Macca

Well done @Grapeviney ... that post of your trip was wonderful reading. Fabulous snaps and video clips. It was kinda like a bucket-list all on its own in a whirlwind tour - hard to top that one. I did something similar at the Sydney Olympics with Mrs Mac & Scout Mac. You'll have those memories forever GV - great stuff!

A few decent betting races for the weekend with the Group 2 $400k Ted Van Heemst Stakes being the standout race from Ascot ... Galaxy Star ($1.65) probably wins with Willie Pike on board but Material Man & Gatting could both give a good sight. Out of those 3 you'd reckon with Perfect Jewel & Prying Tom running on perhaps. The Ted Van Heemst Stakes is the often used lead-in race to the Perth Cup (to be run on 5th Jan) Also of interest is the December Hcp from Warwick Farm - just the one turn over the 1400m as they run out of the Shute at that venue - as illustrated here Ted Van Heemst St - Ascot December Hcp - Warwick Farm Christmas Hcp - Morphettville Open Hcp - Flemington

I reckon Mahomes for MVP ... he's played great and he's also had a huge impact. Donald, Brees & Rivers have all been fantastic as well but the kid gets into the picture. Meanwhile, the Pro-Bowl selections are out ... Chargers lead the way with 7 selections whilst the Chiefs & Steelers 6 each. Read more here - 2019 Pro Bowl selections for every team: Full NFC, AFC rosters

Just the 1 point on offer this week but what a vital point it could turn out to be! A reminder that week 17 carries 3 points. The Rams look like certainties but finding 2 more looks tricky. A number of divisional games and they're often close. Anyway, good luck all. Leaderboard in the Comp 6 - JV7, Dr. Gonzo, DeeSpencer 5 - layzie, Dappa Dan 4 - Go the Biff, Clintosaurus, Dee Zephyr 3 - titan_uranus, Gorgoroth, Macca 2 - Demon Dave

Ha ha! Just a gut feel Dappa ... Foles and all that. Home field, trap game for the Texans. Everything on the line for Philadelphia. And in this unpredictable season, most of the games are more line-ball than we've realised. The Vegas lines have often been way off-beam. More so than I can ever remember. We've seen a lot of upset wins so we could expect more of the same. Didn't Foles take over at the exact same time last season? And then ...

@Dappa Dan and others ... I had a go at the Playoff Machine and came up with the following notable results. Of course, they all have to happen for my final standings to be accurate. And what are the chances of that happening? Especially the road win projections! Regardless, we are heading for a colossal last 2 weeks. Week 16 KC loss @ Seattle Saints win vs Steelers Eagles win vs Houston Chargers win vs Baltimore Week 17 Colts loss @ Titans Bears win @ Minnesota Chargers win @ Denver Eagles win @ Washington

That is a costly fumble by the Rams

And there will almost certainly be a stack of road winners this week as well JV - maybe up to 7 in all ... it's turned out to be a more interesting comp than I had ever envisaged. And more so this season with 12 participants. Duck eggs all round again this week so you are still joint leader along with Gonzo & DS. And everyone is still in contention. We allow for joint winners. Leaderboard in the Comp 6 - JV7, Dr. Gonzo, DeeSpencer 5 - layzie, Dappa Dan 4 - Go the Biff, Clintosaurus, Dee Zephyr 3 - titan_uranus, Gorgoroth, Macca 2 - Demon Dave

I'm assuming none of those 3 games had started when you posted up your tips so no problem TU

The consensus is 50/50 on the decision though Jack and it can often go the other way so you take the good with the bad. There is likely to be another decision that squares the ledger and that might happen sooner rather than later. The rub of the green works both ways. That type of decision is given out if the 3rd umpire believes that the player has his fingers under the ball even if the players fingers are on the ground or adjacent to the ground. That is the ruling as I understand it. So, what might look like a poor decision is actually a good decision by the letter of the law. Grey area though, all the same. I'm happy with the decision and I'd hold the same opinion if it was one of the Australian batsman. The ruling could be altered but it's been that way for years now.

Our 4 collated picks adds up to a handy 27-1 (boosted) which is quite reasonable considering all 4 potential winning teams are strongly favoured. Good luck. EPL Monday 12.30am Southampton vs Arsenal Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score $2.70 EPL Mpnday 3.00am Liverpool Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score $2.25 vs Manchester United Italian Serie A Monday at 04:00 Cagliari v Napoli Napoli Win/Over 2.5 goals $2.10 Monday at 06:30 AS Roma v Genoa Roma Win/Over 2.5 goals $2.00

The Browns aren't all that far away from a playoff berth Gorg ... they finish off with vs Cinci & then at Baltimore and could win both the way they're playing. Steelers are at home to the Pats tomorrow then at Saints and then home to Cinci. Steelers hold the tie-break advantage over Cleveland so a wild-card berth is probably the best outcome for the Browns.

