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Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 NFL, CFB, MLB Best Bets, Predictions By Chris 'The Bear' Fallica
"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. There's something incredibly special about fall sports. Between college football, NFL and MLB postseason, there is fun to be had for all — particularly when it comes to laying a few wagers. That's where I come in. One of the wagers below features Kyle Shanahan, and it's what I believe to be a really solid bet. Let's take a look at where I'm sprinkling my cash this week. Penn State to make the CFP This is my favorite bet in college football this season. No team in the sport is more predictable or trustworthy than Penn State, which usually hammers the teams it is supposed to, and loses to top-five, top-10-type teams. This puts the Nittany Lions at a 10-2 floor, as they have both Oregon and Ohio State on the slate. The Oregon game is at State College, so let's say PSU wins that game. Maybe the game at Iowa is tricky? Potentially lose at Ohio State? That's it. Even the detractors of Drew Allar have to think Penn State is returning to the College Football Playoff behind a powerful running game and elite defense, even without Abdul Carter. Some people do not like laying a price like this, but I have no issue doing so. A 10-2 record and a CFP berth for Penn State — book it. PICK: Penn State (-290) to make the CFP Kyle Shanahan to win Coach of the Year Just about everything that could go wrong for the 49ers last year did. Injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and others. Blown late leads. It was just one of those years in the Bay after another agonizing Super Bowl loss. There isn't a ton of depth here, but injury luck doesn't tend to repeat itself in consecutive years, meaning expect the Niners to be healthier this season. The schedule is about as easy as could be coming off a 6-11 season, and, with a win total of 10.5, the Niners are supposed to be good. Robert Saleh returns to San Francisco to coach a defense that has played as if it missed his leadership over the last couple of seasons. Maybe Shanahan doesn't fit the mold of a young head coach or a head coach from a team that's going to surprise, but there's a chance the Niners could post something like 12-5 and win the division, given that schedule, especially if the concerns over Rams QB Matthew Stafford are realized. I just don't get how guys like Aaron Glenn are shorter-priced in this market, given how the Jets are going to win like six games. PICK: Kyle Shanahan (20-1) to win Coach of the Year Clayton McCullough to win NL Manager of the Year Okay, by now we've all made the joke, "Can you name the Marlins manager?" But Clayton McCullough and the Marlins might be getting the last laugh. The former Dodgers first-base coach has Miami on the cusp of a .500 record after sweeping the Yankees. While it might be a little too much to ask him to reach the playoffs given the strength of the current NL wild cards, it's not unreasonable to think he's in the mix for NL Manager of the Year consideration. This has been a lineup and rotation in flux all season and if Miami actually got some decent pitching from Sandy Alcántara in the first half of the season, it might actually have a legit chance at a wild card. Brewers manager Pat Murphy is a big favorite here, and I guess he should be. But in terms of doing more with less, McCullough certainly deserves consideration if the Marlins finish with a winning record. Obviously, I'm late to the party here in terms of the number, but I'll jump in now in case they continue this hot streak. PICK: Clayton McCullough (23-1) to win NL Manager of the Year Chris "The Bear" Fallica has covered sports for nearly three decades. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an "occasional" wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He's a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Remember, "The less you bet, the more you lose when you win!" Follow him on Twitter @chrisfallica. 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 News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 The Open Championship: Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Expert Picks, Best Bets
"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. The 153rd Open Championship tees off this week from Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, and I've got a few wagers I'm making before the tournament gets underway. Let's dive into what I'm eyeing at the moment. Outright and Top Finish Markets Viktor Hovland outright winner, Top 10, Top 20 This has long felt to me like the major Hovland was most likely to win. The greens at The Open are not as slick as the ones Hovland faces in the U.S. Open or Masters and that's huge for him, since that's the weakest part of his game. Coming off a third-place finish at Oakmont where he very easily could have won, it seems like he's built up a bit of battle scars and is close to breaking through. Remember, he was the 54-hole leader at The Open in 2022 and had a couple of other top-15 