Week 12 of the NFL season got underway late Thursday night at Heinz Field as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 27-10. This week also sees Tennessee face a stern test in New York, as they look to continue their 10 game winning streak against the NY Jets. One game that catches the eye is the New England Patriots’ against the Miami Dolphins, it remains to be seen if Bill Belichick’s Patriots can deal with Miami’s wildcat offense that beat them so spectacularly in Week 3.

The Chicago Bears travel to The Show-Me State this week to face St Louis and they’ll be looking to bounce back after a big loss to the Packers last week. They are 10/11 to overcome a – 8.5 handicap with totesport. The Bears’ offense has been pretty solid this year, their rookie running back, Matt Forte, is having a great season and now that Kyle Orton I back under centre, I expect them to be firing on all cylinders against a poor Rams team. The Bears defense is slightly under performing at the moment but are still one of the best teams against the run.

And the run game is where St Louis are struggling. Their starting running back won’t play this week which leaves Antonio Pittman to pick up the slack, he’s struggled so far and hasn’t scored a touchdown yet. Their passing game isn’t any better – their quarter back, Marc Bulger, has only thrown 7 touchdowns but has managed to throw 8 interceptions and I think he’ll really struggle this week. St Louis’ offense is ranked 30th in the league, whilst their defense is ranked dead last, Chicago should limit their scoring and should take it by 2 touchdowns or more.

Belichick is one of the best coaches in the NFL, and he’ll have been preparing his New England defense for the wildcat offense that Miami like to use. Their defense has slowly started to get it together – apart from their high scoring game against the Jets last week, the Patriot’s defense had only let in 48 total points in the previous 4 games. Their QB Cassel seems to have finally settled in and he has improved as the season’s gone on, this showed last week as he threw for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Miami’s defense has been a big surprise this season, they are only allowing 19 points a game – which sees them ranked 10th in the league. The bad news is they are ranked 21st against the pass, quite worrying as they come up against an improving Cassel and two of the leagues best receivers in Moss and Welker. They are on a 4 game winning streak but I wouldn’t focus on that too much, their offense isn’t the best and they find themselves ranked 24th on points scored. We think the Dolphins may come unstuck against this tough defense and expect Cassel to have another great game, therefore New England +1.5 at 10/11 on the handicap is a good bet with totesport.

New York travel to the desert this week to take on a good Arizona Cardinals team. The Giants offense is ranked 1st in the league, they have the top ranked rushing game and a Superbowl winning quarter back in Eli Manning. He’s having a good season so far – he’s over 2000 yards with 15 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Their running game is superb, especially their starting running back Brandon Jacobs. He could go over 1000 yards for the season in this game, he has a superb 5.4 yard carry average and has 11 touchdowns to his name. He may not be fully fit this game but they have good backups in Bradshaw (6.7 yards per carry) and Ward (5.3 yards per carry). Their defense is ranked 5th in the league but they are really good against the pass (ranked 2nd).

Arizona have the passing game to match the Giants, but don’t quite have the running game or the defense. Warner is over 3000 yards already and has thrown 20 TDs, but 16 of those went to 2 players – if the Giants can keep them quiet it could be an easy game. Their starting running back is now Tim Hightower but he’s struggling for big yardage games – he has under 300 yards so far and his back up hasn’t helped matters by telling the owners he wants to be released.

Their defense is ranked 22nd in the league having allowed almost 23 points a game, they’re on a winning streak but have allowed teams like San Francisco and Seattle to get over 20 points against them so I can see the Giants putting up around 30 points. It’s a tough game but taking New York Giants -3 on the handicap at 4/5 could pay dividends.

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The declarations in and totesport have announced Saturday’s scoop6 races.

The selection will include four races on the all weather from Lingfield and a race each over the sticks from Haydock and Huntingdon.

It’s a record totescoop6 rollover and a single winner of the win and bonus fund could walk away £4.5 million richer. This could mean one lucky punter could be the biggest winner in UK racing history and totesport are urging punters to get on early to avoid disappointment.

Saturday’s totescoop6 races:

Leg 1, Lingfield - 2.10pm
Leg 2, Lingfield - 2.40pm
Leg 3, Haydock - 2.45pm
Leg 4, Lingfield -3.20pm
Leg 5, Huntingdon -3.30pm
Leg 6, Lingfield - 3.50pm

Click here to bet on the scoop6 with totesport.

