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Fox Sports
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025-26 NBA Prediction, Pick: Back Cleveland Cavaliers To Win Title
The 2024-25 NBA season concluded with the Oklahoma City Thunder outlasting the Indiana Pacers in a decisive Game 7. The victory was the 80th and most important win of the season for the new champs. The Thunder are quite obviously deserving and worthy champions. However, the game when Tyrese Haliburton got hurt will unfortunately be the first memory for many when they look back at what was set up to be a dramatic and fascinating Game 7. The Pacers were one win away from one of the most remarkable title runs in sports history. At some books, they had 85-1 odds in late April — a sport where long-shot title winners of that magnitude simply don't occur. But with a 68-14 regular-season record, the dominant Thunder have nothing to apologize for. They were the best team all year, and they will have a banner to back it up — even if we fans can't help but feel like we were deprived of what could have been a classic final game. The question now is who's next? It seems like the Thunder should be even better next year, as their entire team is under contract and many of their top players are just entering their prime years. They are the favorite, as they should be. However, two years ago, the Denver Nuggets won it all. And the sentiment of that being the first of many titles was prevalent. Denver hasn't made it out of the second round since. When Boston defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals last June, there was plenty of reason to think more parades were on the horizon for the Celtics. This year, they lost in the second round and have spent this offseason dismantling their roster, while Jayson Tatum recovers from a major injury. Winning is very hard. Admittedly, the Thunder seem more equipped than the previous two champions, but at +225 odds to win the title, is it worth betting this far out? I'd say no. The Cleveland Cavaliers at +850 is the best price considering all options. They play in the Eastern Conference, so that's the first thing. The East was much weaker than the West this season, and now teams in the conference have seen injuries recently to the aforementioned Haliburton and Tatum. This likely eliminates the Pacers and Celtics as possible contenders. The Cavaliers had a bitter ending to what was a great season. They went 64-18 but lost in five games in the second round. However, their playoff disappointment can be forgiven somewhat, considering they were hampered by a number of injuries to key players. Their main competition in the East looks to be the Knicks and Magic. These are formidable foes but not teams that the Cavaliers take a backseat to. Granted, having a path to winning the East doesn't mean I think they would necessarily beat the Thunder if that ends up being the matchup. But at +850 odds, we can worry about that next June. PICK: Cleveland Cavaliers (+850) to win 2025-26 NBA Championship Will Hill, a contributor on the Bears Bets Podcast, has been betting on sports for over a decade. He is a betting analyst who has been a host on VSiN, as well as the Goldboys Network. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB Prediction, Pick: Back Giants to Conquer NL West
Last week, the Red Sox shocked the baseball world by sending three-time all-star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a blockbuster trade. The trade came just hours after the Red Sox swept the Yankees with a 2-0 victory, a game in which Devers homered. All seemed well in Red Sox land, as they had pushed themselves over .500 and looked to be on track to finally fulfill their pre-season potential. So, what happened, and is there a bet to be made going forward based on this deal? Let's take a look. Well, Devers' unhappiness has been well-documented, dating back to Spring Training when there was much discussion about what position Devers would (and wouldn't) play, since free-agent acquisition Alex Bregman plays third base, the same position as Devers. An unhappy player with a lofty contract was enough reason for the Red Sox to unload the lefty slugger. Still, the seemingly modest package of pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks, as well as a couple of prospects headed to Boston, is what made this deal such a head-scratcher. The Red Sox trio of elite prospects, Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, now have one less roadblock in their daily playing path. That is another benefit to what is still, despite the explanation, a baffling move and an underwhelming return for a Red Sox team that has also dealt Mookie Betts and Chris Sale in recent years, with very little to show for it. As far as the Giants, they receive a desperately needed left-handed presence in their lineup. They now have a boosted offense that can support a dominant 1-2 punch in their starting rotation, with pitchers Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. They now sit with