Looking Ahead to 2011: San Diego Padres Infield

The Padres infield is in a bit of flux these days. Their best offensive player, Adrian Gonzalez, still does have trade rumors swirling all around him, and it is only a question of when not if Gonzalez gets dealt to. It appears very unlikely that their nominal double play combination (Eckstein and Tejada) are coming back as well. The only infielder that is secure in his starting job is 3b Chase Headley.

First Base: Adrian Gonzalez for now, but for how long?

Adrian Gonzalez is the one real power threat that the Padres do have on their team. He is their best offensive player overall, and it is not even close. It is scary to think what the Padres offensive does look like when Gonzalez is not in the lineup (.298/.393/.511 over 692 PAs for 2010). Gonzalez does have excellent power (31 homers in 2010) to go with a very good eye at the plate (93bb/114 k). All of this makes him very much in demand to a few contending teams. Boston is a very good fit, and they are consistent in the pursuit for him. Another team like Texas could be in on it depending on the prospect price they would need to pay. When Gonzalez does get traded, then San Diego is going to move Kyle Banks from the outfield to first base.

Second Base: Who plays here?

David Eckstein is the most day’s starter for the Padres in 2010, but without his speed (only 8 steals in 2010) he does bring much to the plate (.267/.321/.326 over 492 PAs in 2010). He does have a good idea of the strike zone (27bb/35k), but without power or speed it does not mean much. The Padres decide not to offer arbitration to Eckstein so it seems unlikely that he is going to be back with them in 2011.

Jerry Hairston Jr. is a possibility to be the starting 2b for San Diego next year. He is currently a free agent, and both sides do have interest in playing for San Diego in 2011. It is a question of dollars, as always, with the Padres. Hairston is not much of a hitter and 2010 backs that up (.244/.299/.353 over 416 PAs). However, he is solid defensively and able to play the middle infield spots along with the outfield.

Another possibility is Everth Cabrera moving over from shortstop (if the Padres sign or deal for a vet shortstop in the offseason). Cabrera does have outstanding speed though it does not always translate into stolen bases (10 steals, 6 caught stealing). His 2010 season leaves a lot of question if he can hit enough to play every day (.208/.279/.278). He does have a strong arm, so if he does move to second base he is going to be a plus defensive player there.

Shortstop: Miguel Tejada or a trade?

Miguel Tejada is the nominal starting shortstop here, but he is a free agent and San Diego chooses to not offer him any arbitration (mainly because they can not afford Tejada to bump up from his 6 million dollar salary in his last contract). There are a couple other clubs (St. Louis and San Francisco) that are showing some interest in Tejada, because of a poor shortstop market in free agency. He does still have some pop in his bar, and his time in San Diego is not that bad (.268/.317/.413 over 253 PAs). Tejada does provide a league average bat, which is pretty rare in the San Diego offense. He also shows some very good defense at shortstop as well.

Another possibility is the Padres make a deal for the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett. The Rays are not in a hurry to deal Bartlett, because they do want to see where Juan Uribe does sign so they can have a better idea who really wants him. Bartlett is a decent offensive player, who is only an average defensive shortstop. Still even a struggling Bartlett is a major upgrade offensively from the 2010 version of Everth Cabrera.

Third Base: Chase Headley is a secure starter

Chase Headley is the only Padres starting infielder that is totally secure in his position heading into the 2011 season. His 2010 numbers are just about league average (.264/.327/.375 over 674 PAs), and he does have a little bit of pop in his bat (11 homers in 2010) along with a good bit of speed (17 steals, 5 caught). That combination makes him a rather intriguing offensive player for the Padres. However, like Will Venable, Headley does strikeout a shade more often that San Diego does like to see. He is a plus defender at the hot corner as well. Headley is a solid starter for the Padres.

Logan Forsythe is a possibility to crack into the starting lineup at second base. The third sacker moves over to second base for the 2010 season, and he looks like a solid enough defensive player there. That is good, because now he can lay a claim for at least part of the second base job. He does have a good eye; San Diego thinks the power will come in time. However, scouts are very unsure about that every happening.

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More Disappointment for Australian Netballers

The Australian FastNet Diamonds finished a disappointing fourth at the recent World Netball Series in England.

