Buckle up for another six-month sports betting voyage here at FOX Sports.

We know you’re here for informed wagers and I assure you I vet everything through multiple handicappers, oddsmakers and betting buddies who know what they’re doing. Those that do well in this racket know the “how, what and why” and that’s always my goal.

Also, this will never be the place for a million picks or five-team parlays. These will always be the wagers I love the most and ones that I’m betting with my own money.  

Let’s go to work.

(2026 Record: 0-0, +0.0 units)

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

If you’ve listened to “Bear Bets” all summer, you’ll know I’m high on the Cougars this season. They won 10 games a year ago and are one of only 12 teams in the country that returns its head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and starting quarterback. That’s the definition of stability, a college football rarity these days. There are plenty of 20.5s available, though a handful of sportsbooks moved out to -21. One former Vegas bookmaker told me he makes the game closer to -27. Let’s hope he’s right.

Sammy P’s Pick: Houston -20.5

The last time we saw the Tide, they were pummeled by Indiana in the College Football Playoff. I still can’t believe the final score was 38-3 and Alabama couldn’t muster 25 rushing yards. Kalen DeBoer went out and added five transfers to the offensive line room, so he’s actively trying to rectify the issue. But it’ll take time. Bama is also giving the offensive keys to freshman quarterback Keelon Russell. Meanwhile, twenty of East Carolina’s 22 starters are upperclassmen. I believe the Pirates can avoid a blowout.

Sammy P’s Pick: East Carolina +28

Ah, the good ol’ weather handicap. Hurricane Lowell is headed toward the great state of Hawaii and Saturday night’s game will undoubtedly be affected by the elements. One FOX Weather headline reads, “Lowell poised for dramatic turn toward Hawaii, raising threat of intense wind, surf and rain.” Yikes. The total has already dropped from 58.5 to 56.5 and, honestly, it could get much lower as we get closer to kickoff. Good luck to these offenses as they try to string together long scoring drives in inadequate playing conditions.

Sammy P’s Pick: Under 56.5 combined points scored

Does anybody like FSU on Monday night? Anybody? Bueller? I talk with multiple Las Vegas bookmakers every week, and they’re all singing the same tune. The public is betting SMU like they have Tuesday morning’s paper. And understand that thousands of parlays from the weekend will roll into SMU -3 or SMU moneyline to end the holiday weekend. One former bookmaker turned bettor told me this week, “There’s only one way to bet the game. It’s Florida State or pass.” We’ll be against the masses here and that’s okay.

Sammy P’s Pick: Florida State +3

Source

“I’m done. I’m canceling everything. It’s done.”

After 20 years as a Rutgers football season-ticket holder, one Scarlet Knights fan had finally reached his breaking point.

And Thursday night’s 37-21 loss to UMass — a program that finished 0-12 in 2025 and entered 2026 as the 138th team in FOX Sports’ RJ Young’s Ultimate 138 — was it.

An anonymous caller unloaded on Rutgers during an appearance on “The Zach Gelb Show,” ripping the team’s defense, calling for head coach Greg Schiano and his entire staff to be fired and vowing to cancel everything he had planned for the season.

This wasn’t a casual Rutgers fan. He had plans to follow the Scarlet Knights across the country this season. A ticket to Boston College next Friday. An Airbnb booked in Madison, Wisconsin, for the Nov. 7 game against the Badgers. He was even planning to watch Rutgers alum Kyle Monangai, now a running back for the Chicago Bears, live in action.

No more. 

The Minutemen had just piled up nearly 400 yards of total offense, including 200 on the ground.

“What I saw tonight was the most deplorable, despicable, horrible adjustments on defense,” the caller said. “From being the worst team in college football last year, defensively, to what they did tonight, to what they did this year, I’m done.”

He wasn’t done.

His next call, he said, would be to Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn.

“My opinion means nothing,” the caller said. “But I’m sorry. I want to root for a home team. I want to root for a New Jersey team.

“We have a great fan base, a great rooting section, people I’ve known for years, but I’m done.”

Rutgers’ struggles have become even more glaring in the NIL era. Zinn recently said the program is somewhere between $20-$30 million in NIL spending on football and believes the Scarlet Knights are “headed in the right direction” financially.

