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04/26/2010 - Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tenth-seeded Tomas Berdych and 11th-seeded Ivan Ljubicic were a pair of first-round winners, while former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero came up a loser Monday at the $2.97 million Italian Masters, the fourth of nine Masters events on the ATP World Tour this year.
The Czech Berdych, a runner-up at the Masters event in Miami earlier this month, handled Spanish qualifier Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-3, while the Indian Wells Masters titlist Ljubicic, of Croatia, outlasted France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-0 on the red clay at Foro Italico, which boasts a new center court stadium this year.
A 12th-seeded Ferrero, meanwhile, was surprised by Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo 6-0, 6-3 on Day 2. The former French Open champion Ferrero is a two-time clay-court champion so far this season and captured this Roman event back in 2001.
In other action involving seeds, No. 14 American John Isner overcame Argentine Horacio Zeballos 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, No. 16 Argentine Juan Monaco got past Russian Igor Andreev 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, and Frenchman Julien Benneteau upended No. 15 American Sam Querrey 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2). The massive-serving 6- foot-9 Isner swatted 20 aces en route to the second round.
The Italian faithful were treated to a trio of home wild card wins on Monday, as Paolo Lorenzi beat Spaniard Albert Montanes 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, Potito Starace stifled Czech Jan Hajek 6-2, 6-2, and Filippo Volandri vaulted past Aussie qualifier Peter Luczak 6-4, 6-3.
Additional wins came for French qualifier Michael Llodra, German Philipp Kohlschreiber, Latvian Ernests Gulbis and Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Gulbis whipped former Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-2 to set-up a second-rounder against world No. 1 superstar Roger Federer.
This week's top seeds are the Australian Open, Wimbledon and French Open champion Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Nadal is a four-time Italian Masters champion, including a victory over the 2008 titlist Djokovic in last year's marquee finale here. Federer is a two-time Rome runner-up.
The four-time French Open champion Nadal captured the Monte Carlo Masters tournament in his last outing two weeks ago.
Djokovic will open up here against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while Nadal will encounter Kohlschreiber and Murray will meet Italy's Andreas Seppi in the round of 32.
Rome serves as a tune-up for the French Open, which will commence May 23 in Paris.
<< Coyotes want to be more than 'nice story'
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -While on their way to 50 wins and their first playoff berth since 2002, the Phoenix Coyotes were labeled a feel-good story and Cinderella.They believe a Game 7 win Tuesday will show they're much more.The Detroit Red Wings are t
<< Titans sign Blount, Stafon Johnson among rookie FAs
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans announced Monday they
have agreed to terms with 15 undrafted free agents, including running backs
LeGarrette Blount and Stafon Johnson.
Blount played in just three games last seaso
<< Jaguars release DT Henderson
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday
released two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Henderson.
A first round pick in 2002, Henderson recorded 29 sacks and 563 tackles in 124
career games (120 start
<< Jaguars' draft heavy on the FCS
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars play in the
AFC South, but they seem to be stockpiling players like it's the FCS South.
They're getting close to being able to field an FCS all-star team.
Four of the Jaguars' six
No one injured in Hawks' bus accident >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Hawks' team bus was involved in
an accident Monday, but no one was injured.
According to a story on the team's website, the bus was hit by a white
Cadillac while leaving the Bradley C
Cardinals place INF Lopez on DL >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals have placed infielder
Felipe Lopez on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain.
Lopez is batting .273 (12-for-44) with a home run and four RBI in 15 games
this season.
Creighton brings in McDermott as men's hoops coach >>
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Creighton University hired Greg McDermott as its
new men's head basketball coach on Monday.
McDermott, who will be officially introduced at a Tuesday morning press
conference, takes over for Dana Altma
Matsuzaka throws simulated game >>
TORONTO (AP) -Daisuke Matsuzaka threw a 69-pitch simulated game before the Red Sox played the Blue Jays, the injured right-hander's final hurdle before returning to Boston's starting rotation.Manager Terry Francona said Monday, ``The ball came out o
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.
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