However, the up-and-coming netballers showed their strength and skill, considering this was the same position that our best netballers finished in last year.

Coach Norma Plummer was unable to send her more experienced side due to a forced break after the recent Commonwealth Games.

Our World Number One Ranking Threatened

With an agonising loss to New Zealand in the recent gold medal playoff at the Commonwealth Games and now the fourth ranking at the World Netball Series, it begs the question is Australia still ranked number one in the world. The Kiwis also won the World Netball Series and are starting to dominate the Australian netballers.

Yet in the ANZ Championship, Australian teams are clearly on top with a New Zealand side yet to win the title. In the inaugural year, the NSW Swifts were victorious then the Melbourne Vixens in 2009 and the Adelaide Thunderbirds this year.

So why are the Aussies losing ever so slightly in matches against the Kiwis? We have some of the world's best netballers living in this country, most notably is the Australian Diamonds captain Sharelle McMahon, who is an absolute superstar.

Yes, the Kiwis have more experience than our current Diamonds team and they have Irene van Dyk, a real veteran of the sport, but the Aussies have a lot more depth than the Silver Ferns.

But, maybe this is our problem. It wasn't until the last moment before the final Australian Diamonds team was selected for the Commonwealth Games. Granted it would be a very difficult decision to choose the final squad, but maybe our players needed more of an opportunity to play together and get to know each other's games before coming up against New Zealand in major titles like the Commonwealth Games.

Silver Ferns Receive More Support Than the Diamonds

It must also be taken into consideration that the Silver Ferns and Kiwi netballers in general receive a hell of a lot more support than their Australian counterparts. In New Zealand, netballers are close second behind footballers in terms of support. Yet, here in Australia, netball continues to struggle to receive the recognition it deserves. It is a lot better than what it used to be but still maybe if Australia got behind their players more, we may see our netballers step up that little bit more and once again be a real dominant force on the world netball side. They sure deserve it.

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CFL Betting: The 98th Grey Cup

by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 25 2010

If revenge is a dish best served cold, then Edmonton is the perfect location. The CFL's northernmost city will host the 98th Grey Cup on Sunday, outdoors at Commonwealth Stadium, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are looking for redemption after a "too many men" penalty handed last year's championship to the Montreal Alouettes. The CFL odds at press time have the Alouettes pegged as 3.5-point favorites with a total of 51.

You'll definitely want to wear a toque if you're going to be at the stadium, but don't expect this one to turn into a "Snow Bowl" like the 1996 Grey Cup in Hamilton. The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and highs of 24 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-4 Celsius). The TV broadcast begins at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, or 4:00 p.m. Mountain, so there may still be some daylight hanging around by the time they kick the ball.

It's the Grey Cup, so naturally, there's a prop for that. Our football betting lines include a healthy dose of CFL props, including a couple for the weather.

What will be the temperature at kickoff? (Total: minus-8 Celsius)
Will it snow between kickoff and end of game? (YES +200; NO –300)

Aside from some flurries on Thursday, there's no snow in the forecast for Edmonton until December 2. That's too bad for the Roughriders. They're coming off a 20-16 upset of the Calgary Stampeders (–7.5) at snowy McMahon Stadium, with a nasty wind chill to boot. Meanwhile, the Alouettes (–10.5) were in short sleeves as they pummelled the Toronto Argonauts 48-17 indoors at Olympic Stadium. The Als shouldn't have any problems adjusting to Sunday's conditions.

Revenge is still on the mind of Saskatchewan supporters. Montreal (–9.5) took the 2009 Grey Cup 28-27 after Damon Duval got a second opportunity to kick the game-winning field goal, and from 33 yards out instead of 43. Forgotten in all the hubbub is how much work the Als had to do just to put themselves in position to win the game. They were down 27-11 halfway through the fourth quarter.

They didn't win the Cup, but the Green Riders did bag the cash. And they did it again in both of their regular season meetings with Montreal this year.