But Thursday’s loss will raise plenty of questions about the direction of Schiano’s program. Rutgers entered the game as a 29.5 favorite against a UMass team that had never defeated a Big Ten program (0-7) or a Power Four conference opponent since transitioning to FBS in 2012.

Greg Shiano has coached Rutgers to a 31-42 record since returning to the program in 2020. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Schiano led the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 season during his first stint in New Brunswick in 2006, but he hasn’t found the same form since returning to the program in 2020, and throughout the NIL era. 

“Absolutely should be fired tomorrow,” the caller said. “The whole staff.” 

But the caller saved his best line for last, referencing the awkward fireworks show that played for an empty crowd following Thursday’s loss.

“Forget fireworks,” he added. “We need a firing squad.”

Source

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

College football Week 1 is here, and here are some of the biggest matchups this weekend. Clemson vs. LSU headlines Saturday night, while No. 24 Louisville takes on No. 9 Ole Miss on Sunday in the only matchup this week featuring two Top 25 teams. 

Another chapter of this battle between the Tigers takes place in Baton Rogue. All the eyes will be on Lane Kiffin and LSU as he begins his tenure with a roster transformed by the transfer portal. 

Dabo Swinney is looking to get the Tigers back into the ACC and national championship conversation with Christopher Vizzina taking over at quarterback,

Then the attention shifts to Kiffin’s former program, Ole Miss. The Rebels are led by the dynamic duo of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. The Rebels enter the season with plenty of expectations, after making a deep CFP run last season, but first they have an early-season test. Louisville is looking to prove it belongs among the ACC’s best and get a major upset against one of the best in the SEC.

Whether you’re taking Clemson to avenge last year’s 17-10 loss to LSU, riding with Kiffin and Leavitt in their first game together or looking toward Louisville vs. Ole Miss, Week 1 of college football is covered by your favorite sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365 and more.

FanDuel

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Week 1 Best Matchups

*Odds may differ each site*

No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson

Clemson	+10.5 -114	O50.5 -113	+328
LSU	-10.5 -109	U50.5 -110	-453

No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss

Louisville	+6.5 -(110)	O55.5 (-114)	+220
Ole Miss	-6.5 (-113)	U55.5 (-109)	-270

No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State

Boise State	+24.5 −110	O51.5 −108	+1200
Oregon	−24.5 −110	U51.5 −112	−2400

DraftKings

Claim the New User Offer No Promo Code Needed

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   Who Scores in Clemson vs. LSU?

*Odds may differ each site*

Dilin Jones (LSU)	−135	+500	+450
Sam Leavitt (LSU)	−105	+650	+600
Gideon Davidson (CLEM)	+100	+1000	+700
Trey’Dez Green (LSU)	+130	+800	+1000
Chris Johnson (CLEM)	+145	+1200	+1100
Harlem Berry (LSU)	+150	+950	+1100

Caesars Sportsbook

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   Who Will Find The Endzone?

*Odds may differ each site*

Kewan Lacy (MISS)	−290	+360	+190
Isaac Brown (LOU)	−160	+750	+380
Trinidad Chambliss (MISS)	−105	+750	+600
Keyjuan Brown (LOU)	+105	+1000	+700
Deuce Alexander (MISS)	+155	+1100	+1200

bet365

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BetMGM

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Source

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 

College football Week 1 is in full swing, and the Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS gives new users a chance to unlock a $25 bonus while trading on the first big slate of the season. The sport’s biggest programs take the field this weekend, ready to make their run to the College Football Playoff.

The weekend features No. 7 Miami at Stanford, defending champions, No. 6 Indiana, hosting North Texas and No. 3 Georgia taking on Tennessee State. Arch Manning and No. 5 Texas face Texas State before the prime-time game between Lane Kiffin and No. 11 LSU battling Clemson. 

Sunday brings another marquee matchup with No. 24 Louisville facing No. 9 Ole Miss. College football’s biggest weekend of the early season is here, and the Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS can help you get in on the action. Trade on your favorite games and future markets and get the $25 bonus.

