Tag: T-Mobile Arena

Twitter Compares Vegas Golden Knights’ Helmets to Notre Dame’s

The Vegas Golden Knights have decided to literally live up to their name. During Thursday’s 1-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Knights unveiled new gold chrome helmets. If you’re a Notre Dame fan, and you almost definitely are if you’re reading this …

The Vegas Golden Knights have decided to literally live up to their name. During Thursday’s 1-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Knights unveiled new gold chrome helmets. If you’re a Notre Dame fan, and you almost definitely are if you’re reading this site, these helmets might look a little similar to certain other gold helmets. Twitter noticed this quickly and knew exactly what to compare them to:

The Notre Dame comparison notwithstanding, this is almost certain to go down as one of the biggest uniform blunders in the history of sports. The one saving grace is that this change merely was limited to the top of the uniform and did not incorporate the rest of it. Maybe the loss was the hockey gods’ way of telling the Knights that these should not last. Hockey is not a sport that’s meant to be watched while wearing sunglasses, but whenever fans are allowed to return to T-Mobile Arena, they might not have a choice if these fashion statement continues.

Conor McGregor reiterates that he plans to box again: report

McGregor, 31, told Bleacher Report that he plans to keep fighting. And that includes another boxing match.

Conor McGregor says he will box again.

The only time the Irishman ventured into a boxing ring – as opposed to an octagon – the UFC star was knocked out in 10 rounds by Floyd Mayweather in a ridiculously lucrative fight in August 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Since then, he has fought only twice in MMA matches, losing by submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov in UFC 229 in October 2018 and stopping Donald Cerrone in UFC 246 this past January.

McGregor, 31, told Bleacher Report that he plans to keep fighting. And that includes another boxing match.

One possible opponent is Manny Pacquiao, who recently signed with Paradigm Sports Management. That’s the same company that handles McGregor, meaning negotiations would have a head start.

“I plan on being around for a long time inside the octagon, boxing ring and well beyond my fighting career,” McGregor told Bleacher Report. “… I am hungry today, hungry like a man who has not eaten for weeks. … When I set my mind to something, there is nothing I can not accomplish. It is that power of belief that makes up the winners.”

He went on: “I am willing to fight anyone and have proved that time and time again. I look for a good scrap, and if it isn’t going to be that, I have no interest. … The money is not why I do this. I am a very rich man, and my children and those that come after them will be just fine. I love the fight game. I learned many things boxing in Crumlin [Ireland] where I grew up, and my deep love is why I do this today.

“I will be in the octagon again soon and fully expect to box again. You will need to stay tuned, but trust me – the fans will enjoy. Giving them what they want and entertaining them is important to me.”

Read more:

Manny Pacquiao signs with company that manages Conor McGregor

2020 Pac-12 College Basketball Tournament odds and betting futures

Analyzing the 2020 Pac-12 Tournament odds and futures, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

The 2020 Pac-12 Conference Tournament starts Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The tournament features four games Wednesday, and four more battles Thursday. The Oregon Ducks earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, while UCLA, Arizona State and USC also secured first-round byes as the next three top seeds. Below, we look at the futures odds to win the Pac-12 tournament, which has eight teams tipping off the action Wednesday.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, March 11 at 10:20 a.m. ET.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Oregon Ducks (+175)

Regular season record: (24-7, 13-5 Pac-12)

The Ducks were the class of the Pac-12, scratching out a regular-season conference title. While that’s all well and good, they were a perfect 17-0 at home, but just 7-7 in their 14 games either on the road or on a neutral-site court. Oregon rolls into the tourney on a 4-0 straight up and against the spread run, and they’re 6-1 SU/ATS across their past seven games, with only a loss at Arizona State in the mix.

Get some action on this event or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

G Payton Pritchard is a stud, rolling up 20.5 points and 5.5 assists per game this season. The Ducks are among the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation, hitting at a 39.6% clip from behind the arc.

The FAVORITE IS WORTH A BET AT +175, as Oregon is playing better ball than anyone in the conference.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Arizona Wildcats (+340)

Regular-season record: (20-11, 10-8 Pac-12)

The Wildcats have rather short odds considering they stumbled hard down the stretch. Arizona dropped four of its final five regular-season games, also going 1-4 ATS during the run.

