Federer escapes with first-round win at Aussie Open

Tennis Betting Lines

01/19/2010 - Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Faced with the possibility of being behind after three sets in his first-round match at the Australian Open, top- seeded Roger Federer buckled down against Russian Igor Andreev and surged to a four-set victory.

The 15-time major champion rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 triumph. He hasn't lost in the first round of a major tournament since 2003 at the French Open, but was a ripe target for a giant upset until Andreev faltered when he failed to convert three set points.

Federer, last year's runner-up to Rafael Nadal and a three-time Aussie Open champion, was pushed to five sets when he beat Andreev in the round-of-16 at the 2008 U.S. Open. The Russian was on his way to a shocker until Federer woke up at the right time.

After wasting a 5-3 lead in that third set and falling behind 6-5, the Swiss superstar rallied when Andreev failed to make the most of his opportunities. Andreev wasted a first set point with a forehand return into the net and then couldn't covert a second with a long return. A third set point went by the wayside thanks to a return into the net.

Andreev staved off a break point by winning a challenge on a line call, but was then forced to a tiebreaker when he hit one his 55 unforced errors, another net shot.

Federer immediately took control, racing to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak before finally finishing off the set thanks to another miscue from Andreev. After that, the Russian simply ran out of gas.

Also Tuesday, sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko and ninth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco were first-round winners, but No. 8 seed Robin Soderling of Sweden was sent packing after blowing a two-set lead.

Davydenko, who has never gotten past the quarterfinals in Melbourne, cruised to a 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Germany's Dieter Kindlmann. Verdasco, a semifinalist last year, got past Australian Carsten Ball, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-1), 7-5, 6-2.

Soderling succumbed to Spaniard Marcel Granollers, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

In other matches involving seeded players, No. 12 Gael Monfils of France topped Aussie Matthew Ebden, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; No. 14 Marin Cilic of Croatia upended France's Fabrice Santoro, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3; No. 16 Tommy Robredo of Spain was beaten by Colombia's Santiago Giraldo, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2; No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2; and No. 21 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic topped Dutchman Robin Haase, 6-0, 6-3, 6-3.

No. 27 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany beat Argentina's Horacio Zeballos, 6-1, 7-5, 6-1. France's Florent Serra upended Austria's Jurgen Melzer, the 28th seed, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Serbia's Viktor Troicki, the 29th seed, topped Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

Towering American John Isner, the 33rd seed, coming off his first ATP career title in Auckland last week, beat Italy's Andreas Seppi, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.

American Sam Querrey, the 25th seed, was beaten by Germany's Rainer Schuettler, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. American James Blake beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement, 7-5, 7-5, 6-2.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
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