finishes in the last few years. If you're looking for someone other than Scottie, Rory or Rahm, he's a great place to land. PICKS: Viktor Hovland (+3000) to win outrightViktor Hovland (+280) Top-10 finishViktor Hovland (+130) Top-20 finish Sepp Straka Top 20, Top 30 Surprisingly, Straka has missed all three cuts in majors this year, but this seems to be the one he's played best in lately, finishing T-22 last year and T-2 in 2023 behind Brian Harman. His top-10 in Scotland last week should have him ready for a good effort this week. PICKS:Sepp Straka (+150) Top-20 finishSepp Straka (+105) Top-30 finish Matt Fitzpatrick Top 20, Top 30 Maybe it's been the change on the bag, but whatever it is has resulted in Fitzpatrick playing his best golf since winning the U.S. Open. He hasn't missed a cut in an individual event since before the Masters, which is also his last finish outside the top 40. Sure, nobody is going to confuse the tracks at the Travelers or Rocket Classic (where he posted top-20s) for major-level courses, but that T-4 last week at the Renaissance sure has a lot of people excited over his chances this week. PICKS: Matt Fitzpatrick (+150) Top-20 finishMatt Fitzpatrick (+120) Top-30 finish Padraig Harrington top 30 Harrington has made the cut in each of the last two years at The Open. He finished T-22 last year and in 2022, he actually opened with a 69 before shooting 78 in the second round. At a course he's familiar with, and with bad weather looming, I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing the weekend and posting a fringe finish. PICK: Padraig Harrington (+285) Top-30 finish Cam Young Top 20, Top 30 Everyone's favorite non-winner posted another top-5 finish at a major last month at Oakmont — that's three now and six top-10s all told. Two have come at The Open, so he clearly isn't affected by the conditions. I'll back him again to play well in a major here. PICKS:Cam Young (+260) Top-20 finishCam Young (+165) Top-30 finish Chris Gotterup Top 20, Top 30 We should have seen the win coming at some point. Actually, here's a funny story: I bet Gotterup to win the John Deere the previous week, so I was a week early. In his last 10 tourneys, he's missed one cut (Canada) and has five top-20s, with his worst finish in the other four tourneys he made the cut being 28th. I think he's mispriced in the derivative markets, including Make/Miss Cut and I'd be surprised if he didn't play well this week. Remember, he played very well at Oakmont, posting two sub-70 rounds and finishing 23rd. PICKS: Chris Gotterup (+250) Top-20 finishChris Gotterup (+140) Top-30 finish Matchups Padraig Harrington vs. Phil Mickelson Mickelson has missed all three cuts in majors this year and seven of 10 since the runner-up finish out of nowhere in the 2023 Masters. He hasn't even shot even par in a major championship round since the opening round of the 2023 U.S. Open. That's 21 straight rounds over par. PICK: Padraig Harrington (-125) vs. Phil Mickelson Chris Gotterup vs. Ben Griffin Griffin's red-hot run came to an end with a missed cut at the John Deere, but maybe the little break will treat him well. He's posted top-10s in both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship but now faces a different challenge at Portrush. In his two Open appearances, he's missed the cut both times and went 79-74 last year. PICK: Chris Gotterup (+105) vs. Ben Griffin Viktor Hovland vs. Collin Morikawa Something just seems off with Morikawa this year. His play around and on the green has been poor, and after a second round 76 and MC last week, I'm not sure I want to back him here. He's missed the cut two of the last three years here since winning the Claret Jug in 2021. PICK: Viktor Hovland (-115) vs. Collin Morikawa Make/Miss Cut Dustin Johnson to miss cut DJ has missed all three cuts in majors this year and six of the last eight, dating back to 2023. None of his six rounds have even been even par. He seems content financially on the LIV Tour, and while he did make the cut last year win the Open, I don't see many signs he's going to thrive this week. PICK: Dustin Johnson (-110) to miss cut Hideki Matsuyama to miss cut I'm willing to take the big number here on a miss with Hideki, as he missed the cut at the PGA, made the cut on the number at Oakmont and has been off since the Rocket Classic. He's had some lingering injuries this year and struggled off the tee and with his second shot as a result. The conditions at Portrush do not appear to be the spot those issues get remedied. PICK: Hideki Matsuyama (+174) to miss cut Justin Thomas to miss cut Speaking of struggling off the tee, enter JT who has never been a good player here. Only once has he finished in the top 30 in the Open and missed the cut in three of his eight trips. Last year was a wild ride as he went 68-78-67-77. He shot 82 in the 2023 opening round as well. Buckle up. Some big numbers are possible here. PICK: Justin Thomas (+200) to miss cut Aldrich Potgieter to miss cut I wonder if there's a physical issue here with Potgieter as he W/D from the John Deere and then missed the cut at the Scottish Open. He