed in the last week. That's tipping for you! We might have to start calling you 'Schillaci' JV! As for @layzie @titan_uranus @Go the Biff & @DemonDave - there's always the Post Season tipping comp for the 2nd chance! But thanks to all for participating. It's been a lot of fun for me this season with a dozen people involved and for a while there I thought we were going to have multiple winners. But fair play to all in the way that you've participated - my task in running the comp has been made quite easy because of that. Hope to see you all for the post season tipping comp! Final Tally in the Tipping Comp 9 - DeeSpencer 8 - Clintosaurus, Dappa Dan 7 - Gorgoroth, Dee Zephyr, Macca ---------------------------------------------------------- 6 - JV7, Dr. Gonzo, layzie, titan_uranus 4 - Go the Biff 3 - DemonDave But to the winner goes the spoils

Ironically the team you're up against in week 1 of the playoffs is the team that helped you get there. Just hope that Foles gets up for the game as you're almost certainly going to need him up against the Chicago D. If you do happen to win you'll be up against the Saints in week 2 I believe where as if Chicago win they will be up against the Rams in week 2. But I've seen any number of teams win the whole thing after starting out in week 1 of the playoffs (including a number of wild-card teams) Anyway, keep us posted on the Eagles QB position if you can. By the way, Louis Riddick has been singing the praises of the Bears for at least the last month and on Friday he declared them as SB winners. Defense does travel but the Bears are going to have to travel at least once on the road to get to the SB. Probably twice.

Schedule for next week (all times AEDT) Sunday 8.35am Colts/Titans @ Houston Sunday 12.15pm Seattle @ Dallas Monday 5.00am Chargers @ Baltimore Monday 8.30am Philadelphia @ Chicago

Interesting call but a lot of these sorts of calls fall under the 'Unwritten Rule' category DZ. Seen it happen before where the team with nothing to gain apart from the 'Win' endeavours to win by getting a TD rather than a 3 pointer. Therefore, I wasn't surprised by the call. Their own fans might have wanted to try for the TD too (or at least get closer to the uprights and then go for the field goal if time is running out)

Browns couldn't get it done so the Ravens win the AFC North. That was an exciting finish to the season and we've still got the Colts/Titans game to follow. Mariota not expected to play so the Colts are favoured. Apparently if the Colts/Titans game ends in a tie then Pittsburgh gains the wild-card spot. You just never know.

The Colts/Titans game to decide the winner in the tipping comp ... so after all that it is Clintosaurus vs DeeSpencer for the outright victory. Leaderboard in the Comp (dark italics indicates final score) 8 - Clintosaurus 7 - Gorgoroth 6 - DeeSpencer (Colts), JV7, layzie, Dr.Gonzo, titan_uranus 5 - Dappa Dan (Colts) 4 - Dee Zephyr (Colts), Macca (Colts) Go the Biff 3 - Demon Dave

50/50 then for Foles? What is the actual issue with the Wentz injury Dappa?

So if Wentz is unlikely to play again this year how can he play next week?

Those chest injuries can be tricky especially with regards to throwing Wentz ok to play next week yeah? Bears 21 Vikes 10 with under 8 minutes to go at Minnesota ... A TD with a 2 point conversion makes it 11 points the difference.

Rams to win you'd reckon leading the 49ers 38 - 10 and the Vikes have closed the gap on the Bears ... Vikes 10 Bears 13. Eagles leading Washington 17 - 0. Browns making a game of it at Baltimore ... Ravens 23 Cleveland 14

49ers get a late TD in the first half to keep the Rams honest. When to rest starters and when not to rest them hey Dappa? Great viewing - 'Redzone' in its element right now

The NFC North rivalry means no prisoners ... all the teams hate each other no end. There's a chance that the Bears will rest of few of their starters but they will still not want to lose the game. Their defense probably stays intact?

The Bears/Vikes game is the big watch Dappa - Matt Nagy has stated that he will keep an eye on the Rams scoreline but I reckon they are enjoying winning too much to back off. I could be wrong though. Rams lead the 49ers 21 - 3 Bears lead the Vikes 13 - 0 Eagles lead Washington 10 - 0