UFC fans don’t have anything coming up until next week, but this week, there is plenty to keep them occupied as there are a pair of NFL games, while there is action from the college football and hoops worlds. The week wraps up with some NHL action as well.

Monday – NFL Betting

Steelers 49ers Odds (8:30 PM ET): San Francisco is a 2.5-point favorite at home in this Monday night affair, and it isn’t a BetOnline scam that you haven’t seen the odds until early on Monday as the Steelers revealed that Ben Roethlisberger will be a game-time decision because of his ankle. Baltimore lost on Sunday, so a win would be a huge boost to Pittsburgh’s postseason hopes. However, the 49ers have been struggling and need a win themselves.

Tuesday – NCAA Football Betting

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl Odds (8:00 PM ET): Florida International is a 4-point favorite at the former St. Petersburg Bowl over Marshall, who played well down the stretch to make it to the postseason. In the Conference-USA East, Marshall finished behind Southern Miss, who is already familiar to those who run a price per head service because of their upset of Houston in the conference title game; the Thundering Herd are looking for the same thing, but look for FIU to have the edge in crowd support.

Wednesday – NCAA Basketball Betting

Texas North Carolina Odds (7:00 PM ET): The No.6 Tar Heels should be the home favorites in this matchup of national powerhouses, and the Longhorns can create matchup problems for North Carolina because Texas is a team that will attack you offensively. The Tar Heels are the favorites for the national championship among those who buy price per head software, but they’ve been struggling defensively and Texas has the ability to come out on top in a shootout at Chapel Hill.

Thursday – NFL Betting

Texans Colts Odds (8:20 PM ET): Houston is favored by six points to get their first win in 10 tries at Indianapolis, and they need a strong performance after getting manhandled in a loss against Carolina in Week 15. The Colts are coming off their first win of the season as they defeated Tennessee, but now they have to bring that same intensity on a short week, especially on defense; they have to slow down Houston’s ground game.

Friday – NHL Betting

Flyers Rangers Odds (7:00 PM ET): It’s always an occasion when these Atlantic Division rivals meet for the second time this season, and the Rangers should be the favorites at Madison Square Garden, where they blanked the Flyers 2-0 on November 26^th. Both teams have been dealing with injuries to important players as of late, but Philadelphia and New York will still give maximum effort in what should be a hard-hitting contest in your online sports book.

The UFC returns to Toronto for the first time since April, when their first show set records for the company. At UFC 140, a very interesting card is shaping up as the light heavyweight championship is on the line, while a pair of heavyweights square off for the second time and two 205-pounders may be fighting for their UFC contracts. Here is a look at Saturday night’s odds.

Jon Jones (14-1) vs. Lyoto Machida (17-2) – Light Heavyweight Championship

It’s no BetOnline scam that Jones is a massive -500 favorite over Machida, a former champion himself and it isn’t a knock on the “Dragon”; that’s just the kind of year that Jones has had. This will be his fourth match of the year against a top-10 opponent, and his third against a man who has held the 205-pound belt. Machida, who comes in at +405 for this fight, did send Randy Couture into retirement with a front kick to the face at UFC 129 in Toronto, but Jones has rolled over everyone he has faced; even his lone loss was a disqualification of a match he was dominating, and that is why he has a high profile among those who use bookie software.

Frank Mir (15-5) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1, 1 NC) – Heavyweight

Mir is the favored man here at -250, while “Big Nog” comes in at +210 in a rematch of a fight from December 2008, when Mir scored a TKO to take the interim heavyweight title. However, Nogueira, a former Pride champion as well, was battling a staph infection and was less than 100% for this fight. That has led some to question if Mir could really stand and trade strikes with a healthy “Big Nog”, who is coming off a win over Brendan Schaub in his native land of Brazil. Mir has won two in a row and wants to prove to many people, including those who use price per head software, that he should be in the running for a title shot.

Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5) – Light Heavyweight

“Little Nog” is favored at -205 and he desperately needs a win after losses to Ryan Bader and Phil Davis, while former champion Ortiz is rated at +175 after he was knocked out by Rashad Evans in August. However, even though he has five losses and a draw in his last seven fights, Ortiz took the Evans fight on short notice, so president Dana White may take that into consideration. This fight was supposed to go down in March, but Ortiz got hurt and was replaced by Davis; this match for Nogueira is a chance to erase that loss and he has plenty of motivation, while Ortiz is almost done, which is why he is an underdog at betting sites.

