Federer outlasts Djokovic; Murray tops Nadal in Rogers Cup semis

Tennis Betting Lines

08/14/2010 - Toronto ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Federer outlasted second-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic in three sets and will face defending champion Andy Murray in Sunday's final of the Rogers Cup, a $2.43 million ATP Masters event.

Murray beat top-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 6-4 during the afternoon, and the third-seeded Federer bolted out to a big lead against Djokovic before surviving in 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 fashion.

Federer, who improved to 10-5 all-time against Djokovic, won 12 of the first 13 points of the night semifinal. He was up 2-0 in the second set, but Djokovic rallied and incredibly held serve during the pivotal seventh game that lasted nearly 15 minutes. He closed that game with an overhand smash at the net for a 4-3 lead and then broke serve the following game when the super Swiss hit a return long.

A forehand passing shot by Djokovic, the 2007 champion at this event, sent the match to a third set.

It looked as if Federer would breeze in the deciding set as he gained a 4-1 lead, but Djokovic ended up breaking serve on a great net approach shot to get within 4-3. He then held serve and both players exchanged holds for a 5-5 stalemate.

Federer saved three break points, during which time Djokovic slammed and broke his racket in frustration.

After going up 6-5, Federer closed the match when Djokovic hit a forehand into the net.

Federer, who had 11 aces during the match, goes after his 63rd career title and second this year when he faces the Scotsman Murray on Sunday. Federer, who has won titles in Canada in 2004 and '06 and lost to Djokovic in the 2007 finale, has lost six of the 11 lifetime meetings against Murray. However, Federer has won the last three matchups, including the championship match at this year's Australian Open in straight sets.

Murray, seeded fourth in this U.S. Open tuneup, was 3-8 lifetime against the world's No.1 ranked player coming into the afternoon match. The Scot was able to put those past disappointments behind him by winning 69-percent of his service games.

In the opening set, Murray broke Nadal's fourth service game to go up 5-3, then ripped three of his nine aces before pinpointing a huge forehand into the corner of the right baseline to win the set.

The first break in the second set came early on in a game featuring several long rallies. Murray once again got the upper hand for a 2-1 edge, but Nadal converted a break point three games later to make it 3-all.

Murray saved two break points on his next serve and went up 5-4 when Nadal hit a baseline shot into the net with the score 30-40. He lost only one point serving out the match, which lasted just one hour, 44 minutes.

Nadal, playing in his first tournament since winning his eighth career Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon, had titled here in 2005 and 2008.

Murray is trying to become the first player to win back-to-back titles in Canada since Andre Agassi in 1994-95.

The four semifinalists accounted for the last seven champions at this event.

Sunday's winner will collect $443,500.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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