The UFC 102 fight card will be a closely contested battle the entire way through but that’s not going to be as exciting as tonight’s battle in the NL West. The Los Angeles Dodgers have nearly blown their seemingly insurmountable lead in the NL West and with another loss on Thursday, their lead will be trimmed down to just two games.

For the Colorado Rockies, they have been the frontrunners in the National League Wild Card but now it looks like they may be able to do even better. They have climbed back into the race in the West and would rather make the playoffs via that route opposed to the Wild Card. In either case, online betting cappers know that the Rockies are hot and are in good shape while the Dodgers are slipping down the slippery slope and need to wake up. Even if they cling to a playoff spot, their fans know they won’t do much once they get into October if they keep playing like this.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Vicente Padilla vs Jorge De La Rosa 

The Los Angeles Dodgers will put waiver-claim Vicente Padilla to work for the first time in their white and blue uniforms on Thursday as he takes the mound against Jorge De La Rosa. The Dodgers, desperate for starting pitching, picked up the struggling Padilla from the Texas Rangers, who didn’t need him given the emergence of so many young arms.

Padilla has been up and down this season, posting an ERA of 4.92 and a WHIP of 1.50. He should have an easier time pitching at Dodgers Stadium than at the Ballpark in Arlington, but he’s not much more than a back-end rotation starter – if even that.

Padilla is making $12 million and considering how he’s pitched recently, it’s no wonder the Rangers put him on waivers. Padilla has given up 19 earned runs in his last 29.2 innings pitched, which is an ERA of 5.86. His biggest issue over that span is the amount of home runs he’s given up. In those five starts, Padilla has given up seven home runs. He’s only allowed five home runs in his previous 13 starts. Not many people will be interested in putting Padilla and the Dodgers among their baseball picks until he shows that he can pitch better than that.

For De La Rosa, a baseball blog pointed this out earlier this week and baseball wagering cappers should realize how effective he’s been for the Rockies this year. De La Rosa may be just 12-8 with a 4.76 ERA but he’s now won 12 of his last 14 decisions. Since June 1^st, De La Rosa has had three bad starts where he’s allowed 20 earned runs in 20.1 innings pitched (8.96 ERA). In his other 12 starts, he has an ERA of 2.99 and an 11-0 record.

Stick with the Rockies as they bounce back on Thursday night and cut into the Dodgers lead once again.

Sports Betting System picks: Rockies

It’s only a matter of time before there are sportsbook odds on who replaces Ted Kennedy as United States Senator, but it’s time to focus on NFL betting and MLB winning picks first.

Tonight, it’s the Rams-Bengals, Dolphins-Buccaneers, and the Eagles-Jaguars. The afore hyperlinks are the official betting previews, but now let’s get to who is hot and who has the big plays for Thursday NFL and MLB action.

If your NFL bets have been uglier than a John Mayer mugshot it’s time to stick with the best.

Start out with the MasterLockLine. The MasterLockLine has the top plays from the top sports services in their highest ranked sports.

An attorney/law professor/pro bettor turned pro bettor/professional handicapper out of Tri Cities, TN is best known for being the greatest SEC handicapper of all-time. However, he is also the top NFLX totals handicapper, based on all-time units won. Supreme Selections are his highest rated plays. He is 5-1-1 in NFLX already including 4-0 with over/unders: Thursday, Aug 13 it was New England over, Friday Aug. 14 the Rams, Saturday Aug 15 the Bears over and Thursday Aug. 20 it was New England under. Monday, Aug. 24 it was the Jets over. You know it’s legit because you got EVERY ONE OF THEM. Jaguars/Eagles over/under

The top money won handicapper in the 21^st century is a handicapper out of Philadelphia who rates his plays 5, 7.5 and 10 stars. He is especially rewarding in professional sports, where his NFL and NBA combined units won is No. 1 all-time.  His first 10* of 2009 NFLX was on the Carolina/NY Giants over on Aug. 17. His second was on Aug. 21 on the Rams/Falcons over. On Aug. 22 he went to 3-0 with 10*s when he nailed New Orleans. You know it’s legit because you got EVERY ONE OF THEM. Jacksonville/Philadelphia side

The No. 1 ranked football service both since 2005 and all-time is a service out of Las Vegas that has hit 58 percent or higher with “Vegas Insider’ releases nine of the 11 years they’ve been in the business, exceeding 62 percent five times. (NFL and NCAAF combined). Two Vegas Insider plays. One agrees with the Jaguars/Eagles game side above, the other is on the Dolphins/Buccaneers side

A Las Vegas MLB service is literally having one of the all-time great season with Game/Total/Parlay of the Year. They’ve hit their AL and NL Games of the Year;  NL and AL 2-Team Parlays of the Year and in fact are 9-0 with all Game/Total/Parlay of the Year plays (parlays counted as individual plays). Now their NL 3-Team Parlay of the Year and it won’t be easy as two are underdogs.

