Bettor's best friend (BBF): Helpful tips for all of Monday's action


See a penny, pick it up

The Red Sox dumped Brad Penny for his ineffectiveness, but most of that was against American League clubs. In four starts against NL teams this season, Penny is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He pitched eight scoreless innings in his debut with the Giants, who are -168 against San Diego.

Monday night football, Florida style

The annual rivalry game between Miami and Florida State could be decided by a pair of maligned units that will be going head-to-head. Miami's secondary will be without starter Vaughn Telemaque and senior reserve cornerback Ryan Hill, both of whom have shoulder injuries. The shorthanded group will try to match up with Florida State's speedy receivers, many of whom have seen limited playing time due to suspensions.

The Seminoles are giving 6.5 points and the total is 46.5. In three season openers between the schools from 2004-06, the teams never combined for more than 26 points, and the winning margin never was more than six points.

Opening remarks

Novak Djokovic may have a 3-1 lifetime record vs. Radek Stepanek, but the players have split their only two meetings on hard courts, with both going the distance and four of the eight sets requiring tiebreakers. Djokovic needed five sets to get past Stepanek at the U.S. Open in 2007 and lost in three sets at Rotterdam in 2006. Djokovic is favored but is +225 to win in four sets and +500 to win in five.

Scarlet Knights keeping bettors in the dark

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano must have attended the Eric Mangini School of Naming Your Starting Quarterback. With less than 24 hours until the season opener vs. Cincinnati, Schiano still has not decided whether fifth-year senior Dom Natale or running threat Jabu Lovelace will get the call.

It may not matter; the Bearcats have a new defensive coordinator and 10 new starters, although none will be freshmen. Host Rutgers is -4.5 with a total of 47.

Re-enter Sandman

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who has not pitched since Sept. 1 due to a recurring groin injury, pronounced himself fit to return prior to Sunday's game at Toronto. The Yankees took a 14-8 pounding, so there was no need to use him.

The Yankees have a day-night doubleheader vs. Tampa Bay on Monday. Rivera, who is 38-of-39 in save opportunities, could pitch in both games. The Yankees are -185 in the opener and -230 in the nightcap.

Three to get ready

The final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship - the only PGA Tour event with a closing round scheduled for a Monday - will begin with Steve Stricker, Retief Goosen and Sean o'Hair tied for the lead. Stricker, who won the John Deere in July and tied for second at last week's Barclays Championship, is the top choice at +300.

Goosen, who won the Transitions Championship in March and lost a playoff at the Canadian Open in July, is +400. O'Hair, who won the Quail Hollow Championship in July but has been no better than 65th in his last five events, is +500.

The second choice at +350 is Padraig Harrington, who is one shot off the lead alongside Kevin Na and Scott Verplank. Harrington tied for second at Bridgestone and the Barclays in the last month. However, he had poor final rounds at the Bridgestone and the PGA Championship, where he tied for 10th.

Long tosses

White Sox lefthander Mark Buehrle is winless in eight starts since his perfect game. The White Sox are +115 vs. Boston. ... Yankees righthander A.J. Burnett is winless in his last seven outings. New York is -230 vs. Tampa Bay. ... Cardinals righthander Chris Carpenter is 10-0 in his last 12 starts. St. Louis lost his two no-decisions in that stretch. The Cards are -230 at Milwaukee. ... In the last 11 starts made by Vicente Padilla, the total has been under 10 times. The total is 9.0 for the Dodgers-Diamondbacks matchup.

Notable Quotable

"When she's playing like this, I don't think there's anybody that can beat her. ... She's been able to always focus so well on the slams. You don't see her playing like this in a normal tournament that often. When (a grand slam) comes, it brings the best out of her."

-- 22nd seed Daniela Hantuchova, after receiving a 6-2, 6-0 thrashing from defending chmapion Serena Williams in a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open. Williams is tracking her 12th grand slam title