Federer holds off feisty Fish for Cincy title

Tennis Betting Lines

08/22/2010 - Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Swiss superstar Roger Federer fended off a dogged attack from American wild card Mardy Fish Sunday to win the $3 million Western & Southern Financial Group Masters tournament, a key U.S. Open Series event.

Federer, the former world No. 1, second ranked and third seed here, withstood two set tie breaks, 17 aces and 4-of-5 saved break points from Fish to come away with a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 triumph on the hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Federer fired 11 aces of his own and won 77 percent of his first serves en route to a fourth Cincinnati title (2005, '07 and '09-'10), joining Mats Wilander (1983-84, '86, '88) as the only players in the Open Era to win four titles here.

Making his 90th career finals appearance, Federer captured his first title since winning the Australian Open in January, while simultaneously avoiding dropping a fourth consecutive final for the first time in his career. He lost in last week's Rogers Cup final to Andy Murray.

Federer tied a pair of tennis legends along the way with career win No. 63, matching Bjorn Borg for fifth on the all-time Open Era list. The Swiss also tied Andre Agassi for second all-time with his 17th Masters 1000 crown.

Fish, meanwhile, was searching for his third title of the year and nearly made it two straight wins over Federer, having won their last meeting in the semifinals of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells tourney in March 2008. Federer, though, pushed his head-to-head mark against the improving American to 6-1.

The 28-year-old Fish managed to jump to No. 21 in the world rankings despite coming out on the short end. He was making his fourth finals appearance of the 2010 season.

Federer claimed $443,500 in winnings for his efforts.

Wwcdnow Tennis Betting News

<< Dodgers activate Weaver from disabled list
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have reinstated pitcher Jeff Weaver from the 15-day disabled list. He was placed on the DL August 3 with tendinitis in his left knee. The veteran right-hander is 5-1 with

<< Leverkusen enjoys successful start at Dortmund
Dortmund, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayer Leverkusen used first-half goals from Tranquillo Barnetta and Renato Augusto to earn a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday. The visitors came within inches of taki

<< Strasburg throws Sunday, headed for MRI in D.C.
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nationals rookie hurler Stephen Strasburg reportedly felt no discomfort in going through a normal workout routine ahead of his scheduled MRI exam back in Washington, D.C. Sunday. The Washi

<< Berg's brace leads PSV past AZ Alkmaar
Eindhoven, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcus Berg scored a pair of goals to lead PSV Eindhoven to a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar at Philips Stadium on Sunday. Berg scored the opener in the 43rd minute, and after AZ's Erik Falkenb

<< Bengals sign White as insurance for injured safety Wilson
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals signed safety Marvin White Sunday with the belief that veteran newcomer Gibril Wilson may be lost for the season with a knee injury. Wilson's agent, Alvin Keels, had previously po

Verlander helps Tigers sweep Indians >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Verlander worked eight sturdy innings and Will Rhymes collected a career-high four hits and scored three times in Detroit's 8-1 romp over Cleveland to complete a three-game sweep. Verlander (14-8)

Homers lift Pirates over Mets >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Tabata hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 2-1 win over the New York Mets in the finale of a three-game series at PNC Park. Lastings Milledge

Nationals keeping Triple-A team in Syracuse >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals signed a two-year agreement on Sunday to maintain their Triple-A affiliation with the Syracuse Chiefs. The International League Chiefs have been Washington's high-level minor lea

Pence's homer pushes Astros past Marlins >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hunter Pence's solo homer in the top of the eighth inning proved to be the difference, as the Houston Astros edged the Florida Marlins, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game set at Sun Life Stadium. Pence

Texas uses long ball to down O's >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero hit three-run home runs in support of Tommy Hunter's eight effective innings as Texas topped Baltimore, 6-4, in the last of a four-game set. Hamilton finished 2-

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.


It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.