Federer, Soderling, Berdych move on; Roddick pulls out in Toronto
Tennis Betting Lines
08/10/2010 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third seed Roger Federer, French Open finalist Robin Soderling and Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych were second-round winners at the $2.43 million Roger Cup, an ATP Masters event. Former champion Andy Roddick pulled out of the draw here on Tuesday, citing an illness.
Federer, who captured this event in 2004 and 2006 and was the runner-up in 2007, scored a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 victory over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela during the night session.
Federer wasted a 5-2 lead in the first set, but used a forehand smash to finish the tiebreaker. The super Swiss, who improved to 5-0 lifetime against Chela, is playing in his first tournament since losing in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on June 30. It's also the first time Federer is ranked No. 3 in an event since the 2003 Tennis Masters Cup in Houston.
Soderling, the fifth seed from Sweden, topped Latvia's Ernests Gulbis, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Soderling has been the runner-up at the French Open the last two years.
The seventh-seeded Berdych handled Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2, 6-4 in 90 minutes on the hardcourts at Rexall Centre. The 6-foot-4 Berdych was a runner- up at the Miami Masters tournament back in April.
Roddick, meanwhile, was seeded eighth here and received a bye into the second round, where France's Paul Henri Mathieu will now take his place in the draw on Wednesday.
The former world No. 1 Roddick, who captured this Canadian event in 2003 and was the runner-up in 2002 and 2004, dropped out of the top 10 this week, leaving the men's top 10 without an American for the first time since the computer rankings began in 1973.
All the remaining matches Tuesday were from round one. Ninth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco defeated Argentina's Eduardo Schwank, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2.
Unseeded Argentine David Nalbandian remained hot by outlasting and upending 10th-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in 2 hours, 15 minutes. Nalbandian tallied six service breaks, while Ferrer settled for five in the hard-fought affair.
Nalbandian is fresh off his title in Washington, D.C.. where he beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in a hardcourt finale. The former top-five Argentine has now won his last nine matches overall.
Baghdatis will not reach a second final in two weeks, as the former Aussie Open runner-up succumbed to France's Jeremy Chardy 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) in round one Tuesday.
Serb Viktor Troicki posted a first-round upset by dismissing 11th-seeded Croat Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).
Frenchman Gael Monfils, the 15th seed, ousted India's Somdev Devvarman, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Sam Querrey, the 16th seed, topped fellow American Michael Russell, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Additional first-round wins came for Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, Taipei's Yen-Hsun Lu, Belgian Xavier Malisse and Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini, who erased Czech Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-4.
Andy Murray beat Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in last year's final in Montreal. This tournament shifts between Montreal and Toronto each year.
This week's big winner will collect $443,500.
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics on Tuesday waived forward Rasheed Wallace, paving the way for the veteran's retirement. Wallace, who will turn 36 in September, had two years remaining on his three- year, $18.9 million c
<< Real wants for more road success at Philadelphia
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake has just one loss in its last 14
matches and the defending Major League Soccer Cup champions could overtake the
Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference with two wins this week.
L.A. seized c
<< N.Y., Henry set for huge match against Toronto
Harrison, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York should have Thierry Henry in
the starting lineup Wednesday against Toronto FC, but Rafael Marquez will miss
the Major League Soccer match while on international duty with Mexico.
New York's t
<< Rohanna shares medalist honors at Women's Amateur
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A day after setting the scoring record at the
U.S. Women's Amateur, Rachel Rohanna struggled to a one-over 73, but still
managed to share medalist honors as the second round of stroke play was
complet
<< Reds and Cardinals tempers flare
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals
were involved in a benches-clearing incident before the bottom of the first
inning got underway in Tuesday's game at Great American Ball Park.
Brandon Phillips, w
Mainz, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mainz sealed the signing of veteran goalie Martin Pieckenhagen on a one-year contract Tuesday. Pieckenhagen spent the last five years at the first-team goalie at Dutch club Heracles. Mainz signed Piecken
Stuttgart signs Audel from Valenciennes >>
Stuttgart, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stuttgart acquired Johan Audel from
French club Valenciennes and signed him to a four-year deal.
