Nadal, Djokovic to play for Monte Carlo title

Tennis Betting Lines

04/18/2009 - Monte Carlo, Monaco (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic won semifinal matches Saturday and will play for the title at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Djokovic was the first to advance, rallying for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland to reach his first Monte Carlo final. On Sunday the third-seeded Serb will try to dethrone the four-time reigning Monte Carlo champ in Nadal.

The top-seeded Spanish superstar notched a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Scotland's Andy Murray. It was the third meeting between the two already in 2009.

Murray earned a three-set win over the world's top-ranked player at the Rotterdam final in February, but Nadal gained a measure of revenge last month in the title match at Indian Wells with a 6-1, 6-2 rout.

Nadal appeared to be in command in this one. He broke serve for a 3-1 lead in the opening set and used another break in the eighth game to finish it. A break for a 3-1 lead in second set allowed Nadal to serve for the match at 5-3, but Murray fought back with a break to keep the match going and it eventually went to a tiebreaker.

The first three points of the tiebreak went to Nadal, but Murray wouldn't quit and won the next two. The fourth seed never was able to pull even, though, as Nadal led throughout and finally closed out the match in two hours and eight minutes.

Nadal improved to 7-2 lifetime against Murray and will take on Djokovic, whom he has beaten 11 times in 15 all-time matchups. The two met earlier this year on clay in Davis Cup action, with Nadal claiming a 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 triumph.

Sunday will be the third meeting in a final. Nadal won both previous title matches, 6-2, 7-5 at Indian Wells in 2007, and 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 at the Queen's Club last year.

In the day's first semifinal, Wawrinka was primed for another upset. The 13th seed knocked out countrymate Roger Federer in the third round and on Saturday captured the final three games of the opening set.

Djokovic, though, won the first four games of the second and dropped just 15 points in a 35-minute set. Wawrinka then regrouped and claimed the first two games of the third only to watch Djokovic run off the next four to take control.

The 21-year-old Djokovic will play in his third final of 2009. He won the Dubai crown in February and lost to Murray in Miami two weeks ago. In 19 career title matches, the 2008 Australian Open champ has a record of 12-7.

Nadal will try for his third title of the year, having already won at the Australian Open in addition to his Indian Wells triumph over Murray. He is an astounding 33-9 all-time in ATP singles finals, with 22 of those 33 titles coming on clay.

Sunday's winner will claim a first prize of $580,500.

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Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

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

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.