It seems like MMA betting fans haven’t been treated to a good UFC card in months, but this Saturday’s UFC 98 odds start a string of star-studded events that should make for an exciting summer. Let’s break down the main events for the UFC 98 odds.
It’s not often that MMA betting fans see the challenger heavily favored at the sportsbook to take down the champ, but Lyoto “the Dragon” Machida is that good. He’s been untouchable in his UFC betting career—not just in that he’s undefeated, but also because he’s literally untouchable, allowing fewer successful strikes than any fighter in the sport. Considering that Evans is also a defensive fighter and lacks major striking prowess, he’ll have a tough time hitting Machida. The Dragon’s upright stance, based in Karate, helps him keep his chin far away from opponents and sets him up for vicious counterstrikes. Evans’ best chance to improve his UFC odds is to take Machida to the ground. While Machida’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is solid, Evans is as big and strong as anyone in his division and could use his great wrestling ability to dictate the pace of the fight. Unfortunately for Rashad, though, getting close enough to Machida to bring him down is a tall order. Bet on the Machida to win a fight that should go the distance.
Online bet: Machida -200
Matt Hughes (43-7) vs Matt Serra (16-5) UFC odds: Hughes -300, Serra +240
After more than year’s delay due to injuries suffered in training, Matt Serra is finally ready to battle his nemesis Matt Hughes. The two developed a hatred for each other while coaching The Ultimate Fighter 6 and are ready to settle the score. Both men have seen their UFC odds and pride crumble in recent contests—Serra after Georges St-Pierre pummeled him in their rematch and Hughes after both St-Pierre and ThiagoAlves busted him up badly. The UFC odds for this welterweight grudge match favor Hughes, and for good reason. The man many still call the best ever in his weight class dominates through good size and wrestling, whereas Serra is a relatively small welterweight and, as GSP proved, can be dominated on the ground by bigger men. Expect Hughes to close out his illustrious career with a decisive win in the UFC 98 odds.
The Chicago Cubs will be fighting to snap a losing streak on Wednesday when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
RighthanderRyanDempster will take the mound for the Cubs to start this game. Dempster is 3-2 this season with a 4.65 ERA.
Dempster’s opponent in this one will be ChrisCarpenter. The Cardinals righthander has a 0.00 ERA to go along with a 1-0 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Cardinals listed as 130-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
JoelPineiro tossed a complete-game three-hit shutout on Tuesday, as the Cardinals defeated the Cubs 3-0. The Cardinals won the game as +105 underdogs, while the three runs went UNDER the posted over/under (9).
Colby Rasmus belted a two-run homer to lift the Cardinals, and YadierMolina drove in the other run in the victory.
TedLilly suffered the loss, giving up three runs off four hits in seven innings on the hill. The Cubs were -115 favorites in that game.
Current streak: Chicago has lost 2 straight games.
Team records: Chicago: 21-16 SU St.Louis: 22-17 SU
Chicago most recently: When playing on Wednesday are 5-5 Before playing St. Louis are 3-7 After playing St. Louis are 8-2 After a loss are 5-5
St. Louis most recently: When playing on Wednesday are 6-4 Before playing Chi Cubs are 7-3 After playing Chi Cubs are 3-7 After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider: Chi Cubs are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games St. Louis is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home St. Louis is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Next up: St. Louis home to Chi Cubs, Thursday, May 21
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Florida Marlins will both be gunning for a victory on Wednesday when they meet at LandShark Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader.
DougDavis will be the starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks on this day. LefthanderDavis is 2-5 this season with a 3.22 ERA.
The Marlins will counter Davis with ChrisVolstad. RighthanderVolstad has a 3.35 ERA to go along with a 2-3 record this season.
Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Diamondbacks scored all their runs in the seventh inning on Tuesday, as they climbed over the Marlins 5-3. The Diamondbacks won the game as +155 underdogs, while the eight runs went as a PUSH against the posted over/under (8).
MarkReynolds homered for the Diamondbacks, and GerardoParra had two hits and one RBI. JonGarland got the win with six solid innings on the mound, and Chad Qualls earned his ninth save.
HanleyRamirez had two hits, including a solo home run for the Marlins. JoshJohnson gave up four hits and three runs in a losing effort. The Marlins were -175 favorites in that game.
Current streak: Arizona has won 2 straight games. Florida has lost 2 straight games.
Team records: Arizona: 15-23 SU Florida: 18-21 SU
Arizona most recently: When playing on Wednesday are 4-6 Before playing Florida are 5-5 After playing Florida are 5-5 After a win are 3-7
Florida most recently: When playing on Wednesday are 5-5 Before playing Arizona are 4-6 After playing Arizona are 5-5 After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider: Arizona is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Florida Arizona is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Florida Arizona is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games Florida is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Arizona Florida is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Arizona Florida is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games at home Florida is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
Next up: Florida home to Arizona, Wednesday, May 20
The Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers will both be trying to pick up a win on Wednesday when they battle at Quicken Loans Arena in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Oddsmakers currently have the Cavaliers listed as 9-point favorites versus the Magic, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Magic defeated Boston 101-82 as a 3-point underdog in Game 7 of their second-round series on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (187).
