Pennetta eases into Palermo quarters

Tennis Betting Lines

07/14/2010 - Palermo, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion and top seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy was an easy second-round winner Wednesday at the $220,000 Palermo International tennis tournament.

Pennetta handled Czech Renata Voracova 6-0, 6-3 in only 55 minutes on the red clay at Country Time Club. The world No. 12 Pennetta beat Sara Errani in last year's all-Italian final here and was the Palermo runner-up back in 2004.

The 28-year-old Pennetta's quarterfinal opponent on Friday will be Spanish qualifier Nuria Llagostera Vives, who took out ninth-seeded Italian Alberta Brianti 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on Day 3.

Veteran American Jill Craybas fought back to stun Wimbledon semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday. The diminutive 36-year-old Craybas is only 5-foot-3 but is one of the fittest players on the WTA Tour.

The Bulgarian Pironkova, seeded fourth this week, appeared in her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal two weeks ago at the storied All England Club.

Meanwhile, eighth-seeded German Julia Goerges grounded Italian qualifier Corinna Dentoni 6-4, 6-3 to setup a quarterfinal affair with the age-defying Craybas.

On Thursday, second-seeded Aravane Rezai and a third-seeded Errani will play their second-rounders. The French Rezai is fresh off her clay-court championship in Bastad. Errani is seeking her third straight trip into the Palermo final, having titled here in 2008 and lost to Pennetta in last year's championship tilt.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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