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Take a break from your baseball blog for a minute and switch your attention to the UFC, where an-heavyweight card at UFC 146 in Las Vegas is anchored by a title match between champion Junior Dos Santos and former champ Frank Mir, who injured Dos Santos’ teacher, so he could bring a little extra to the table in a little over two weeks.

UFC 146 Odds – Saturday, May 26^th

Dos Santos (14-1) was supposed to fight Alistair Overeem, who ran into some legal troubles and had to be replaced, but most sportsbook reviews of that matchup had it as a striking showdown and now the champion may have to show his versatility. Dos Santos may have the best boxing in all of mixed martial arts, but he also has a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and he has stuffed 85% of attempted takedowns. This forces opponents to try and stand with “Cigano”, who has three “Knockout of the Night” honors under his belt and used them to demolish Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds at the first UFC on Fox card in November. He suffered ligament damage in that fight, but Dos Santos has said that his knee surgery went fine and he’s 100% for this fight. Bet on UFC 146 100% signup bonus.

Players that will use price per head software will try to factor motivation into this fight as well, as Mir (16-5) is coming off a brutal submission win over Nogueira that snapped the Brazilian’s arm and earned “Submission of the Year” in 2011 from Sherdog. Mir, who is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, may be the best grappling heavyweight on the planet and is now the only man to both knock out and submit “Big Nog”. He has improved his striking, but the key to Mir’s online sports betting odds odds will be to get this fight to the mat because standing up with Dos Santos hasn’t been the best plan prior to this bout.

The champion comes into this match as a massive -525 favorite over Mir, who is rated at +430, but is a former champion himself and a two-time former champion if you count his interim title. Mir has the most wins in the history of the UFC heavyweight division with 14, so he has plenty of experience to use against Dos Santos, who has been a beast since coming to the UFC and hasn’t even been really challenged. If Mir can’t take Dos Santos down, this fight isn’t going to last long and you have to think that Dos Santos would love to avenge Mir’s wins over his mentor, regardless of what he says in the pre-fight build-up. Take Dos Santos in your online sportsbook (click here to find out more) next Saturday.

Do you ever get the feeling that the system is broken? This isn’t exactly about to get political. I’m not talking about camping out and taking your concerns to the streets until your message gets heard, publicized, and answered. There’s no need to get out your cans of paint, giant signs, and the kind of creativity you need to come up with witty slogans. Don’t even think about getting people to sign your petition. I’m talking about a system that is engineered to help you win. When you go to the races, whether in reality or strictly virtually, you want to arm yourself with the official tools of success. Take advantage of any of the popular horse gambling systems to really find success at the track.

Everybody loves a winner, but there is more than one way to win, especially when we are talking about horse gambling systems. Betting with victory in mind is one thing, but why not take a lucrative detour o the coveted winner’s circle? Hedge your bets by wagering on your horse to place, which will pay off if your selection finishes in either first or second place. Likewise, you can also bet on a horse to show, which will payoff if your choice finishes in one of the top three positions. Whether your horse gambling systems relies on inside information, gut feelings, or omputer program simulations, you’ll want to summon your source and go after the most advantageous odds.

This may seem self explanatory, but sometimes the simplest advice is the best, especially in the domain of horse gambling systems. If your preferred pony isn’t a sure thing in your head, it can really help to play conservatively and in line with most horse gambling systems. Besides reducing the amount of your bet, the best horse gambling systems will help you cast a wider net, even if the payouts are tempered. Don’t forget the odds makers arrange their odds to entice players to take long shots and generally give the house the edge, but you can counteract that by not giving in to greed. It’s easy to dream and get carried away, but if you’ve embraced effective horse gambling systems, you can strike the right balance between risk and rewards.

Almost a month after fracturing a rib while diving for a ball, Mets left fielder Jason Bay still isn’t close to coming off the disabled list.

For now, Bay remains in New York, but the hope, according to a report by the Newark Star-Ledger’s Andy McCullough, is he will feel well enough to travel to the club’s spring complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., next week to begin his rehab. Bet on 2012 MLB season 100% Sign Up Bonus.

Bay landed on the DL in late April and has been limited to cardio work. To make matters worse, he’s been battling the flu, putting any rehab on hold, according to a report in the NY Daily News.

Rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis and veteran Scott Hairston have been sharing left field in Bay’s absence. And if there’s a silver lining here, it’s that Bay’s injury has given Nieuwenhuis, who is slashing .308/.381/.442, a chance to shine in his first taste of the bigs.

