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Federer, Roddick land in Wimbledon finalTennis Betting Lines07/03/2009 - Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five-time champion Roger Federer and two-time runner-up Andy Roddick will do battle in Sunday's men's final at Wimbledon. The iconic Federer will appear in a men's record seventh straight Wimbledon championship match. The second-seeded former world No. 1 Federer topped 24th-seeded German Tommy Haas 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 6-3, while a sixth-seeded former top-ranked Roddick upended third-seeded heavy British crowd favorite Andy Murray 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5) at the storied All England Club. Federer, who would supplant his great rival Rafael Nadal atop the men's rankings with a victory on Sunday, beat Roddick in the 2004 and 2005 finals here. The Swiss Federer titled here from 2003-2007 and was last year's runner-up to Nadal in arguably the greatest tennis match of all-time. The great Federer is trying to become the men's all-time leader in Grand Slam singles titles, as he's currently tied with American great Pete Sampras at 14. The super Swiss equaled Sampras and became the sixth man in history to complete a career Grand Slam when he titled at the French Open last month. Federer will also appear in a men's record 20th Grand Slam final (14-5). He's reached 16 of the last 17 major finals. With tennis luminaries such as Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg in attendance on Friday, a confident Federer snuck out an ultra-tight first set against Haas by cruising in the tiebreak on Day 11 of the fortnight. In the second set, things were air-tight again, but Federer finally broke through on his third set point when a game Haas misfired long with a forehand in the 12th game of the stanza. Federer then charged across the finish line in the third set and converted on his first match point with a resounding overhead smash winner, as the Swiss notched his 10th love service game of the day in the process. The sublime Swiss, who couldn't have served any better than he did on Friday, advanced in 2 hours, 2 minutes and never faced a break point. Federer broke Haas only twice, but also fired 21 more winners (49-28) en route to victory, his 18th straight on the circuit. "He just comes up with the goods, you know," Haas said. "He can play defensive and turn it into offensive so quick, like no other player, and that makes him so extremely tough." Federer is now 10-2 all-time against Haas, including wins in their last nine meetings. The 31-year-old former world No. 2 Haas was appearing in his first- ever Wimbledon semifinal in 11 trips here. He's also played in three Aussie Open semis, losing all three. Haas, who lost to Federer in the fourth round at the French Open last month, had been a perfect 10-0 on grass this year, including his first-ever grass- court title in his native Germany just three weeks ago. The 27-year-old Federer played in a record 21st straight Grand Slam semifinal on Friday, and he's now won seven straight at the AEC. Federer is 46-1 at Wimbledon and 71-1 on grass overall since 2003. The reigning French Open and five-time U.S. Open titlist Federer is 59-22 in his career finals, including a 2-1 mark this year. He lost to Nadal in the Aussie Open finale back in January. Meanwhile, the former U.S. Open champion Roddick reached his fifth career Grand Slam final (1-3) and his first since the 2006 U.S. Open by ousting the 2008 U.S. Open runner-up Murray in 3 hours, 7 minutes. The big-hitting American struck fewer aces (25-21) and fewer winners (76-64) than Murray on Friday, but was able to sneak out a pair of tiebreaks to pull the upset. Roddick won the first set by breaking Murray in the final game of the stanza, but the Dunblane, Scotland native pulled even in the second set by breaking Roddick for a 5-4 lead and the holding his serve to secure it. The determined Roddick, by virtue of a break, jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set, only to see Murray get the break back and ultimately level the frame at 5-5. The set went to a tiebreak, which Roddick won in 16-point fashion when Murray netted a forehand. In the fourth and final set, Roddick nailed down another tiebreak by converting on his second match point, as he improved to 3-6 lifetime against Murray. Roddick also improved to 26-4 in his 2009 tiebreaks. Both players could manage only two service breaks apiece in the tight affair. Roddick is now 34-8 lifetime at Wimbledon. Murray was trying to give Britain its first male Wimbledon champion in 73 years (Fred Perry) and was the highest-seeded Brit here since Roger Taylor in 1973. The 26-year-old Roddick is 27-15 in 42 career finals, including a 1-1 record this season. He lost to Murray in a final in Doha in January. Federer is a lopsided 18-2 lifetime against Roddick, including a perfect 3-0 mark this year. The Swiss handled the American in the Aussie Open semifinals back in January and is a flawless 3-0 against Roddick in major finals. In addition to the '04 and '05 Wimbledon finals, Federer also topped Roddick in the 2006 U.S. Open finale. The Swiss also defeated the American in the 2003 Wimbledon semis. The 2009 Wimbledon champ will pocket $1.39 million. Federer is the all-time leader in prize money, with more than $48 million earned.
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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance. Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it? If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.) Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa). In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech. Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down. (Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28) If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you. Atlantic Coast Conference Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
Work left to do: Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's. Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win). Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT. For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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