A satellite radio driven Las Vegas based website offers the top pick of each of their top handicappers for $89 for the day. Frankly only four of the handicappers are worth tracking. The rest are horrific. We have the top play from each of the top four. One agrees with a pick in the above 3-team parlay

Yes, all of the above picks are on the MasterLockLine.

Now to the “King of Offshore” who has made mastering over/under a huge part of the revolution, Stevie Vincent. By loyal client request, please see Stevie has a monthly package for clients who only bet football. To be honest, there is so much money to be made in baseball too, but we offer the discount for those who have some mercy on the bookies.

The Great One has two NFLX winners for Thursday night plus a night Level 5 in pro baseball.

Finally to the best in the land, Joe Duffy’s GodsTips. Get three night MLB for a total of seven NFL and MLB. GodsTips goes 3-0 yesterday and is 6-0 the last two days.

America‘s greatest just keeps winning and woo-hoo college football starts in a week! The NFL Specialists are 3-1 with preseason football Wise Guys and more are coming this weekend so get the four or five day pass at least. Get all three Thursday night NFL sides and now get three night moneyline MLB and a day runline. Click now to purchase the MasterLockLine, GodsTips, or Stevie Vincent, or better yet, all three as the Bet it Trinity is just $64 for all three.  

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The PGA opens the FedExCup playoffs, the NFL continues its preseason, and the Rangers and Yankees close out their set.

Former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has been charged with a DUI. The National Liberty Gold Course is hosting the Barclays Golf Tournament odds.

Colliding on the gridiron . . .

The official betting previews of the Rams-Bengals, Dolphins-Buccaneers, and Eagles-Jaguars are up.

The NFL launches its third week of preseason action on Thursday night with St. Louis at Cincinnati (-2.5), Miami at Tampa Bay (-2.5), and Jacksonville at Philadelphia (-7.5). The Jaguars and Eagles are both winless so far in the preseason, but Philly has been given the oddsmakers’ edge as they debut Michael Vick. Starting Eagles QB Donovan McNabb is expected to play into the second half, but Vick should see some snaps and possibly be put in the Wildcat.

The nation’s top football handicapper picks continue to be hotter than Kathleen Neill stripping for Zach Hyman or NHL hottie Carrie Milbank.

An attorney/law professor/pro bettor turned pro bettor/professional handicapper out of Tri Cities, TN is best known for being the greatest SEC handicapper of all-time. However, he is also the top NFLX totals handicapper, based on all-time units won. Supreme Selections are his highest rated plays. He is 5-1-1 in NFLX already including 4-0 with over/unders: Thursday, Aug 13 it was New England over, Friday Aug. 14 the Rams, Saturday Aug 15 the Bears over and Thursday Aug. 20 it was New England under. Monday, Aug. 24 it was the Jets over. You know it’s legit because you got EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Now he has the Jaguars/Eagles over/under. Click now to purchase sports betting picks from the top sports services or you can get more information and a free sports pick   

Also on the abbreviated American League schedule for Thursday: Cleveland at Baltimore, Kansas City at Seattle, Oakland at the Angels, and the White Sox at Boston. Chicago will send John Danks (11-8, 3.85 ERA) to the mound in that contest; lefthander Danks beat the Orioles last time out, giving up just one earned run over 6 1-3 innings of work. The BoSox counter with Junichi Tazawa (2-2, 3.57 ERA); the righthander blanked the Yankees over six innings last week.

Over in the National League the top hurler on the hill on Thursday will be the Cardinals’ Chris Carpenter (14-3, 2.16 ERA), with his team hosting the Astros and Brian Moehler (8-9, 5.29 ERA). Righthander Carpenter picked up his sixth straight win last time out, pitching seven shutout innings (and allowing just three hits) vs. the Padres. Righthander Moehler is also coming off a victory, as he held the Diamondbacks to two earned runs on six hits over 5 2-3 innings on Saturday.

Rounding out Thursday’s NL slate: the Mets at Florida, Cincinnati at Milwaukee, Washington at the Cubs, the Dodgers at Colorado, San Diego at Atlanta, Arizona at San Francisco, and Philadelphia at Pittsburgh. J.A. Happ (10-2, 2.59 ERA) will get the ball for the Phillies in that matchup, with the Pirates sending Charlie Morton (3-6, 5.21 ERA) to the hill. Lefthander Happ has given up two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts, with Philadelphia 4-1 in those contests.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

The WNBA returns from its one-day break with four games on Thursday night: Atlanta at Detroit, Connecticut at Seattle, Phoenix at Los Angeles, and San Antonio at Indiana. The Silver Stars fell to 11-16 straight-up (and 11-16 against-the-spread) last time out with a 99-84 loss to Detroit. The Fever are also coming off a loss – they were beaten 74-60 by Seattle on Saturday. Indiana, though, still leads the Eastern Conference at 19-7 SU, and they’re at 16-10 ATS on the year.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Finally, the PGA Tour begins its FedExCup playoffs on Thursday morning in The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. Tiger Woods is the big 9/5 Vegas favorite to grab the trophy this week, with Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson next on that list at 15/1 odds. Sergio Garcia, Steve Stricker, and Ernie Els are then pegged at 25/1 odds to win The Barclays, with Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen, and Hunter Mahan at 30/1. Singh is the defending champ.

