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)

Word filtered down that Anderson Varejao has signed a six-year deal with Cleveland, reported to be around $42.5 million, with incentives to push it over $50 million. Shoot, I’m in the business of making sports picks, I should probably stretch myself out and grow stupid hair, right?

Now, Sideshow Bob is one of those dudes that you love him if he’s on your team, and hate him when he’s not. But he had amazing career highs of 8.6 points and 7.2 assists last year, and you pay $7 mil a year for that? Everyone says, “oh, he does stuff that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet”, and that’s all fine and good. But it Anderson Varejao really improving Cleveland’s betting odds this year. More importantly, if they had let him walk, how much better would another team be without him?

What he needs to do is take some of that money, and put it on UFC betting underdog Frank Mir on Saturday, spread some of that luck around. It’s either luck, or his agent game is tight.

I think I would rather be in a UFC betting match with Brock Lesnar this weekend than talk about the 2010 free agents again. But here we go:

-Dwayne Wade says he’ll stay in Miami if they’re contending for a title….

No, really? You think D-Wade will up and leave a team that could win again? Come on now. The problem is for D-Wade, or better yet, the Heat, is that Miami looks nowhere near a contending team, so they’re not worth wasting one of your sports picks on them. They only got as far as they did last year because D-Wade went absolutely insane, and he would have been the MVP if not for that LeBron James fella. Oh, speaking of which:

-LeBron James didn’t talk to Trevor Ariza about staying in Cleveland….

James apparently told Ariza that he was planning to stay with the Cavs in a recruitment ploy to get him to come there (which didn’t work, for either side, really). First, Ariza: why would you not go to a team that betting services are favoring to win the East, and instead stay with a team that could be losing Yao Ming for the season (and possibly his career), and Ron Artest just bolted to take your spot in L.A.? Second, James’ handlers were quick to come out and say that Bron didn’t talk to Ariza, which begs the question: what are the sports betting odds of him staying in Cleveland? This is the biggest season in the history of the Cavaliers.

The big online betting news out of the NBA this weekend was Hedo Turkoglu’s change of heart. Sources had him all but gone to Portland as of Friday, but over the weekend, Turkey-doo (shout out to Fiyastarter) reneged and signed with Toronto, of all teams, for over $10 mil a season.

So how does this impact the NBA landscape? Well, first of all, the Raptors getting Turkey-doo is similar to Frank Mir pulling out the UFC betting upset over Brock Lesnar this weekend. The Raptors were awful last year, but a lot of that was due to injury, and they needed a player who could create for himself and his teammates off the dribble. However, you have to wonder how smart it is to give a 30-year-old a five year contract when his best days are surely behind him. On the defensive end, he doesn’t help the Raptors that much, but they play in the low-scoring East. Turkey-doo also said he wanted to play in Toronto because of the Turkish population, and that could rise the price per head of tickets at the ACC.

All in all, though, this was done to show Chris Bosh that the Raptors are serious about being a contender, as he can leave in next year’s free-agent bonanza. How much of a difference can Turkey-doo make for the Raptors to those who make sports picks? Stay tuned.

-And that’s why Orlando isn’t favored by NBA Finals odds to win the championship. Their play late in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 4′s 99-91 loss is remarkable. I know the Lakers did it the game before, but the Magic have done it a number of times in these playoffs (giving up big leads, etc). It was bound to happen.

-Derek Fisher probably extended his career another year with those two treys he made. It’s like he’s Robert Horry 2009.

-Dwight Howard….poor, poor Superman. NBA Finals odds players everywhere cursed your inability to make foul shots. One foul shot would have sealed it, but noooooooooooooo…..

-Pietrus with the big double-ax handle to Gasol. Ric Flair would have been proud. Speaking of Ric Flair:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

NBA Finals odds for Game 5 have the Magic as a 3-point favorite, and they should be able to pull out the win, due to desperation. No one wants to see the other team celebrate on their home court (as the Lakers know all too well), and that should be enough to get them back to L.A……where they’ll be destroyed.

Don’t forget to do some UFC betting and boxing betting this weekend. Just don’t fight anyone.

Shawn Marion made his Toronto debut last night, and while the NBA betting odds have not improved for the Raptors, “The Matrix” has shown that he can make Toronto a much better team.

Marion had the impossible task of guarding Lebron James in his first game as a Raptor, and although Toronto lost 93-76, Marion didn’t make it easy on “King James”. It was a battle that UFC betting fans would be proud of, and even though James almost had a triple-double with 20 points, nine boards and nine assists, Marion was in his face the entire game. Offensively, Marion had 10 points, along with six assists and six boards as he was trying to get used to his new team. He also looked eager to run, and the Raptors will have to do a better job of breaking out to utilize Marion’s talents.