05/20/2008 - Strasbourg, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik booked a spot in the second round, while third-seeded French crowd favorite Virginie Razzano went by way of the upset Tuesday at the $175,000 Strasbourg International tennis tournament, a final clay-court tuneup for the French Open.
Srebotnik subdued young German Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-1, while Razzano was blasted by Taipei's Yung-Jan Chan 6-1, 6-0 at Ligue d'Alsace de Tennis.
Eighth-seeded Chinese Zi Yan was trailing Mara Santangelo 5-6 in the first set when the Italian retired from their bout with a left foot injury, thus giving Zi a spot in the round of 16.
Ukrainian qualifier Tatiana Perebiynis doused American Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1 on Day 2.
Additional wins came for Croatian qualifier Ana Vrljic, Swiss Timea Bacsinszky and Romanian Edina Gallovits. Bacsinszky took out Aussie wild card and former top-10 star Jelena Dokic 6-4, 6-2.
On Wednesday, second-round matches will come for top-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and reigning Strasbourg champion Anabel Medina Garrigues. The 2007 Wimbledon runner-up Bartoli will face Chinese Shuai Peng, while the sixth- seeded Medina Garrigues will tangle with Vrljic. The two-time Strasbourg titlist Medina Garrigues stunned Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo in last year's Strasbourg finale and also titled here in 2005.
<< Liverpool confirms addition of Swiss defender Degen
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Liverpool has confirmed that Switzerland
defender Philipp Degen will move to Anfield after the Euro finals.
The 25-year-old right-back has decided to make the move to England at the end
of his contract
<< Calleri, El Aynaoui land in Casablanca quarters
Casablanca, Morocco (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Argentine Agustin Calleri
and Moroccan veteran Younes El Aynaoui were among Tuesday's second-round
winners at the $575,000 Grand Prix Hassan II tennis event.
Calleri advanced to hi
<< Ferguson rules out Ronaldo exit
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson has dismissed reports suggesting Portugal international Cristiano
Ronaldo is set to leave Old Trafford and move to Real Madrid this summer.
Speaking
<< Is it time to hit panic button in D.C.?
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a 3-1 loss at Chivas USA on Saturday
night, one of Major League Soccer's proudest and most popular franchises, D.C.
United, hit rock bottom with its league leading sixth loss in eight fixtures
to star
This Week in Auto Racing May 22 - May 25 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This is the week that all racing fans have
been waiting for, particularly Sunday when there is racing around the clock.
It starts early on Sunday with the historic Grand Prix of Monaco, then returns
to the
Davenport withdraws from Roland Garros >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay
Davenport pulled out of the 2008 French Open on Tuesday, citing personal
reasons.
The 31-year-old former world No. 1 star has won every major event, with
FC Dallas fires coach Morrow >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FC Dallas fired coach Steve Morrow on Tuesday,
two days after the Major League Soccer club was humiliated in a 5-1 to the Los
Angeles Galaxy.
The loss extended Dallas' winless streak to four games and dropped
Karl undergoes successful surgery >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl underwent
successful surgery to replace his left hip Tuesday.
The surgery was performed at Rose Hospital by Dr. Hal Crane of Orthopedic
Associates and lasted more than
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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