Usually, NCAA football betting starts getting the sportsbook spotlight at this time of year, but there’s a new game in town: women’s mixed martial arts. At Saturday’s Strikeforce card, Gina Carano and Christiane “Cyborg” Santos will become the first female fighters to headline a major MMA promotion. Who has the edge?

GINA CARANO (7-0)
Strikeforce odds: +145

STRENGTHS: Gina Carano is an intelligent, versatile, technical fighter in the mold of Georges St-Pierre and Kenny Florian. She has knockout power but is also an accurate, crisp puncher and isn’t afraid to take opponents to the ground. She can win in more than one way, as she showed when she submitted Tonya Evinger via rear naked choke in 2007.

WEAKNESSES: She’s shown no true weakness yet, but she’ll likely have a strength disadvantage on Saturday. Cyborg Santos is taller and walks around more than 20 pounds heavier, so Carano may not be able to control the pace of the fight in tight.

CHRISTIANE “CYBORG” SANTOS (7-1)
Strikeforce odds: -175

STRENGTHS: Her raw power is unparalleled in women’s MMA. She’s a bona fide killer, having knocked out five opponents in her seven wins. She’s a relentless attacker who can overwhelm opponents. If she corners Carano and unleashes a flurry of haymakers, the fight could end in a hurry.

WEAKNESSES: She’s nowhere near as versatile as Carano. She hasn’t been tested much on the ground and, when she was in her first career fight, she succumbed to a leg lock submission. If the smaller, faster Carano can evade her haymakers, she’s in trouble. As is the case with Forrest Griffin, Cyborg has a brawling style that leaves her open to lots of shots. She has a good chin but she could lose the fight on points if she gets caught too often.

OUTLOOK

Gina Carano isn’t getting enough credit among betting services. She’s a well-rounded fighter and a smart one too, so she should have a game plan to keep Santos off balance. Look for her to outclass the powerhouse Cyborg and pull off the upset.

Sports betting online pick: Gina Carano +145

Great minds think alike. Our good friends at Bodog are correct in implying that games are won by players who touch the ball. However, super NFL handicapper Mike Godsey of GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com says he is concerned about Steve Slaton’s short-yard ability not to mention durability.

Also, don’t wish your gambling lives away by focusing purely on the regular season NFL betting. Check out our NFL Tailgate Party with preseason primer news, notes, player rotations, etc. These will be updated on our free pick section.

Quick, name a team in the NFL that has a better No. 1 running back/No. 1 receiver/No. 1 tight end combo than the Houston Texans Steve Slaton/Andre Johnson/Owen Daniels.

Just for fun, let’s total their cumulative numbers: 4,096 rushing/receiving yards, 235 catches and 20 touchdowns. That’s good. Seriously, find a better trio. Maybe Atlanta’s Michael Turner, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, but Gonzo wasn’t there last year. No wonder the Texans finished a franchise-high third in the NFL last season, averaging 382.1 yards per game.

Betting on the Texans this year? Get all your NFL futures at Bodog Sportsbook.

So obviously the Texans should be one of the top offensive teams in the NFL again this year if those three and, most important, QB Matt Schaub stay healthy. I say Schaub might be the key because semi-reliable backup Sage Rosenfels is now in Minnesota. Schaub’s backup? Probably Rex Grossman. Indeed, depth on offense might be the only problem, as there isn’t much behind Slaton or Johnson either.

It’s on defense where Houston must improve if it hopes to avoid a third consecutive 8-8 season. Last year the Texans had just 25 sacks as a team despite 12 from former No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams (still mad the Texans didn’t take Reggie Bush or Vince Young, Houston fans?). But in Williams, defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, linebacker DeMeco Ryans and cornerback Dunta Robinson (assuming he doesn’t hold out), there is a nice base of talent here. Plus Houston added excellent USC linebacker Brian Cushing in the draft. We’ll see how that unit fares under first-year defensive coordinator Frank Bush.

So is this finally the year the Texans reach the playoffs?

