in Tennis Free Picks

San Jose, California – With some of the first round of the SAP Open played out, let us look at the second round matchups shaping up and some of the odds that are already available with BetUS.com.

Top half of the draw:

Prediction: One of the first-round matchup between Andy Roddick and Frank Dancevic that remains to be played out. Andy Roddick who is returning from the Czech Republic following a great performance for the US in his Davis Cup will be taking the court on Wednesday in San Jose, California. Save for jet-lag being a factor - do we really need to break this one down for you? I did not think so.

Pick: A-Rod in two sets.

Prediction: No. 54 Lee defeated qualifier Phillip King in the first round 7-6(4) 6-3 to set up his second-round matchup with Simon Gruel who managed to upset the favorite Robert Kendrick.

Lee arrives as the favorite against Greul, having already beaten him once in the 2006 Delray Beach tournament, Lee holds a 1-0 head-to-head record. While the line suggests that the favorite Lee is expected to win, Greul has already once cashed in on his underdog status in this tournament. Perhaps he should not be underestimated again?

Pick: I’ll go out on a limb here and root for the underdog Greul. Greul to advance in two sets.

Prediction: 2006 Defending SAP Open champion and No. 3 seed Andy Murray is the clear favorite against World No. 83 Kristian Pless of Denmark. By all accounts he has the match in the bag! At -1400 you would have to place a bet of $1400 to win $100. Not the best bet for your dollars in terms of value for sure, but Andy Murray is considered the sure bet on this line. If you have a penchant for underdogs and upsets, Pless’s +650 price tag could warrant a small bet, but you would most likely be wasting your time.

Pick: Andy Murray in straight sets.

Bottom half of the draw:

Prediction: James Blake, the No. 2 seed at this event, is also returning from his Davis Cup duty in the Czech Republic. As with Andy Roddick, save for jetlag being a factor in his matchup against Kunitsyn, Blake should have no problems advancing to the second round.

Pick: James Blake in two sets.

Prediction: Marat Safin, the No. 4 seed at the SAP Open, will be the favorite in this matchup against No.93 Lu. Seriously, it would be a stretch of the imagination to believe that Lu could send Safin home at this stage of the Open.

Pick: Safin in straight sets.

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