World Series odds in the 34-1 range for those that think they can win it all, and have 18-1 odds to reach the World Series. But the market that interests me is the NL West, as the Giants now have 19-1 odds to win the division at FanDuel Sportsbook. Yes, they would have to topple the behemoth that is the Los Angeles Dodgers . But with the Dodgers' inability to keep pitchers healthy (Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki are just some of their pitchers on the injured list, with no timetable to return), the defending champs are vulnerable. Yes, they are still the best team and the rightful favorite, but they're not the invincible juggernaut they looked like heading into the season. At 19-1 odds, with a newly acquired Devers, and perhaps more moves up their sleeves, the Giants have the ability to compete with the mighty Dodgers and possibly erase the modest four-game deficit. Of all the numbers available, Fanduel's 19-1 odds to win the NL West is the most attractive, especially considering this number is in the 8-1 range at most other books. Taking a shot on the Giants to beat out the Dodgers in the NL West, as they did in 2021, will make for an exciting summer wager. PICK: Giants (+1900) to win NL West Will Hill, a contributor on the Bears Bets Podcast, has been betting on sports for over a decade. He is a betting analyst who has been a host on VSiN, as well as the Goldboys Network. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 NBA odds, predictions: Back Cavaliers in 5 over Pacers
As the first round of the NBA playoffs winds down, the Eastern Conference semifinals have been solidified. The Knicks rallied late to defeat the Pistons in Game 6. They erased a seven-point lead in the final minutes, winning on a Jalen Brunson 3-pointer. The Knicks won the series 4-2. This was a strange series that saw the road team win the last five games, and the Pistons had a fourth-quarter lead in all six games, despite losing the series. The Knicks will now face the defending champion Boston Celtics. This series tips off on Monday, and the Knicks are as high as 6-1 underdogs at some sportsbooks. New York hopes this postseason meeting goes better than the four regular-season meetings between the two teams, considering the Celtics swept the Knicks, winning by an average of 16.3 points per game. The winner of that series will take on the winner of what should be a fun and exciting matchup between the Indiana Pacers and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the other Eastern Conference semifinal. From a betting perspective, the Cavaliers — like the Celtics — are heavy favorites. A $5 bet on the Cavaliers to win the series would only net just $1 in winnings. The regular-season meetings between these teams might give Pacers fans some hope, though, as Indiana went 3-1 in the four games. However, two of those games were late in the season, when the Cavaliers had already clinched home-court advantage and did not play some of their key players. This series won't lack excitement. Both teams play at a fast pace, and both teams light up the scoreboard. The Cavs score 122.1 points per game (first in the league), and the Pacers score 117.4 points per game (seventh in the league). Both teams also profile as small(ish) in terms of size, which is my concern when it comes to the Pacers' ability to pull off an upset. These squads are so similar, but the Cavs are simply the better version. For the Pacers to pull off the upset, they will have to win at least one game in Cleveland, where the Cavs went 34-7 this year. I like the Cavs minus 1.5 games on the series spread at DraftKings Sportsbook. This means the bet wins if Cleveland wins the series in six games or fewer. Another way to attack this is "Cavs in five" on the correct series score market at DraftKings. That pays +285 odds. The 64-18 Cavs winning the first two in Cleveland, splitting the next two games in Indiana, then clinching the series in Game 5 seems like a very plausible scenario. Despite having the best record in the East, the Cavs are still underrated. I think they advance with relative ease against the scrappy Pacers. PICKS: Cavaliers (-160) -1.5 gamesCavaliers (+285) to win series in five games Will Hill, a contributor on the Bears Bets Podcast, has been betting on sports for over a decade. He is a betting analyst who has been a host on VSiN, as well as the Goldboys Network. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox Sports
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA odds, predictions: Back Cavaliers in 5 over Pacers