The Houston Texans are 35/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLIV. Bet on NFL futures at Bodog.

Here is the Texans’ 2009 schedule, and we’ll break it down after:
Sept. 13 vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 vs. Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m.
Nov. 1 at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Week 10: Bye
Nov. 23 vs. Tennessee Titans, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Dec. 13 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 at St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. New England Patriots, 1 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 15^th (opponents combined to go 129-126-1, .506, in 2008)
Projected record: 10-6
Bodog over/under total: 8
Bodog odds to win AFC South: 3/1
Bodog odds to win AFC: 16/1
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 35/1 (subject to change)

Houston needs to start strong to compete in the loaded AFC South, but that hasn’t been a strength of Gary Kubiak-coached teams.

Since Kubiak took over in 2006, Houston is 2-8 in September and last year was 0-3. You have to like at least a 2-1 start this year, as the Texans should be solid favorites at home against the Jets and Jaguars. Plus Houston is 12-4 at home the past two years. Winning at Tennessee might be asking too much, since the Texans haven’t done that since 2004.

The highlights of October include three games against below .500 teams from last year. Having the Bengals as the only AFC North opponent isn’t a bad thing. That game with the Niners is San Francisco’s first-ever visit. The bye probably comes at just the right time in November, following tough road games at Buffalo and Indy. Houston has lost seven straight at Indianapolis and has to play the Colts twice in three weeks; the Texans have been swept by Peyton Manning and Co. the past two years and have just one win against them ever.

Houston should be able to take care of business against those NFC West foes in December, but it might take an upset of the Patriots in the season finale to reach the playoffs. The good news is the Pats may not have anything to play for then and that Houston is 3-0 under Kubiak in season finales.

Another .500 or below season in Kubiak’s fourth year at the helm might cost the coach his job, but I believe this club is on the rise and will sneak in as a wild card in 2009 – if Schaub, Slaton and Johnson stay healthy.

What we love about Bodog is they always pay on time. There are plenty of bettors who wager on their own and subsidize the bookmakers for sharp players. So get the best NFL picks against the spread at OffshoreInsiders.com.

Sports picks that are hotter than Ali Kay pictures, the Rick Pitino vs. Karen Sypher photos soap opera has to have Rick Pitino wife Joanne Minardio looking for a free car media to run over her hubby.

Meanwhile wasted talent Lawrence Phillips faces up to 25 years in prison for assualting his girlfriend. Also, no word on the fines or suspensions from th Youkilis-Porcello brawl in the Red Sox-Tigers game last night.

The OffshoreInsiders.com headquarters is excited to see that we have Mun2 to watch the Mexico vs. USA start time 4:00 EST World Cup qualifying match. Otherwise we’d go to a sportsbar and find somebody paid to drive us home.

Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca comes just a few weeks after the Mexicans’ 5-0 trouncing of the U.S. in the Gold Cup final. The defeat was not all that surprising for the Americans, who were without all of their European-based regulars.

What was shocking was the manner in which the B team was torn apart in a second-half onslaught that allowed Mexico to celebrate its first victory over the USA in 10 years.

To reestablish their dominance in CONCACAF, the Americans must now venture into enemy territory and do something they have never done in 23 previous visits to Mexico, win.

As things stand, Mexico is far from assured of finishing in the top three in CONCACAF’s final qualifying and earning an automatic berth to South Africa.

For USA, a spot in the finals should be all but secure barring a huge meltdown.

Get your World Cup Soccer Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!

Exactly one week after hitting the MLB Game of the Year on the underdog Cubs, GodsTips wins the American League Game of the Year on Anaheim, a 6-0 winner. This means the two Games of the Year, both underdogs, win by a combined 12-3.

It’s winning days 10-of-12 following last night’s 4-2 winning night.

The best part is tomorrow, the NFL goes into full swing. Start out with a day Wise Guy and a day Major. The night card has a Dandy Dog moneyline and a runline winner. Dandy dogs are moneyline dogs of 140 or more (includes runline getting back 140 or more). Click now to purchase

Mark Buehrle looks to avoid a fourth straight loss when the Chicago White Sox visit Felix Hernandez and the -140 favored Seattle Mariners tonight.

