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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
Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."
When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules.
The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.
The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.
“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”
The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.
“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”
The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.
“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”
Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.
“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."
So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?
“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.
Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.
Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.
Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.
“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.
Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.
The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.
“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.
Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.
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Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
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