10/28/2008 - Quebec City, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American Melanie Oudin upset third-seeded Austrian Sybille Bammer, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in first-round play at the $175,000 Bell Challenge tennis event.
Sixth seed Bethanie Mattek of the U.S. topped Canadian wild card Sharon Fichman, 6-3, 6-3 on the indoor hardcourts at PEPS at Laval University.
In other opening-round action, Canadian wild card Valerie Tetreault topped France's Mathilde Johansson 6-1, 7-5; Russian Olga Puchkova defeated Canadian Marie-Eve Pelletier, 6-3, 6-1; and American Julie Ditty held off Poland's Urszula Radwanska 7-6 (7-1), 6-2. The 20-year-old Tetreault is making her WTA Tour debut this week.
This week's top seed is world No. 11 Russian Nadia Petrova. Second-seeded world No. 14 Italian Flavia Pennetta pulled out prior to the start of the tournament due to personal reasons.
American Lindsay Davenport, who is not defending her title this year, topped Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko in last year's finale.
The 2008 Quebec champion will collect $28,000.
<< Rays-Phillies tied; Game 5 suspended by rain
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the rain intensifying at Citizens
Bank Park, the Rays rallied to tie the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series,
putting Philadelphia's championship on hold until at least Tuesday.
Carlos Pena,
<< Rays rally to tie; Game 5 in rain delay
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the rain intensifying at Citizens
Bank Park, the Rays have rallied to tie the Phillies in Game 5 of the World
Series, putting Philadelphia's championship on hold, likely until at least
Tuesday
<< Wild edge Blackhawks
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrew Brunette and Antii Miettinen had a
goal and assist each as the Minnesota Wild edged the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2,
to remain the NHL's lone unbeaten team in regulation.
Mikko Koivu assisted on all
<< 49ers name Hill starting QB
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers named Shaun Hill
the team's starting quarterback for its November 10th matchup against the
Cardinals in Arizona.
Hill unseats J.T. O'Sullivan, who started each of San Franci
Canucks C Rypien out indefinitely >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vancouver Canucks center Rick Rypien will be
out indefinitely and needs to undergo surgery for a sports hernia.
Rypien was out last week because of a viral infection.
"He came back [from the road trip] a
Win streak at five: Detroit defeats Kings in shootout >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg each
scored in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings came from behind to take a 4-3
win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Los Angeles went first in the shootout, but Dustin
Celtics reward Danny Ainge with promotion and contract extension >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that
executive director of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ainge
has received a contract extension and has also been promoted to president of
basketb
Skiles returns to Chicago as Bucks open up vs. Bulls >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks will both embark on
new eras when the Central Division rivals open up their 2008-09 season tonight
at the United Center.
The game will feature the return of former Bulls coach Scott Sk
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
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.
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