Buehrle allowed six runs and 11 hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 6-2 loss to Cleveland on Friday to fall to 0-3 with an 8.35 ERA since throwing a perfect game on July 23.

The lefthander, however, has enjoyed some good fortune against the Mariners, going 7-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts. He will  try to help the White Sox take two of three in this series after they rallied for a 3-1 victory Tuesday.

After winning for the third time in 14 games on the road, Alex Rios is expected to be in the lineup for the first time since the White Sox claimed him off waivers on Monday.

Hernandez s 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA in six starts against the White Sox.

Get your  MLB odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!

Screw the Karen Sypher photos, the top sports handicappers are churning out winning betting pick after winner. If only Rick Pitino wife Joanne Minardi could say the same.

The controversial spread betting ending to the Hall-of-Fame game between the Titans and Bills notwithstanding, the true beginning of NFL betting season begins tomorrow. Sure the ladies book clubs say that Mary Jane Clark is a must-read, but all NFL bettors know they must consult the Tailgate Party with preseason primer news, notes, player rotations and more.

So get out and buy that BestBuy 9.99 TV, the In52a650 Samsung and destroy the sportsbook. 

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Yankees close out their series with Toronto, the Cards take on the Reds, and Pedro Martinez debuts for the Phillies.

Colliding in the Junior Circuit  . . .

A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.67 ERA) will take the hill for the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon as they complete a home series against the Blue Jays and Ricky Romero (10-5, 3.66 ERA). Righthander Burnett dominated the Red Sox in his last trip to the mound, holding the rival club scoreless on one hit over his 7 2-3 innings of work. Lefthander Romero was beaten by the Orioles in his last start, surrendering four earned runs on five hits over his six innings pitched that night.

Also on the American League schedule for Wednesday: Oakland at Baltimore, Tampa Bay at the Angels, Texas at Cleveland, Detroit at Boston, Kansas City at Minnesota, and the White Sox at Seattle. Mark Buehrle (11-6, 3.89 ERA) will try to snap his three-game losing streak for the ChiSox; the lefthander hasn’t won since pitching his perfect game on July 23. The M’s counter with righthander Felix Hernandez (12-4, 2.84 ERA), with Seattle a stellar 9-1 in his last 10 outings.

Speaking of best buy, there is never one better than Center of the Handicapping Universe. Exactly one week after hitting the MLB Game of the Year on the underdog Cubs, GodsTips wins the American League Game of the Year on Anaheim, a 6-0 winner. This means the two Games of the Year, both underdogs, win by a combined 12-3.

It’s winning days 10-of-12 following last night’s 4-2 winning night. GodsTips won’t win the Teen Choice Awards, but those old enough to be Miley Cyrus parents have been winning with us since the scorephone days.

The best part is tomorrow, the NFL goes into full swing. Start out with a day Wise Guy and a day Major. The night card has a Dandy Dog moneyline and a runline winner. Dandy dogs are moneyline dogs of 140 or more (includes runline getting back 140 or more). Click now to purchase

The Phillies will send Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday as the righthander makes his season debut on the road against the Cubs and Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 6.29 ERA). Martinez had been pitching in the minor leagues in recent weeks; Jamie Moyer was sent to the bullpen to make room for him in the rotation. Righthander Samardzija has appeared in 16 games so far this season for the Cubs, all in relief; he replaces injured Carlos Zambrano.

Rounding out the National League slate for Wednesday: the Mets at Arizona, the Dodgers at San Francisco, Houston at Florida, Washington at Atlanta, San Diego at Milwaukee, Pittsburgh at Colorado, and Cincinnati at St. Louis. The Reds will send Homer Bailey (2-3, 7.11 ERA) to the hill in that matchup; the righthander has allowed 10 earned runs over his last 11 1-3 innings. Chris Carpenter (11-3, 2.26 ERA) is set for the Cardinals; the righthander has won his last three outings.

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