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CFB Week 1 Slate

*Probabilities are subject to change* 

Friday: No. 7 Miami @ Stanford

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Miami Hurricanes	93%	94¢	7¢
Stanford Cardinals	7%	7¢	94¢

Saturday: No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Oregon Ducks	94%	95¢	6¢
Boise State Broncos	6%	6¢	95¢

Saturday: No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
LSU Tigers	78%	78¢	23¢
Clemson Tigers	23%	23¢	78¢

Saturday: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Ole Miss Rebels	72%	72¢	29¢
Louisville Cardinals	28%	29¢	72¢

Monday: No. 19 SMU @ Florida State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
SMU Mustangs	61%	62¢	39¢
Florida State Seminoles	40%	40¢	61¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

Source

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 

College football Week 1 is hitting full speed, and Polymarket is giving new users another reason to jump into the action with a $50 bonus. With promo code FOX, you can get in on the biggest games of the weekend.

The defending champs, No. 6 Indiana, begin their campaign for back-to-back titles against North Texas. No. 5 Texas also begins its season with Arch Manning back under center. Meanwhile, No. 1 Ohio State and Ryan Day are back with a vengeance behind quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

The primetime showdown comes when Clemson travels to No. 11 LSU for a rematch of last season’s opener, with new LSU coach Lane Kiffin handing the offense to top transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt and Dabo Swinney turning to Christopher Vizzina at quarterback. 

Sunday brings a top-25 clash as No. 24 Louisville takes on No. 9 Ole Miss, while No. 4 Notre Dame and CJ Carr face Wisconsin at Lambeau Field with Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish looking to leave no doubt.

The chaos of the college football season is only getting started, and there are plenty of contenders to follow all weekend. Use promo code FOX on Polymarket to claim the $50 bonus and get in on the Week 1 action.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page.

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CFB Week 1 Slate

*Probabilities are subject to change*

Friday: No. 7 Miami vs. Stanford

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Miami Hurricanes	94%	94¢	6¢
Stanford Cardinals	6%	6¢	94¢

Saturday: No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Oregon Ducks	94%	94¢	6¢
Boise State Broncos	6%	6¢	94¢

Saturday: No. 11 LSU vs. Clemson

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
LSU Tigers	78%	78¢	23¢
Clemson Tigers	23%	23¢	78¢

Saturday: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Ole Miss Rebels	70%	70¢	31¢
Louisville Cardinals	31%	31¢	70¢

Monday: No. 19 SMU vs. Florida State

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
SMU Mustangs	61%	61¢	40¢
Florida State Seminoles	40%	40¢	61¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

Source

The showdown between No. 11 LSU and Clemson was always going to be a showcase Week 1 game given Lane Kiffin’s debut in the bayou.

But few could have imagined the discussion surrounding the game would be anything like this. The heated on-field rivalry between two national powerhouses that share a stadium nickname (Death Valley) and mascot (Tigers) has been largely overshadowed by court cases involving NFL players returning to college football to use their final year of eligibility.

Matt Moscona, a sports radio talk show host with 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said the issue has dominated the airwaves this week. He estimates that 10 of the 12 segments on his three-hour talk show on Thursday were devoted to the topic, while only one was about the actual game.

He said LSU fans are genuinely worried. Not about Clemson, but about the long-term impact that Kiffin’s desire to recruit and play former NFL players in defiance of SEC rules will have on the football program.

Dae’Quan Wright signed   professional contracts with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns before he was reunited with Lane Kiffin at LSU. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“The phrase everyone here is using is, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze?,’” Moscona said. “Why go through this big public ordeal to add a couple of backup players? Which is what we’re talking about, quite honestly. The overriding sentiment is people are fearful of the punishments.”

He said that fear includes speculation that Kiffin might be suspended for ignoring SEC’s stance, or even the Tigers being kicked out of the conference altogether after being a founding member in the early 1930s.

“People here are wondering if we are really thinking about the long-term ramifications of playing a few backups,” Moscona said.

Kiffin recruited two of his former players at Ole Miss — defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae’Quan Wright — after both spent time with NFL clubs this offseason. That stirred up a hornets’ nest, with the Southeastern Conference suing LSU in federal court this week and potentially tainting a partnership dating to the Depression.

Several coaches have been outspoken against NFL players returning to college, including Clemson’s Dabo Swinney who called the notion of ex-NFL players suiting up on Saturdays “embarrassing” for the sport.