That’s the question the totesport traders are asking punters in the countdown to Saturday’s record scoop6 rollover.

Totesport have opened markets on this weekend’s record breaking scoop6 and reckon the bet is 1/4 to be won this Saturday and 11/4 to rollover to Hennessy Gold Cup weekend. After eleven consecutive rollovers this Saturday sees the highest ever win fund and combined rollovers in the history of the totescoop6, with a single winner of both funds potentially scooping up to £4.5 million!

Totesport have also priced up how much money will be taken on the bet this Saturday. The 13/8 joint favourites a Over £2m to £2.5m along with Over £2.5 million to £3million.

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It’s difficult to get excited about International friendlies at the best of times but due to the well publicised ‘injuries’ and squad drop outs, we’re expecting an infestation of damp squibs all over Europe tonight.

Regardless of the England withdrawals the 5/2 on offer with totesport actually looks pretty attractive. I actually thought it might be a good idea to play the complete under-21 team in tonight’s game in Berlin as Capello would probably get a good look at what’s coming through and Stuart Pearce’s team would get some invaluable experience to boot.

I certainly couldn’t back a poor looking Germany side at a very short 11/10 in the betting. The Germans were less than convincing in their recent qualifier with Wales and with a young and inexperienced line-up they’re certainly worth taking on.

Elsewhere, a media circus is in full swing up in Scotland as Diego Maradona comes to town. Scotland’s Assistant Manager has made a complete buffoon of himself claiming that he will not shake Diego’s hand tonight. The ‘Hand of God’ incident obviously still cuts deep for poor old Terry but his public display wasn’t the best idea in the world. It must be difficult enough being an Englishman in the Scottish set up anyway without slagging off one of Scotland’s favourite sons!

I fear it won’t get any better for Butcher tonight as Scotland look to win their first game in eleven at Hampden Park. The Argentinian, buoyed by the legendary Maradona’s arrival into management should take the spoils and the 8/5 about them to win to nil is a steal in the betting.

You can bet live in-running on both of these matches tonight with totesport.

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It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for Rafa Benitez, a fortnight ago they lost their first match of the season away at bottom of the table Tottenham and have since lost at White Hart Lane again in the League Cup, albeit with a weakened team. Add to this a draw at home to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League after a late equaliser and you could begin to question Liverpool’s metal.

You could also argue that they’ve been playing some good football during this period though and perhaps those rather fortuitous victories earlier in the season, when they weren’t playing so well are beginning to even themselves out.

The totesport traders seem happy enough to take Liverpool on as they go best industry price at 4/6 in the betting to win at the Reebok. This could definitely be the bet of the weekend as tough tackling Bolton look to build on a confidence boosting win away to Hull last weekend and an excellent home win against Man City a fortnight ago.

Totesport will be betting live in-play on this match.

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The feature races for Day two and three of the November Open Meeting are the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday and the Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday.

Totesport are betting 1% per runner from Saturday morning. This means that as there are 20 runners in the race we’ll be betting to 120%, offering excellent betting value for the race.

Who to bet on though? Well, favourite is Silverburn at 10/3. The Nicholls trained full brother to Denman has the pedigree but flattered to deceive last season and can be taken on here. Third favourite Imperial Commander looks a better betting proposition at 15/2 for the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable. Well in at the weights and a course and distance winner here he should go close again. At a bigger price, Ashley Brook is sure to give a front running ride to enjoy at 25/1. Winner of the Haldon Cup a fortnight ago there are question marks as to whether he’ll get the trip, hence the price.

On Sunday, the Greatwood Hurdle is seen by many as a Champion Hurdle trial with a high quality list of previous winners to pick from. That saying, on paper it doesn’t look the best renewal with the David Pipe trained Ashkazar head of the betting at 7/2 with totesport. The four year old will carry top weight here and after an impressive win in last seasons Imperial Cup at Sandown he was beaten when well fancied in the Fred Winter a few days later.

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Week 11 got underway late on Thursday night in the NFL with a great game that saw the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 34-31 after overtime, there are a couple of good looking matches this weekend and we’ve taken a detailed look at some of the games with good NFL betting opportunities.