The same drama that has helped build the Kentucky Derby’s reputation as the most exciting two minutes in sports over the past few decades was on full display for the 138^th annual Run For The Roses, with I’ll Have Another making history with its incredible come from behind victory down the final stretch at Churchill Downs. It seemed as though the sports betting favorite Bodemeister would have no problem getting the win after entering the final stretch with the lead, but I’ll Have Another came on strong at the end and provided the shocking result that makes the sport so incredible to watch in the first place.

Listed at 13/2 odds with the pay head bookies, I’ll Have Another made history by becoming the first Derby winner to start out of the No. 19 post-position. First-time Derby jockey Mario Gutierrez did an excellent job of getting his horse in to position to win, and I’ll Have Another showed the blazing speed that trainer Doug O’Neill knows all to well over the final sprint in order to finish with a final time of 2:01:83. Considering the impressive finish to the Derby, it will be no surprise to see I’ll Have Another listed among the 5Dimes favorites for the Preakness Stakes in a couple of weeks, as the world watches on in hopes that we can at least have a chance to cheer for a Triple Crown winner when the Belmont Stakes comes around. Bet on 2012 Tripe Crown and receive 100% Sign Up Bonus right now.

Just as notable as I’ll Have Another’s strong finish was Bodemeister’s inability to hold down the lead through the final stretch. Having never raced as a two-year old before this experience will only help in future races, but still trainer Bob Baffert must have felt some disappointment after such a promising race. Bodemeister would have become the first horse in 130 years to win the prestigious race after not competing as a two-year old, but in the end the task proved too great. Considering that Bodemeister completed the first six furlongs in 1:09:8 there is a good chance it was exhausted by that final stretch, so endurance and pace will be two serious considerations for Baffert going forward to the Preakness Stakes.

As for the pre-race favorite Union Rags, a seventh place finish was far more disappointing than Bodemeister’s finishing second, especially considering all of the hype that the Michael Matz entry received. However, the betting public did get a warning about the risks of playing Union Rags as the favorite after it faltered in its final prep race, a sign that players should probably stay away. Rather than Union Rags, it was another long shot that placed third in Dullahan, which also had a solid finish at 12-1 odds. John Velazquez rode Went The Day Well to a fourth-place finish, just outside the top-three, while Creative Cause finished fifth. Despite some disappointing finishes the optimism will remain high with the Preakness Stakes right around the corner, with most of the Derby entries headed for Pimlico race track, including Derby winner I’ll Have Another.

The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the first teams through to the second round of the NBA playoffs, and as the first-round eliminations continue to pour in, the online sports betting odds to win the NBA championship are bound to change. While the Spurs, Thunder, and Miami Heat will remain among the favorites as they get their second round series’ underway, we also say goodbye to the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, who offered little resistance against Oklahoma City in an opening round sweep. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls could be gone soon as well with no Derrick Rose to help them deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, while a veteran Boston Celtics’ team is rounding in to form.

As of Tuesday morning, the Heat remain the best online sportsbook favorites to bring home an NBA title at 6/5 odds, looking even better than they did when they forced the Mavericks to six games in last year’s NBA finals. However, even with Lebron James proving during the regular season that he is undoubtedly the MVP, major question marks persist about his ability to come through in clutch situations in big games. Miami got its first real test of the playoffs when Lebron James when it had the chance to end its opening round series against the Knicks with a sweep, but when it came down to the final shot Lebron disappeared and Dwayne Wade’s shot wasn’t even close. The only team that seems capable of pushing the Heat to their limits in the Eastern conference however is the Celtics, which have been the best team in the NBA since the All Star break. Boston is listed at 8/1 odds to bring home the title, but will need every single player performing at an elite level to have a chance. Bet on 2012 NBA Playoffs receive 100% Sign Up Bonus.

Over in the Western conference, the Spurs and Thunder remain the odds-on favorites to reach the finals at 5/2 and 4/1 odds respectively, with the Los Angeles Lakers still getting some consideration from the pay head bookies at 8/1 odds. San Antonio is one of the more experienced teams in the association, with tremendous depth and star players like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker looking as though they have rediscovered their youth. Spurs’ head coach Greg Popovich is the best in the association at what he does, and he should have his team getting to the Western conference finals once again. Where things get interesting in the west is with a matchup between the Thunder and Lakers, with frustrations boiling over following Metta World Peace’s elbow to the head of James Harden. These teams had some intense games throughout the course of the regular season, and how Oklahoma City handles the Lakers’ size down low and Kobe Bryant’s scoring ability should make for the most interesting series of the playoffs.

