Point Spreads - NCAA, Final Four, College Basketball, NBA, MLB, World Series, NFL, College Football, BCS & Super Bowl Point Spreads

UFC 105 Randy Couture vs Brandon Vera UFC Odds, UFC Picks & UFC Predictions: The UFC returns tonight with a sensational fight card that will air live on Spike TV. UFC 105, which takes place at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England at 10:00pm ET, features a non-title light heavyweight fight between UFC Hall of Famer Randy "The Natural" Couture and Brandon "The Truth" Vera. UFC 105 Odds at online sportsbook BetUS.com have Couture listed as a slight -120 moneyline favorite.

Randy Couture enters this evening's battle having lost his last two fights. The 46 year old went down via unanimous decision in August of this year to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102 and he fell to current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar by TKO at UFC 91 in November of 2008. There is little left for the former Oklahoma State wrestler to accomplish in MMA, but clearly Couture, who possesses a 16-10 professional record, has something to prove to himself after dropping his last two Octagon conflicts.

The move back to light heavyweight, where Couture has been a two time belt holder, may be just what he needs given the girth of some of the top heavyweights. Couture certainly has the size and fighting chops to compete against the UFC's current group of 205lbs. fighters. Vera, who fits in that group, has drawn the respect of the former champ.

"Brandon is a very strategic striker and a smart fighter," Couture said.

Brandon Vera (11-3) was an exciting up and comer a few years ago, but his career got somewhat derailed after losses to Fabricio Werdum and Keith Jardine coupled with a horrible performance in a win over Reese Andy. However, the 32 year old Virginia native looked impressive in his last two fights, recording wins over Michael Patt and Krzysztof Soszynski. Those performance have many feeling that Vera might actually live up to the promise he showed early in his career. He can take a huge step in that direction by beating "The Natural" this evening. That fact is not lost on Vera, who has long admired Couture.

"It will be an honor and a privilege to fight a living legend like Randy Couture," Vera said. "He has been someone that I have looked up to and I can't wait to get in there. Finally, I have a chance to prove myself against a true legend in the sport."    

BetUS.com UFC 105 Odds: Randy Couture vs Brandon Vera Odds, Picks & Predictions

Brandon Vera -110
Randy Couture -120

Denis Kang -125
Michael Bisping -105

Mike Swick -240
Dan Hardy +190

Matt Brown -155
James Wilks +125

Aaron Riley -190
Ross Pearson +155

Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko will take on Strikeforce Heavyweight Brett "The Grim" Rogers tonight at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estate, Illinois. The non-title fight, which is scheduled to go three rounds, will get underway at 9:00pm ET on CBS. Strikeforce/M-1 Global Odds, Picks & Predictions at BetUS.com have Fedor listed as a heavy -550 moneyline favorite. 

Fedor Emelianenko enters his first Strikeforce fight with a 30-1-0 professional MMA record. The 6'0", 232lbs. Russian last fought in January of this year when he knocked out veteran fighter Andrei Arlovski in the first round of the main event at Affliction-Day of Reckoning. Prior to disposing of Arlovsky, Fedor submitted former UFC champion Tim Slyvia, also in the first round, at Affliction-Banned in July of 2008.

Emelianenko, who is largely considered the best heavyweight in MMA, regardless of the organization, has seven wins via (T)KO, 16 by submission, and seven by decision. His last five fights have all ended in the first round. Fedor's only career loss came in December of 2000 at the hands of Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kosaka; the fight was stopped (TKO) at 0:17 in the first round due to a severe cut. Emelianenko later avenged himself against Kosaka, beating the veteran at PRIDE-Bushido 6 in April of 2005 via first round TKO. 

Brett Rogers comes into this much anticipated battle sporting a perfect 10-0 professional record. Rogers, who stands 6'5" tall and weighs 265lbs., has nine victories by (T)KO and one by submission. Only one of his fights, a KO win over Stan Strong back in 2006, has ever reached the second round. The 28 year old last fought in June, when he too scored a quick win over Andrei Arlovsky (0:22 in the first round).

Rogers appears to be unphased by Fedor's legenadary status, viewing the stoic Russian as another stepping stone in route to a clash with Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem.

"I'm definitely hungry for this fight," Rogers said. "I'm trying to show the world that I'm the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts, why not show them by taking out Fedor Emelianenko...I'm going to hurt him."

BetUS.com Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs Rogers Odds, Picks & Predictions:

Fedor Emelianenko -550
Brett Rogers +375

Jake Shields -300
Jason Miller +200

Gegard Mousasi -500
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou +350

Fabricio Werdum -170
Antonio Silva +1400

UFC 102 will take place tonight at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. The headline bout in this evening's 11 fight card is a heavyweight tilt between former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion, Randy "The Natural" Couture, and former Pride Heavyweight Champion, Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira. The main card is set to begin at 10:00pm ET and can be seen live on Pay-Per-View. UFC 102 Odds, Picks & Predictions at BetUS.com are favoring Couture to win this evening at -200 on the moneyline. 

