At the Net: Raonic on the rise

Tennis Betting Lines

02/20/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If you're trying to find young tennis stars from Canada (or anywhere else for that matter), look no further than Milos Raonic.

Okay, Raonic (pronounced Rau-nitch) plays under the Canadian flag on the ATP World Tour, although he was born in Montenegro and resides in Monaco and/or Spain, in addition to Thornhill, Ontario.

FYI: Montenegro was once part of the former Yugoslavia.

Moving on.

The 21-year-old Raonic, who moved to Canada with his parents at the tender age of three, is an all-courter who prefers hardcourts and possesses a wicked and accurate serve which has helped him climb back up to No. 32 in the world. He is Canada's second-highest-ranked ATP singles player since the computer rankings began in 1973. (Greg Rusedski peaked at No. 4 in 1997.)

Raonic just titled in San Jose over the weekend, as he became a repeat champion at the SAP Open by straight-setting Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the finale at HP Pavilion. It marked his third career title, which have all come over the last 12 months.

He was also a runner-up in Memphis last season.

The big-serving Raonic managed just seven aces in the San Jose final on Sunday, but one of 'em checked in at 150 mph in a service game that was clearly too much for the 58th-ranked Istomin. The Canadian slugger won all 10 of his service games and lost just four points, including one in a first-set tiebreak. In 41 service games in San Jose, Raonic was broken only once.

Raonic joined the likes of Andy Murray (2006-07), Andy Roddick (2004-05), Mark Philippoussis (1999-2000) and boyhood idol Pete Sampras (1996-97) as a back- to-back champ in San Jose.

The 6-foot-5 Raonic joked at the trophy presentation on Sunday that he likes San Jose so much he might consider moving there.

"It's amazing. If the real estate wasn't so expensive here, maybe I'd buy a place," he said.

The force that is Raonic may have even more titles to his credit had he not been sidelined last season after requiring surgery for a hip injury he sustained after slipping on the grass at Wimbledon in June.

"It was the toughest time and it was probably the hardest thing I hope I'll have to go through," he said of his surge-slowing injury. "These kind of moments make you forget that. It's in the past.

"I just hope to keep playing good tennis. Hopefully, the things go my way. Hopefully, people will judge me that way (as having) a breakthrough year. Hopefully, on to better and bigger things."

A healthy Raonic now has his eyes set on a run into the land of the big boys.

Raonic reached a career-high No. 25 in the world in May of last year and appeared to be on his way to the top 20, for sure, before the Wimby mishap. At one point last season, he rose from No. 152 in the world to No. 37 in a month.

"I think last year I was a lot more unaware of what was really going on," Raonic said. "This year, I have a lot higher expectations. I know how to prepare, I know how to deal with things and I feel like I'm a much better tennis player than I was last year."

Early 2012 has been good so far to the formidable Canadian, as evidenced by a brilliant 11-1 record and a pair of championships. He also titled at an Australian Open tuneup in Chennai, India last month. Unfortunately for Raonic at the Aussie Open, Aussie hero Lleyton Hewitt upended him in the third round Down Under.

Did You Know?: Raonic is the only two-time winner so far on the ATP this year.

If there has been any area of concern for Raonic thus far, it has been his performance at the Grand Slams, having suffered first- or second-round losses in three of his first five majors. His best showing has come in Melbourne, where he reached the third round this year after making a trip into the fourth round there a year ago.

In my humble opinion, there are four young guys to really keep your eye on, and, in no particular order, they are Aussie Bernard Tomic, American Ryan Harrison, Bulgarian Grigor "Baby Federer" Dimitrov... and Raonic. And I believe two of these guys can actually make it all the way to the top. And those two are Tomic... and Raonic.

If Raonic can keep the wins coming, he'll be able to afford that home in Silicon Valley... and anywhere else for that matter.

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.

Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

About MySportsbook.com MySportsbook.com  is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your basketball sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.