HedoTurkoglu scored 25 points and dished out 12 assists for Orlando, while DwightHoward had 12 points and 16 rebounds.
LeBronJames had 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Cavaliers past the Hawks 84-74 to sweep their second-round series 4-0 last time out.
Cleveland covered as 9.5-point road favorites as the game played under the 180-point total set by oddsmakers.
Team records: Orlando: 59-23 SU, 49-32-1 ATS Cleveland: 66-16 SU, 49-33 ATS
Orlando most recently: When playing on Wednesday are 5-5 Before playing Cleveland are 4-6 After playing Boston are 5-5 After a win are 4-6
Cleveland most recently: When playing on Wednesday are 6-4 Before playing Orlando are 5-5 After playing Atlanta are 9-1 After a win are 9-1
A few trends to consider: Orlando is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland Orlando is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cleveland The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando’s last 5 games Orlando is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland Cleveland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games Cleveland is 20-1 SU in its last 21 games at home Cleveland is 11-1 ATS in its last 12 games
Next up: Orlando at Cleveland, Friday, May 22 Cleveland home to Orlando, Friday, May 22
TheUFC oddswill be the main event this weekend but before then, there will be some good NBA playoff action to pay attention to. It’s down to the final four so let’s take a look at the Western Conference matchup:
Western Conference Finals: Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers Best-of-seven series Los Angeles Denver odds: Lakers -275 Game 1: Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets have been the hottest team in the NBA playoffs so far. Overall, they have won 22 of their last 28 games while scoring more than 100 points in 25 of those contests. The Nuggets burned up the New Orleans Hornets and the Dallas Mavericks each in five games and are 8-2 in the playoffs so far. What makes them look even better is some of their blowout wins, including a 58-point victory over the Hornets.
The Lakers, meanwhile, have looked very sluggish. The Lakers didn’t have much trouble with the Utah Jazz in the opening round but had plenty of trouble with the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were without Yao Ming and without Tracy McGrady, but the Lakers still needed seven games to dispose of the pesky Rockets.
But it’s because of the way that these two teams enter this series that you get thebest sports oddson the Lakers. The Lakers were -500 to win the Western Conference at the beginning of the playoffs but now are just -275 to win this series.
Sure, they have given a half-hearted effort but they won’t do so in this series. After seeing what the Nuggets are capable of, they know that they won’t be able to take them lightly.
The Nuggets have had plenty of struggles against the Lakers in the past. Carmelo Anthony’s averages drop against the Lakers and as a team, they don’t seem to match up well.
The problem for them has been that they are a high-scoring team, but the Lakers averaged more points per game in the regular season. The Nuggets have been outscoring everyone during their torrid pace but that plays into the hands of the Lakers perfectly.
The Lakers are 7-0 this postseason when scoring 100 points or more and just 1-4 when they fail to reach that mark. Against the defensive-lacking Nuggets, the Lakers should hit that number every game and walk to a series win.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Florida Marlins will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at LandShark Stadium.
RighthanderJonGarland will take the mound for the Diamondbacks to start this game. Garland is 3-2 this season with a 5.18 ERA.
Garland‘s opponent in this one will be JoshJohnson. The Marlins righthander has a 2.50 ERA to go along with a 3-0 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Marlins listed as 190-moneyline favorites versus the Diamondbacks, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Diamondbacks routed the Braves 12-0 on Saturday. Arizona won that game as a +110 underdog, and the 12 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (8.5).
GerardoParra went 3-for-6 at the plate and drove in three runs for the Diamondbacks, who scored six runs in the ninth inning. MaxScherzer tossed 5 1-3 scoreless innings for the victory.
The Marlins lost to the Dodgers 12-5 as a +115 underdog on Sunday. The 17 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (10).
CodyRoss hit a grand slam for Florida and JohnKoronka allowed four earned runs on four hits in 2 2-3 innings.
Team records: Arizona: 14-23 SU Florida: 18-20 SU
A few trends to consider: Arizona is 2-5-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road Arizona is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida Arizona is 1-4-1 SU in its last 6 games Arizona is 1-5-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Florida Florida is 5-1-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Arizona Florida is 7-2-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Arizona Florida is 1-5-1 SU in its last 7 games at home Florida is 1-6-1 SU in its last 8 games
Next up: Florida home to Arizona, Wednesday, May 20
The Atlanta Braves will be fighting to snap a losing streak on Tuesday when they take on the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field.
The Rockies will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander JasonHammel in this game. Hammel has a 0-2 record and a 5.31 ERA this season.
