Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
08/01/2010 - Stanford, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova and eighth- seeded Victoria Azarenka both won their semifinal matches on Saturday to set up the final at the $700,000 Bank of the West Classic tennis event.
Russia's Sharapova bounced back from a first set loss to rally for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska on the hardcourts at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Earlier on Saturday, Belarus' Azarenka celebrated her 21st birthday by upending top-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the final.
Sharapova will be going for her 23rd career title and third of the year while Azarenka will be looking for her fourth championship and first of the year.
Sharapova has taken two of the three matches all-time between the two.
Sunday's winner will receive $107,000.
<< Braun helps Chivas tame Crew
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA rolled to a surprising 3-1 win over
the Columbus Crew at The Home Depot Center on Saturday behind a pair of late
first-half goals.
Justin Braun tallied his seventh goal of the season in the 37th
<< Montero stays hot as Sounders down Earthquakes
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fredy Montero headed home the lone goal of
the game in the 26th minute as Seattle Sounders FC handed the San Jose
Earthquakes a 1-0 defeat at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday.
Montero continued his
<< Guerrero's bat, Harden's arm helps Rangers down Angels
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vladimir Guerrero's two-run homer in the fourth
inning was enough against his former team as the AL West-leading Rangers edged
the Angels, 2-1, in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Nelson Cruz ex
<< Titans agree to terms with top pick Morgan
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans have reportedly agreed
to terms with defensive end Derrick Morgan, their first-round draft pick.
WVLT television in Nashville is reporting that it is a five-year deal for the
16th overal
Earl Thomas in fold for Seahawks >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly come to
terms with first-round draft pick safety Earl Thomas on a five-year contract.
The Seattle Post Intelligencer reported Thomas, the 14th overall pick out of
Texas, wil
Siddikur a playoff winner in Brunei >>
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Siddikur parred the first extra
hole Sunday to defeat Jbe Kruger and win the Brunei Open.
Siddikur had closed with a four-under 67, while Kruger posted a five-under 66.
They finished at 16-under
Almagro titles in Gstaad >>
Gstaad, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nicolas Almagro of Spain beat France's
Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-1 to capture the title at the Swiss Open Gstaad.
The second-seeded Almagro fired 17 aces en route to his seventh career title
and second
Takayama cruises to victory in Japan >>
Hokkaido, Japan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tadahiro Takayama closed with a two-under
70 Sunday to cruise to a three-stroke win at the Sun Chlorella Classic.
Takayama finished at 17-under-par 271 to collect his third Japan Tour title.
Dinesh Cha
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting