Posted on 3/17/2008 5:42:40 PM

Tennis Odds – ATP Master Series Indian Wells Third Round

By Nila Amerova

Indian Wells – The bottom half of the draw on the men’s side enters the third round today and with tennis odds currently live at BetUS, here are a few choice tennis picks to get you started betting on this prestigious ATP Masters Series event in Indian Wells.

Tennis Betting Line: Guillermo Canas -3 -130 -210 Over 22½ -125 Juan Monaco +3 -110 +160 Under 22½ -115

Match Time: 08:30 PM Eastern Time, Monday March 17, 2008

Tennis Prediction: No.16 Guillermo Canas leads 2-0 lifetime over fellow countryman No.21 Juan Monaco. Both matches were contested on clay and were resounding victories for the 30-year-old Canas. Canas is contesting his third tournament of the year. In his first tournament in Acapulco (clay), Canas reached the second round and in his second tournament in Las Vegas, Canas made a semifinal appearance (lost to Sam Querrey the eventual champion). Favored at -210, Canas is a good play in this matchup. He has enjoyed notable successes in Indian Wells. In 2005, he was a semifinalist at this event, and last year, he ousted Roger Federer in the second round, but lost to Carlos Moya in the third round. Juan Monaco is a good hard court player, but most of his career best results came on clay. On this surface, Canas holds the edge.

Tennis Free Pick: Canas in three sets

Tennis Betting Line: David Ferrer -5 -145 -700 Over 20½ -125 Hyung Taik Lee +5 +105 +400 Under 20½ -115

Match Time: 10:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday March 17, 2008

Tennis Prediction: No.5 David Ferrer is tied 1-1 lifetime with Hyung Taik Lee; their last meeting came in 2005 at Roland Garros – a victory the Spaniard took in straight sets. After enjoying a career best year in 2007, Ferrer has had a solid year thus far, reaching the quarterfinal of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals in Auckland and Dubai. Favored at -700, Ferrer is the better play.

Tennis Free Pick: Ferrer in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Philip Kohlschreiber +4½ -140 +400 Over 21½ -125 Novak Djokovic -4½ EV -700 Under 21½ -115

Match Time: 11:30 PM Eastern Time, Monday March 17, 2008

Tennis Prediction: This should be an interesting contest in the R32. No.27 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany owns one of the shocking upsets of the 2008 Australian Open – a R32 victory over No.6 Andy Roddick. In 2008, Kohlschreiber faced off against a Top 10 player twice. He holds a 1-1 record thus far(l. to No.2 Rafael Nadal in the opening round of Dubai a fortnight ago). This is the first time he plays Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in an ATP event, so will the underdog at +400 replicate the performance that saw him edge past Roddick? In Dubai, he took Nadal to three sets, so he has certainly proved he is capable of keeping up with the big guns of the game. Further recommending his underdog odds is the fact that he won the title in his season opening event in Auckland.

Djokovic enters the ATP Masters Series with a 12/3 record for the season, which is largely comprised of his Grand Slam title victory in Melbourne. In Dubai, Djokovic was upset by – Andy Roddick in the semifinal round – the very player Kohlschreiber defeated in Melbourne, a fact that cannot have escaped either player.

Of course, Djokovic is one of the best hard court players on the tour and upsetting the heavy favorite at -700 will be no mean task, but with a +400 price tag and a record of 1-1 against the Top 10 elite, wagering on Kohlschreiber would not be a long shot bet. As a finalist last year in Indian Wells and with his Grand Slam victory Djokovic will carry the weight of expectations on his shoulders. Many experts have Djokovic slotted for a back-to-back final appearance in Indian Wells, but if his nerves desert him here as they did in Dubai against Roddick, he may find himself shocked.

In spite of the above, I expect Djokovic to be the bettor’s short-odds-on favorite in this matchup. However, the odds maker’s bait is too good to ignore, particularly as the price tag is attached to a player that has demonstrated he is capable of sending seismic shocks in a tournament already once this season.

Tennis Free Pick: Kohlschreiber in three sets

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room