Berdych, Hewitt land in BMW QFs

Tennis Betting Lines

05/07/2009 - Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fourth-seeded Czech slugger Tomas Berdych and former world No. 1 star Lleyton Hewitt were among Thursday's second-round winners at the $595,000 clay-court BMW Open.

Berdych came from behind to edge out wild card and German crowd favorite Andreas Beck 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), while the two-time major champion Hewitt handled Dutch qualifier Thiemo De Bakker 6-3, 6-4 at MTTC Iphitos. Berdych and the Aussie Hewitt, a wild card this week, will square off in Friday's quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, German wild card Daniel Brands snuck past Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) and Italian Potito Starace stifled countryman Simone Bolelli 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Bolelli was last year's BMW runner-up to Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Friday's other quarters will pit second-seeded Croat Marin Cilic against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, seventh-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu versus 2007 Munich runner-up Mikhail Youzhny of Russia and Brands against Starace.

The 2009 Munich titlist will collect $95,000.

Gambleling Tennis Betting News

<< Manny tests positive...Anyone surprised?
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I remember the shock I felt when Jason Giambi's grand jury testimony in the BALCO case started to leak out. I had always suspected that he, along with Barry Bonds and some others, had done some sort of performance- enhancing

<< Cardinals place Ankiel on DL
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals have placed outfielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list as he continues to recover from injuries he sustained when crashing into the wall during Monday's game against

<< Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark dies
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark passed away Thursday morning at his home in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 85 years old. Ozark managed the Phillies from 1973-79 and finished with a 594-51

<< Roma ends Spalletti rumors
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roma sporting director Bruno Conti has quashed speculation suggesting Luciano Spalletti is on the verge of leaving the club. Roma have endured a topsy-turvy season and are currently sixth in the Serie A tab

<< Canada holds off Latvia in quarterfinals at Worlds
Bern, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Stamkos and Dan Hamhuis both registered a goal and an assist, as Canada overcame a challenge from the pesky Latvians to post a 4-2 win in the quarterfinals at the 2009 World Hockey Champio

Dundee coach wants Wesolowski to return >>
Dundee, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dundee United manager Craig Levein hopes to entice James Wesolowski back to Tannadice next season. The 21-year-old Australian impressed in his eight appearances for the Terrors during a recent loan spell

NL West: Say it isn't so, Manny >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It seems now that every baseball superstar has some dirty little secret to hide from the general public. And the list continued to grow on Thursday with the reported suspension of Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez for performance

Simon, Blake charge into Estoril quarters >>
Estoril, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon and fourth-seeded American James Blake highlighted Thursday's second-round victors at the $595,000 clay-court Estoril Open. Simon handled Italian Fabio Fogn

Bengals finalize deal with S Williams >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals officially signed safety Roy Williams on Thursday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not released. Williams, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, was released in early March b

PGA Tour, SBS agree on two big deals >>
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The PGA Tour and the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) have agreed to a 10-year contract for SBS to sponsor the PGA Tour's season-opening event at Kapalua. The winners-only event, which Ge

NFL Football Betting


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.