July 1: Montreal 51, Saskatchewan 54 (OT, SAS +3.5)
August 6: Saskatchewan 26, Montreal 30 (SAS +7)

That improves the Roughriders to 4-0 ATS in their last four games against the Als, despite losing on three occasions. All four of those games produced at least 55 points; however, the OVER split the cash at 2-2, and it's been a saw-off against the total for both teams this year, 10-10 for the Riders and 9-9-1 for the Alouettes. Sunday's total will be the lowest between these two clubs since Darian Durant (30 TDs, 23 INTs) took over as Saskatchewan's starting quarterback.

Durant's inconsistency has been one of the top CFL stories of 2010. The former North Carolina Tar Heel did this last year, too, throwing 21 picks during the regular season to lead the CFL along with his 24 TD passes. On the plus side – and there are many pluses with Durant – he's an accomplished scrambler, picking up seven TDs on the ground at 7.7 yards per carry. But even this has its price; Durant fumbled the ball 13 times, tying Toronto QB Cleo Lemon for worst in the CFL.

In stark contrast, Montreal features the league's three-time Most Outstanding Player, QB Anthony Calvillo. He'll almost certainly earn his fourth MOP award after throwing 32 TD passes during the regular season with just seven picks. And as a pocket passer, Calvillo only fumbled the ball three times this year. His lack of rushing production is tempered by Avon Cobourne (5.2 yards per carry), last year's Grey Cup MVP. Cobourne appears to be healthy and on top of his game after picking up 216 combined yards against the Argonauts in the Eastern Final. Saskatchewan has one of the worst rushing defenses in the league, although the pass defense is strong, anchored by DB James Patrick and his CFL-best nine interceptions.

Flip that scenario for the Montreal defense. Riders RB Wes Cates (5.2 yards per carry) rushed for 15 TDs this year, more than anyone else in the league, but the Als are very good at stuffing the run. It's the air attack where Montreal is vulnerable. If "Good Durant" shows up on Sunday, he'll get his revenge. If not – well, that's the risk Riders supporters will have to take.

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NCAAF Betting: Week 13 Betting Preview

by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 25 2010

Welcome to a special Heisman Trophy version of our weekly college football betting preview. We’ve got three viable candidates left for the Heisman as we wind down the 2010 regular season. Auburn QB Cam Newton is easily the most deserving based on his on-field production, but he can’t seem to shake that nasty "pay for play" scandal. Voters (mostly journalists and former winners) may be inclined to go instead with Boise State QB Kellen Moore or Oregon RB LaMichael James.

All three Heisman candidates will be in action Friday night as the TV powers that be milk the Thanksgiving weekend. Check our NCAA Player Props page for head-to-head matchups, two featuring Newton vs. Moore and two featuring Newton vs. James.

Friday: Auburn at Alabama (2:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

This is the first time since 1994 that the Iron Bowl will be contested between two teams in the Top 10 of the AP rankings. The Tigers (11-0 SU, 704 ATS) are No. 2 in the polls, but they’re also 4-point road dogs against the No. 9 Crimson Tide (9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS). The defending champions are actually No. 11 in the BCS rankings, so a win here is a must if they want to play in another BCS bowl. Auburn is 5-1 on the NCAAF futures market to win the national championship; a loss on Friday doesn’t necessarily prevent the Tigers from playing in Glendale on January 10.

Newton is the first SEC player to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a season. The Tide defense has taken a bit of a step back this year, but Alabama’s offense is nearly as good as Auburn’s. Brian Fremeau has Newton and the Tigers ranked No. 2 in offensive efficiency, with RB Mark Ingram and the Tide offense ranked No. 4 overall. Auburn has enough questions on defense to power the OVER to a 7-4 record. The Tigers have also played just three games on the road thus far, albeit at 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS. Both of Alabama’s losses were on the road.

Friday: Arizona at Oregon (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Oregon (10-0 SU, 6-3-1 ATS) is No. 1 in the polls by a wide margin, as well as the 4-5 favorite to win the national championship. The Ducks are so powerful that they’re laying 19 points to the Wildcats (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS), the No. 21 team on the BCS computers and No. 31 on the Fremeau Efficiency Index, just two spots behind Florida. But look what happened two weeks ago in Berkeley: The California Golden Bears (+18.5) drew up a blueprint to slow down Oregon’s offense and succeeded, only losing 15-13.

