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06/17/2007 - Halle, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Berdych notched a straight-set victory over Marcos Baghdatis to capture the Gerry Webber Open.
The fourth-seeded Berdych lost just two points on his first serve and posted a 7-5, 6-4 triumph for his first ATP singles crown of 2007. The Czech native was the runner-up last year at this Wimbledon tuneup, losing to grass-court king Roger Federer.
Federer pulled out of this tournament on Monday following his loss to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, paving the way for a new champion.
Berdych took advantage and didn't lose a set this week on the way to his third career ATP title. He hadn't won a tournament since the Masters event in Paris in 2005.
The eighth-seeded Baghdatis, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, was trying for his second title of the year. He beat Ivan Ljubicic for the crown in Zagreb in February and also lost a title match later that month to Gilles Simon in Marseille.
Berdych was dominant early Sunday, winning points on each of his first 14 first serves, but still needed to stave off two set points. He eventually held serve in that 10th game to even the first set at 5-5, then went on to win the next two games.
Baghdatis had his serve broken just once in the first set and again just once in the second, but it was enough because the Cypriot was unable to convert any of his three break-point chances in the match.
Berdych, who earned a first prize of $128,000, evened the lifetime series against Baghdatis at one apiece. Baghdatis had won the lone previous meeting between the two, capturing a round of 16 match at last year's Masters event in Indian Wells.
<< Webb, D-Backs attempt to deal Orioles an eighth straight loss
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Baltimore Orioles try to end a season-long
seven-game losing streak today, when they conclude a three-game interleague
set with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camden Yards.
On Saturday, Miguel Montero sing
<< White Sox ready for rubber match with Pirates
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox take aim at their first series win in
almost a month as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates today in the final
contest of a three-game interleague set at PNC Park.
On Saturday, Mark Buehrle hu
<< Struggling hurlers match up as Reds, Rangers wrap up set
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of right-handers going through trying seasons will
face off when the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers conclude their three-game
interleague series today at Great American Ball Park.
Bronson Arroyo was an All-
<< Jays try to draw even with potential sweep of Nationals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to reach the .500 mark
for the first time since early May as they aim for a three-game sweep of the
Washington Nationals today at Rogers Centre.
Toronto hasn't been even on the season
Morris tries to bail Giants' out of latest jam in Boston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Faced with the possibility of a fourth consecutive loss,
the San Francisco Giants will once again turn to Matt Morris in this
afternoon's finale of a three-game interleague series with the Boston Red Sox
from Fe
Good young pitchers to duel in Royals-Marlins finale >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Bannister puts a three-start win streak on the line
when he takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals in today's rubber match of
a three-game interleague series with the Florida Marlins.
Bannister, who was acqu
Struggling Mariners aim to stay afloat in Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros haven't swept a three-game series at any
time this season. That could change, however, if the disappointing club
manages another victory today over the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park.
Housto
Brewers vie to bully Twins once again >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A refocused Milwaukee Brewers squad shoots for a fifth
consecutive victory and a three-game sweep of the host Minnesota Twins when
the teams play their final 2007 encounter this afternoon at the Metrodome.
The Bre
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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