Bellator 251 predictions: Is anyone picking against Corey Anderson in his Bellator debut?

Bellator is back in Connecticut this week and a recent free agent signing tops the card.

Bellator 251 takes place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on CBS Sports Network and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) takes on Corey Anderson (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who will make his promotional debut after years in the UFC, where he won Season 19 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Anderson is a heavy favorite of nearly 5-1, and he’s got a huge 13-1 edge in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, Tyrell Fortune (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) takes on promotional newcomer Said Sowma (6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at heavyweight. Only two of our pickers are taking Sowma to win.

Also on the main card, Vinicius De Jesus (9-3 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) takes a short-notice opportunity at middleweight against Austin Vanderford (9-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA). Vanderford is a near-unanimous pick at 13-1.

And to open the main card, Derek Anderson (16-3 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) nearly is a 3-1 favorite against Killys Mota (12-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at welterweight. In our most contentious fight from a picking standpoint, Anderson has 9-5 lead – but has the largest percentage of picks from our readers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Corey Anderson (72 percent), Fortune (72 percent), Vanderford (76 percent) and Derek Anderson (78 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.