Arizona arguably has the best rush defense in the Pac-10, so it might be a bit much to ask James to outrun Newton by over 17.5 yards – that’s the spread for their prop, with the juice on Newton at –135. The Wildcats are also 2-3 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings with Oregon despite being the underdogs on each occasion. Live betting will be available on this matchup as well as the Iron Bowl. 

Friday: Boise State at Nevada (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

The lamestream media may have forgotten about the Broncos (10-0 SU, 8-2 ATS), one of the chic picks to win the championship this year. But sharp handicappers have been pounding Boise State all season long. The Broncos are still in the title hunt at No. 4 in the BCS rankings and 7-2 on the futures market – anticipating an Auburn loss earlier in the day. They’re well balanced on both sides of the ball, as well, covering fat spreads even while driving the UNDER to the pay window in each of their last four ATS wins.

Nevada (10-1 SU, 5-6 ATS) has been very impressive this year at No. 19 in the polls, but this was achieved while playing the softest schedule of any of the 120 teams in the FBS, leaving the Wolf Pack No. 46 on the Fremeau Index. That’s why they’re getting 14.5 points (–115) at home on Friday night. But the Pack are 2-1 ATS against Boise State the past three years, taking the Broncos to overtime in 2007 before losing 69-67 as 25-point road dogs. Those five percent of bettors siding with Nevada (according to the consensus reports at press time) could be onto something.

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NFL Betting: Thanksgiving Day Betting Preview

by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 25 2010

Believe it or not, the Thanksgiving tradition in the United States did not begin in Detroit in 1934. That's when the Lions started playing on the fourth Thursday in November; the Dallas Cowboys jumped on board in 1966, and 40 years later, the NFL created the Thanksgiving Classic tripleheader. We just can't get enough football betting – or cranberry sauce, for that matter. If that weren't enough, all three of our Turkey Day games will have live betting available.

New England at Detroit (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

The Lions (2-8 SU, 7-3 ATS) almost lost their Thanksgiving spot in 2008 after the usual suspects in the mainstream media complained about the lack of playoff implications. Once again, Detroit is well out of the picture, but you won't find a more profitable team in the NFL. The Lions franchise is on the upswing with Martin Mayhew as GM and Jim Schwartz as head coach. However, injuries have felled QB Matthew Stafford (shoulder) and several other important Lions for this matchup. They've dropped the cash in their last two games.

New England (8-2 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) is the true birthplace of American Thanksgiving, and locals have every reason to be thankful with the Patriots tied for the best record in the NFL. According to the efficiency stats at Football Outsiders, the 2010 Patriots offense is nearly as good as the 2007 version, which was the year the Pats went undefeated all the way up to the Super Bowl. But New England's defense only ranks No. 27 in the league, leaving the OVER at 8-2 on the season. The Week 11 NFL odds have the Patriots at –7 with a total of 51 points.

New Orleans at Dallas (4:15 p.m. ET, FOX)

The Cowboys (3-7 SU and ATS) are undefeated with Jason Garrett as their head coach and Jon Kitna as their quarterback. That's only two games, but still. Their most recent game was Sunday's 35-19 victory over the visiting Lions (+5), Kitna's former team. With QB Tony Romo (collarbone) possibly out for the season, Garrett is going conservative, giving tailbacks Felix Jones (4.1 yards per carry) and Marion Barber (3.2 yards) plenty of burn. Jones is questionable for Thursday with an injured hip; his fate might not be decided until kickoff.

New Orleans (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) has the No. 8-ranked rushing defense in the league in terms of efficiency, so even if Jones suits up, this is a tough spot for the Cowboys. The Saints have won each of their last three games SU and ATS, and they've done it with Chris Ivory and Julius Jones as their main tailbacks. Coach Sean Payton is being coy about whether Reggie Bush (4.0 yards per carry lifetime) will play Thursday; running backs tend to be more replaceable than the betting public believes them to be, as Ivory has shown. New Orleans was favored by 4.5 points (–105) at press time with a total of 51.