Oh look, UFC 104 odds have arrived! Wherefore were thou, UFC? It was a whole two weeks without any Fight Nights, Fight For The Troops, Ultimate Fighter Super Battle Showdowns… I was getting worried. You know I worry about you, UFC. I almost had to get into betting on boxing…who knows how THAT would turn out. Even though I know just to always put money on Pacquiao, all the time.

Anyway, here we are with UFC 104 action, so I figure it’s worth taking a look at the main two fights on the card. Although I’m thinking we’ve still got a few more events to go before the UFC stable of fighters recharges completely – and then we’ll get back quality fighters like GSP and Brock Lesnar – the main matchup of Machida vs Rua is a quality one in itself. Lyoto Machida is one mean, mean defender, and that’ll definitely be put to the test against Shogun Rua.

Shogun’s a brutal fighter himself, but his main tactic is to wait for an opening – or to take advantage of a slower, older opponent – and he’ll have none of that in Machida. Machida’s got the talent and the skills, and most impotantly, the patience. He’ll be like a cobra, just waiting to strike. (Cheesy, I know. Sorry.)

Now, it’s not really marquee, but I also want to take a look at Joe Stevenson vs Spencer Fisher for a sec. I’ve always thought Daddy was a solid fighter, even though he’s had a few ups and downs lately. He’s strong, but he might have some problems going up against the technical prowess of Fisher. Daddy’s best bet will be to take him to the mat, but good luck with that. I’m thinking Fisher may outstrike him this time around.

Now, go forth and bet on UFC! You know it’ll be a good one.

With the UFC 103 odds coming up fast – I know, I know, 102 just ended, but it’s Dana White’s world and we’re just living in it, okay? – I’m already starting to get psyched for the title fight. Why? Because it’s Rich Franklin fighting, and I gotta say, I harbor a tiny crush on the guy. I mean, come on — he’s a former math teacher. How cool is that? Bet nobody refused to do their arithmatic homework in HIS class.

Ace’s sportsbook odds to win his bout against Vitor Belfort are looking mighty good, too. Given that his all-time record so far is 25-4, it’s hard not to see that Franklin’s got Belfort’s number here. Although Belfort’s got a pretty solid history – he’s beaten Liddell, Ortiz and Couture – he’s been away from the octagon for four years, so I’m betting he’ll be rusty when he steps back into the arena. On the other hand, Franklin’s toned up and well-conditioned — firing on all cylinders, pretty much. I know I’ve got my wager ready.

Now, if you’re gonna have snacks at your UFC viewing party, I must insist on something that pairs well with the mood and atmosphere: ass-kicking, that is. For your eating enjoyment, here is a salsa recipe I threw together for a BBQ last weekend, which pretty much nobody touched but me because it was so hot and spicy. But that’s the way salsa SHOULD be, my friends — delivering a beatdown to your tastebuds like Franklin will do to Belfort. You heard me.

Anyway, for sure, I co-opted this recipe from the most excellent “(Not Exactly) My Uncle’s Salsa” recipe at Serious Eats – credit where it’s due, etc. – so here’s my version with a few additions/variations:

1 x 28 oz. can organic tomatoes (I like Eden’s whole roma tomatoes)
2 x jalapeño peppers, chopped (seeds, membranes and all!)
1 cup cilantro leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup diced onion
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Salt & pepper to taste
Dash of sugar

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend it all up. Be warned though — this salsa ain’t for sissies. Tossing the jalapeños in without seeding ‘em makes it incredibly intense, much like Rich Franklin staring at you disapprovingly.

If you need a towel girl, Mr. Franklin, please give me a call. I’ll bring salsa.

Ah, my favorite part of the summer (which is just about over now, boooo) – the continuous, mostly-awesome UFC action! (I’m taking a few points off for the severely lacking UFC 101. Disappointing what?) And although the next one up may seem unassuming on the surface, there’s actually a heckuva lot more depth to this card than you may realize offhand…

If you take a good look the UFC 102 fight card, you’ll be able to look past the main event – has-been vs geezer, uh I mean Couture vs Nogueira – and get a load of the Jardine vs Silva action that’ll be happening. It’s gonna be a nasty one, boys and girls. Silva will be chomping at the bit to prove that his huge knockout loss to Lyoto Machida in UFC 94 was a fluke, but the Dean of Mean Jardine has held his own more than enough times. Sure, Jardine’s had some troubling losses as of late, but I’ve got the feeling that he’s ready to be a full competitor again. Don’t call it a comeback, as Ice Cube would say.

