Volandri topples Montanes in Brazil

Tennis Betting Lines

02/13/2012 - Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Italy's Filippo Volandri cruised to a straight-set win over seventh-seeded Albert Montanes on Monday in the first round of the $475,300 Brasil Open.

Volandri won nearly 80 percent of his first-serve points to upset the Spaniard 6-2, 6-3 in their sixth career meeting.

The 30-year-old Italian improved to 4-2 with his second straight win over the 31-year-old Montanes.

Also on Monday, wild card Javier Marti of Spain moved on with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Portugal's Frederico Gil. Marti will play third-seeded Fernando Verdasco, also from Spain, in the next round.

Brazil's Ricardo Mello and Spain's Pere Riba will play in Monday's third and final singles match with the winner advancing to face fourth-seeded Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.

This week's No. 1 seed is defending champion Nicolas Almagro of Spain, who captured his second Brasil Open title last year.

Online-gambling-sportsbook Tennis Betting News

<< Reports: A's land Cuban slugger Cespedes
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics and coveted Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes agreed to terms on a four-year contract Monday, according to reports. The deal is worth $36 million and won't be officially announc

<< Not all flash: Kentucky's blue-collar defense sets it apart
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While it may appear that Kentucky head coach John Calipari comfortably plays the part of a New York stockbroker, cynics may believe he is a no-stone-unturned salesman more interested in the commodity's worth

<< Bombers re-sign QB Brink
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed quarterback Alex Brink to a new contract on Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In eight games last season, including two starts, Brink threw for 1,023

<< Jeremy Lin highlights NBA Players of the Week
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin was further acknowledged for his surprising play on Monday, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for games completed through February 12. Oklah

<< Union adds MLS veteran Albright
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union has signed MLS veteran defender Chris Albright, the club announced on Monday. Albright is a three-time MLS All-Star and has spent 13 seasons in the league with four teams. The 33-

NTRA Pre-season Polls released >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) released a pair of pre-season 'Kick-Off' polls for the 2012 racing season. Performances are through Sunday, February 12. Game On Dude is first in the

NASCAR champ Stewart appearing on ABC television show >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has done some acting during the offseason. Stewart, who captured his third Sprint Cup title last season, will appear on an upcoming episod

CAA gets deal with NBC Sports Group >>
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colonial Athletic Association announced Monday a five-year agreement with the NBC Sports Group to broadcast conference football and men's and women's basketball games. The agreement begins with the 2012-13

Patriot League adding football scholarships in 2013 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Touchdown. After exhaustive debate in recent years, the Patriot League has decided to start awarding athletic scholarships in football - 15 each year - beginning with the 2013 season. The league

Napoli tops Chievo to snap winless skid >>
Naples, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Napoli snapped a five-game winless streak on Monday by securing a 2-0 home win against Chievo which improves the club's European hopes. Napoli had been held without a goal in its last two games but scor

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard

How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.