My tips ... Seattle, Saints, Dallas Paging @titan_uranus @DemonDave @DeeSpencer @Dr. Gonzo

Well @Dee Zephyr , Aloisia ended up running second in the Villiers Stakes and very nearly won at big odds ... my place chance Goodfella wilted late after having to cross the field early from a wide barrier. 'Sky Boy' won the race as expected and looks a very likely prospect. And your choice 'Invincible Al' was very unlucky in the Sprint at Flemington. Whispering Brook too good though ... as was 'Victorem' in the Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben. 'Arcadia Prince' won the AJ Scahill Stakes at Ascot - it is a full brother to 'Arcadia Queen' so another horse to look out for if they bring the horse East. Australian Group & Listed Races Best Bet Strike Rate 69: 23 - 9 - 10 And here are a few stories from yesterday's racing ... Weir Declares War on Bookies with Four at Flemington Houtzen Smashes Clock in Record-breaking Win Accession Steps up in $500,000 Inglis Nursery Unbeaten Zoustyle Something Very Special Emotions Pour Out as Sky Boy Wins Villiers Stakes

Yeah, you're right Gorg ... classic finish though. Chargers are the real-deal and they don't have any sort of home-field advantage. Opposition fans often outnumber the locals when the Chargers play at home. They are the team to watch and might snag the 1 seed if the Chiefs lose at Seattle next week and the Chargers win-out.

Yep ... when in doubt form-wise at this time of the year, trust the ratings. Aloisia falls into that category along with 'Most Important' in the 'Lough Neagh Stakes' at Doomben However, Most Important is racing well and has a very good rating ... it's probably the only true WFA horse in the race and at 10-1, is over the odds you'd reckon DZ.

Just finished watching today's game. That was a great win by the Chargers and I felt sure they weren't going to get the 2 point conversion but they got it. Winning in style. KC are probably scratching their heads saying - "What just happened?" Managed to watch the game in its entirety without knowing the result and that was great viewing. 29-28 is my kind of scoreline. Rivers outpoints Mahomes - the old boy beats the kid. And a big win for Thursday Night Football of which I am a fan. One for the ages.

Yeah it's a good race the Villiers Stakes tomorrow DZ ... was looking for a value runner to include in a Box-Exacta so 'Aloisia' it is then! The horse hasn't been far away running against some very good company in Group 1 & Group 2 races so it has decent claims. 'Goodfella' is a particular favourite so it goes in. If the favourite 'Sky Boy' is run out of a place in the Villiers then the exotic dividends will pay extra well. That's what I bank on although I will still include Sky Boy. Have followed a similar path in the singular feature races at both Doomben & Ascot as well as the 1100m Sprint at Flemington where your choice 'Invincible Al' is running. Those are my 4 standout plays tomorrow.

Weekend Specials EPL Monday 12.30am Southampton vs Arsenal Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score $2.70 EPL Mpnday 3.00am Liverpool Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score $2.25 vs Manchester United

Best Bet Randwick Race 7 No.11 Goodfella (Place Only) $3.70

Found 4 decent betting races for the weekend in 4 different States ... one sprint race with the other 3 races ranging from 1350m up to a mile. Some good types in all 4 races. Randwick - Villiers Stakes 1600m Group 2 Ascot - AJ Scahill Stakes 1400m Group 3 Doomben Lough Neagh Stakes 1350m LR Flemington Open Hcp 1100m

Leaderboard in the Comp 6 - JV7, Dr. Gonzo, DeeSpencer 5 - layzie, Dappa Dan 4 - Go the Biff, Clintosaurus, Dee Zephyr 3 - titan_uranus, Gorgoroth, Macca 2 - Demon Dave

No change to the leaderboard after yet another barren week for tipsters ... a few standouts this week however and we're all playing for a vital 2 points. Week 16 - 1 point & Week 17 - 3 points. The Saturday night games are back as well - ideal Sunday viewing. Will a few punt on Houston and get 1 of the 3 tips up early? Seattle & the Saints are favoured road teams as are the Pats @ Pittsburgh. Good luck! Guess the Lines with Cousin Sal | The Bill Simmons Podcast (Ep. 453) Leaderboard in the Comp 6 - JV7, Dr. Gonzo, DeeSpencer 5 - layzie, Dappa Dan 4 - Go the Biff, Clintosaurus, Dee Zephyr 3 - titan_uranus, Gorgoroth, Macca 2 - Demon Dave

It is now looking very likely that there is just the 1 Wild-card spot up for grabs in the NFC ... 8 & 8 might be enough to get it done and any of the teams from the Vikes down to the Lions can get to that W/L ratio or perhaps better. I reckon Seattle are safe now and Dallas would have to implode to now not win the NFC East. Minnesota are the most likely but they could lose 2 of their last 3 ... vs a confident Miami, @ Detroit, vs Chicago. But all the other teams in contention are faced with similar scenarios and none of the candidates are playing all that well either. After such a horrid season it's hard to believe that GB could sneak in. Final 3 games for the Packers - @ Chicago, @ Jets, vs Lions. Panthers have got the Saints twice and the Eagles have to play the Rams away & Houston. But 1 team has to qualify and we all know that Wild-card teams can get hot from time to time. The team that does qualify will almost certainly be up against the Bears or Cowboys in week 1 of the playoffs.

And maybe things aren't as cut & dried in the NFC either ... Rams held to just 6 points and not only was Goff brought back to Earth, the Bears looked terrific in the process. Has the great D returned to Chicago? Looked like a statement game to me. However, the Rams have an easier run in than the Saints so they still could get to the 1 seed. Saints have to play Carolina twice and Pittsburgh (H) so they could drop 1 of those 3. The Rams final 3 games are vs Eagles, @ Arizona, vs 49ers and none of those 3 teams possess the D that the Bears offered up today.