had a great two-week stretch, winning the Rocket Classic and finishing sixth at the Schwab, but he's missed ten cuts in 16 events, including eight of the last 12 since his runner-up in Mexico. PICK: Aldrich Potgieter (-116) to miss cut Sungjae Im to miss cut Im is in terrible form right now, entering off consecutive missed cuts, a T-61 finish at the Travelers and a T-57 at the U.S. Open. His last top 10 came at the Masters, and in between he's missed cuts at the PGA and Canadian Open as well. Out of nowhere, he did finish T-7 last year at the Open with a 66-69 weekend, but he's 158th on TOUR Tee-to-green and 161st in GIR. His putting edge is muted on the Open greens. PICK: Sungjae Im (+120) to miss cut Henrik Stenson to miss cut The 2018 Champion Golfer of the Year has missed the cut three of the last four years here and is nowhere near the level of player he once was. PICK: Henrik Stenson (-164) to miss cut Phil Mickelson to miss cut As mentioned above, Mickelson has missed all three cuts in majors this year and seven of 10 since the runner-up finish out of nowhere in the 2023 Masters. He hasn't even shot even par in a major championship round since the opening round of the 2023 U.S. Open. That's 21 straight rounds over par. PICK: Phil Mickelson (-166) to miss cut Tony Finau to miss cut Finau missed The Open cut in each of the last two years and missed in Augusta this year. He appeared headed for that at Oakmont as well, but a late clutch putt in Round 2 allowed him to make it on the number. PICK: Tony Finau (+125) to miss cut Collin Morikawa to miss cut As mentioned earlier, he's missed the cut two of the last three years here and he just hasn't looked fully locked in this year. PICK: Collin Morikawa (+275) to miss cut Cam Smith to miss cut The 2022 champ has four rounds of 75 or worse in his last eight major rounds, meaning he's missed the cut in four straight majors. I can see him taking the scenic way around the course this week. PICK: Cam Smith (+115) to miss cut Ludvig Aberg to miss cut We all think Aberg is headed for great things, but his major career outside of Augusta is pretty spotty right now. He's got a runner-up and a seventh-place finish in the Masters, but in his other five slams, he's missed the cut four times, including last year at the Open when he went 75-76. For those willing to take an optimistic approach, he did finish T-8 in Scotland last week. PICK: Ludvig Aberg (+245) to miss cut Russell Henley to miss cut Henley has put together a really solid season. He won at Bay Hill and has seven other top 10 finishes. Oddly, he failed to play the weekend at both Augusta and Quail Hollow. He's gotten some buzz this week after a T-5 last year at the Open, but his Open record prior to that was really subpar. It included five missed cuts, one top 20 in nine events. PICK: Russell Henley (+220) to miss cut Jon Rahm to miss cut Rahm has gotten off to a shaky start in the last few Opens but has played brilliantly the rest of the way to go T-7, T-2, T-34, T-3 in the Open. He's been widely touted to win this week, but isn't there a small part of you that can see him just miserable if he catches the worst of the weather, which right now is slated to be Thursday afternoon and Friday AM? PICK: Jon Rahm (+475) to miss cut Chris "The Bear" Fallica has covered sports for nearly three decades. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an "occasional" wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He's a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Remember, "The less you bet, the more you lose when you win!" Follow him on Twitter @chrisfallica. 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 News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 Belmont Stakes: Post time, TV schedule, horses, post positions, updated odds
Excitement is mounting at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY, as the 2025 Belmont Stakes approaches on Saturday, June 7. Serving as the final chapter of the Triple Crown, the race stands as a highlight of the horse racing calendar. The Belmont Stakes is a true test of endurance, where only the most prepared horses and skilled jockeys prevail. Fans from all over will be watching closely, eager to see who will cross the finish line first and etch their name into racing history. Here's all you should know, including horses, morning line odds, schedules and post times after the draw: Eight horses will run in the Belmont Stakes. The draw took place on Monday, June 2. Here are the post positions, current odds and morning line odds as of June 6: Related: Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's expert picks, best bets Typically, held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, this year's "Test of the Champion" will again be held at Saratoga Race Course due to construction at Belmont Park. The Belmont Stakes is run over a distance of 1.25 miles this year and is known to be the most difficult leg of the Triple Crown. Post time is set for 7:04 p.m. ET and the race will be broadcast on FOX and the FOX Sports app. This year, the purse for the Belmont Stakes is $2 million.