Randy Couture will be making his second appearance in the Octagon tonight since returning to the UFC last year. The former champs homecoming foray did not go according to plan as current heavyweight title holder Brock Lesnar took him out at 3:07 into the second round at UFC 91 in November of 2008.

Despite the loss to Lesnar, Couture acquitted himself well against the champion, especially for a 46 year old. In fact, no one has looked as good as Couture did against Lesnar, and that includes Frank Mir's freakish submission of the behemoth Minnesotan.

If "The Natural" can beat Nogueira this evening, he might be in line for another title shot. However, beating "Minotauro" is easier said than done, which Couture hinted at in his comments regarding the Brazilian.

"Antonio is one of the most dynamic submission fighters in our sport," Couture said. "He is [also] very tenacious and durable."

Antonio Nogueira, like Couture, is looking to rebound from a loss in his last fight. The 33 year Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Balck Belt was destroyed by Frank Mir at UFC 92 in December of 2008. Mir stopped Nogueira for the first time in his career with a TKO at 1:54 in the second round. 

The devastating defeat dropped Nogueira's record to 31-5-1 and left him with a 2-1 tally in the UFC. Prior to the Mir fight, the Rio de Janeiro native submitted former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia via choke at 1:28 in the third round.

Couture and Nogueira have long been two of the most respected fighters in the world. Nogueira expressed his excitement at finally getting to challenge the man who has become the face of the UFC.

"I'm honored to face such a great fighter as Randy Couture," Nogueira said. "[I've] wanted to fight him for some time now and I know to become a legend you have to beat a legend."

BetUS.com Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC 102 Odds, Picks & Predictions

Randy Couture -200
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira +160

Nate Marquardt -180
Demian Maia +150

Keith Jardine -140
Thiago Silva +110

Ed Herman -115
Aaron Simpson -115

Chris Leben -150
Jake Rosholt +120

Gabriel Gonzalez -375
Chris Tuchscherer +275

Krzysztof Soszynski +165
Brandon Vera -210

Nick Catone +165
Mark Munoz -210

Marcus Aurelio -160
Even Dunham +130

Justin McCully +210
Mike Russo -280

Tim Hague +160
Todd Duffee -200

The city of Portland, Oregon will play host to the UFC tonight as the king of all MMA organizations brings fight fans its 102nd event. UFC 102 is scheduled to get underway at 10:00pm ET tonight at the Rose Garden Arena and it can be seen live on Pay-Per-View. The main event on this evening's card is a heavyweight battle between former champion Randy "The Natural" Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The undercard features a light heavyweight scrap between Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine and Thiago Silva. UFC 102 Odds, Picks & Predictions at Bodog.com have Jardine pegged as a -140 moneyline favorite.

Keith Jardine is one of the more recognizable fighters in the UFC, but his struggles with consistency have left him on the outside looking in when it comes to getting a title shot. He has fought some of the top fighters in the light heavyweight division, and has won his fair share, including victories over Chuck Liddell, Forest Griffin, and Wilson Gouveia.

However, the 33 year old has had difficulty stringing together wins. Jardine is 3-3 in his last six UFC fights and is 6-4 inside the Octagon. While is professional record is a stellar 14-6-1, he has not displayed the kind of steadiness needed to get a shot at the belt. A win tonight, though, would be a step in the right direction.

Jardine, who lost his last fight via unanimous decision to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, indicated he feels confident that he will be able to beat Silva, but regardless of the result, MMA fans will be entertained.

"The matchup is great for me," Jardine said. "He's a guy who likes to brawl and standup. He's not necessarily going to push for the takedown, and if it goes to the ground, I'm fine there. So, it's guaranteed that it's going to be a great fight and I'm pretty excited."

Thiago Silva comes into tonight's fight looking to rebound from his first loss as a professional fighter. Silva suffered a knock out at the hands of current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 94 back in January. The first round finish brought the 26 year old Brazilian's MMA record to 13-1 and his UFC mark to 4-1.

Prior to the Machida loss, Silva submitted Antonio Mendes in May of 2008. Silva, who has a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has had just one of his fights inside the Octagon go past the first round. The lone exception came in September of 2007 when he scored a TKO against Tomasz Drwal at 4:23 in the second.

Bodog.com Keith Jardine vs Thiago Silva UFC 102 Odds, Picks & Predictions:

Keith Jardine -140
Thiago Silva +110

Randy Couture -215
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira +175

Nate Marquardt -180
Demian Maia +150

Chirs Leben -145
Jake Rosholt +115

Ganriel Gonzalez -500
Chris Tuchscherer +300

Brandon Vera -215
Krzysztof Soszynski +185