Audel, a striker/winger, scored seven goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances one year
ago for Valenciennes.
Braves' Jones leaves game >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones left
Tuesday's game against Houston in the bottom of the sixth with an apparent leg
injury.
Jones was hurt making a spectacular defensive play to throw out Hunter Penc
Hellickson impressive again, Rays shut down Tigers >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeremy Hellickson tossed seven scoreless
innings in his second major league start, as the Tampa Bay Rays dominated the
Detroit Tigers, 8-0, in the second test of a three-game series at Comerica
Park.
Father of Indiana player killed in plane crash >>
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -Indiana tight end Paul Phillips has left campus to be with his family after his father was killed and one of his brothers survived the Alaskan plane crash that killed ex-U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.Bill Phillips Sr. was one of five
New York, NY – October 3, 2007 – The dress rehearsal is over! The NHL preseason has ended and now that fans have had a glimpse of what is to come it is time to hit the book! Stanley Cup odds are live at MySportsbook.com, the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino.
The Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings remain on top of the odds charts after an impressive start in the preseason. Betting lines opened for both teams at 6-1 in June. Since then the Sens have fallen to 7-1 and the Red Wings are now caught in a pack including the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes, the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks, all at 10-1.
MySportsbook.com has also posted props on each team’s point total for the regular season. The Senators lead the charge at 108.5 followed by the Ducks at 106.5. Detroit will attempt a repeat for the prize as the Red Wings are deadlocked with the Predators at 104.5 a piece. The temporary loss of highly touted rookie Evgeni Malkin puts a lot of pressure on the stick of assistant captain Sidney Crosby - his lowly Pittsburgh Penguins are listed at 71.5.
Even if bettors are not brave enough to put their money on the underdog, an early bet on the favorites at sportsbook.com tends to produce bigger payouts than a mid-season wager. Placing a $1,000 bet last summer on the Detroit Red Wings or Ottawa Senators would have paid out to $8,000 and $10,000 respectively, opposed to a $2,500 or $3,000 payout at the beginning of the playoffs.
Stanley Cup Odds
| Ottawa Senators Detroit Red Wings Carolina Hurricanes San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Philadelphia Flyers Calgary Flames New Jersey Devils Buffalo Sabres Dallas Stars New York Rangers Nashville Predators Vancouver Canucks Colorado Avalanche Minnesota Wild Tampa Bay Lightning Boston Bruins Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Atlanta Thrashers Toronto Maple Leafs Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes Los Angeles Kings New York Islanders Columbus Blue Jackets St. Louis Blues Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals Chicago Blackhawks |
7-1 10-1 10-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 15-1 20-1 20-1 25-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 40-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 80-1 80-1 100-1 100-1 |
NHL Regular Season Points - Team Must Play 82 Games
| Team Ottawa Senators Anaheim Ducks Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils Buffalo Sabres Carolina Hurricanes Dallas Stars New York Rangers Minnesota Wild Atlanta Thrashers Montreal Canadiens Team Los Angeles Kings Tampa Bay Lightening Vancouver Canucks Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes Toronto Maple Leafs Florida Panthers Columbus Blue Jackets New York Islanders Chicago Blackhawks St. Louis Blues Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins |
Over/Under 108.5 106.5 104.5 104.5 103.5 101.5 100.5 99.5 97.5 97.5 97.5 95.5 94.5 93.5 92.5 Over/Under 91.5 91.5 91.5 89.5 89.5 88.5 88.5 86.5 84.5 82.5 80.5 72.5 72.5 72.5 71.5 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey sportsbook needs.
Sportsbooks to bet on football
Recently I had an email debate with an angry reader who said I did not understand "the science of oddsmaking", as he called it.
He said I was wrong for suggesting oddsmakers care about who wins or loses games.