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 College Football win total best bets, predictions by Chris "The Bear" Fallica
"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. There are just a few months left until kickoff, which means it's almost time for fans to switch their focus back to college football. And with that, sportsbooks have released win totals for the regular season. Let's dive into my favorite picks for how a few teams will perform this upcoming season. Florida State Under 6.5 wins I've already written this up at U7.5 (-120). Under 7.5 wins is now north of (-200) at some books, so I will come back with U6.5 at plus money. The Seminoles were an embarrassing 2-10 last year. It was horrific in every sense of the word. FSU didn't score more than 21 points against a single FBS team, and only three of its 10 losses came within one score. The QB position was a massive hole, as D.J. Uiagalelei was a disaster. To help fix the offensive woes, Gus Malzahn was brought in to run the offense and Boston College castoff Thomas Castellanos will be the new QB. Can Castellanos stand up to a year of running in Malzahn's offense? That remains to be seen, as does whether the Noles have any playmakers on offense. Will FSU be as bad as 2-10 again? No. But I don't know how much better it will be, as it has non-conference games on the road against Alabama and Florida, conference road games at Clemson and NC State, as well as facing Miami, which comes to Doak Campbell Stadium. That's probably four — if not five — losses right there. And after last year, are we willing to give the Noles the benefit of the doubt at Virginia or Stanford? Or at home vs. Pitt, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech? I sure am not. This could very easily turn into another bowl-less season for the Noles. PICK: Florida State (+110, DK) Under 6.5 wins Wisconsin Under 5.5 wins The Badgers missed a bowl last year, and I think they will again next year. Recruiting has slipped, and the portal has been a net negative in Madison. I just don't see how this is going to go well for Wisconsin. The Badgers will return to Alabama and visit Michigan, Oregon, Indiana and Minnesota. It's not the easiest home slate either, with Iowa, Ohio State and Washington visiting Madison. There's a chance the Badgers are 3-5 entering the Idle week; that would make for some uneasy chatter surrounding the program. PICK: Wisconsin (-144, FD) Under 5.5 wins Texas Tech Under 8.5 wins The Red Raiders have invested a ton in the portal, which is great for their outlook. What isn't great, however, are five road games — Arizona State, Houston, Kansas State, Utah and West Virginia — that appear loseable. Remember, too, that last year, Tech was great in one-score games (6-1) in a season where it won eight games. Will the close-game luck continue against a difficult road slate, even with an improvement in talent? I'm skeptical. PICK: Texas Tech (-115, FD) Under 8.5 wins Oregon Over 10.5 wins This assumption that the Ducks are going to take a step back is a dangerous one. Few teams have recruited as well lately as Oregon, and the Ducks have been able to augment their roster through the portal like few others. QB Dante Moore was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country a couple of years ago, so I would expect him to play well — especially with one of the best, if not the best, offensive lines in the country. Also, the schedule is quite manageable. Oregon will be 4-0 when it heads to Penn State, and I, for one, am not penciling that game in as a loss for the Ducks. Oregon's other road games are against Rutgers, Iowa and Washington. Its toughest home game is probably USC. Even with a loss at State College, 11-1 is very much on the table. PICK: Oregon (+110, DK) Over 10.5 wins LSU Under 8.5 wins In the new world order of college football, people need to accept that 8-4 or 9-3 in the SEC might become the new normal and these teams are still really good — likely more talented than their record indicates. LSU might be the best example of this in 2025. The Tigers brought in a significant haul in the transfer portal and have a Heisman candidate and potential No. 1 overall pick at QB in Garrett Nussmeier. But this feels like the kind of schedule/season Alabama and Ole Miss had last year en route to a 9-3 regular season. Now, that record would be good enough to go Over 8.5 wins, but LSU has Clemson, Florida and Ole Miss. Both Clemson and Ole Miss are away from home within the first five games of the season. The Tigers also visit Alabama and Oklahoma, while hosting South Carolina and Texas A&M. At plus money, I'll go Under. PICK: LSU (+128, FD) Under 8.5 wins Purdue Under 3.5 wins If you don't want to lay close to $2, you can get U2.5 at plus money at DraftKings Sportsbook, but that eliminates any wiggle room after the Boilermakers likely beat Ball State and Southern Illinois. Bringing in Barry Odom is a good start, but expecting two Big Ten wins is a bit much for me, even with 17 new starters transferring in. PICK: Purdue (-192, FD) Under 3.5 wins Auburn Over 7.5 wins The Tigers gave games away last year against Oklahoma and