Cincinnati at N.Y. Jets (8:20 p.m. ET, NFL)

Don't let all that tryptophan weigh you down, because the Jets (8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS) are about to put on a show. They've got the biggest Thanksgiving spread on the table at nine points (total: 43.5) as they prepare to carve up the Bengals (2-8 SYU, 3-7 ATS), one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year. But maybe the gap between the two isn't as imposing as the football odds would suggest. New York has 6.0 Estimated Wins this year, while Cincinnati sits at 3.9 EW.

You can blame it on point margins. The Bengals are on a seven-game losing streak at 1-6 ATS, but only one of those losses was by more than nine points. Five of them were by less than a converted touchdown. The Jets, on the other hand, have won twice this month in overtime (including against the Lions) and have dropped the cash in three of their last four games. But at least they're relatively healthy. The Bengals have been savaged by injuries; one of the latest casualties is kicker Mike Nugent, who faces reconstructive surgery on his right knee (his kicking leg) and has been replaced by another former Ohio State Buckeye, Aaron Pettrey. He was a stockboy at a Buckeyes merchandise store in Columbus before getting the call last week. The holiday special almost writes itself: An Aaron Pettrey Thanksgiving.

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Federer hands Murray a lesson in the ATP World Tour Finals

Roger Federer's destruction of Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Finals was a consummate lesson in how to take the emotion out of the occasion and dictate the tempo of the match. ATP World Tour Finals tickets     Join Sportingo on Facebook The O2 Arena was bathed in blue light and awash with partisan support for the British number one but even the so-called 'extra man', to borrow from football's lexicon, was not enough to stop the Swiss maestro who looked in complete control throughout. An early break of Murray's serve was to set the tone for the encounter that was seemingly over before it even started. The slow court was supposed to help the Brit but a worrying amount of unforced errors meant that he was always on the back foot. Even when he did appear to get the better of his illustrious opponent, Federer would respond with a passing shot of such accuracy he could probably return to east London in two years time to compete successfully for Olympic gold in target shooting. Murray has the safety of having won his opening match against Robin Soderling and got his most difficult group opponent out of the way. Only David Ferrer remains for him to face and a win against the Spaniard would almost certainly see him qualify for the knockout stages unless Robin Soderling records a heavy win over Federer. It is by no means over for the local favourite but an improvement is needed quickly if he is to retain any hope of claiming this prestigious end of season gong.

 

 

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Soderling keeps ATP World Tour Finals ambitions burning with victory over Ferrer

 

 

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Roddick v Berdych: A must win match in the ATP World Tour Finals

 

 

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Nadal v Djokovic: ATP World Tour Finals set for US Open repeat

 

 

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Soderling eyeing rare win over Federer to progress in ATP World Tour Finals

Robin Soderling faces Roger Federer today in the O2 Arena needing to beat the Swiss comprehensively if he is to qualify for the next round of the ATP World Tour Finals. ATP World Tour Finals ticketsJoin Sportingo on Facebook Following his triumph at the Paris Masters, Soderling arrived in London as the man in form, but lost his opening game of the tournament in straight sets to Andy Murray. However, the Swede managed to keep his hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive by battling past David Ferrer to move joint second alongside the Brit, who was crushed by Federer. "I served very well, especially in the first set. But it was tough. It was a close match, two really tough sets." the 26-year-old Swede said afterwards. "I'm lucky that I won. I still feel that I have a lot of things that I can improve. Hopefully I can do that in one or two days and play a good match in my next match." As things stand, Murray superior head-to-head record against Soderling means the Brit would qualify. The Second criteria is percentage of sets won, followed by percentage of games won. Beating the Swiss will be by no means be an easy task, Federer has looked unbeatable so far, breezing past both Murray and David Ferrer in less than three hours to ensure his place in the next round. "Andy has beaten me the last few times so I'm surprised how clean the score was today, but I don't think Andy played his best match, that is for sure," Federer said following his latest triumph. "I'm surprised it went so well, almost a bit shocked to be honest. But obviously I'm happy I'm playing so well." Soderling may be hoping to face a complacent Federer in their upcoming match, but it is unlikely that arguably the best tennis player of all time will be anything but masterful once more. Watch Federer v Soderling live streaming free online

 

 

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Caroline Wozniacki continues to bring Sunshine to WTA Tour

With so many top flight players on the shelf for the remainder of the 2010 season, a dark cloud has been hovering over women’s tennis recently, but on Thursday at the China Open, the skies cleared for the crowning of a new World No.1, appropriately nicknamed “Sunshine”, Caroline Wozniacki.