There is just no value here, as the Wildcats are ice cold. ARIZONA IS A TERRIBLE PLAY AT +340, AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Colorado Buffaloes (+350)

Regular-season record: (21-10, 10-8 Pac-12)

The Buffaloes were at or near the top of the Pac-12 standings all season, but they ended the campaign on a four-game skid, and they failed to cover in five straight and eight of their final nine games. Confidence is EXTREMELY low they’ll win one game in the tourney, let alone a championship. AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: UCLA Bruins (+600)

Regular-season record: (19-12, 12-6 Pac-12)

The Bruins really got their act together down the stretch, winning seven in a row before losing a defensive nail-biter at USC in the regular-season finale. The Bruins might need a win to feel more confident on Selection Sunday, and it’s possible this team is one of the First Four teams. A conference title would go a long way in seeding, and they’re playing the second-best basketball of anyone in the conference besides Oregon. A SMALL-UNIT PLAY AT +600 IS WARRANTED.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Arizona State Sun Devils (+800)

Regular-season record: (20-11, 11-7 Pac-12)

The Sun Devils dropped three in a row at UCLA, at USC and at home against lowly Washington, splashing cold water on their momentum after a seven-game winning streak from Feb. 1-22. The Sun Devils are a very mediocre team who will be NIT-bound barring a championship. It’s not happening. AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: USC Trojans (+1200)

Regular-season record: (22-9, 11-7 Pac-12)

The Trojans are a tremendous sleeper most people give little credit. They rattled off a three-game winning streak against Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA to close out the season, and if you’re looking for a mid-tier value, they’re it. They lost their only meeting against Oregon in Eugene Jan. 23, but they took the Ducks to overtime before falling 79-70. USC IS A TREMENDOUS VALUE WITH UPSIDE AT +1200.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Stanford Cardinal (+1500)

Regular-season record: (20-11, 9-9 Pac-12)

The Cardinal split the season series with Oregon, they split with Colorado and they also had a win at UCLA, while losing an OT thriller at USC. Stanford has a strong defense, and it slows it down with a methodical offense. The Cardinal are a good 3-point shooting team when they do hoist them up, and they’re accurate from the floor. A SMALL-UNIT PLAY AT +1500 ISN’T A WASTE OF MONEY.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Oregon State Beavers (+5000)

Regular-season record: (17-13, 7-11 Pac-12)

The Beavers topped the top-seeded Ducks by a 63-53 count, but could they do it in Vegas? They were swept by Arizona State, but played them tough, too. The Beavers can hang around and be a pain, but they’re likely one-and-done after running out of steam in the second half. AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Washington Huskies (+5000)

Regular-season record: (15-16, 5-13 Pac-12)

Washington stunned Arizona State and Arizona on the road to close out the regular season, and has the talent to give anyone fits, but can they go 4-for-4 to win a title? Nah. AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Utah Utes (+7000)

Regular-season record: (16-14, 7-11 Pac-12)

The Utes ended the season on a high note, adding to Colorado’s woes. They upset USC Feb. 23, but they also lost to California, and were dusted by Oregon State. Utah is too inconsistent, thus the long odds. AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: Washington State Cougars (+7000)

Regular-season record: (15-16, 6-12 Pac-12)

The Cougs closed the season on a 1-6 SU/3-4 ATS run in the final seven regular-season games. They have wins against Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA this season, but they were also swept by Cal and Stanford. AVOID.

2020 Pac-12 odds: California Bears (+8000)

Regular-season record: (13-18, 7-11 Pac-12)

The Bears won just three of their final 10 games, and they closed out the season with a 24-point loss in Oregon and 18-point loss in Oregon State. There’s a reason they have the worst odds. They’re skidding hard. AVOID.

Want some action on this tournament? Place a bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Canelo Alvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders set for May 2?

Canelo Alvarez has settled on Billy Joe Saunders for his May 2 fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN, according to reports.

Canelo Alvarez has settled on Billy Joe Saunders for his May 2 fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN, according to reports. An official announcement hasn’t been made.

Alvarez, who will challenge for Saunders’ super middleweight title, reportedly had also considered 168-pound beltholder Callum Smith.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) is coming of an 11th-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev for the Russian’s light heavyweight title in November, which he promptly gave up to move back down in weight.

Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) is coming off of a shaky performance against relative unknown Marcelo Esteban Coceres, who also was stopped in 11 rounds. The fight was roughly even on the cards at the time of the stoppage.

However, Saunders, who will be making the third defense of his belt, has built a reputation as an excellent boxer with a strong track record.

Alvarez claims that he is a four-division titleholder because he defeated fringe contender Rocky Fielding for what the WBA calls its “regular” title in December 2018, but Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize that belt.