Missouri in a 5-7 season. The offense struggled quite a bit, but with Jackson Arnold brought in to play QB and Eric Singleton added to the receiver group along with Cam Coleman, as well as an offensive line full of upperclassmen, that has the potential to change dramatically. There are three built-in non-conference wins in the schedule, and the game at Baylor is certainly winnable. Your bet will either win or lose from mid-October to mid-November, when the Tigers face Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. But it's very reasonable to expect eight wins — and possibly more. PICK: Auburn (-120, DK) Over 7.5 wins Clemson Under 9.5 wins Cade Klubnik and the young receivers are a good starting point, but a deep dive into Clemson's 2024 season shows it wasn't that impressive, despite winning the ACC title. The Tigers were blown out by Georgia, were non-competitive at home against Louisville, and lost a game at home to South Carolina. They flat-out stole a game from Pitt, so maybe they offset. SMU turnovers helped the Tigers gain an early lead in Charlotte. But the other wins — we're talking either bad non-conference opponents or the bottom tier of the ACC. Clemson was a huge beneficiary of turnover margin, too, finishing fourth nationally, so basic regression can be expected. The schedule ramps up a little bit as well. Clemson opens against an SEC giant like it did last year — this time, LSU — but the road schedule is certainly full of pitfalls. Road games against Georgia Tech, Boston College (who should be pesky again with Bill O'Brien), Louisville and South Carolina. That's potentially five loseable games. SMU at home won't be a gimme either. Ten wins seem tough to come by. PICK: Clemson (+100, DK) Under 9.5 wins Indiana Under 8.5 wins Indiana's non-conference schedule is as laughable as it was last season during its magical 11-2 season. Old Dominion, Indiana State and Kennesaw State are the sacrificial lambs this season, but after having road games at UCLA, Northwestern and Michigan State last year (along with a blowout loss at Ohio State), the Hoosiers have to go to Iowa, Oregon and Penn State. Assuming IU loses at Iowa, Oregon and Penn State, it would have to run the table against Illinois, Michigan State, UCLA, Maryland, Wisconsin and Purdue to hit nine wins. The Hoosiers were third in the nation in turnover margin last year, turning it over just nine times. Is that going to happen again, even with the addition of one of the better portal quarterbacks, Fernando Mendoza from Cal? PICK: Indiana (-122, FD) Under 8.5 wins Chris "The Bear" Fallica has covered sports for nearly three decades. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an "occasional" wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He's a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Remember, "The less you bet, the more you lose when you win!" Follow him on Twitter @chrisfallica. 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
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Athletics Probable Pitchers
Data Skrive Attention, Athletics fans. If you want to follow every inning of the Athletics' 2025 season, then you've come to the right place. To see a breakdown of the team's upcoming schedule, plus information on the pitching matchups, check out the article below. Keep up with MLB all season on FOX Sports. Chris Fallica and Geoff Schwartz pick their best bets ahead of the 2025 MLB Season! Athletics' Upcoming Games & Probable Pitchers Athletics' Starter: Luis Severino Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 Mariners' Starter: Logan Gilbert Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 How to Watch Game Time: 10:10 PM ET Venue: T-Mobile Park TV Channel: Watch on ROOT Sports NW and NBCS-CA More Info: Learn more about this game on FOX Sports Athletics' Starter: Jeffrey Springs Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 Mariners' Starter: Luis Castillo Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 How to Watch Game Time: 9:40 PM ET Venue: T-Mobile Park TV Channel: Watch on ROOT Sports NW and NBCS-CA More Info: Learn more about this game on FOX Sports Athletics' Starter: Osvaldo Bido Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 Mariners' Starter: Bryce Miller Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 How to Watch Game Time: 9:40 PM ET Venue: T-Mobile Park TV Channel: Watch on ROOT Sports NW and NBCS-CA+ More Info: Learn more about this game on FOX Sports Athletics' Starter: JP Sears Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 Mariners' Starter: Bryan Woo Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 How to Watch Game Time: 4:10 PM ET Venue: T-Mobile Park TV Channel: Watch on ROOT Sports NW and NBCS-CA More Info: Learn more about this game on FOX Sports Athletics' Starter: Joey Estes Appearances: 0 Record: 0-0 ERA: 0.00 BAA: .000 How to Watch Game Time: 10:05 PM ET Venue: Sutter Health Park TV Channel: Watch on NBCS-CA and MARQ More Info: Learn more about this game on FOX Sports See who's starting every game in MLB play today. FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Athletics recommended in this topic
