Almagro, Del Potro among early winners in Melbourne

Tennis Betting Lines

01/15/2012 - Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nicolas Almagro and Juan Martin Del Potro were among the first-round winners of the 2012 Australian open on Monday.

Almagro, the tournament's 10th seed, overcame a first-set defeat to take a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Poland's Lukasz Kubot. The Spaniard reeled off 15 aces to advance, while Kubot managed 16 double faults and 60 unforced errors in defeat.

Del Potro also battled back from an early setback to move on in Melbourne, recording a 2-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 decision over Adrian Mannarino. The 11th-seeded Argentinean converted on 6-of-8 break opportunities against France's Mannarino en route to the second round.

Other matches with seeded players saw Kevin Anderson of South Africa, the 30th seed, roll past Denmark's Frederik Nielsen 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in a match that lasted under two hours, and 18th-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who defeated Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Also moving on Monday was Spain's Pere Riba, who took down fellow countryman Albert Montanes 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Additionally, Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia downed Great Britain's James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, and Italy's Flavio Cipolla outlasted Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Wwwinsidetheweb Tennis Betting News

<< Pacioretty sends Canadiens past Rangers
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist, helping the Montreal Canadiens handle the New York Rangers, 4-1. David Desharnais had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens, who snapped a three-game skid.

<< Blackhawks hold off Sharks
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks took a 4-3 decision over the San Jose Sharks at United Center. Viktor Stalberg also recorded a goal and an assist, while Dave Bolland

<< Wagner wins Sony Open in Hawaii
Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johnson Wagner posted a three-under 67 on Sunday to come from behind and win the Sony Open in Hawaii, the first full- field event of the 2012 PGA Tour season. Wagner finished at 13-under 267 and wo

<< Azarenka moves on Down Under
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Victoria Azarenka was an opening-day winner at the 2012 Australian Open on Monday. Azarenka made quick work of Britain's Heather Watson, earning a 6-1, 6-0 straight-set victory at

<< Creighton downs Southern Illinois
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Doug McDermott had 25 points and 11 rebounds, leading No. 23 Creighton to a 90-71 win over Southern Illinois on Sunday. Antoine Young added 14 points and Grant Gibbs had 10 for the Bluejays (16-2, 6-1 MVC),

Jazz take down Nuggets >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Millsap had 26 points and 12 rebounds, as the Jazz downed the Nuggets, 106-96, on Sunday. Gordon Hayward scored 19 and Al Jefferson had 18 and 12 boards for the Jazz, winners of seven of their last eigh

Hall leads Oilers past Kings in OT >>
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taylor Hall's power-play goal 3:06 into overtime lifted the Edmonton Oilers over the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1. Josh Green scored in regulation for the Oilers, who snapped a five-game skid. Devan Dubnyk m

Blue Jays sign Rasmus >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays signed center fielder Colby Rasmus to a one-year contract Sunday. The deal is worth $2.7 million. Toronto acquired Rasmus from the St. Louis Cardinals last season in a multi- play

Duncan, Spurs down Suns >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Duncan turned in a vintage performance against an old rival, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds as the Spurs downed the Suns, 102-91, on Sunday. Tony Parker had 17 points and nine assists w

Ducks down Canucks >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Blake had two goals and an assist, Jonas Hiller made 21 saves and the Anaheim Ducks took a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Nick Bonino and Bobby Ryan also lit the lamp for th

FOOTBALL BETTING

Sportsbook 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.

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.