10/25/2008 - Lyon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Robin Soderling carried the momentum from Friday's victory over Andy Roddick into Saturday's semifinal action, surviving fourth-seeded Gilles Simon in three sets to advance to the final at the Lyon Tennis Grand Prix.
Soderling won a very even statistical match from Simon, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. He won six more points and converted on 4-of-7 break chances to just 2-of-5 breaks won by Simon.
The seventh-seeded Soderling beat the 2005 Lyon champion Roddick on Friday by taking a pair of tiebreaks and maintaining the good form that took him to the Stockholm Open final just two weeks ago.
Soderling also won the title here in 2004, and will look for another crown against Julien Benneteau, who knocked off third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. Benneteau saved 3-of-4 break chances and converted two key breaks to take the closely-fought match.
The 2008 Lyon titlist will collect a first prize of $148,000.
<< Buescher picks up first Nationwide pole at Memphis
Millington, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - James Buescher scored his first pole in the
Nationwide Series by grabbing the top starting spot for Saturday's Kroger on
Track for the Cure 250 at the Memphis Motorsports Park. The No.32 Toyota
driver
<< Federer, Nalbandian to meet in Basel final
Basel, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Federer cruised past Spain's
Feliciano Lopez in straight sets on Saturday to advance to the final of the
Swiss Indoors tournament, where he will meet second-seeded Argentine David
Nalband
<< Garcia moves four clear on home course
Castellon, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taking advantage of playing on his home
course, Sergio Garcia fired his second five-under 66 of the week to move four
strokes clear of the field after Saturday's third round of the inaugural
Castell
<< Bayern rallies to down Wolfsburg
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich rallied from two goals down
to secure a 4-2 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday at the Allianz Arena.
Grafite and Edin Dzeko put Wolfsburg ahead with goals inside of 35 minutes,
but Franck Rib
Fellaini's header helps Everton hold United >>
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marouane Fellaini's header in the 63rd
minute allowed Everton to earn a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Goodison
Park on Saturday.
United dominated the opening 45 minutes and took a 1-0 lead t
Albertus Maximus conquers Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile >>
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jockey Garrett Gomez guided Albertus Maximus
through traffic to capture Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on
Santa Anita's synthetic track. The one lap race was timed in 1:33.41.
Two Step Sal
Newman wins at Atlanta in first Truck Series start >>
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Newman won Saturday's E-Z Go 200
Craftsman Truck Series race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No.2 Chevrolet
driver for Kevin Harvick Inc. grabbed the lead from Ron Hornaday, Jr. on the
final l
Goldikova captures Breeders' Cup Mile >>
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Goldikova, the 9-5 favorite, surged along the
rail to win Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on Santa Anita's turf
course. Goldikova became the fourth female to win the Mile and defeated
defendi
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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.
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