"Oddsmakers only care about splitting the betting public 50/50 on both sides of the line and keeping the commission (a.k.a. juice)," he wrote.
He might have been right about not understanding "the science of oddsmaking". After all, I'm not an oddsmaker. That said, I stick to my assertion that oddsmakers (a.k.a. sportbooks) often do care about who wins games.
Granted, as a general rule, sportsbooks try to balance their action so that they're not exposed to big losses. However, there are times when this is difficult to pull off, regardless of how much a line has moved. There are also times when that general rule is ignored and a book pursues risk.
Generally speaking, it's safe to say the books in Vegas are risk-adverse. Unlike in the past when the wise guys ruled the town, Vegas is now corporate and the goal of most casinos is to make as much money as possible with as little risk as possible.
Thus, Vegas sportsbooks try everything in their power to balance the action. They're satisfied simply collecting the juice. But these profits are small, especially compared to the take from other casino games, namely slot machines.
Because the profits at Vegas sportsbooks are so small, you could argue that many casinos operate sportsbooks simply as a novelty to keep the tourists happy.
With a growing aversion to risk, it should come as no surprise that Vegas bookmakers have been panicking this NFL season.
Despite huge pointspreads, a disproportionate percentage of bettors are still laying their money on favorites like the Eagles, Colts, Pats and Vikings rather than the dogs (a common trend for the largely recreational bettors that visit Vegas).
And much to the dismay of the books, those favorites are finding ways to cover the thick chalk. In fact, prior to Week 7, the four teams listed above are a combined 16-2-2 (88 percent) against the spread. (The tables turned dramatically in Week 7, but more on that later.)
The result has been an early-season beating for the books, and a bonanza for bettors.
While Vegas increasingly hates risk, it's no longer a major player in the sports betting world. Most of the betting action now takes place offshore where sportsbooks are not as obsessed about balance. In fact, some books encourage exposure to risk because the rewards can be so much bigger.
Consider MySportsbook.com. On its website, the book has odds pages which actually display the amount of action it's getting on games. In other words, you can see how much action the book is taking on both sides of a pointspread, moneyline or over/under.
One look at these numbers and it's obvious MySportsbook.com does not balance every game. In fact, far from it.
Take last weekend's matchup between St. Louis and Miami. By game time on Sunday, 83 percent of the betting action at MySportsbook.com was on the Rams; only 17 percent was on Miami.
What's interesting is that MySportsbook.com opened the pointspread with Miami at +6 1/2. By game time, the spread had lowered to +5.
That goes contrary to the balancing theory. If MySportsbook.com had wanted to balance the action, it would have given Miami more points; instead, it took away 1 1/2. World Series odds are now up as well.
MySportsbook.com exposed itself to even more to risk, and rolled the dice on the underdog Dolphins. Why? I contacted a representative with the book to find out. His answer was simple.
"The line moved early based on 'smart money' from sharp players," said Jeff Gilroy, a spokesperson for the book. "We also knew from early in the week that we would need Miami, therefore (we dropped) the spread to encourage Rams money.
"At the end of the day, we liked the home team."
So the conclusion is this: MySportsbook.com respected the sharp action, and gambled that the sharp bettors had a better take on the game than the recreational bettors, who were hammering the visiting Rams.
In the end, the gamble paid off. Miami, desperate for a win in front of its home fans, pounded the overrated Rams, who are terrible on the road and even worse on grass. Final score: 31-14 Fish.
MySportsbook.com was also heavily exposed on numerous favorites in Week 7, including Philadelphia, Seattle and Denver. All three failed to cover.
The fact that sportsbooks are exposed to risk on certain games is really nothing new. The fact, that Sportsbook.com is willing to show the public where it's exposed is intriguing.
Armed with this type of information, bettors can make more educated wagers. They can get an idea where the sharp money is going and conversely where the public money is headed.
MySportsbook.com is opening up its cashbox, letting bettors look inside and challenging them to take their best shot at grabbing the cash.
To visit this online football betting got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting odds needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.