05/11/2008 - Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic rallied to beat Swiss star Stanislas Wawrinka to win the $3.5 million Italian Masters on Sunday.
Djokovic, who disposed of world No. 1 Roger Federer in the quarterfinals before advancing to the finals when Czech Radek Stepanek retired in the semis, dropped the first set before storming back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The Serb, who earned $558,000, took home his 10th career title, and his third of the year.
Wawrinka, who also advanced to the final when his semifinal opponent, American Andy Roddick, retired, was playing in his sixth career final and was the first unseeded finalist here since Felix Mantilla, who defeated Roger Federer in 2003.
The 20-year-old Djokovic improved to 4-2 all-time versus Wawrinka, who was attempting to capture his second ATP crown.
<< Pettitte leads Yankees against Tigers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees will try to inch their way up the AL
East standings when they take on the Detroit Tigers today in the finale of a
three-game set at Comerica Park.
Andy Pettitte will try to get back into the win c
<< Jays, Tribe resume series in Cleveland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays will try to get back on the winning
track when they take on the Cleveland Indians this afternoon in the third
matchup of a four-game series at Progressive Field.
The Blue Jays have lost three
<< Santana leads Halos into Tampa
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second consecutive matchup the Los Angeles of
Anaheim will send an undefeated pitcher to the hill, as Ervin Santana will try
to shut down the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a three-game set at Tropicana
Field.
<< Rangers, A's wrap up set in Arlington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers will try to complete the three-game
sweep over the Oakland Athletics in the series finale at the Rangers Ballpark
in Arlington this afternoon.
The Rangers have been on fire of late, winning fiv
Yankees place Betemit on DL >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees placed infielder Wilson
Betemit on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.
Betemit left Saturday's 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning
with a strained right hamstring.
Bet
O's select contract of Cintron >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles selected the
contract of infielder Alex Cintron from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
Baltimore signed the 29-year-old Cintron to a minor league deal on March 31.
He batted .288
Otto holds off Wilson to win Italian Open >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hennie Otto fended off a stiff charge from
Oliver Wilson on Sunday to win the Italian Open, shooting a three-under 69 in
the final round to claim his first European Tour victory.
Otto, who shot a 63 in
United captures title with win over Wigan >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs scored
goals to help Manchester United retain the Premiership title with a 2-0 win
over Wigan at The JJB Stadium on Sunday.
United entered the day level on 84 point
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.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting