UFC 140

In two weeks the UFC will make its triumphant return to Toronto, Canada, this time for UFC 140 headlined by a Light Heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida. The last time the worlds top MMA promotion ran in Toronto, they sold out the Rogers Center in nearly 20 minutes. This time around, bookie software agents were shocked to learn, the UFC would be running out of a smaller venue, the Air Canada Center. Here is a preview of the card.

Entering the final month of 2011, the Light Heavyweight division of the UFC has literally been the talk of the company. From the aforementioned Jon Jones crushing Shogun Rua at UFC 128 to win the title, to UFC 139 Shogun v Henderson fans both casual and hardcore have been chomping at the bit for more Light Heavyweight action. When Jones and Machida face at UFC 140, it will once again feature a Light Heavyweight event, in which fans are hoping the champion looses to the more brand name recognizable fighter in Machida.

This will be the first time that Jones and Machida have met in the sports betting octagon. According to a slew of reports, Machida was going to fight top Light Heavyweight prospect Phil Davis in the main event of this card, but Davis had to pull out due to injury. Then Jones was going to fight Rashad Evans at a later event, but that too fell through, so Machida received the title shot against Jones at this event.

Speaking strictly from a marketing standpoint, a victory for Jones can go a long way to build up the division. As we have seen throughout the course of the year, the division really jumped to the forefront of the company, once Jones took over as champion. That isn’t to say that Machida would make a bad champion, but Jones as the younger prospect can grow with the division.

MLB Betting – Pujols Not Among Three Cardinals Named To All Star Team

For just the second time in his 11-year career, St. Louis Cardinals’ slugger Albert Pujols will not be joining the National League All Star team. Pujols was not among the three Cardinals’ players named to the NL squad when the results were released on Sunday, and while some may be surprised at his exemption as one of the top players in baseball over the years, his numbers for the 2011 MLB betting season offer every reason why he is not there. While his .279 average isn’t terrible and his 17 home runs aren’t that bad either, they are certainly not the best numbers that he has put up throughout his career, and look even better now that he has seemed to bounce back from a slow start.

The Cardinals will send three players to the All Star game, including the ageless wonder Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, and Yadier Molina. On the American League side, it is Jose Bautista that will lead the way after scoring a sports betting record 7.4 million votes to make the trip. The reigning home run king once again leads the majors after knocking in his 36^th and 27^th home runs in a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Bautista tagged a couple of NL All Stars in those games in Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, who will look to get back at him when they meet at next weekend’s All Star game.

Betting Underdogs In Baseball

MLB betting handicappers for years have taken the favorite over the underdog, not realizing the value they could be finding. Betting the favorite in any sport requires you to risk far more than you may be willing to give up. As a result, the more experienced sharps have started betting underdogs, as you are required to risk less and can get back more. Here is a look at betting on underdogs in the MLB.

Over a seven year study it was determined that favorites won at a higher clip then underdogs. Favorites in that time frame had an overall record of 9619 – 6891 -641 units, while dogs formed a record in the same span of 6917 – 9644 – 153 units. Although fans taking the favorite won at a higher clip, then underdogs, there were two telling statistics. Firstly, both types of bettor, favorites and dogs, would eventually show flat rate losses. Secondly, bettors taking the favorite tended to lose four times as much as the underdogs, as suggested by the number of units they had to use.

Favorable Betting Situations

As new handicappers, our goal is to simply determine which lines by sportsbooks are inflated in favor of a favorite and where we can find value for taking the underdog. One of the most favorable situations for underdogs was when teams faced off during inter-divisional matchups.

For instance, bettors that took the underdog during that same seven year study above when the dog faced a divisional opponent showed a record of 3414 – 4513. However, what’s telling about this situation is that underdog bettors were able to show a profit of 191 units.

On the contrary, when underdogs were taken in games where teams not in the same division faced each other, the record was 4401 – 6434. Moreover bettors would show a loss of profit at 341 units in this situation.

Who Will Win The National League In 2010?

According to one of the sports wagering news, this season’s National League has been far more interesting for MLB betting enthusiasts than in years past. For instance, in all three divisions, the division leader is still yet to be determined. In years past, it was a safe bet by June that the NL East and NL Central were going to the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals respectively. This year however, teams such as the NY Mets, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants are making each division difficult to figure out. As a result many fans are unclear who will win the national league title in 2010.

Going into the season, the odds on favorite to win the National League was once again the Philadelphia Phillies. Over the past two years no team has dominated the entire league the way the Phillies have. For instance, in 2008 the Phillies captured the World Series title after defeating the biggest surprise of the decade, Tampa Bay Rays. Than in 2009, they repeated as National League champions, but were unable to defeat fellow powerhouse New York Yankees for the World Series crown. In the offseason the Phillies acquired disgruntled former Blue Jay and future hall of famer Roy Halladay. After acquiring the big righty the team was given the best odds to win the World Series. However the offense has been abysmal this year, leaving room for a few other National League squads to jump in and take the glory.

One team we really like and could see winning the National League, is the San Diego Padres. Over the last few years no team has bounced around in the standing as much as the Padres. Yet this season they appear to finally have put the pieces all together. For example, they got off to a strong start out of the gate and have never been out of first place in the NL West.

What’s more, at the trade deadline, they were the only team in the West to not add anyone and staying the course has proven to be a great move so far. The pitching staff is incredible and is lead by top pitching prospect, Matt Latos. If the pitching can stay strong and the bats continue their good showings, look for the Padres to take the National League title.

Pettitte, Hamels square off in crucial Game 3

The World Series line for Saturday’s Game 3 in Philadelphia is backing New York on the road, as they send their veteran lefty to the mound to face last year’s World Series MVP.

Yankees vs Phillies odds – Saturday, October 31, 7:57 PM ET

Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37) clinched the ALCS for the Yankees in their 5-2 Game 6 win over the Angels, allowing a run on seven hits over 6.1 innings, along with six strikeouts and a single walk. The 37-year-old southpaw is 2-2 in seven career starts against the Phillies with a 3.67 ERA, but he’s 1-0 in two outings at Citizens Bank Park, posting a 0.75 ERA. Pettitte has allowed four runs in 12.2 innings on the road so far in the postseason, and his veteran experience will be a huge key in this game.

Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.75) lasted just 4.1 innings in a 10-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS, giving up three runs on just five hits. The problem is, three of those hits were solo homers, and going up against a home run-happy New York lineup can’t be encouraging. Hamels has faced the Yankees just twice, going 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA.

Northbet.com sportsbook odds have the Yankees as a -123 road favorite, and they’re 2-2 away from Yankee Stadium so far in the playoffs, while the Phillies are 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels’ struggles have been puzzling, and it’s not a new thing: the 25-year-old southpaw hasn’t been himself all season, which is why it’s tough to put your faith in the Phillies.

Online betting pick: New York Yankees -123