The Tennessee Titans are the surprise package of the season, being the only team to win all their games. They have two good running backs in White and Johnson and they lead the league in rushing touchdowns with sixteen between them. The Titans quarter-back has plenty of experience and manages the game well and if the running game is struggling he can be trusted to move the ball through the air.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled to score this season, and their running game isn’t the best. They’ve only won four of their nine games and we can see them really struggling against a very good Tennessee defense, taking Tennessee (-2.5) on the handicap at 4/5 with totesport is a good bet.

The Arizona Cardinals are another team playing well this year and their offense is ranked best in the league on points scored. Veteran quarterback Kurt Warner is having a great season – he’s ranked 2nd on total passing yards, total touchdowns thrown and has the highest QB rating in the league. Arizona also like to play with 2 running backs who have done well so far, having rushed for 10 touchdowns between them.

The Seattle Seahawks are a little banged up on both offense and defense. Their offense is really struggling and they’re ranked one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. Defensively they are not what they were, the fact that Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney is also missing doesn’t help. They are allowing 252 passing yards per game, which sees them ranked 31st in the league and I think Kurt Warner will take advantage. Therefore the Cardinals (-2.5) on the handicap looks a decent bet at 8/11 with totesport.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were a little unlucky against the Indianapolis Colts last week and I expect them to bounce back this week against the San Diego Chargers, they’re are available at 10/11 with totesport to overcome a -4.5 handicap. Although their offense isn’t the best, neither is the Chargers’ defense. Pittsburgh’s defense is one of the best in the league - they are only allowing 15 points a game and they are ranked first against the pass and second against the run.

San Diego’s main worry, apart from their inconsistency, is their defence. They’re allowing more than 24 points a game and are currently the worst team against the pass, something ‘Big’ Ben Roethlisberger will look to take advantage of.

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Saturday sees a record rollover weekend of the totescoop6, with a single winner of the win and bonus fund potentially scooping £2.5 million.

The win fund is currently sitting at £1.3 million before Saturday’s additions and could get up to a staggering£2 million.

A lucky winner will get a chance to win the bonus fund the following weekend which could well be another £800k.

Saturday’s totescoop6 races

Leg 1, Cheltenham - 2.00pm
Leg 2, Cheltenham - 2.35pm
Leg 3, Wetherby- 2.55pm
Leg 4, Cheltenham - 3.10pm
Leg 5, Wetherby- 3.25pm
Leg 6, Cheltenham - 3.45pm

Click here for all totescoop6 and totepool betting

The National Hunt season really kicks off today with the start of the three-day Open meeting from Cheltenham.

The meeting kicks off at 1.15pm with the Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase. The queen of the amateur riding set is Nina Carberry and she has an interesting mount on board Irish raider Aggie’s Lad. Respect is always worth paying when Tony Martin sends one of his charges over the Irish Sea and the 9/2 available at totesport suggests this is no different.

There are a couple of short priced favourites in the second and third races at Prestbury Park in the shape of the Paul Nicholls trained American Trilogy (11/8) and Nigel Twiston-Davies charge Battlecry (8/11) respectively.

The highlight of the afternoon’s racing is undoubtedly the cross country chase at three O’clock and there’s some really interesting runners. Enda Bolger will again hope to take the prize after stable star Spotthedifference won the race an incredible four times and retired after last years win.

Bolger comes here double handed with Garde Champetre, winner of the festival Cross Country race back in March and new acquisition and former Gold Cup and Grand National runner L’Ami.

Garde Champetre is certainly the one to beat here at odds of 15/8 with totesport but is giving nearly a stone away to stable companion L’Ami, who if takes to the fences could capitalise. If you’re looking for some each-way value, unknown sort Juventus travels over from the Czech Republic. The cross-country specialist has placed three times in the prestigious Velka Pardubicka, including third in the latest renewal and is a 33/1 shot in the betting with totesport.

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After a shambolic episode of the UK’s favourite car crash TV program the X Factor last week where Laura White got cruelly eliminated from the show, it seems as though it’s been the hot topic of conversation on the lips of housewives and teenagers up and down the country.

In fact, following a large internet campaign and even a mention in parliament from the Culture Secretary about the injustice of Laura being eliminated from the show, totesport are offering 5/1 about her being re-instated into the program.

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