Even WWE fans should check out Saturday night’s UFC card, and while they can find the majority of the card on Facebook or FoxSports.com, the main event is on the main Fox network and it’s a heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, two explosive fighters who don’t really aim for submissions, unless it’s via punches. Here is a look at the line and a couple of questions about the odds.

Why Cain Velasquez Should Be Favored?

Velasquez (9-0) is a -165 favorite, and it’s obviously no BetOnline scam because he is the champion and he has dominated virtually every opponent he has faced. With the exception of a couple of punches from Cheick Kongo at UFC 99, Velasquez has never been in trouble and even then, he recovered quickly and dominated Kongo in his only fight to go to a decision. Velasquez may be favored because of his wrestling: Jon Jones, Georges St. Pierre and Frankie Edgar are all wrestlers, and they’re all champions, so that may play into this pay per head line.

Should Junior Dos Santos Be Favored?

Dos Santos comes in at +145 and like Velasquez, “Cigano” has never really been in trouble in the octagon, but his lone loss (which came back in Brazil in November 2007, his sixth professional fight) may be the reason he is the underdog. Still, Dos Santos has been more active since Velasquez has been out as he dominated Shane Carwin in June, and he has been able to train steadily while Velasquez had to wait a few months before he could really ramp up his training. Dos Santos may also be the best striker in the heavyweight division, and he is also trained in jiu-jitsu by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, an MMA legend (who also lost to Velasquez last February). His trump card may be his takedown defense, which will be his biggest weapon in a price per head sports upset.

The Verdict

Velasquez should be the favorite, but the line may be a little high given his inactivity over the last year. His dominance in past fights is probably the reason that he is favored at -165, but Dos Santos has also been dominant in the octagon. Some may wonder why Dos Santos couldn’t knock out Roy Nelson and Carwin in fights that he clearly had the upper hand, but that is more of a testament to his opponents and he is going to have a tough time knocking out Velasquez as well. Either way, the line is what it is and it’s going to be a very tough call for players to make before they head to their betting sites.

NFL fans will get to check out a clash between the top two teams in the NFC South this weekend, as New Orleans heads to Atlanta with a half-game lead over the Falcons, who have won three in a row.

Saints Falcons Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Saints (6-3) stayed unbeaten at home in a 27-16 win over Tampa Bay, and New Orleans’ BetOnline odds will definitely rise if they can run the ball as they did against the Bucs, racking up 195 yards on the ground. Drew Brees was 27-of-36 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, but a running game makes him even more dangerous and that makes the Saints a threat in the NFC. One major issue was the discipline of the defense, who gave Tampa Bay five first downs because of penalties and those are exactly the type of things that the Saints will be looking to avoid on the road. They also allowed Josh Freeman to make some plays in the fourth quarter to pull Tampa Bay back into the game, but a late field goal by the Saints put it out of reach.

The Falcons (5-3) raced out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back in a 31-7 win in Indianapolis, and it was a no-nonsense performance against the worst team in the league. Matt Ryan was 14-of-24 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and a pick, while Michael Turner (71 yards, one touchdown) led a rushing attack that posted 163 yards. Price per head players like to see these type of efforts from good teams as the Falcons went on the road and took care of business with no fuss, and coming off a bye, it was like an extra week of practice; you know the Falcons had to have one eye on the Saints.
Price per head sports odds have this game as a pick’em as it’s too close to call between these two division rivals. The Saints may actually have a small edge as they’re 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five trips to the Georgia Dome, with three games falling under the posted total. This game is huge not only in the standings, but as a statement to show that the winner is the best team in the NFC South. The two will meet again on Boxing Day and that will likely have a lot more on the line, but this is a solid appetizer until that game, and the edge has to go to New Orleans, but it’ll be close as the Falcons have played a lot better as of late. Still, roll with the Saints in your sports betting picks.

Online Sportsbook Overview

The Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning are right where they should be in their respective divisions. The Flyers is second to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Atlantic Division, and the Lightning is second to the Washington Capitals in the Southeast Division. Considering the slow starts both the Flyers and Lightning had to the 2011-2012 season, they should both be happy to be where they are. But the Flyers have larger aspirations than second place in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia went out and got goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and took a chance on veteran Jaromir Jagr to make a run at a Stanley Cup this season. The Flyers gave up scoring leaders Jeff Carter and Mike Richards to get the new players, and that may be what causes problems for Philadelphia in the future.

The Tampa Bay Lightning is essentially the same team that went to the Eastern Conference finals last year. The price per head bookmaking experts are trying to understand how the same roster is supposed to push the Lightning into the Stanley Cup finals this year. But the Lightning won a lot of its games last year based on its consistent approach and steady goaltending. The same team is in place from last year and the pay per head management in Tampa Bay really believes that this roster can win a championship for the Lightning.

Philadelphia Flyers

When the bet online media talks about the Philadelphia Flyers, it tends to forget Danny Briere. Jarmoir Jagr has taken all of the headlines in Philadelphia, but Briere is on a point-per-game pace and has a +2 rating this season. But injuries have not allowed Briere to be consistent this season. If Briere could find his groove, then he could accent Jagr’s point-per-game pace and the two of them could help push Philadelphia towards the Stanley Cup finals. The Flyers also have a solid defense led by Chris Pronger. Pronger has also had injury issues this season, but he is looking to come back and contribute soon. When this Philadelphia team is healthy, it truly is one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. But a rash of injuries have made the Flyers happy just to be in second place in the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning has a fast defense that can stay with the Philadelphia forwards. But the problems for Tampa Bay in this game will come on offense. The Flyers have a large and mobile NHL defense that can shut down players like Steven Stamkos and Vincent Le Cavalier. The Lightning will need to put its skating legs on and make the bigger Philadelphia defense try to keep up if it wants to win this game.

The Bottom Line

The Flyers know how to exploit its size and can skate with almost any team in the league. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was having issues early in the season, but he seems ready to play and will be a huge factor in deciding the outcome of this game.

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers

It’s no BetOnline scam to find a lot of variety in this week’s wagering schedule, headlined by a pair of games from the NFL, while the NHL holds up the middle of the week and the No.1 team in the NCAA’s preseason hoops rankings open their season in a unique venue.

Monday

Bears Eagles Odds (8:30 PM ET): The Eagles are favored by 7.5 points at home in this Monday night affair against a Chicago team coming off a bye, and 5 dimes reviews would tell you to watch the battle up front. Both teams have poor offensive lines and the team that protects their quarterback the best will be the team that comes away with the win.

Tuesday

Stars Capitals Odds (7:00 PM ET): Washington will be the home favorites on Tuesday as they’re 6-0-0 in front of their home fans, while your price per head bookie will point towards this as a massive game for Dallas, who is one of the early surprises of the season. The Stars can pick up more believers if they can scratch out a tough road win against a team many expect to be a Stanley Cup threat.

Wednesday

Rangers Senators Odds (7:30 PM ET): The line in your bookie software won’t be huge either way, but the Rangers could be favored on the road with a four-game winning streak, while Ottawa has dropped three in a row. Both teams are inconsistent, so it’s going to be tough to pick a winner in this NHL contest.

Thursday

Raiders Chargers Odds (8:20 PM ET): Thursday night NFL kicks off this week with a huge matchup from the AFC West, where three teams are tied at 4-4 and another team comes in at 3-5. Oakland and San Diego are both slumping after tough losses on the weekend, and a loss could deal a massive blow to their chances in the West. Both teams also had a problem with turnovers in their losses and that will probably be the difference on Thursday night in San Diego.

Friday

North Carolina Michigan State Odds (7:00 PM ET): The Tar Heels open the season as the top-ranked team and they’ll be a favorite to win the national title all season, and they’ll be in San Diego on Friday to take on Michigan State in a rematch of the 2009 title game, which was won by North Carolina. The Tar Heels and Spartans will play on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier as the NCAA honors the military on Veteran’s Day, and it should make for an interesting experience. Look for North Carolina to be the sports betting online favorites on Friday.

Fans of Vancouver Whitecaps FC can focus on other sports with their team in the offseason, and next week offers a diverse menu that begins with Monday Night Football, moves on to some NHL action before wrapping up with college football and the first big game of the NCAA hoops campaign.

Monday

Bears Eagles Odds (8:30 PM ET): The Eagles are favored by nine points at home against a Chicago team that is coming off a bye, and a good Wagerweb review would tell you that the last four meetings between the two have been decided by five points or less. The Eagles may be due for a letdown after putting a beating on Dallas, but Chicago should be prepared.

Tuesday

Stars Capitals Odds (7:00 PM ET): Dallas has been one of the surprises of the early NHL season, but price per head odds should still find them as the underdogs on the road in Washington, where the Capitals have generally been good over the last few seasons. The Capitals have roared out of the gate as well, but that was expected; Dallas has overachieved and they’ll aim to keep it going on Tuesday.

Wednesday

Flyers Lightning Odds (7:30 PM ET): In a clash of Eastern Conference contenders, the Lightning should be the favorites in Tampa Bay, but the Flyers have been solid on the road to begin the season, winning four of their first five away from home. There is a lot of pressure in Philadelphia, so getting out and on the road may be a blessing for the Flyers, who are still awaiting the return of captain Chris Pronger from an eye injury.

Thursday

Virginia Tech Georgia Tech Odds (8:00 PM ET): The Hokies are quietly putting together a solid season, as they usually do in the ACC, but they’re facing a tricky trip to Georgia Tech in a game that will likely decide the winner of the ACC Coastal. Price per head sports fans will watch for the performance of the Virginia Tech defense against the wacky triple option of Georgia Tech.

