NFL betting players are awaiting Michael Vick’s Philadelphia debut tomorrow night at home when the Eagles host Jacksonville in preseason action, and expectations are out of this world. But you shouldn’t expect too much too soon on the online betting front just yet.

Vick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2006, and then the whole dogfighting/suspension/prison thing came about, so it’s not like he could stay in football shape. Super Bowl odds now have the Eagles behind only New England, and I think that may be a bit much…this year. But if Vick does well this year, the Eagles are in a great position. He’ll want to start, and there’s a number of teams waiting for him to prove that he can stay out of trouble, as well as produce. So the Eagles will have to trade either Vick or Donovan McNabb, which are two pretty big trade chips to have. I’m betting management for the Eagles have thought this through. I know I’ll be watching tomorrow night, will you?

The UFC 102 fight card is the big play of the weekend, and it’s a much deeper card than the last two events. Here’s a quick run-down and some of my sports picks for Saturday night:

Randy Couture (-165) vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (+135)
These legends are coming off losses, but Nogueira has more to prove after a staph infection led him to a knockout at the hands of Frank Mir. Nogueira is also 13 years younger than Couture, but has more experience. That has to count for something. (Online betting pick: Nogueira)

Thiago Silva (+125) vs Keith Jardine (-155)
Jardine was knocked out in 38 seconds by Wanderlei Silva, and he’s basically fighting a younger version of the “Axe Murderer” (which is EASILY the coolest nickname in sports). Also, Thiago is hungry after he was knocked out by Lyoto Machida. (Online betting pick: Silva)

Chris Leben (-150) vs Jake Rosholt (+130)
This is Rosholt’s first time on a PPV card, while Leben is coming off a loss to Michael Bisbing, which was made worse by a positive drug test, and the Bisbing fight was preceded by a DUI. If he can get his head right, he should romp to victory. (Online betting pick: Leben)

Nate Marquardt (-160) vs Demian Maia (+130)
Both are excellent on the mat, but Marquardt has shown some power, knocking out his last two opponents. Maia has submitted his last five opponents, and four have been the “Submission of the Night”. This could be the best fight of the night, and will be worth the price per head for ticketholders and PPV customers. (Online betting pick: Maia)

Brandon Vera (-185) vs Krzysztof Soszynski (+155)
Vera was supposed to fight Matt Hammil, who tore his meniscus, and he’s got all the talent in the world, but sometimes he’s cocky and unfocused. He’ll be facing a fighter that has won his last six bouts, and his last two wins have come in the first round. Vera better not overlook Soszynski, and with three losses in his last five fights, he can’t afford to. (Online betting pick: Vera)

Since all is quiet on the online betting front in terms of basketball, let’s turn to the baseball diamond, where the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will meet once again in another edition of baseball’s best rivalry.

I expect the Yankees to continue their solid play by taking two of three at Fenway Park, where they were swept earlier this year. The Yankees lost their first eight meetings of the season against the Red Sox, but gained some revenge with a sweep at Yankees Stadium at the beginning of August. Andy Pettitte and A.J. Burnett should be your MLB picks on Friday and Saturday, but the best matchup of the weekend comes on Sunday, when 14-game winners C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett square off. Beckett is coming off a rough outing in Toronto, while Sabathia has given up only three runs in his last 23.2 innings of work. But Beckett gets up for the Yankees every time, going 2-0 in four outings against them in 2009, and there is no way he’ll let the Red Sox, the Northbet Pick, get swept at home, especially by their bitter rivals. He’ll save them from an offshore sportsbook sweep.

While I’m not anticipating it like I am the UFC 102 fight card that takes place next weekend, I am excited to see Jason Williams back in the NBA. “White Chocolate” signed with the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, probably as a backup to Jameer Nelson. Williams was on the Miami team that won the championship in 2006, so he adds some championship experience to a team that lost in the Finals just this year.

Williams (who played high school baskeball with Randy Moss) began his career as a flashy point guard with Sacramento, where he would shoot from anywhere, anytime. He defnitely mellowed out as he got older, and his numbers of 11.4 points and 6.3 assists are pretty decent. He’s a great addition to the Magic squad and should boost their betting online chances a little bit. But I would love for the old Williams to raise his head every once in a while. The lobs to Dwight Howard will be seen on a certain sports betting blog, I can guarantee it.

Sorry about the Michelle Branch, there’s a time and place for that, and this ain’t it.

And I’m back y’all, it’s been a minute, it’s slow in basketball over the summer as most handicappers are focusing on their NFL betting odds. But this bit of news got me up and ready for the upcoming hoops betting season.

Allen Iverson tweeted (god, that’s gonna be a tiring term) that he’s waiting on a call from New York, Miami or Charlotte. The Knicks would be a decent fit, as they play little to no defense, shoot first, ask questions later (or never). He may be a boost to the Heat if you’re betting online, or he could turn out to be a huge detriment if he can’t put his ego aside and realize that it’s Dwayne Wade’s team. But the Bobcats? Oh hell yeah. Iverson and Larry Brown were ready to kill each other in Philadelphia, but Iverson famously cried in an interview when a tape was played that featured Brown saying positive things about the “Answer”. Team chemistry may suffer a bit (just ask the Pistons), but for pure entertainment value, there isn’t a duo that needs to reunite more than Allen Iverson and Larry Brown. Shoot, we may get a “Practice?”, Part 2. And let’s face it: would betting software recommend Charlotte to you anyway?

Perhaps in an effort to increase Orlando’s betting chances, it’s been reported that Rashard Lewis has been suspended for the first 10 games of the season for using DHEA, a multi-functional steroid which has been banned by many leagues, including the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Well, at least we know that NBA players do, in fact, do other drugs outside of smoking weed. The surprise here is that it’s Lewis, who’s never really got in any trouble and would probably be the last person you’d think of if this was an offshore sportsbook prop. It’s supposed to buld muscle, but, um…..have you seen Rashard Lewis lately? Dude’s not exactly Arnold Schwarznegger. He must not be using it right.

We’re betting management of the Magic must be THRILLED over this.

While I know it’s not as exciting as the UFC 101 fight card coming this week (picks coming later in the week), the NBA has released its schedule for the year. Things to watch out for:

October 27 – Shaq makes his Cleveland debut when the Cavaliers host Boston. Some LeBron James guy may show up, and the Celtics will be out to prove they’re not that old yet.

November 11 – Remembrance Day will be easy to remember for NBA fans: Shaq and Cleveland hit Orlando, and it’ll be interesting to see if he has anything to say about Dwight Howard or the “Master of Panic”, Stan Van Gundy, who was busy coaching the Finals while Shaq was off doing something non-basketball related.

December 25 – Five games, but all eyes will be Los Angeles when the Cavs meet the Lakers in a possible betting preview of the NBA Finals. If anyone can remember the last time that a Christmas Day game that didn’t feature either Kobe or Shaq, that would be awesome.

February 18 – Celtics/Lakers…do I even need to talk this up?

March 7 – Lakers/Magic….second meeting of the season between last year’s Finalists, and sportsbook software puts the over/under for amount of “Kobe reflects on the Finals win” segments at five, down from 37 in the first meeting of the year.

April 11 – Magic/Cavs, Trailblazers/Lakers…..good luck making sports picks on this day.