Zxavian Harris participated in the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this year, then signed with the New Orleans Saints before being waived in August.(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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All four Power Four conferences last week reiterated their rules against pro players and some outlined stiff penalties including fines and suspensions. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey testified that “the line between professional sports and college sports needs to be maintained,” even in an era where top college players command million-dollar compensation packages through revenue sharing and NIL deals.

Kiffin, one of the most outspoken and polarizing figures in college football long before his recruitment of NFL players, sees things a little differently than most in college football.

He said he talked with LSU team leaders and all backed the idea of bringing in players who can help the Tigers — whether they tried out for NFL teams or not. He shrugged off the idea that it would wreck any final notion that college is meant for amateur athletes.

“This is how it works at the next level,” Kiffin said this week. “This is how the real world works.”

College Football Related Stories

Moscona noted that other teams have landed former NFL players including South Carolina, which recently signed kicker Ethan Sanchez after he attended camp with the San Francisco 49ers. He blames for the NCAA for not granting a blanket waiver to allow athletes from the 2022 high school class to return for a fifth year after changing its eligibility model in June.

“The problem here is those players would have never left had they known they would have had another year of eligibility,” Moscona said. “… The NCAA did not heed advice that lawsuits would follow. And, the lawsuits have followed. And now it’s awful.”

Regardless of what happens, this is clearly not your average high-profile college season opener. LSU has a received a record number of requests — more than 900, according to the school — from media and VIPs.

“I think that speaks volumes of the eyeballs on us and people wanting to be around the program and watch the program,” Kiffin said. “All that is important nowadays. No. 1 is winning but after that you have a very marketable program.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

Once the Washington Huskies’ celebration of beating bitter rival Oregon in the 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game — and clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff — finally calmed down, an awkward reality began to set in.

This was the end of Pac-12 football as we knew it.

Michael Penix Jr. and Washington celebrate winning the Pac-12 Championship in 2023. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

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One of the oldest conferences in college sports, dating back to the formation of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915, was about to disappear. Its demise had been years in the making, with the inability to secure and improve its media rights deal at the center of the problem. As name, image and likeness transformed college football, the premier programs knew they could no longer afford to fall behind the Big Ten and SEC.

Washington, Oregon, UCLA and USC headed to the Big Ten. Reacting to their departure, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah joined the Big 12. Left hanging, Cal and Stanford scurried to find a home in the ACC. The movement diminished the Pac-12 to a two-team conference of Washington State and Oregon State. 

Gone were the days of Pac-12 basketball tournaments in Las Vegas. The Apple Cup rivalry between Washington and Washington State moved to the beginning of the season. The tradition of staying up late to watch the ever-chaotic “Pac-12 After Dark” ended. 

Now, after two years of the Pac-12 conference essentially ceasing to exist, it’s back. 

So back. 

The new-look Pac-12 in 2026 looks much different than it did in the past. There will still be rivalries, heated competition, and late-night shockers, but it’s no longer viewed as a power conference. Now, a team must be ranked higher than every other Group of Six opponent in the final top 25 to reach the College Football Playoff. 

Another fun fact: Every Pac-12 football team has the word “State” in its name. 

The new members include five teams from the Mountain West — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — and one from the Sun Belt Conference, Texas State. They join Oregon State and Washington State to complete the eight-team Pac-12.

The Broncos have long been one of the premier Group of Six programs, and now bring their famous blue field to the bright lights of the Pac-12. Fresno State and Utah State each qualified for bowl games in 2025, while Colorado State will look to turn things around under former UCLA coach Jim Mora. Texas State, meanwhile, has won a bowl game in each of the past three seasons.

One wrinkle: Gonzaga will join the conference for college basketball, bringing the Pac-12 to nine members in that sport. The Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past 17 seasons, including trips to the national championship game in 2017 and 2021.

The new-look Pac-12 might not have the luster or level of competition of its predecessor, but it should be one of, if not the, strongest Group of Six conferences in both football and basketball.

Pac-12 Related Stories

Source

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Monterey, Calif.) — One last go for INDYCAR in 2026.

In a year filled with new street courses at Arlington, Markham (Ontario) and Washington, the 2026 INDYCAR season will end at a historic racing venue and one where INDYCAR has competed the last five years. The 2.238-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca permanent road course is one of the most scenic on the circuit and features the famous corkscrew.