Starting this game for the Braves will be JairJurrjens. The righthander has a 2.06 ERA to go along with a 3-2 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Braves listed as 220-moneyline favorites versus the Rockies, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
JasonMarquis went eight strong innings on Monday night to lead the Rockies to a 5-1 win over the Braves.
The Rockies were winners as +170 road underdogs in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night’s posted total (8.5).
Current streak: Atlanta has lost 2 straight games.
Team records: Colorado: 15-22 SU Atlanta: 18-19 SU
Colorado most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 7-3 Before playing Atlanta are 4-6 After playing Atlanta are 4-6 After a win are 2-8
Atlanta most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 5-5 Before playing Colorado are 4-6 After playing Colorado are 7-3 After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 6 of Colorado’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Atlanta The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Colorado’s last 10 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 11 of Colorado’s last 16 games when playing Atlanta Colorado is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta’s last 7 games when playing at home against Colorado Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado The total has gone OVER in 11 of Atlanta’s last 16 games when playing Colorado
Next up: Atlanta home to Colorado, Wednesday, May 20
The Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Tropicana Field.
Lefthander Josh Outman will take the mound for the Athletics to start this game. Outman is 1-0 this season with a 4.38 ERA.
Starting this game for the Rays will be James Shields. The righthander has a 3.98 ERA to go along with a 3-4 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Rays listed as 200-moneyline favorites versus the Athletics, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
JasonBartlett drove in five runs on Monday night as the Rays cruised to a 13-4 win over the Athletics.
The Rays had no trouble getting the victory as -136 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night’s posted total (9.5).
Current streak: Oakland has lost 4 straight games. TampaBay has won 4 straight games.
Team records: Oakland: 13-22 SU TampaBay: 20-20 SU
Oakland most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 3-7 Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-7 After playing Tampa Bay are 5-5 After a loss are 3-7
Tampa Bay most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 8-2 Before playing Oakland are 5-5 After playing Oakland are 6-4 After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland’s last 5 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland’s last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 6 of Oakland’s last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay Oakland is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing Tampa Bay The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 7 games Tampa Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Oakland Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next up: Tampa Bay home to Oakland, Wednesday, May 20
The Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at Yankee Stadium.
The Orioles will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander BradBergesen in this game. Bergesen has a 1-1 record and a 5.27 ERA this season.
The Yankees will counter Bergesen with ace CCSabathia. LefthanderSabathia has a 3.70 ERA to go along with a 3-3 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Yankees listed as 290-moneyline favorites versus the Orioles, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Orioles lost to Kansas City 7-4 as a -110 favorite on Sunday. The 11 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (9.5).
BrianRoberts had an RBI and scored a run for Baltimore and KojiUehara allowed four runs on six hits in five innings.
MarkTeixeira homered twice on Monday as the Yankees held on for a 7-6 win over the Twins.
The Yankees got the victory as -165 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night’s posted total (9.5).
Current streak: New York has won 6 straight games.
Team records: Baltimore: 16-22 SU New York: 21-17 SU
Baltimore most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 4-6 Before playing NY Yankees are 4-6 After playing Kansas City are 6-4 After a loss are 6-4
New York most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 6-4 Before playing Baltimore are 6-4 After playing Minnesota are 7-3 After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Baltimore’s last 6 games The total has gone OVER in 11 of Baltimore’s last 16 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 6 games when playing NY Yankees Baltimore is 3-10 SU in their last 13 games when playing NY Yankees NY Yankees are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Baltimore NY Yankees are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games when playing Baltimore
Next up: NY Yankees home to Baltimore, Wednesday, May 20
A winning streak will be on the line for the Texas Rangers on Tuesday when they battle the Detroit Tigers at ComericaPark.
The Rangers will give the ball to starter BrandonMcCarthy in this one. RighthanderMcCarthy is 3-1 this season with a 5.92 ERA.
The Tigers will counter McCarthy with DontrelleWillis. LefthanderWillis has a 7.71 ERA to go along with a 0-0 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Rangers listed as 135-moneyline favorites versus the Tigers, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Rangers defeated the Angels 3-0 as a +105 underdog on Sunday. The three runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (10).
ScottFeldman pitched six shutout innings for Texas, while IanKinsler drove in a run in the win.
The Tigers defeated Oakland 11-7 as a -130 favorite on Sunday. The 18 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (9.5).
RamonSantiago was 4-4 with a home run and four RBI for Detroit, while Curtis Granderson hit a three-run home run in the win.
Current streak: Texas has won 7 straight games. Detroit has won 3 straight games.
Team records: Texas: 23-14 SU Detroit: 20-16 SU
Texas most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 2-8 Before playing Detroit are 3-7 After playing LA Angels are 4-6 After a win are 8-2
Detroit most recently: When playing on Tuesday are 5-5 Before playing Texas are 5-5 After playing Oakland are 4-6 After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider: Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas’s last 5 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Texas’s last 9 games Texas is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 5 games Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Texas Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas
Next up: Detroit home to Texas, Wednesday, May 20
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