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06/17/2007 - Halle, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Berdych notched a straight-set victory over Marcos Baghdatis to capture the Gerry Webber Open.
The fourth-seeded Berdych lost just two points on his first serve and posted a 7-5, 6-4 triumph for his first ATP singles crown of 2007. The Czech native was the runner-up last year at this Wimbledon tuneup, losing to grass-court king Roger Federer.
Federer pulled out of this tournament on Monday following his loss to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, paving the way for a new champion.
Berdych took advantage and didn't lose a set this week on the way to his third career ATP title. He hadn't won a tournament since the Masters event in Paris in 2005.
The eighth-seeded Baghdatis, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, was trying for his second title of the year. He beat Ivan Ljubicic for the crown in Zagreb in February and also lost a title match later that month to Gilles Simon in Marseille.
Berdych was dominant early Sunday, winning points on each of his first 14 first serves, but still needed to stave off two set points. He eventually held serve in that 10th game to even the first set at 5-5, then went on to win the next two games.
Baghdatis had his serve broken just once in the first set and again just once in the second, but it was enough because the Cypriot was unable to convert any of his three break-point chances in the match.
Berdych, who earned a first prize of $128,000, evened the lifetime series against Baghdatis at one apiece. Baghdatis had won the lone previous meeting between the two, capturing a round of 16 match at last year's Masters event in Indian Wells.
<< Webb, D-Backs attempt to deal Orioles an eighth straight loss
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Baltimore Orioles try to end a season-long
seven-game losing streak today, when they conclude a three-game interleague
set with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camden Yards.
On Saturday, Miguel Montero sing
<< White Sox ready for rubber match with Pirates
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox take aim at their first series win in
almost a month as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates today in the final
contest of a three-game interleague set at PNC Park.
On Saturday, Mark Buehrle hu
<< Struggling hurlers match up as Reds, Rangers wrap up set
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of right-handers going through trying seasons will
face off when the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers conclude their three-game
interleague series today at Great American Ball Park.
Bronson Arroyo was an All-
<< Jays try to draw even with potential sweep of Nationals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to reach the .500 mark
for the first time since early May as they aim for a three-game sweep of the
Washington Nationals today at Rogers Centre.
Toronto hasn't been even on the season
Morris tries to bail Giants' out of latest jam in Boston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Faced with the possibility of a fourth consecutive loss,
the San Francisco Giants will once again turn to Matt Morris in this
afternoon's finale of a three-game interleague series with the Boston Red Sox
from Fe
Good young pitchers to duel in Royals-Marlins finale >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Bannister puts a three-start win streak on the line
when he takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals in today's rubber match of
a three-game interleague series with the Florida Marlins.
Bannister, who was acqu
Struggling Mariners aim to stay afloat in Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros haven't swept a three-game series at any
time this season. That could change, however, if the disappointing club
manages another victory today over the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park.
Housto
Brewers vie to bully Twins once again >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A refocused Milwaukee Brewers squad shoots for a fifth
consecutive victory and a three-game sweep of the host Minnesota Twins when
the teams play their final 2007 encounter this afternoon at the Metrodome.
The Bre
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.
MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds
With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.
Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season. Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money.
This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy. A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:
| Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State) Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia) Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville) Chris Leak (QB, Florida) Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State) Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame) Drew Tate (QB, Iowa) Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal) Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn) Chad Henne (QB, Michigan) Kyle Wright (QB, Miami) Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State) Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama) JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State) Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina) Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech) |
5-2 7-2 7-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 18-1 18-1 20-1 30-1 35-1 35-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 |
For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.
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