Alex Palou has clinched the title, his fourth consecutive and fifth in five years. But there’s plenty of reason to watch the finale, with FOX coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Here’s what to know about this weekend:

What’s The Biggest Fight In The Points?

Pato O’Ward hopes that he can finish the year second in points.

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The biggest one is the fight for second. Christian Lundgaard has a two-point lead on Kyle Kirkwood, four points on Pato O’Ward and 23 points on David Malukas.

If O’Ward can get to second, it would be the result of a rally that included a sweep of The Milwaukee Mile doubleheader last weekend.

“I go into Laguna with a proper shot at being second in the championship again, which I did last year,” O’Ward said after the sweep.

“I love that opportunity. I’d love to end it like that and kind of just pick it back up because … the rest of the year, I felt a little bit like a lost puppy.”

What Drivers Are In Their Last Race With Their Teams?

Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist will be on the move in 2027.

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At least five drivers have been announced as not returning to their teams. That list is led by Scott Dixon, who has earned six titles and 58 victories at Chip Ganassi Racing, where he first raced in 2002. He will head to Arrow McLaren next year.

Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist will leave Meyer Shank Racing, also for McLaren.

Out at McLaren are Lundgaard — yes, the driver who is second in the standings — and Nolan Siegel.

Mick Schumacher also knows he won’t be back at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, as the team has sold one of its charters. He said he knows where he is headed, and while the signs point to replacing Rosenqvist, no announcement has been made.

There are six other drivers whose fates have not yet been cemented (at least publicly) for 2027: A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet and Santino Ferrucci; Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Rinus VeeKay and Sting Ray Robb; Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean and Dennis Hauger.

Will Scott Dixon Win This Year?

It’s likely that Scott Dixon will end this season without a win.

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It doesn’t look like it.  Dixon has won every year in each of the last 21 years but is winless in 2026.

“Every weekend we’re trying to win,” Dixon told me and other reporters last week. “It’s been a rough year. It’s been frustrating. … It’s been one of those years where anything can slightly miss, we do.”

Just How Big Is The Drop Of The Corkscrew?

The drop of the first portion is 59 feet over 450 feet of track length. The total drop is 109 feet, or just more than 10 stories.

New Name For The Corkscrew?

Alex Palou’s paint scheme at Laguna Seca will pay tribute to the late Alex Zanardi.

–>

The track is naming the corkscrew after Alex Zanardi, a two-time champion who made a wild pass in that section in 1996. Zanardi lost both his legs in an accident in 2001 and earned a Paralympics gold medal in handcycling. He died in May.

Palou will carry a paint scheme in tribute to Zanardi this weekend.

What About Indy NXT?

The Indy NXT championship is coming down to the wire as they enter a doubleheader weekend with the first race Saturday and the season finale Sunday. Nikita Johnson leads Enzo Fittipaldi by three points, while Tymek Kucharczyk is 29 points behind.

More than likely, it will come down to Johnson and Fittipaldi and who runs better than the other this weekend.

The two drivers told me Thursday that they just plan to race the best they can on Saturday and Sunday.

Johnson: “I’m racing myself this weekend. I can’t control what they’re going to control. … The only thing I can control is myself. I’m going to try to put it on the pole and maximize the points I can.”

Fittipaldi: “At the end, I’m just going out there and doing my best. I’m racing everyone. … Qualifying is going to be the key part of the weekend.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Carve out a place for Alex Palou on INDYCAR’s Mount Rushmore? Well, not so fast.

Source

As the NFL season arrives, the Rams are atop Super Bowl futures odds. In fact, Los Angeles is not only the favorite, but the second choice Bills’ odds are twice that of the Rams.

That’ll happen when an already strong team adds sack-master Myles Garrett in the offseason, then welcomes back the recently un-retired Aaron Donald.

“It’s warranted, if you look at the talent of this team up and down the roster,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said.                                        

Feazel provides his insights on Super Bowl 61 odds and action, ahead of Wednesday’s kickoff between the defending champion Seahawks and runner-up Patriots.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Money From The Masses

Last season, the Rams fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance, losing to the Seahawks 31-27 in the NFC Championship Game. As the 2026-27 season opens, multiple sportsbooks are reporting strong L.A. action, with Caesars among them.

