09/05/2008 - Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The men's semifinals are scheduled to be staged Saturday at the U.S. Open, where top-ranked Rafael Nadal will take on sixth-seeded Andy Murray and second-seeded and reigning four-time champion Roger Federer will encounter third-seeded Novak Djokovic.
Nadal is a perfect 5-0 lifetime against Murray, including 3-0 already this year. The Spaniard topped the Scotsman in Hamburg, Wimbledon and Toronto earlier in the season and is 3-0 versus the 21-year-old Murray on hardcourts over the last two years.
Murray will appear in his first-ever major semifinal, while Nadal will perform in his first career U.S. Open semi.
The five-time major titlist Nadal is a brilliant 75-8 this season, including a tour-high eight titles, while Murray is 40-13 with three championships.
The 22-year-old Nadal is the reigning Wimbledon, four-time French Open and Olympic champion. He's trying to become only the fourth man in the Open Era (since 1968) to win three straight Grand Slam events, joining Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and Federer, who has done it twice.
Meanwhile, Federer is 6-2 lifetime against the Australian Open champion Djokovic, including a win in last year's U.S. Open finale. Djokovic did, however, top the Swiss in this year's Aussie Open semis. The two have split a pair of meetings in 2008, with Federer's win coming in Monte Carlo.
The 27-year-old Federer will appear in his record 18th straight Grand Slam semifinal and is seeking his 13th major title. He's won 32 straight matches here in Flushing.
The former world No. 1 Swiss is 52-12 with two titles this year, while the 21- year-old Serbian Djokovic is 52-12 with three championships.
Inclement weather is in the forecast for Saturday in New York.
<< Molik retires from tennis
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Top-10 player Alicia Molik has
announced her retirement from professional tennis.
The 27-year-old Aussie had her career derailed by an inner ear infection in
the spring of 2005. The probl
<< D'Backs, Dodgers start critical set at Chavez Ravine
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in the National League West begin a
crucial three-game September showdown tonight in Los Angeles, where the
Dodgers put their winning streak on the line against the first-place Arizona
Diamondbacks.
Los
<< Torrid Astros head to Colorado for key series
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have had to put together a pair of
lengthy winning streaks to stay in the National League wild-card race, while
the Colorado Rockies are still in the hunt due to a weak NL West.
The Astros and
<< Marlins get chance to end recent woes against Cardinals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It has been over a month since the Florida Marlins won
back-to-back games. It's been over five years since they posted consecutive
wins over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Marlins start up a three-game set with
LPGA changes tune on language requirement >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Facing substantial criticism, the LPGA
Tour announced Friday that it would rescind a recently-announced policy that
would have required players to learn and speak English.
The tour was to call for
Orioles to bring back Trembley in 2009 >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dave Trembley will manage the Orioles for at
least one more season, and maybe more.
The Baltimore Orioles have exercised their option on Trembley for the 2009
season and added a club option for 2010, the
Brewers sign veteran Lamb >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers signed veteran
infielder Mike Lamb on Friday.
Lamb, who will not be eligible to play if the Brewers reach the postseason,
batted .233 with a home run and 32 RBI in 81 g
Rumford, McIlroy share European Masters lead >>
Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Brett Rumford
of Australia fired a four-under 67 on Friday to tie Rory McIlroy for the lead
midway through the European Masters.
McIlroy, the 19-year-old former amateur star f
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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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