Most of the sites listed on the sportsbook reviews have updated NBA championship odds with the remaining teams listed, so it might be a good time to find better value now as the lines change as more teams become eliminated. Chicago’s struggles against the 76ers is proof that anything can happen in any given series, so while the Heat and Spurs look like easy choices at the top, perhaps teams like the Celtics and Lakers deserve some consideration with better value.

Sports betting sharps were preparing for an epic striking matchup between champion Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, headlining UFC 146’s main card featuring all-heavyweight matchups. However, Overeem ran into some legal problems and it was to the benefit of Frank Mir, who is looking to hold the UFC title for a third time. But unless he can get Dos Santos to the ground, which barely no one has been able to do, it’s not going to end well for the challenger.

What: UFC Betting
When: Saturday, May 26th, 9:00 PM ET (confirm start time of PPV event)
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV
Pick: Junior Dos Santos

Why Bet On Junior Dos Santos (14-1)

Dos Santos is defending his title for the first time since he snatched it from Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds in November on the UFC’s first FOX card, and he has ended 11 of his 14 wins within the first round. Then Dos Santos went on the shelf with a torn meniscus, so he has to be a little worried about ring rust, which ironically was a problem with Velasquez. However, it has only been just over seven months between fights for Dos Santos, one of the best boxers in the UFC and possibly the best in the heavyweight division. His power has netted him three “Knockout of the Night” honors, but “Cigano” also has some of the best takedown defense out there as he has stuffed 85% of attempted takedowns. It would have been interesting to see what he could do against Velasquez, a wrestling specialist who never had a chance to attempt a takedown before he was stopped.

Dos Santos was, of course, training for Overeem, who is a specialist in striking, both Muay Thai and kickboxing, and his new opponent presents a different set of problems for the champion, who is a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, but he hasn’t won via a submission maneuver since December 2006 in his second fight and while his win over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic was classified a submission, Filipovic submitted due to punches. We haven’t seen much of Dos Santos’ mat work because of his excellent takedown defense, and that’s going to be tested in Las Vegas.

Why Bet On Frank Mir (16-5)

Mir was due to fight Velasquez on this card, but he was bumped up to the main event after Overeem’s troubles and now he has a chance to win the heavyweight title for the third time. He defeated Tim Sylvia back in June 2004, and then had to vacate the title because of a motorcycle that almost took his life. Mir then beat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the interim title December 2008 before losing a unification match against Brock Lesnar in July 2009 after submitted Lesnar in his debut 16 months earlier. Mir could be the best submission artist in the heavyweight division as nine of his victories have come that way, and no one will forget his gruesome arm-breaking kimura against Nogueira in their rematch December. It was also the second time in his career that Mir has been given the “Submission of the Year” award. Mir also has the most heavyweight wins in the history of the UFC with 14, so he knows what it takes to come out on top in the octagon.

But like Dos Santos, Mir was training for a different opponent in Velasquez, who isn’t nearly the striker that Dos Santos is (which we saw in November). Mir has only stopped 50% of takedowns, but his jiu-jitsu is so good that he doesn’t mind getting taken down. However, all five of his losses have come by knockout and that isn’t a good sign against the top knockout artist in the division. While Mir has improved his striking by leaps and bounds, it still isn’t close to Dos Santos and he’ll have to figure out a way to penetrate Dos Santos’ takedown defense to force this fight to the ground; it’s the only way Mir has a chance to win.

How It Will Play Out

Currently, you can find Dos Santos as a UFC betting favorite in this fight at anywhere from -500 to -550, while Mir’s lines range from +300 to +422. This may seem like a lot, but Dos Santos has rolled through the heavyweight division and no one has had anything for his combination of power and takedown defense.

Unless Mir can get Dos Santos to the mat, this fight is going to be over quickly as Mir doesn’t have the best chin in the world, while Dos Santos is a knockout king. Ring rust could be a small issue with Dos Santos, but not enough to give Mir an edge. Stick with the champ, Junior Dos Santos, to grab a win with your online betting picks.