If the Mexican defeats Saunders, then he will in fact have won titles in the junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Kings at Golden Knights NHL matchup, with NHL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Los Angeles Kings (24-35-6) hit the road to take on the Vegas Golden Knights (36-22-8) Sunday at T-Mobile Arena at 10:30 p.m. ET (on NBCSN). We analyze the Kings-Golden Knights sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Kings at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies

Cal Petersen vs. Marc-Andre Fleury

Petersen is expected to draw the start after Jonathan Quick posted an overtime win in Saturday’s matinee action against the New Jersey Devils at Staples Center. Petersen is 2-3-0 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in his five starts to date.

Fleury is 26-14-5 with a 2.73 GAA and .908 SV% in his 46 appearances (45 starts) to date. He is expected to get the nod after Robin Lehner made his team debut and stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced against the Sabres in a win Friday.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Kings at Golden Knights: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Golden Knights 5, Kings 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Golden Knights (-334) are heavily favored against the Kings (+260), and rightly so. Yes, L.A. won 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, but it was against the lowly Devils. A road trip, albeit a short one, against a Western Conference contender on the second end of a back-to-back is a recipe for disaster for the young Kings. Still, you can’t bet Vegas at this price. Look to the puck line. AVOID.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Golden Knights returns a profit of $3 if they win, while a $10 wager on the Kings results in a profit of $26 if the home team prevails.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-1.5, -115) are a much better play on the puck line, although you’ll still have to eat a little chalk. Vegas has won eight in a row and covered the puck line in four of the past five.

Over/Under (O/U)

The trends go in both directions for these teams. The under dominates the trends for the Kings, but the OVER 5.5 (-139) is the play here. The over is 3-1-1 in the past five for Vegas, and 9-4-1 in the past 14 at home. The over is also 4-0 in the past four meetings in this series, and the Vegas offense should have its way against the Kings backup netminder.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Carolina Hurricanes (31-20-3) and Vegas Golden Knights (28-21-7) will do battle at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 10 p.m. ET. We analyze the Hurricanes-Golden Knights sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Hurricanes at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies

James Reimer vs. Marc-Andre Fleury

Reimer picked up the road win over the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night, and he has been victorious in three straight outings. He hasn’t lost in regulation in his past six starts dating back to Dec. 27.

Fleury didn’t face the Hurricanes in the head-to-head meeting Jan. 31, as he was serving his one-game league-mandated suspension for skipping the All-Star Game. It’s been mixed results for Fleury lately, winning two three outings since the break. He allowed two goals on 25 shots Thursday in a 7-2 win over the Florida Panthers.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Hurricanes at Golden Knights: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Golden Knights 4, Hurricanes 2

Moneyline (ML)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-139) haven’t been as dominant as their first two campaigns, especially that historic first season. They still have plenty of solid offense and Fleury can be a dangerous netminder. The Hurricanes (+115) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Golden Knights a little over a week ago, and the speed of Vegas might be a problem again.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Golden Knights to win returns a profit of $7.20, while a $10 wager on the Hurricanes results in a profit of $11.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

If you’re going to bet the puck line, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-1.5, +190) are worth a small-unit play at nearly double money. The Hurricanes have been a decent team against the Pacific Division, going 8-3 in the past 11 meetings, and 30-10 in the past 40 against Western Conference teams; however, they are just 1-5 in the past six on the road.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 5.5 (-139) is a little risky, as I could see this going Over only because of an empty-net goal, let’s say. The Over is 4-0 in Carolina’s past four overall, and 4-0 in the past four against the Western Conference, too. The Over is 5-1 in the past six at home for Vegas, and 7-2-1 in the past 10 as a favorite, so that’s the way to lean.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC 246: Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff bout at UFC 246, with MMA betting odds, picks and best bets.

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Andre Fili and Sodiq Yusuff will tangle in a preliminary bout at UFC 246 Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. (to watch, sign up for ESPN+ now).

Fili (19-6) enters this bout with a three-inch reach advantage against his opponent, but he is at a big disadvantage in terms of significant strikes landed per minute (6.61 for Yusuff to just 4.08 for Fili), and significant strike accuracy. He will want to get his Nigerian counterpart to the ground early and often. That used to be Fili’s game, as he has a 2.44 takedown average with a 46.0% takedown accuracy and 0.21 submission average. However, despite that good work on the ground, he hasn’t had a submission victory since stepping up to the UFC.

Yusuff (9-1) has three fights under his belt since signing with the UFC, picking up two KO/TKOs over Suman Mokhtarian and Gabriel Benitez, while also stopping Sheymon Moraes in a unanimous decision March 30, 2019. He is a hungry young fighter who will easily be facing the biggest test of his career. This one could be an absolute war. Look for Yusuff to come out swinging, literally, as he throws out a lot of strikes per minute, and usually lands them. He’ll want to avoid going to the ground, as that’s just not his cup of tea.

