Chakvetadze titles in Slovenia

Tennis Betting Lines

07/25/2010 - Portoroz, Slovenia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russian Anna Chakvetadze needed just over an hour to beat Sweden's Johanna Larsson, 6-1, 6-2, to capture the title at the Slovenia Open.

Chakvetadze, who won her first championship of the year and eighth of her career, took advantage of a poor second serve from her opponent. Larsson won just 3-of-21 points on her second serve.

The 23-year-old Chakvetadze was appearing in her first final since 2008 in New Haven. She became the eighth unseeded champion on the tour this year.

This was the first final for the 21-year-old Larsson.

Gamblig Tennis Betting News

<< Pirates option Lincoln, designate Donnelly for assignment
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned starter Brad Lincoln to Triple-A Indianapolis and designated reliever Brendan Donnelly for assignment following their 6-3 loss to the Padres on Sunday. Lincoln started S

<< Phillies rally to down Rockies
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmy Rollins drove in the tying run and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning as Philadelphia clipped Colorado, 4-3, in the third edition of a four-game set from Citizens Bank Pa

<< Padres complete road sweep of Pirates
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Denorfia and Adrian Gonzalez each homered, as the San Diego Padres took down the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3, to complete a three-game sweep at PNC Park. Denorfia drove in three runs and scored t

<< Braden finally wins again as Athletics down Chisox
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Braden picked up a long-awaited win and was backed by three RBI from battery mate Kurt Suzuki as Oakland held off the White Sox in a 6-4 win to close out a three-game set at the Coliseum. Braden (5-7)

<< Martin, Kershaw help Dodgers edge Mets
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russell Martin's two-out double in the eighth inning drove in the only run of the game as Los Angeles subdued New York, 1-0, to finish off a four-game set. Clayton Kershaw (10-5) worked eight sc

Mariners rally past Red Sox >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Saunders' two-run single, part of six straight hits by the Mariners to start the eighth inning, lifted Seattle to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox to conclude a four-game series. Casey Kot

Shin holds off Joh for first Duramed Futures win >>
Concord, NH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jenny Shin birdied the final hole Sunday to beat Tiffany Joh by a single stroke at The International at Concord. Shin, who won for the first time on the Duramed Futures Tour, closed with a three-under 6

Ishikawa's hit sends Giants to sweep of Arizona >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Ishikawa knocked in the winning run in the 10th inning to lift San Francisco over Arizona, 3-2, to complete a four-game sweep. Sergio Romo (3-3) hurled a scoreless ninth for the win and Bria

Dixon prevails in controversial Edmonton finish >>
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Dixon won the Honda Indy Edmonton IZOD IndyCar Series race in a bizarre and controversial finish. Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line first, but was penalized for blocking his Penske Racing teammat

Cowboys' Bryant will catch passes, not carry pads >>
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant says he is in training camp to catch passes, not carry somebody else's shoulder pads.The Cowboys were in pads for the first time in camp Sunday. Veteran players traditionally hand their pads to a

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.