UFC 146 Betting Pick: Junior Dos Santos

While basketball news is receiving a large amount of attention, along with the NHL playoffs and the beginning of the Major League Baseball regular season, the Kentucky Derby kicks off the Triple Crown season in thoroughbred horse racing and one of the most interesting horses that will line up at Churchill Downs on Satuday is Gemologist, who has never been beaten, but is going up against the strongest field he has ever seen.

Gemologist won his maiden race at Turfway Park on his first try, and then BetOnline.com reviews would show that he won an allowance race at Churchill Downs, followed by a victory in the Grade-2 Kentucky Jockey Club less than a month later. Gemologist then won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in March, but he passed his big test by defeating Alpha and a host of other solid horses in the Grade-1 Wood Memorial at Aquaduct in April, and many players that use a pay per head service are now intrigued by the three-year-old who is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won his first Kentucky Derby in 2010 with Super Saver.

After his first race with Jesus Castanon, Gemologist’s stable switched over to Javier Castellano for his last four runs and the horse has responded to Castellano, who has won the Breeders Cup Classic and the Preakness Stakes, so he knows how to handle a horse in a big race. This is easily the best field that Gemologist has ever been up against, but a lot of horse racing experts are confident that he’ll be able to maintain his nerves and have a nice and steady run until the final portion of the race, which is where you make your money. Bet on 2012 Kentucky Derby receive 100% Sign Up Bonus.

You’ll find Gemologist as a +900 Kentucky Derby Odds favorite at your best sports betting sites, which is just behind the favorites, Union Rags and Bodemeister, and alongside Creative Cause and just in front of Hansen and I’ll Have Another, so if you’re looking for a little value, Gemologist wouldn’t be a bad play. The start of the race is crucial to any horse as everyone is jockeying for position to get to the first turn, and that is where Castellano’s expertise will come in handy as he’ll have to guide the horse to an open space where Gemologist can stretch his legs. The 138^th edition of the Kentucky Derby looks like it could be the most wide open in years and there are at least 10 horses with a legitimate shot to win; even in the last five years, a couple darkhorses have come from the back of the pack to steal the “Run for the Roses”, and Gemologist could make a few 2012 Kentucky Derby betting players very happy on Saturday.

For the NFL betting fan that only watched the New York Jets play at the MetLife Stadium a year ago, there was little reason to think that the team would not have what it took to reach the postseason. After all, the Jets won six of their first seven games at home and finished 6-2 overall in their new home, which was the fourth-best home record in the AFC. Unfortunately for the real football fans in New York whose allegiance was to gang green and not the Super Bowl champion Giants, the Jets won just two of their eight games away from home, with half of those six road losses against teams that didn’t make the playoffs which added even more pain after the MLB blogs covered the Yankees’ shortcomings during the baseball season before. The 19-17 loss at the Miami Dolphins was the breaking point for a team that lost its final three games to miss out on the postseason, and it doesn’t look like the schedule will be any easier for the Jets in 2012-13.

The biggest news out of New York this offseason was the addition of Tim Tebow, and while everyone laughed when two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning joked about becoming the third most popular quarterback in the city, Jets’ fans might not be laughing very loud on the inside at the thought of their biggest offseason addition being a backup quarterback the team plans on using in punt blocking situations as well. The atmosphere in New York was overwhelming for the team before Tebow arrived, and most pay head bookies believe that the team has added fuel to the wrong fire. Bet on 2012 NFL season 100% Sign Up Bonus.

As far as the Jets’ schedule is concerned, playing in a division that features a dominant New England Patriots’ team and improved Buffalo Bills doesn’t help, especially when New York couldn’t even handle the 6-10 Dolphins on the road. In addition to visiting all three of those teams once again, the Jets will visit Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Tennessee in the AFC, and St. Louis and Seattle in the NFC. The Steelers are once again set as playoff contenders, and should be healthy when they host New York week three, while the Jaguars and Titans are both expected to take a step forward. The Rams have a new head coach in Jeff Fisher and that means more than people know right now, and the Seahawks are also looking to bounce back. As for their home games, the Bills, Houston Texans, and San Francisco 49ers will all be tough tests in the first five Betonline weeks, and then the Jets play just three of their final eight games at home in the second half, which is a daunting task regardless of who they play.

The Jets will have the opportunity to add some pieces through the draft, and possibly explore the trade route before the sports betting preseason gets underway. Their schedule won’t do them any favors though, so if gang green is going to bounce back and make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, it will have to come with a lot of hard work and playing as a team, which could be a lot easier said than done.