SPECIAL BET LINE: McGregor vs. Cerrone

BetMGM is offering a special Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if McGregor wins in any manner vs. Cerrone January 18, 2020. Bet now at BetMGM!

Available to new customers in New Jersey; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Per BetMGM, Yusuff (-154) is a moderate favorite against Fili (+115). The oddsmakers also show a slight lean to the match not going the distance (three rounds), with odds there being set at -139 for No and +100 for Yes.

Are you new to sports betting? A $10 wager on Yusuff to win returns $6.50 in profit. A $10 bet on Fili returns a profit of $11.50 with a victory.

Also See:

Yusuff will look to maintain his meteoric rise in the UFC, and he won’t be stopped in this one. I like Yusuff to win straight up on the 2-way line (-154), and I think he is going to get it done quickly. Look for a Yusuff win in Round 1 (+350). Pair that with a victory by Yusuff by KO/TKO or DQ (+150), and it could be a nice little payday if ‘Super’ is able to get it done and bring another victory with him back to western Africa.

If you want some action on this mixed martial arts bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC 246: Aleksei Oleinik vs. Maurice Greene odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC 246 lightweight bout between Aleksei Oleinik and Maurice Greene, with UFC betting odds, picks and best bets.

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Aleksei Oleinik and Maurice Greene will battle at UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night in a heavyweight bout on the pay-per-view card (To watch, sign up for ESPN+ now).

Oleinik (57-13-1) is battle tested with a lengthy history in mixed martial arts. He is 42 years old after all. Since joining the UFC June 28, 2014, he has fought some of the best in his division with mixed results. He owns wins over Anthony Hamilton, Mark Hunt and Jared Rosholt, while suffering losses to Curtis Blaydes, Walt Harris and Alistair Overeem. Oleinik’s last two bouts have ended up knockouts, including just 12 seconds against Harris at UFC Fight Night July 20. He is nicknamed ‘The Boa Constrictor’ – he wants to get fighters on the ground and win by submission. Five of his six wins in UFC have been by submission, and that’s how he has made a name for himself over the years.

Greene (8-4) heads into this one with a five-inch height advantage, a slight reach advantage and he lands many more significant strikes per minute. He’ll be trying to blast Oleinik and knock him out early, looking to avoid tiring out and becoming susceptible to the takedown and the alligator-jaw like legs of Oleinik. Greene isn’t much for the ground and pound, and he has just a 0.65 submission average and no takedown average or takedown accuracy to speak of. He’ll need to do whatever he can to avoid going to the mat, or Moe Greene will be out of the Tropicana … err, T-Mobile Arena. That’s for you, Irwin Fletcher!

SPECIAL BET LINE: McGregor vs. Cerrone

BetMGM is offering a special Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if McGregor wins in any manner vs. Cerrone January 18, 2020. Bet now at BetMGM!

Available to new customers in New Jersey; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Per BetMGM, Greene (-134) is considered the favorite by an ever so slight margin over Oleinik (+100). The oddsmakers also show a heavy lean to the match not going the distance (three rounds), with odds there being set at -715 for no, while odds to go a full three rounds is at +400.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Greene is even money, returning a $10 profit if he wins. A $10 bet on Oleinik to win returns a profit of $7.46 with a victory.

Also See:

With the distance wager odds, you can tell Vegas fully expects that the judges will not be involved. This one is either ending in a knockout by Greene, or a submission win by Oleinik. But that’s where it gets tricky, and when will the victory occur? I like Greene to punch himself out early, trying to tire the 42-year-old Russian with an early flurry. If Oleinik can withstand those early blows, it will be good news for his backers. OLEINIK to win by SUBMISSION (+170) is a tremendous value, while Greene to win by KO/TKO or DQ is (+100) even money. My suggestion is taking the better value, going with Oleinik to win by submission, and taking him to win in ROUND 2 (+500), which will make for a tidy little payday. If Greene wins, it is going to be by punches and in Round 1, paying (+210). I can see either scenario, but for my money, I like OLEINIK to snap his two-bout skid and get a win.

If you want some action on this mixed martial arts bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC 246 bantamweight bout between Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington, with UFC betting odds, picks and best bets.

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Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington will square off at UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Saturday night in a woman’s bantamweight bout on the pay-per-view card.