When the Cincinnati Bengals host the St. Louis Rams tonight, it will be a battle of two backup quarterbacks, the Rams Kyle Boller and the Bengals Jordan Palmer, each who is expected to play the first half.

BetUs Sportsbook has Cincinnati a 2.5 point favorite, while Bet Online has the total at 34.

Although No. 1 Rams receiver Donnie Avery has returned to practice, he is not expected to play until the regular season.

Rams starting QB Marc Bulger is not expected to play. Kyle Boller will start. DE Leonard Little is questionable to doubtful with a sore right knee. DT Adam Carriker is doubtful.

Rams star running back Steven Jackson has just five carries in two preseason games. He won’t see much more than that tonight. Backup RB Kenneth Darby is doubtful.

Bengals QB Carson Palmer is being held out again. Brother Jordan Palmer, the third stringer, will continue to get the increased playing time. J.T. O’Sullivan gets the start. He’s completed 79.2 percent of his passes with two TDs and zero interceptions.

The Rams did spend most of Tuesday and Wednesday preparing for the Bengals.

Totals bettors, note that Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis has been working on a big play offense. It appears to be working as they have seven plays of 20 yards or more this preseason. By comparison, last year they had only 26 in the entire regular season.

Top expert pick on this game: America‘s greatest, GodsTips led by America‘s only Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy  just keeps winning and woo-hoo college football starts in a week! The NFL Specialists are 3-1 with preseason football Wise Guys and more are coming this weekend so get the four or five day pass at least. Get all three Thursday night NFL sides and now get three night moneyline MLB and a day runline. Click now to purchase

Fox television is going to be on hand as the Dolphins take on the Buccaneers. Tampa is -2.5 at Sports Betting Sportsbook with a total of 37 at most sportsbooks.  

New head coach Raheem Morris has that the starting QB position battle between Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown is too close to call. Each will play more than a quarter Thursday.

Tampa Bay RB Cadillac Williams will play for the first time since having major knee surgery seven months ago. Williams has looked good in practice, will start and share time with Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham into the third quarter as that’s when the starters are expected to play until.

For Miami, starting QB Chad Pennington will play the entire first half and a series in the second half. QB of the future, Chad Henne will take over, while Pat White may get some mop up duty late. One source says that Henne will finish after taking over for the older Chad.

The starting offensive line will play three quarters, though Shawn Murphy and Donald Thomas could split time at starting RG and Thomas is battling to take over the position.

TBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams will get most of the carries.

Top expert pick on this game: It’s the over/under from Stevie Vincent as mastering over/under picks is a large part of why Stevie has been called, “the future of sports betting. The Great One has two NFLX winners for Thursday night plus a night Level 5 in pro baseball. Click now to purchase at OffshoreInsiders.com

Michael Vick grabs the attention of the paparazzi and GodsTips the sports bettor’s awareness as the Jaguars play the Eagles at Philadelphia tonight.

BetUs Sportsbook has Philadelphia a 7.5 point favorite with a total of 37 at 5 Dimes.

QB Michael Vick is scheduled to make his debut for the Eagles, though head coach Andy Reid is being secretive to his role. Starting QB Donovan McNabb and the starters are scheduled to play three quarters, but Reid said Vick won’t play in the fourth. He could be used in gimmick formations or to spell D-Mac.

Eagles star running back Brian Westbrook is probable to start despite an ankle injury. Safe to say he will not play anywhere near the three quarters that his fellow starters are expected to play.

Defensive end Trent Cole, another starter, will get his first action of the preseason for the Birds. Though Philly is getting healthier, they will still me minus two starting offensive linemen Shawn Andrews and Todd Herremans.

Still on the shelf for the Iggles include CB Sheldon Brown, LB Omar Gaither, FB Leonard Weaver, and DL Darren Howard.

Kevin Kolb, once presumed as the Eagles QB of the future, will also see his first action of the preseason in the fourth quarter.

Because this is the third game in 11 days for the Jaguars, they will use next week as the dress rehearsal.

Shockingly, the Jacksonville starting unit will see minimal playing time and the LB corps of Clint Ingram, Daryl Smith and Justin Durant are all out.

Top expert pick on this game: GodsTips, America‘s greatest just keeps winning and woo-hoo college football starts in a week! The NFL Specialists are 3-1 with preseason football Wise Guys and more are coming this weekend so get the four or five day pass at least. Get all three Thursday night NFL sides and now get three night moneyline MLB and a day runline. Click now to purchase at OffshoreInsiders.com