Nalbandian will open for host Argentina against Russia
Tennis Betting Lines
09/18/2008 - Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Friday's opening singles rubber at the Davis Cup semifinal between Argentina and Russia will pit the hosts' David Nalbandian versus Igor Andreev.
Nalbandian-Andreev will be followed on Friday by a bout between surging 13th- ranked Argentine Juan Martin del Potro and world No. 6 Russian star Nikolay Davydenko.
Saturday's doubles rubber will pit an Argentine duo of Agustin Calleri and Guillermo Canas against a Russian pairing of Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov, while Sunday's reverse singles currently call for the world No. 7 Nalbandian to meet Davydenko and del Potro to battle Andreev.
The best-of-five tie will be staged outdoors on red clay at Buenos Aires' Estadio Parque Roca.
Argentina is captained by Alberto Mancini, while Shamil Tarpischev guides team Russia. Tarpischev led the Russian women past host Spain in last week's Fed Cup finale.
Two-time champion Russia is 3-1 all-time versus Argentina, including a 3-2 victory in the 2006 Davis Cup final in Moscow. Their last meeting in Buenos Aires resulted in a 5-0 Argentine victory in 2003.
Russia captured the Davis Cup in 2002 and 2006, while Argentina has never won the coveted championship. The Russians were last year's runners-up to the United States.
The Argentina-Russia winner will face this week's USA-Spain victor in the 2008 Davis Cup final, in November.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of potential playoff opponents begin a crucial four- game series tonight, when the Minnesota Twins visit Tropicana Field to meet the Tampa Bay Rays. The upstart Rays enter the series with a two-game lead ove
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Mussina goes for win No. 18 when the New York Yankees
wrap up their four-game series with the playoff-hopeful Chicago White Sox this
evening at Yankee Stadium.
New York finds itself in the unfamiliar role of spoil
<< First-place Phils shoot for sweep in Atlanta
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season sweep in Atlanta this evening, when they wrap up their three-game
series with the Braves at Turner Field.
Philadelphia won its sixth straight contes
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straight National League Central title this afternoon, when they play the
rubber match of their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley
Field.
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In 2004, the Mountain West Conference earned its first and only BCS bowl bid, as Utah played in the Fiesta Bowl. The conference has not made a return appearance since, but this could be the year that changes
CFL Hall of Famer Lancaster dies >>
Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Canadian football Hall of Famer Ron Lancaster
has died at the age of 69.
Lancaster, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, had been battling lung
cancer.
"Our league has lost its 'little general.' An
T-Wolves' F Jefferson suffers knee sprain >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al
Jefferson will be sidelined two-to-three weeks with a mild sprain of the
medial collateral ligament in his right knee, the team announced on Thursday.
It w
Browns' Steinbach, Stallworth miss practice >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns practiced Thursday without
starting left guard Eric Steinbach and wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, who
both may be game-time decisions for Sunday's game at Baltimore.
Steinbach strained
Report: Bears' Hester has torn cartilage in ribs >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bears star kick returner Devin Hester has
torn cartilage in his ribs and his status for Sunday's game with Tampa Bay
remains in doubt.
Hester told the Chicago Tribune that he suffered the injury try
FOOTBALL BETTING
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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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.
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