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After capturing her 11th career title in Tokyo last week, the 20-year-old Dane needed to reach the quarter-finals in Beijing to become the 20th player in Tour history and seventh youngest to hold the no. 1 ranking. She did just that, dethroning Serena Williams with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Petra Kvitova.

While many are quick to argue that Wozniacki doesn’t have the power game or a Grand Slam title to justify her new status, the numbers do. She boasts a 25-2 record since Wimbledon, winning four titles in that span including a triumph at the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank in Montreal. Wozniacki’s win over Kvitova was her Tour leading 56th of the season compared to only 15 losses at a time when most of the top women don’t even come close to playing 56 matches in a year.  She is also the first player since Justine Henin in 2007 to win five titles in a season.

Wozniacki may not possess the power in her 5’10” frame to hit her opponents off the court like Serena and Venus can, but tennis isn’t just about striking winners, winning matches is what makes a player great and no one does that more in the women’s game than Wozniacki. Her domination is a result of playing by the most basic rule in tennis: keep the ball inside the lines. She excels where others fail in that regard and while it’s not the prettiest approach to the sport, it’s effective and apparently a lost art in today’s era of ‘big babe’ tennis.

Can Rafael Nadal win all four majors in 2011?

Of course, Rafael Nadal has the capability of winning each major. As of September 7, 2010, he’s captured the singles titles of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open at least once. However, winning all four majors in the same year is well nigh impossible for Nadal or any other male tennis player.

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The top players’ off court commitments are too numerous, and their schedule balancing so delicate that the odds of winning that quartet within a calendar year are whittled down to nearly nil. Meanwhile, within those nine months spanning the Australian Open and the US Open, the chances that someone else will get hot, believe totally in himself, or just get plain lucky for two weeks increases the odds against any favorite.

As it stands now, whoever wins the Australian Open is instantly pressured from without and within, and the expectations only intensify geometrically as the year advances.

The term Grand Slam was nicked from the game of bridge well after Don Budge captured all four major titles in 1938. When he actually won the fourth and final singles championship at Forest Hills no one noticed it as any special feat, any more than the first horses who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes were awarded the Triple Crown, until a journalist coined the term.

The last time a male player snagged all four successively was forty-one years ago in 1969, when Rod Laver swept all of them into his pocket, repeating what he did in 1962. That was at the dawn of the open era when three of those tournaments were contested on grass.

Roger Federer's chance to reassert dominance over Rafael Nadal

At the conclusion of the 2008 men’s singles final at Wimbledon, most tennis followers were predicting the beginning of the end for the great Roger Federer. The Swiss had just lost to his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, in one of the most exciting finals in Wimbledon history and would later in the year lose his number one world ranking also to Nadal.

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Earlier in the year he had lost in the semi final at the Australian Open to rising star, Novak Djokovic, who went on to claim the title and with it his first Grand Slam. Federer then went on to Paris for the year’s second Grand Slam at Roland Garros, where he lost in the final to Nadal winning only four games in a one sided final.

That Wimbledon defeat came next and prevented Federer from breaking the record of five straight wins at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which he jointly held with Bjorn Borg. The defeat also left Federer with only one Grand Slam title to his revered name that year and he knew that defending that one crown, the US Open,  was going to be a tough ask.

Nadal was looking more voracious than ever and Djokovic wanted to go one better than he did in 2007, when he finished runner up. He would also have to contend with another emerging star from Britain, Andy Murray, who along with Nadal, were the only two players in the world to have a superior head to head record against him.

The scene was set therefore for the great Federer capitulation but he was having none of it of course. Nadal as it turned out had still not come to terms with hard court surfaces and Djokovic was unable to get the better of him in the semi final, losing in four sets. It was left to Murray in fact to deny Federer a 2008 Grand Slam win, but he was clearly overawed by the occasion leaving Federer to deny his detractors and finish the year off with at least one Grand Slam, something which he had achieved every year since 2003. It was his 13th Grand Slam victory too, meaning that he was only one behind the record of the 14 held by Pete Sampras.