“We opened at +900 and have cut those odds almost in half to +500. And the action is coming in, no matter what the price is,” Feazel said of steady Rams betting. “The Rams are No. 1 in ticket count, and they’re No. 1 by a healthy margin in money.”

Indeed, 18% of all Super Bowl futures money at Caesars is on the Rams. That’s 2.5 times more cash than the 49ers, who are second in money at 7%, as the +1800 co-eighth choice.

Super Bowl Hangover?

Interestingly, the Super Bowl champion Seahawks — the +1100 third choice in odds to win the Super Bowl — aren’t getting nearly the attention of their NFC West rivals.

“I don’t think bettors are sold on the Seahawks,” Feazel said. “From February to now, they’ve lost a lot of key pieces. There’s been a little fallout on expectations, based on the pieces they did and didn’t keep.”

Among those departing: Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Chiefs in the offseason. Further, fellow running back Zach Charbonnet will miss Seattle’s first four games — and possibly more — while continuing to recover from a torn ACL suffered in last season’s playoffs.

The Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60. New England also isn’t among the more popular bets in Super Bowl futures odds, while sitting at +2000.

“They’re not really betting the Patriots much at all. That’s actually one of our better positions,” Feazel said.

Liability Leaders

As is often the case in Super Bowl futures, it’s a long shot creating the biggest concern at Caesars. Heavy regional bias in Caesars’ Las Vegas market is helping to heighten that concern.

“Our biggest liability and the best result for customers is the Raiders,” Feazel said of the +12500 long shots (125/1). “Bringing in [new coach] Klint Kubiak and rookie QB Fernando Mendoza is leading to a lot of money.”

Mendoza led Indiana to a 16-0 season and the national championship last season. But he’s not yet the starter and might not be for a while, with offseason acquisition Kirk Cousins the Raiders’ QB1 at the moment.

Feazel also noted a couple legitimate liabilities in Super Bowl 61 odds.

“Obviously, the Rams are not our greatest position. Then the Broncos and the 49ers,” Feazel said of two teams at +1800. “The Broncos are getting a lot of love. Bettors are still interested in Denver, and the same with the 49ers.

“And there’s a whole lot of love around Kyler Murray and the Vikings.”

Indeed, Minnesota opened as a +8000 long shot and has nearly cut that price in half to +4500. After seven seasons with the Cardinals, Murray signed with the Vikes in the offseason and beat out J.J. McCarthy for the starting job.

Sportsbook Needs

On the flip side, Caesars Sports has a quartet of legit teams that it’s rooting for in Super Bowl futures. All four are certainly playoff contenders.

“The Jaguars are a great position for us, and the Lions are great for us, which is not normally the case,” Feazel said. “Also, the Ravens and Texans. A lot of people are sleeping on how good that Texans defense is.”

Jacksonville went a stout 13-4 last season before losing to the Bills in the wild-card round. Houston went 12-5 in the regular season, then routed the Steelers in the wild card before bowing out at New England.

The Jags are +2800 at Caesars, while the Texans are part of a +1800 logjam with the Broncos, 49ers and Chargers.

Detroit went a combined 29-9 in 2023-24/2024-25, including playoff games, but stumbled to 9-8 last year and missed the postseason. Similarly, Baltimore went a disappointing 8-9 last year, largely due to QB Lamar Jackson (knee/back) missing four games.

Caesars expects both teams to bounce back, with the Ravens the +1300 fourth choice in Super Bowl 61 odds, followed by the Lions at +1600.

I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie

As the season commences, there are a plethora of bets on Super Bowl futures odds. Among the more notable plays at Caesars is a $27,000 wager on Seahawks +1100.

If Sam Darnold & Co. pull off a repeat title, then that bettor cashes in for $297,000 profit, for a total payout of $324,000.

