Author: Eternity Lab

Indiana goes on the road to face the greatest rival of its newest rival, and Utah and Houston will face off in a game that has CFP and Big 12 title implications. 

On the field, college football is in a great place. 

Here’s what I’m picking in Week 8.

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.

There are two types of wagers for me. There are the kind that I love and those don’t tend to cash as often. Then there are the wagers that scare me, and while it is uncomfortable placing said wagers and watching said game, those tend to hit. 

Wagering on Michigan in this game scares me.

Michigan is the right side for many reasons. The first is that Indiana is off its first loss in over a year and a half. How does this squad handle losing at home with all the world watching? And they lost in a way we haven’t seen often — with Curt Cignetti at the helm. 

Mistakes, turnovers and a receiver just not getting his foot inbounds on the final offensive play of the game cost IU, but the Hoosiers also haven’t been able to run the ball this season, which was far from the case last year. It was just 2.8 yards per attempt for their running backs against Ohio State and 2.4 against Nebraska the week before. 

In addition, Josh Hoover isn’t Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, which we already knew. Hoover can’t make things right like Mendoza could. 

The Michigan defense is first in yards per play, even though the Wolverines haven’t played anyone like Indiana. Still, Michigan’s pass rush is good, and I’d imagine it will try to pressure Hoover into mistakes. It’s also Indiana’s third straight week of playing a physical defense. 

How do the Hoosiers hold up on the road? I think Indiana’s offense will score in the low 20s.

The Indiana defense is still fantastic this season. It is ninth in points per drive and doesn’t have many weaknesses. Maybe it allows some success rushing the ball and doesn’t rush the passer quite the same as last season. However, it’s still a formidable unit. 

What worries me the most about this wager is the Michigan offense, which was dead with quarterback Bryce Underwood. Michigan benched Underwood for true freshman quarterback Tommy Carr last week and the offense scored 21 second-half points, appearing competent with Carr under center. However, Carr only threw the ball seven times for 47 yards. 

Not exactly an elite passing performance. 

What can Tommy Carr produce for the Wolverines against the Hoosiers? (Getty Images)

Now, Carr has to play Indiana’s defense and IU had a week to prepare. I could easily see this Michigan offense being overwhelmed with a true freshman under fire. Still, it is clear the Wolverines are playing more confidently with Carr at QB and I do believe they can score enough, maybe in the high teens, to cover this game. 

I think I’ll need 17 points from Michigan and I will get it.

Schwartz’s Pick: Michigan +7

What an awesome Big 12 matchup on Saturday night. The winner of this game has a leg up in the Big 12 title race and a spot in Dallas for the conference championship game. 

I see a game with points, many of them potentially coming late. But nonetheless, I expect scoring.

Utah’s defense has been a hallmark of its program for years, and while it appears to be good this season, I’m not quite sure. It is 26th in yards per play, but the best offense it has faced is 63rd-ranked Kansas, which scored 24 points and passed for 333 yards. Last weekend, Colorado scored 24 points, the most it has scored against an FBS opponent all season. 

Utah can’t rush the passer. It is 66th in pressure rate and 112th in sacks. That’s why teams have passed the ball on the Utes. Houston’s offense is well-prepared considering it has already faced Texas Tech on the road and put up 458 yards of offense. The Cougars also just scored 35 against Oklahoma State. 

Houston’s offensive line is outstanding. It is fifth in rushing success rate and top-25 in pressure rate. The Cougars’ offense is first in the sport on third down. 

Third down has been a strong point for Connor Weigman and the Cougars this season (Getty Images).

Houston’s defense is not its strong suit, ranking 99th in yards per play and 124th in percent of plays that go 20+ yards. It is also awful in the red zone, which isn’t a great sign against a Utah offense that can attack you in so many ways. The Utes have unique formations and use multiple quarterbacks to run some funky plays. It’s disorienting to go up against. 

Utah is also seventh in points per drive, great on third down and doesn’t allow a ton of QB hits. 

I think we witness a track meet in Salt Lake City.

Schwartz’s Pick: Over 56.5

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Carson Hocevar loves to race, so it’s not like he would ever enter Talladega in a foul mood.

But going back to a track where he has won a Cup race will feel extra special for the NASCAR driver.

His victory at Talladega helped him attract a diverse fan base of folks who follow the sport closely as well as those who follow it more casually.

Few can forget the Hocevar celebration, as he stood in his car with his body out the driver-side window, controlling the car with his knees as he did a slide and burnout while waving to the fans.

Carson Hocevar’s celebration after Talladega got almost as much attention as his win.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Hocevar told me prior to The Chase when looking ahead to Talladega. “It’ll be fun. Minus Daytona when I spun passing for the lead, we’ve been leading [at] every superspeedway. … Probably like three years ago, I think we would have won all of them because it seemed like they never finished under green.

“I’ve enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to going back there.” 

Hocevar has some ideas for a celebration if he can repeat at Talladega.

“I think people were asking the second I was done with it at Talladega if I’d do it again,” Hocevar told me and other reporters last week. “There’s some ideas I have to try and improve on it.

“And I asked [NASCAR CEO Steve] O’Donnell … I was like, ‘Hey, I have an idea.’ We haven’t met on the idea yet, but I was like, ‘Hey, it might get both of us in trouble. I don’t know if it’s possible to do, but I kind of need your blessing.’ And he said the fact I was asking now already, it sounds like he is all in on it. He’s like, ‘Oh, I love it already’. Hopefully, I get to eventually be in that spot to win a race again and ask for forgiveness a little later.”

