McHale will open for U.S. against Azarenka
Tennis Betting Lines
02/03/2012 - Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A Fed Cup World Group II matchup between the United States and Belarus will get underway Saturday with a rubber between American teenager Christina McHale and newly-crowned world No. 1 star Victoria Azarenka.
The best-of-five tie will be staged on an indoor hardcourt at Worcester's DCU Center.
Azarenka-McHale will be followed by a match between former No. 1 American great Serena Williams and Olga Govortsova on Day 1.
The 22-year-old Azarenka is fresh off her first-ever Grand Slam title, which she attained by beating former top-ranked star Maria Sharapova in last week's Aussie Open finale. The Belarusian slugger also ascended to No. 1 in the world in the process.
Sunday's reverse singles in Massachusetts will pit the U.S. Open runner-up Williams against Azarenka and the New Jersey native McHale versus Govortsova, while the doubles currently call for an American duo of Venus Williams and Liezel Huber to battle a Belarusian pairing of Azarenka and Govortsova on Day 2.
Venus hasn't played anywhere since pulling out in the first week of last year's U.S. Open, as she has been slowed by Sjogren's syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.
The former No. 1 Serena is a 13-time Grand Slam champion, while her fellow former top-ranked older sister boasts seven major championships.
The Americans, captained by Mary Joe Fernandez, and Belarusians are not in the World Group this year, which means neither team can capture the Fed Cup title in 2012. The U.S. is the all-time leader with 17 championships.
This will mark the first-ever Fed Cup meeting between the U.S. and Belarus.
The winner here will advance to the World Group playoffs and have a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title next year.
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard is expected to be out for up to six weeks due to an ankle injury. Lindegaard sustained the injury in training and missed Tuesday's match against Stoke
<< Former VMI football coach Thalman, 89, passes
Lexington, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former VMI football coach Bob Thalman died at
age 89 on Tuesday in Atlanta from the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
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seasons from
<< Crespo confirms exit from Parma
Parma, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Parma striker Hernan Crespo confirmed his
departure from the Italian club on Friday, with Crespo widely expected to
complete a move to India in the coming weeks.
The 36-year-old Crespo announced at
<< Watson to coordinate Presbyterian defense
Clinton, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Familiarity will aid Drew Watson as
Presbyterian College's new defensive coordinator.
After spending the last 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina,
he knows the Big South Conference and Presbyte
<< Wild, Rangers swap forwards
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Wild acquired forward Erik
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Christensen appea
Leverkusen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayer Leverkusen striker Eren Derdiyok will miss the next three weeks after he cut his foot on a toothbrush holder. A glass holding Derdiyok's toothbrush fell and shattered on his bathroom floor,
Berdych, French seeds reach Open Sud semis >>
Montpellier, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top seeds Tomas Berdych, Gilles Simon
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France tennis tournament.
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Safety among prevalent issues for Goodell >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Armed with labor peace for the next 10
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his annual state of the league address.
Last year's session with the assembled m
Portland's Valencia to miss 6-12 months >>
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portland Timbers forward Jose Adolfo Valencia
will undergo surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee and will be
sidelined six to 12 months.
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Calhoun takes medical leave of absence >>
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Connecticut men's basketball head
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Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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