Friday

North Carolina Michigan State Odds (7:00 PM ET): The top-ranked Tar Heels should be the favorites against the Spartans in this neutral-site affair, and while this early-season matchup of national powers would get enough attention on its own, the venue is the headliner: the game will be held on the flight deck of a U.S. military aircraft carrier in the San Diego harbor. It will be to honor the military on Veteran’s Day, so it will be quite a unique viewing experience, but that doesn’t change that North Carolina will be the favorite when you’re sports betting online.

While it is still early in the NHL regular season, the first month has given fans a pretty good indication of where there team will stand this coming year. While teams such as the Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs have surprised with solid starts to their seasons, the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and San Jose Sharks have all struggled out of the gate. There is no definitive way of knowing which of these teams will rise and fall over the next few months in the race to the postseason, but a couple of early indications may provide some insight in to the future.

While the Senators and Oilers have both started strong, each of those sports betting teams is still very young and with issues that will still need to be addressed. While Ottawa has shown that they can score a ton of goals with a speedy offense, there are question marks about Craig Anderson as the team’s starting goaltender, especially behind a young defense core that is destined to make some mistakes. The same can be said about Edmonton, where Nikolai Khabibulin and Devan Dubnyk continue to share time in the crease with some solid success early on. Neither one of them has shown many flaws throughout the first month of the season, but if history is any indication they could struggle as teams begin to bring a better effort and show more urgency against them. Meanwhile, although the Maple Leafs have gotten more balanced scoring from their offense, there are question marks concerning starting goaltender James Reimer, who has missed most of the season with concussion-like symptoms. Toronto cannot afford to ride backup netminder Jonas Gustavsson much longer, and if they are forced to they could come back down to earth. With a healthy Reimer, the Maple Leafs should contend for a return to the playoffs, while both the Senators and Oilers will be in tough to reach the elite eight in their respective intertops conferences.

While those hot teams are destined to cool down at some point, the same can be said about some of the better teams that have started slow except in opposite order. The Red Wings lost two games with Ty Conklin in goal for starter Jimmy Howard after the latter was excused to welcome his first child, while the Sharks were also without their starting goalie Antti Niemi through the first couple of games due to injury. The Bruins have struggled on offense but scored five goals in a win over the Senators on Tuesday night, and as soon as their offense begins to click again they should bounce back. There is still a ton of time left in the pay head regular season and a lot still to be determined, but through the first month we have already seen some indications on how things may play out for certain teams regardless of how fast or slow they are out of the gate.

Game Overview

Anyone who follows the Breeder’s Cup betting knows that a change in the field can affect the outcome of the race. The Phoenix Coyotes were built on the goaltending of Ilya Bryzgalov for many years. The Coyotes’ experienced its most successful seasons with Bryzgalov between the pipes. During the off-season, the Coyotes allowed Bryzgalov to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers officially ending an era in Phoenix. In his place, the Coyotes signed Tampa Bay Lightning backup goalie Mike Smith. Smith always had potential, and he has given the Coyotes’ fans a reason to be hopeful with a strong start to the season. But it will be the long-term results that Phoenix fans will really be interested in as Bryzgalov usually got hot in the second-half of the season.

The Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers are two very unlikely conference leaders for the Western Conference. But both teams have the price per head bookie experts scrambling to re-configure the odds for this season. Where the Avalanche went right is when it put faith in former Washington Capitals goalie Semyon Varlamov. When you put Varlamov’s stats through the bookie software, you get the profile of an under-achieving goaltender. Many thought that the Capitals were the problem and not Varlamov. Now that Varlamov has gotten off to a great start in Colorado, fans are starting to see that he is a quality goalie that can lead a team to the playoffs.

Phoenix Coyotes

The problem with the Coyotes is that it cannot maintain a roster for a full season. Two seasons ago, the Coyotes built a roster after the trade deadline that rocketed to a top playoff spot in the Western Conference. But by the time the off-season was over, the team was dismantled. A 5 dimes review of the new Coyotes’ roster shows more changes with the most notable being the loss of Bryzgalov. The Phoenix Coyotes are riding a two-game winning streak that puts them in a good position to win this game against the Avalanche. But Phoenix is still having problems scoring goals in critical situations, and that will hurt against Colorado.

Colorado Avalanche

The NHL fans in Colorado are a little frustrated because the Avalanche cannot seem to win at home. But the Avalanche offer a good balance of timely scoring and solid goaltending that should be the key to winning at home or on the road. The Avalanche seems to play with more of a sense of urgency when it plays on the road, which results in better defensive play. At home, Colorado really opens up its game and leaves Varlamov alone in the defensive end of the ice. If the Avalanche can learn to clamp down a bit on its defensive zone play at home, then it could start pushing towards the top of the Western Conference.

The Bottom Line

The Avalanche will start tightening up its play at home which will result in less offensive chances for the opposition. The Coyotes are a good road team that is still trying to figure out how to play together as a team. This will game will develop slowly, but it should go the way of the Avalanche.

Pick: Colorado Avalanche