Schiavone takes Gastein final

Tennis Betting Lines

07/29/2007 - Bad Gastein, Austria (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone blitzed Austrian crowd favorite Yvonne Meusburger in straight sets to win the inaugural $175,000 Gastein Ladies tennis event.

Schiavone, who ousted fourth-seeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi in the semis, dominated the first set and then held off the unseeded Meusburger, who was playing in her first WTA Tour singles final, to win 6-1, 6-4.

This was the second time the Italian star got the best of Meusburger this year. Schiavone also dispatched Meusburger in straight sets in the first round of the French Open.

It was the ninth career final for Schiavone, but her first win.

The Italian pocketed $25,840 for her efforts.

Marketwarch Tennis Betting News

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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. 

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