Nadal and Murray the ones to watch in ATP World Tour Finals

This year, men’s professional tennis appears to be headed for a finale that will end the year with a bang instead of a whimper. Instead of battle weary veterans limping towards a well deserved rest, it seems that there are eight eager competitors and teams vying for the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

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Group A Singles

The best year of Rafael Nadal’s phenomenal career has not yet come to a close. He has publicly vowed to improve on his performance at year’s end, and as he’s been true to his word so far there is little reason to doubt him. Of course, that’s also an easy boast, considering how poorly his tired body performed last year (0-3). Having rehabilitated his shoulder instead of competing in Bercy last week, he should be more than ready to defeat, once again, those players he faced in Grand Slam finals.

After losing to Nadal in the US Open final, Novak Djokovic has claimed the Beijing title, posted losses to Roger Federer twice and was routed in the round of sixteen of the Paris Masters by a surging Michael Llodra. He still has the fire of competition coursing through his veins, as well as a thirst for vengeance, plus he has previously won this event.

Tomas Berdych is having the best year of his career as well, reaching the final eight and breaking into the top 10. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain by competing at his best.

NFL Betting: Week 12 Betting Preview

by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 24 2010

The Green Bay Packers have claimed another coaching victim. Two weeks ago, they destroyed the Dallas Cowboys 45-7, compelling owner Jerry Jones to sack coach Wade Phillips. Green Bay enjoyed the bye week, then returned Sunday to turf the Minnesota Vikings 31-3, resulting in the dismissal of Brad Childress. That unemployment streak should come to an end this week when the Packers visit the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, perhaps Minnesota will respond the same way to its coaching change as Dallas did: by shredding the NFL odds with an upset victory on the road.

Thursday: New Orleans at Dallas (4:15 p.m. ET, FOX)

First up, there are three Thanksgiving Day games on the Week 12 slate – we wish all the best to you and yours. The Cowboys (3-7 SU and ATS) have won back-to-back games under interim coach Jason Garrett, who was the offensive co-ordinator and high-paid assistant to Phillips. In the absence of QB Tony Romo (broken collarbone), Garrett has gotten strong results from a low-risk running game. But the Dallas pass defense is one of the worst in the league, driving the OVER to the pay window in seven straight. The Saints (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) have won three in a row since that unsightly loss to the Cleveland Browns (+12 away) in Week 7.

Minnesota at Washington (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

Like many coaches, Childress is highly intelligent when it comes to football, but not so much when it comes to social skills. His departure will improve morale on a team that's underachieving mightily at 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS. Interim coach Leslie Frazier, formerly Childress' defensive co-ordinator, takes over the reins and has already thrown his support behind QB Brett Favre (10 TDs, 17 INTs) as the Vikings starter. The Redskins (5-5 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) appear to be doing the same for QB Donovan McNabb (10 TDs, 12 INTs), even though he's having his worst season since joining the league in 1999. Five of Washington's 10 games have been decided by a field goal. Check Bodog Sports for the latest NFL betting lines on this matchup.

Philadelphia at Chicago (4:15 p.m. ET, CBS)

Michael Vick didn't throw any TD passes last week, but he didn't need to in a 27-17 victory over the New York Giants (+3.5 away) on Sunday Night Football. The Eagles rushed for two scores (one by Vick) and David Akers went 4 of 5 on his field goals to earn the duke. Philadelphia remains the most efficient team in the league according to Football Outsiders; the Bears, also 7-3 (5-4-1 ATS), are only No. 19 overall in efficiency and will be getting 3.5 points (–115) on Sunday at Soldier Field. The UNDER is 4-1 in their last five encounters.

San Diego at Indianapolis (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)

It could be sink or swim for both these teams. The Colts (6-4 SU, 6-3-1 ATS) have picked up all four of their losses on the road, the last three by a field goal or less. The Chargers (5-5 SU and ATS) have won three in a row SU and ATS as they perform their annual late-season push in the AFC West. Both teams have injury concerns on offense, but quarterbacks Peyton Manning (20 TDs, seven INTs) and Philip Rivers (23 TDs, nine INTs) are healthy and playing at their usual Pro Bowl level. The Chargers are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings, winning all four games as the underdogs.