Other noteworthy wagers at Caesars:

• $10,000 Cowboys +2200 (Caesars): If Dallas finally breaks through, then this bettor pockets $220,000 profit (total payout $230,000)
• $10,000 Bengals +2000 (Caesars). A Joe Burrow championship would net $200,000 for this bettor (total payout $210,000)

Then there’s this Super Bowl exacta at DraftKings Sportsbook:

• $2,500 on the Bengals to beat the Cowboys in Super Bowl 61, at +50000

In easier-to-digest terms, the odds are 500/1. If somehow it’s Bengals vs. Cowboys on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium, and Cincinnati wins its first-ever Super Bowl, then that customer profits $1.25 million.

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Marcus Freeman began his college football career as a player under Luke Fickell. Now he gets to coach against him.

No. 4 Notre Dame and Wisconsin open their season facing off on Sunday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, bringing together two head coaches whose shared history spans more than two decades.

Freeman and Fickell enter the matchup with personal and professional ties that have helped shape both programs and the coaching staffs surrounding them.

A Foundational Relationship From Columbus To Cincinnati

The connection between the two head coaches began when Freeman played linebacker at Ohio State from 2004 to 2008, where Fickell served as his position coach. 

Marcus Freeman played linebacker at Ohio State, where Luke Fickell served as his position coach from 2004-08.  (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

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That player-coach relationship evolved nearly a decade later when Fickell hired Freeman as his linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, a role Freeman held from 2017 through 2020. 

Over those four seasons, Freeman helped build the Bearcats’ defense into a nationally-renowned unit, gaining his first extended experience leading a college defense before moving onto Notre Dame in 2021.

Mutual Respect And Shared Philosophies

Despite their shared past, both coaches established a distinctly different culture within their respective programs as head coach. Fickell noted that Freeman’s progression into one of college football’s top head coaches stems from his ability to chart his own course rather than strictly replicating the methods of his mentors.

“The ones who have the most success, like Marcus has, are ones who create an identity for themselves, not just where they’ve been, whether it’s his time with us at Cincinnati or his time at Ohio State or his time under Jim Tressel,” Fickell said.

Marcus Freeman on Cincinnati’s sideline, where he worked under Luke Fickell as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator from 2017-20. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Freeman has pointed to Fickell as a foundational figure in his coaching development, highlighting specific work habits and expectations that he carried forward into his head coaching career.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him,” Freeman said. “I wouldn’t be in this position without the investment he made in me. There’s traits that every coach I’ve had a player, as a coach, that I have in me. When I think about Luke Fickell, I think about a tireless worker, I think about the demands that he has for his players, his coaches. And the mindset of, ‘This is the way we’re going to play. This is who we are. This is our identity, and we’re committed to it.'”

Prior Matchup And Staff Connections

Sunday will not mark the first time Freeman and Fickell have stood on opposite sidelines. 

In 2021, Fickell led Cincinnati to a 24-13 victory at Notre Dame Stadium, a key win during the Bearcats’ run to the College Football Playoff. Freeman was Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator on Brian Kelly’s staff during that game before taking over the program as head coach when Kelly departed for LSU at the end of the regular season.

CFB Related Stories

The ties between the Badgers and Fighting Irish also extend beyond the two head coaches. 

Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph spent six seasons as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator under former head coach Paul Chryst from 2015 to 2020, and remained on staff in 2021 as offensive line coach. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, and wide receivers coach Mike Brown all served on Fickell’s Cincinnati staff during that 2021 playoff season.

“It’s not just Marcus that we’ve got a long history with,” Fickell said. “There’s a lot of guys over there that in particular we’ve got great relationships with, and had great relationships with. Like I’ve always said, I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it wasn’t for not just Freeman, but a lot of those guys over on that staff.”

Different Trajectories Heading Into Lambeau Field

While the personal connections run deep, the two programs enter Sunday in completely different situations. 

Notre Dame are three-touchdown favorite following a 24-4 run over the past two seasons, which included an appearance in the College Football Playoff championship game in 2024.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and quarterback CJ Carr, who threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first-year as a starter in 2025.(Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The Fighting Irish will be led on the field by quarterback CJ Carr, alongside three preseason Associated Press All-America defensive selections in first-team cornerback Leonard Moore, second-team linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and safety Brauntae Johnson.

Wisconsin enters Fickell’s fourth year seeking stability after back-to-back losing campaigns. The Badgers finished 4-8 in 2025 and 5-7 in 2024, snapping a 22-year streak of winning seasons. 

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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