Rory Gold

If you like sportsbook betting, especially Nascar betting, you’re in heaven right now. The summer season is here — that means the Daytona odds are super close — and we kick things off at New Hampshire. Who should we pick for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?

Jimmie Johnson
New Hampshire odds: +600

Here’s your big race favorite. He’s having a solid year, with a pair of wins under his belt. Better yet, he won at New Hampshire in 2003 and his 9.0 finishing average is nothing to sneeze it. He also has four top-10s there. He’s a nice, safe pick.

Denny Hamlin
New Hampshire odds: +700

If New Hampshire pedigree is what you want when making your daily sportsbook picks, Hamlin’s your man. He’s heating up, with back to back top fives entering the race, and his average New Hampshire finish is 5.0, tops among active drivers. Hard to pass him up, especially when he has slightly better value than Johnson.

Jeff Gordon
New Hampshire odds: +800

Probably a trap pick here. Gordon has a New Hampshire win but that was 14 years ago. He does have eight top-10s there, so you can’t count him out.

Tony Stewart
New Hampshire odds: +900

Stewart offers the best value this week among the big contenders. He’s hungry for a win after placing second at Infineon and he’s a two-time winner at New Hampshire. He has a good feel for this track.

Best betting management pick: Tony Stewart. Good value at +900 and he knows how to win at New Hampshire.

Ultimate Fighter Betting

With sportsbook odds up for Saturday’s Klitchko/Chagaev fight and a free UFC card on Spike TV this Saturday, it’s a nice weekend to be a fight fan. The Ultimate Fighter finale pits the finalists of the U.S. vs U.K. season against each other, but the biggest fights of the night feature already established fighters, several of which won their seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

Let’s make some picks for the Sanchez/Guida odds and Stevenson/Diaz odds, shall we?

Diego Sanchez (22-2) vs Clay Guida (25-6)

Ultimate Fighter odds: Sanchez -260, Guida +200

Unless Frankie Edgar snatches it, Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez could be one win away from a lightweight title shot against the winner of the Penn/Florian fight. An extremely intense fighter, he made a successful transition to lightweight in his last fight against Joe Stevenson, showcasing solid technical striking to accompany his already-strong ground grappling skills.

Sanchez faces the energetic fan favorite Clay “the Carpenter” Guida, known for his long hair and busy, smothering style. What he lacks in size and talent, he makes up in fitness and heart; he latches onto opponents and never lets go, often winning over judges because he controls the pace of his fights.

As likeable as Guida is, Sanchez is probably the most talented fighter he’s faced so far in his career. If you use handicapping software, it will break down the advantages in Sanchez’s favor everywhere. He’s a better striker and he’s stronger – remember, he once fought two weight classes higher. Don’t expect Guida to pull off the upset.

Daily sports pick: Diego Sanchez -260

Nate Diaz (10-3) vs Joe Stevenson (34-10)

Ultimate Fighter odds: Diaz -140, Stevenson +110

Can the enigmatic Diaz finally break through? He joins Sanchez and his opponent, Joe “Daddy” Stevenson, as Ultimate Fighter winners competing Saturday night. Diaz is a bit of a freak in the lightweight division because he’s six feet tall, giving him a huge reach advantage and making his Jiu-Jitsu game that much better. He’ll likely try to submit Stevenson, and that won’t be an easy task. Stevenson is a strong wrestler with great ground-and-pound and can also submit opponents with his trademark guillotine choke.

However, Stevenson is devolving when he should be evolving. He’s making a habit of losing important fights, as BJ Penn, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez all outclassed him. He has to stop trying to be a striker – he’s just not very good at it, perhaps because of his stumpy stature – and should focus on what he does best. There’s nothing to suggest he’ll change for this fight, so Diaz has the advantage in the online sports wagering.

Daily sports pick: Nate Diaz -140