NCAAF Sports Betting News: LSU, Alabama Set For SEC Showdown

The BCS National title game results from the past few years have cleared any doubt about the fact that the SEC is the most dominant football conference in college sports, and although we haven’t even reached the bowl season for this year, the conference is already flexing its muscle this weekend with a showdown of the top two teams in the nation. The undefeated and No. 1 LSU Tigers are set to travel to Tuscaloosa to clash with the undefeated and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in a matchup that will determine first in the SEC, the national rankings, and provide the winner with the inside track to reach the BCS championship. While all eyes will be on that SEC battle, the No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys will look to remain undefeated when they take on Big 12 rival Kansas State Saturday, while the No. 4 Stanford Cardinal are at Oregon State after climbing in to the top-five for the first time this season.

NFL Picks News: Division Rivalries Highlight Week Eight In The NFL

It seems as though the NFL week wouldn’t be complete without at least one major upset, and after the previously winless St. Louis Rams finally ending their skid with a 31-21 win over the New Orleans Saints, all bets are off about who this week’s upset pick will be. Both of the remaining winless teams are in the AFC, but neither of them stand much of a chance this week with the Miami Dolphins visiting the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts hosting the Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, there are a couple of important divisional clashes with the New York Jets traveling to face the Buffalo Bills with the visitors one game back of Buffalo and the New England Patriots in the AFC East standings, while the Pittsburgh Steelers look for a measure of revenge against the Baltimore Ravens at home on Sunday Night Football. The Patriots will host the New York Giants following their second loss of the season in a Super Bowl XLII rematch.

NHL News: Defending Cup Champions Look To Overcome Slow Start

In a perfect illustration of a Stanley Cup hangover, the defending champion Boston Bruins have opened the season with just three wins through their first 10 games, struggles which were taken to another level with a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the division rival Montreal Canadiens. Boston will have time to focus and get back on track when they host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday before heading to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs on Saturday. Meanwhile, the team they beat for the Stanley Cup a year ago will also look to break out from a slow start as the Vancouver Canucks are on the road for four games this week beginning in Calgary against the Flames after a .500 start through 11 contests.

NBA Pay Head News: NBA Players, Owners Should No Signs Of Remorse

Following the cancellation of more games, the NBA owners and players appear to have a strong imbalance between them that likely will cost them the remainder of this season. Neither side appears ready to relent in regards to the 2-percent share in BMI the two sides have been debating about, but with the college season right around the corner basketball fans should get their share of action soon, with an NBA season highly unlikely even with both sides talking.

There is no BetOnline scam when it comes to the lines for UFC 137; there are a trio of massive favorites on the main card, while the two big fights are relatively close and we’re going to tell you why.

B.J. Penn (16-7-2) vs. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC) – Welterweight

Penn is favored at -135 while Diaz is rated at +115, and Penn gets the edge as he is more known to UFC fans, but Diaz earns some respect for a 10-match winning streak and he held the Strikeforce belt. BetOnline reviews for this match are picking a close battle and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this line come closer to even odds by fight night.

Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) vs. Matt Matrione (5-0) – Heavyweight

Matrione is a -135 favorite in this heavyweight clash against Kongo, who comes in at +135 and he is the typical mid-pack fighter in the UFC; not good enough to be a champion, but he’s better than the lower-tier fighters. Price per head services will favor Matrione as he is a fan favorite from his time on the “Ultimate Fighter”, and he has four KOs in his first five fights.

Mirko Filipovic (27-9-2, 1 NC) vs. Roy Nelson (15-6) – Heavyweight

Nelson is favored at -280 against “Cro Cop”, who is near the end of his career and he may even be finished if he loses this fight. Nelson has an iron chin and an outstanding ground game for a man his size, while Filipovic has looked disinterested and has been knocked out in his last two fights.

Scott Jorgensen (12-4) vs. Jeff Curran (33-13-1) – Bantamweight

Jorgensen is a -425 favorite according to price per head odds, even though this is his first fight on a UFC pay-per-view. Curran is a veteran, but Jorgensen had a title fight against Dominick Cruz just two bouts ago and is high in the bantamweight rankings, which is why he is such a big favorite on Saturday night.

Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) vs. George Roop (12-7-1) – Featherweight

Hioki is another sizeable favorite at -330 over Roop, and Hioki is also making his UFC debut against a fighter that matches up well for him; Roop has problems defending submissions, and Hioki is a submission specialist. Those in the know have Hioki up there in the featherweight rankings and some think it’s only a matter of time before he earns a shot at the title, while Roop is the quintessial mid-card fighter. He can take on the lower fighters, but he’ll never get a title shot. Hioki was brought in to fight for the championship at some point, which is why he’ll be a popular pick at sportsbooks on Saturday.