Holm (12-5), a.k.a. The Farmer’s Daughter, is a southpaw with a 69-67.5-inch reach advantage. She might not go to the ground as often as her counterpart, but when she does, she is very effective in the ground and pound, posting a 31.58 takedown-accuracy percentage. Holm also has experience on her side, as she became champ when she stunned Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 on Nov. 14, 2015 to burst onto the scene. She has lost four straight title bouts since, but remains relevant and a problem for anyone in her way. A first-round knockout at the hands of Amanda Nunes for the title last July 6 at UFC 239 is certainly nothing to hang her head about.

Pennington (10-8) is rather accurate in the significant-strike department, so she has that going for her. And “Rocky” is coming off a decision win over Irene Aldana at UFC Fight Night last July 20, showing she is still a force to be reckoned with despite a rather unimpressive record overall. Like Holm, she has losses to Germaine de Randamie and Nunes in the past two years. These two also battled at UFC 184, with Holm coming away with a split-decision win on Feb. 28, 2015, so Pennington will have the revenge factor working for her.

SPECIAL BET LINE: McGregor vs. Cerrone

BetMGM is offering a special Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if McGregor wins in any manner vs. Cerrone January 18, 2020. Bet now at BetMGM!

Available to new customers in New Jersey; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Per BetMGM, Holm (-143) is only a slight favorite in this one over Pennington (+110). The oddsmakers also show a heavy lean to the match going the distance (three rounds), with odds there being set at -455 for and the odds to not go a full three rounds at +320.

Are you new to sports betting? A $10 wager on Holm to win returns $7 in profit. A $10 bet on Pennington at returns a profit of $11 with a victory.

Also See:

These two have a history, as mentioned, and they went the distance in that previous bout in 2015. You can expect a similar result, as Rocky likes to drag things out and let the judges decide her fate. Five of her past six bouts have gone to the card, and she has been on the successful end of four of those five fights. However, I like Holm’s kicking ability, and the southpaw will be able to keep Pennington at a distance, limiting the effectiveness of her strikes. The play here is Holm to win by decision/technical decision -106. The fight should also go the distance, but at -455, that’s just too expensive. You can also bet the total number of rounds (OVER 2.5, -556), but those odds are even worse! AVOID, and just bet the fight straight up.

If you want some action on this mixed martial arts bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Claudia Gadelha vs. Alexa Grasso odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC 246 strawweight bout between Claudia Gadelha and Alexa Grasso, with UFC betting odds, picks and best bets.

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Claudia Gadelha and Alexa Grasso will tangle at UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., in a woman’s strawweight bout on the pay-per-view card Saturday night.

Gadelha (17-4) is one inch shorter than her counterpart and is outreached by 2.5 inches, 66-63.5. However, none of that will matter if she is able to get Grasso to the ground. That’s Gadelha’s game, as ‘Claudinha’ is a master of jiu-jitsu and dominates with a 42.19-percent significant strike accuracy, while also rolling up an amazing 47.14-percent takedown accuracy. Since here title-bout loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk at the TUF 23 finale, she is 4-2. She recorded a first-round submission against Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 212, and even when she isn’t able to finish, her tremendous takedown ability seems to wow the judges and get her style points which help during decisions.

SPECIAL BET LINE: McGregor vs. Cerrone

BetMGM is offering a special Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if McGregor wins in any manner vs. Cerrone January 18, 2020. Bet now at BetMGM!

Available to new customers in New Jersey; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Grasso (11-3) is a striker who is still trying to find her sea legs since moving to the UFC. She debuted with a win over Heather Clark at UFC Fight Night on Nov. 5, 2016, before a loss to Felice Herrig Feb. 4, 2017. A win over Randa Markos had her back on track, but a submission loss to Tatiana Suarez was a stunner at UFC Fight Night on May 19, 2018, and should serve as a cautionary tale here. She beat Kowalkiewicz, a common opponent for the two in this bout, before losing last time out to Carla Esparza at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 21, 2019.

Per BetMGM, Gadelha (-121) is the slight favorite in this one over Grasso (-110). The oddsmakers also show a heavy lean to the match going the distance (three rounds), with odds there being set at -304 for – and the odds to not go a full three rounds at +225.

Are you new to sports betting? A $10 wager on Gadelha to win returns $8.30 in profit. A bet on Grasso at -110 returns a profit of $9.10 with a victory.

Also See:

The difference in my eyes here is Gadelha’s outstanding takedown ability, and her potential to finish on the ground. That recent submission loss by Grasso sticks out like a sore thumb, too. Taking a flier on Gadelha to win by submission (+550) looks awfully tasty, and is at the very least worth a small-unit bet. Pair that with a 2-way win by Gadelha (-121), with the fight not going three full rounds for a nice payday at (+225), and this fight could be quite lucrative.

If you want some action on this mixed martial arts bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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