As the first round of the NBA playoffs winds down, the Eastern Conference semifinals have been solidified. The Knicks rallied late to defeat the Pistons in Game 6. They erased a seven-point lead in the final minutes, winning on a Jalen Brunson 3-pointer. The Knicks won the series 4-2. This was a strange series that saw the road team win the last five games, and the Pistons had a fourth-quarter lead in all six games, despite losing the series. The Knicks will now face the defending champion Boston Celtics. This series tips off on Monday, and the Knicks are as high as 6-1 underdogs at some sportsbooks. New York hopes this postseason meeting goes better than the four regular-season meetings between the two teams, considering the Celtics swept the Knicks, winning by an average of 16.3 points per game. The winner of that series will take on the winner of what should be a fun and exciting matchup between the Indiana Pacers and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the other Eastern Conference semifinal. From a betting perspective, the Cavaliers — like the Celtics — are heavy favorites. A $5 bet on the Cavaliers to win the series would only net just $1 in winnings. The regular-season meetings between these teams might give Pacers fans some hope, though, as Indiana went 3-1 in the four games. However, two of those games were late in the season, when the Cavaliers had already clinched home-court advantage and did not play some of their key players. This series won't lack excitement. Both teams play at a fast pace, and both teams light up the scoreboard. The Cavs score 122.1 points per game (first in the league), and the Pacers score 117.4 points per game (seventh in the league). Both teams also profile as small(ish) in terms of size, which is my concern when it comes to the Pacers' ability to pull off an upset. These squads are so similar, but the Cavs are simply the better version. For the Pacers to pull off the upset, they will have to win at least one game in Cleveland, where the Cavs went 34-7 this year. I like the Cavs minus 1.5 games on the series spread at DraftKings Sportsbook. This means the bet wins if Cleveland wins the series in six games or fewer. Another way to attack this is "Cavs in five" on the correct series score market at DraftKings. That pays +285 odds. The 64-18 Cavs winning the first two in Cleveland, splitting the next two games in Indiana, then clinching the series in Game 5 seems like a very plausible scenario. Despite having the best record in the East, the Cavs are still underrated. I think they advance with relative ease against the scrappy Pacers. PICKS: Cavaliers (-160) -1.5 games Cavaliers (+285) to win series in five games Will Hill, a contributor on the Bears Bets Podcast, has been betting on sports for over a decade. He is a betting analyst who has been a host on VSiN, as well as the Goldboys Network. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Back Eagles tight end to find success
Super Bowl LIX is set, and it's a rematch from two years ago between the Eagles and Chiefs, taking place in New Orleans on Feb. 9. You can watch it on FOX. The Eagles punched their ticket by obliterating the Commanders, ending the Cinderella story for their division rivals. The Chiefs earned their bid by doing what they seem to do every postseason, outlasting the Bills in a close, high-scoring game. Kansas City now goes for a record third consecutive Super Bowl title. Next week I will make my pick for the game, and add a couple more props, but let's give out a couple for now to get the juices flowing and try to get ahead of any potential line moves. Dallas Goedert Over 4.5 Catches (-135 at DraftKings) I wouldn't be surprised if this number gets bumped up to 5.5 by the time kickoff comes around. The Chiefs have struggled all year against tight ends. They gave up 111 yards to Ravens tight end Isiah Likely, 140 to Brock Bowers of the Raiders, 92 yards to the 49ers' George Kittle, and allowed 63 yards to Texans tight end Dalton Schultz in the divisional round. Goedert is a tough matchup for the Chiefs, and is coming off an impressive seven-catch, 85-yard performance in the NFC title game. With all the defense's attention likely on Saquon Barkley, that opens things up over the middle of the field for Goedert to get open, and I expect him to have another busy night catching the football. Under 6.5 Total Punts (-115 at DraftKings) Both teams are coming off of games that went way over their totals, and the last time these teams met in the Super Bowl, it was a 38-35 shootout. Sure, just betting the Over of 49 total points scored is a way to attack this, and I do lean that direction, but betting Under on punts is a way to make a similar bet without actually needing the teams to score. The Eagles are ultra-aggressive on fourth down, and any third-and-3 or third-and-4 will likely lead to them using Jalen Hurts on the "tush push" a couple times and moving the sticks. We saw Andy Reid go for it on fourth down on his own 39 against the Bills early in the AFC title game, so we know he has a willingness to eschew the punter as well. Getting to seven total punts here will be tough with these two offenses and aggressive coaches. Rooting for the punter to stay on the sideline might be a good bet to make. Will Hill, a contributor on the Bears Bets Podcast, has been betting on sports for over a decade. He is a betting analyst who has been a host on VSiN, as well as the Goldboys Network. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