So as far as UFC 102 odds go, I’m putting my wager on Jardine (with a side wager on Maia over Marquardt, despite my better instincts — sorry, female intuition). He’s got the experience and the edge over Silva, and I’m willing to also put money on the notion that he’s definitely got a game plan. But Silva ain’t gonna go down easily, so either way, this’ll be the fight to watch on Saturday night…

Give me a shout and let me know your picks, people!

Tomorrow: April Fool’s Day. Possibly the end of the world (the birth of SkyNet?) because of the Conficker virus. The continuation of March Madness odds (Final Four coming soon!). But also – what’s this? – a free UFC event on cable TV?? Yes, it’s time once again for UFC Fight Night odds, and though it’s not as high a marquee event as UFC 97 betting will be, it’s still something to mark on your must-view TV list for the week. After all, it sure beats having to fork over “cover fees” to watch PPV at a bar, right?

Headlining this prime UFC betting event is Carlos “Natural Born Killer” Condit versus Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann. Kampmann’s got the more in-depth storyline here: he had to drop to welterweight after being destroyed by Marquardt at UFC 88; he returned to beat Barros at UFC 93; he’s got a lot to prove with his muay thai style and versatility. But now his opponent is a newcomer — Condit. Logically, given that Condit’s last three losses were due to submission, this is what Kampmann should go for — however, due to Condit’s superiority as a ground fighter, this could be a risky move. MMA lines give the edge to Kampmann in this bout, as he is the more experienced of the two, but don’t count Condit out of this one. If he can neutralize Kampmann’s strengths, it’ll be all over for the Hitman.

And that definitely won’t be an April Fool’s Day joke.

(Conficker, on the other hand…well, I guess we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow and see, huh?)

I think I’ve found the perfect cure for the winter blahs, and it’s copious amounts of MMA every few weeks. Really, if you’re going to suffer through cabin fever at the brutal hands of old man winter, why not spend it watching a pair of UFC monsters suffer at each others’ brutal hands? It just makes everything better, somehow. Way to take out our vicarious anger at the dark, cold winter on each other, guys!

This is, of course, a leadup to a brief chat about the UFC 95 lines this Saturday. Aside from the excellent news that the event’s being shown for free on Spike – no shelling out ridiculous “cover” fees at a pub just to watch PPV! – the toplining matchup on this one is yet another big event: Daddy vs Nightmare, otherwise known as Joe Stevenson vs Diego Sanchez.

Of course, given that both fighters are wrestling specialists (minus the spandex tights and flying clotheslines), you could understandably figure that this match might be more snoozy than doozy. Yet I’m willing to give Sanchez an edge here, and not just because he’s got the cooler nickname — Stevenson hasn’t been able to measure up as well on the big stage, whereas Sanchez is just starting to find his true potential. He’s on his way up, and I’ve got the feeling he’ll be using Daddy as his next stepping stone.

As far as deeper UFC 95 picks go, my other focus is going to be on the Koscheck vs Thiago match. The savvy sportsbook guru knows that Koscheck’s odds have been looking pretty hot lately, and I’m willing to bet they’re just going to keep rising. Plus come on, how can you argue with a guy who looks like this?

Needs a fresh dye job to get rid of those roots, but somehow I doubt one’s hair color matters when you’re busy pounding a dude’s face into the mat. Saturday!

Although it’d be more appropriate to open up this new womens’ betting blog with an offshore sportsbook‘s entertainment prop odds, I’d rather stay true to my tomboy heritage and, in the spirit of UFC 91 this Saturday, give a quick post about our unexpected love for, well, bloodsport. Reading this article this morning about Diana Ocampo – the brains (and beauty to boot) behind Total Combat MMA promotions – was inspiring, to say the least. That there is a role model, fightin’ ladies. Take notes.

Anyway, turns out UFC is something of a phenomenon among women, including female sports bettors. I dunno if it’s because there’s a bunch of us left over from the heyday of the WWE (if that’s the case, then I’d wager that the majority of female UFC fans will be rooting for Brock Lesnar), but there’s just something about two muscle-y shirtless dudes pummelling each other that gets a girl’s blood going.

I’m not a girl who goes for the `roids, but seriously! Look at that guy! That’s just stupid and amazing. And according to MMA lines for UFC 91 betting, Lesnar’s got the edge in this bout, what with the youth and the talent and the current experience and- yeah, just look at that picture again. Couture will put up a good fight but ultimately not stand a chance.

So, take off your press-on nails and get your ass into a seat at the nearest pub this Saturday to cheer on the big boys along with, uh, the boys. The more women that get into MMA and UFC, the possible less ridiculous Jell-O wrestling and diva catfights we’ll have to suffer through on the small screen. Well, a girl can hope, anyway.