Monday: San Francisco at Arizona (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Last week's MNF matchup between the Chargers and the Denver Broncos didn't have much sizzle. ESPN was probably expecting bigger things from these two NFC West franchises, as well. Instead, we get a pair of teams at 3-7 SU and ATS, but both are still alive in a division where none of the four members has a winning record. The 49ers won their first two games with Troy Smith (five TDs, two INTs lifetime) at quarterback before getting shut out 21-0 last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5 away). The Cardinals have lost five in a row at 1-4 ATS, all with Derek Anderson (seven TDs, eight INTs) at the controls. San Francisco is 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS in its last five against the Cards.

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Sports Betting Online: Stat Check

by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 24 2010

Contrary to popular belief, Joe Paterno wasn’t around when Roman numerals were invented. But the 83-year-old coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions (his home since 1950) is proving once again that age ain’t nothin’ but a number. Paterno confirmed on Tuesday that he’s coming back to coach Penn State in 2011, the last year of his latest contract extension. We wish Paterno the best of health for Thanksgiving and well beyond. Meanwhile, here’s your latest 10-spot of useful sports betting stats and factoids.

NFL Betting Lines

1. Tennessee at Houston (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., CBS)

The Texans have the worst defense after 11 weeks of any NFL team since 1993, according to the DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) stats at Football Outsiders. Rookie QB Rusty Smith (19.0 passer rating) starts for Tennessee in Week 12 after Vince Young (thumb) was put on injured reserve.

2. Philadelphia at Chicago (Sunday, 4:15 p.m., FOX)

The Eagles are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games on Week 12, with the OVER beating the NFL odds in each of the last four years. However, the UNDER is 14-1 in Chicago’s last 15 games on Week 12.

3. San Diego at Indianapolis (Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC) 

The Chargers are 21-6-3 ATS in their last 30 games as the underdogs. The favorites are 0-7 ATS in the last seven meetings between these two clubs.

Get all your NFL odds at Bodog.

NCAAF Betting Lines

4. Auburn at Alabama (Friday, 2:30 p.m., CBS)

Auburn QB Cam Newton is third in the FBS with 43 rushing plays of at least 10 yards (hat tip: cfbstats). Michigan QB Denard Robinson leads all players with 48 such running plays.

5. Arizona at Oregon (Friday, 7:00 p.m., ESPN)

The OVER is 13-2-1 in Oregon’s last 16 games as the home favorite. We’ve got the Ducks laying 20 points at press time with live betting available for this special Friday nighter.

6. LSU at Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS)

The Tigers have the best Field Position Advantage of all 120 teams in the FBS, ahead of Central Florida and Texas Christian. The Razorbacks are No. 64 overall in that category.

Get all your college football odds at Bodog.

NBA Betting Lines

7. Golden State at Memphis (Friday, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2)

The Warriors are 19-8-1 ATS in their last 28 games against losing teams. The Grizzlies are 5-9 (6-7-1 ATS) after dropping five of their last six games, although they did beat the Miami Heat (–5.5 away) on Saturday.

8. Orlando at Washington (Saturday, 7:00 p.m., NBA-TV)

Washington only has three players with positive plus-minus Roland Ratings (hat tip: 82games), and John Wall is not one of them at minus-1.9. Orlando has seven "positive" led by Dwight Howard at plus-15.6.

Get all your NBA odds at Bodog.

NHL Betting Lines

9. Chicago at Anaheim (Friday, 4:00 p.m., WGN)

The Blackhawks are 8-1 in their last nine games against teams from the Pacific Division, although only 2-1 this year – including a 3-2 overtime win against the Ducks (+148 away) on November 14.

10. Buffalo at Montreal (Saturday, 7:00 p.m., NHLNET)

Buffalo ranks just No. 27 in the league in RPI (Relative Power Index) as compiled by ESPN. Montreal is tied with Pittsburgh and Washington for 11th place; Detroit is first overall.

Get all your NHL odds at Bodog.

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