Can Hocevar get back into Victory Lane this weekend?

Winning back-to-back races at a superspeedway doesn’t come easy. It requires a bit of luck as well as the ability to position oneself at the front of the draft, managing the pushes and potentially making the blocks when needed.

Hocevar isn’t worrying about points; he is all but eliminated from championship contention. He sits 11th in the standings at 158 points behind leader Kyle Larson. 

Any driver 153 points behind the points’ leader after Talladega will be out of the hunt for The Chase.

But the somewhat polarizing 23-year-old driver will just go race as he normally does.

He doesn’t think he needs a 26-car wreck at Talladega like there was in April when only 21 cars finished on the lead lap.

“I feel like we could win it with 40 cars,” Hocevar said. “We ran sixth [at] both Talladegas the year before, and obviously we’ve been up front leading the Daytonas and then, obviously, Atlantas too.

Carson Hocever is riding into ‘Dega weekend with confidence he can be a competitive threat.

“I feel like we’re just really good at those superspeedways. Ultimately, the guys that wrecked at the end of my Talladega were not Chevys. There’s a lot of times I’m up front and I’m the only Chevy, so that makes things a little difficult at times.”

The car this weekend is a little bit different than in April. 

The spoilers were seven-inches tall for Talladega in April. NASCAR cut them to four inches for Daytona in August and has now cut them again to 3.5 inches for the race this weekend. The hope is that drivers have more ability to maneuver in the pack as the cars won’t handle well enough to be bunched as tightly together.

“I thought Daytona was pretty good, but it was mainly because a lot of us had to start lifting and struggling in the corners,” Hocevar said. “I spun by myself. So handling was still a factor. At Talladega, we kind of have to lift a little bit and create gaps.

“These cars suck up a lot, so hopefully that helps.”

If he can win, Hocevar could have another career-altering experience.

“Pretty much my life has changed since that moment,” he said. “I got to really enjoy it. And it means a lot to me that there’s a moment in NASCAR that non-NASCAR people saw it on their phone and they still reference it or acknowledge seeing it and NASCAR people still talk about it and still show it in commercials.

“I’m sure they’ll throw it in for a long time. That means a lot.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Before Phoenix, Kyle Larson had a comfortable cushion in The Chase. Now, the heat is officially on.

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Either way, we’ll have a first-time World Series winner, as the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers will square off in the 2026 World Series, beginning on Friday, Oct. 23 — and FOX is the exclusive home for all the action.

FOX Sports revealed its broadcasters and new technology that will be on display during the 2026 World Series on Thursday afternoon, which will be the 29th Fall Classic for the network:

FOX Sports’ World Series Pregame Show

FOX will have a one-hour pregame show on site before every game of the 2026 World Series.

Kevin Burkhardt will anchor the FOX MLB studio desk, with MLB legends Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez as the studio analysts. It will mark the fourth consecutive World Series that this quartet is together at the World Series for FOX.

Meanwhile, FOX Feature Contributor Tom Rinaldi will deliver a feature on Milwaukee Brewers superstar right-hander Jacob Misiorowski for the Game 1 pregame show. Additional highlights include a profile on Rays’ standout Junior Caminero as well as a tribute to the iconic Bob Uecker.

FOX Sports’ 2026 World Series Announcers

Joe Davis (left) and John Smoltz (right) are FOX Sports’ lead MLB broadcasting team. (Frank Micelotta/FOX Sports via Getty Images)

Joe Davis will be doing play-by-play and Hall of Fame starting pitcher John Smoltz will be on color commentary, marking the fifth consecutive season that the two broadcasters do the World Series together for FOX.

FOX Sports MLB Reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci, who will each also contribute to the pregame show, will be reporting during the action and handle in-game and postgame interviews.

José Pablo Coello, Gabriel Medina, Diego Venegas and Rodrigo Arana will lead the FOX Deportes broadcast. Mayra Gomez and Steffy Aradillas will also contribute to the broadcast.

New FOX Sports Technology

On the heels of FOX Sports’ four Sports Emmy Awards for last year’s postseason coverage, the network will continue its award-winning approach for the upcoming World Series, giving viewers unique perspectives from inside the game and on the field.

New to the production lineup are versatile 4K and 8K Nucleus cameras, in addition to expanded AR initiatives alongside Major League Baseball that track respective pitches and swings from either side of the field.

A fleet of high-speed cameras captures every spin on the ball and every inch of a bang-bang play at first, as aerial drones work overhead, synchronizing game action from multiple locations on the field.

FOX Sports covers the rest of the diamond with the UmpCam AR Strike Zone – putting fans behind the mask with a live strike zone, multiple Dirt Cams, Base Cams and dozens of microphones throughout the stadiums.

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One-third of the NFL season is behind us, with some interesting situations afoot.

For example: The Rams, preseason favorites in Super Bowl odds, are 2-4 through six games. Not exactly what oddsmakers or bettors expected. 

Nor was this: “The Browns to lead the AFC North was not on anybody’s Bingo card this year,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said.

Will the Rams get right against an improved Raiders outfit? And will Packers-Lions Over bettors be rewarded in America’s Game of the Week on FOX?

More on those matchups and other notable games, with sportsbook insights and a sharper play, as we dive into NFL Week 7 betting nuggets.

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.

NFL Rocks On FOX

The Packers started the season 1-2 straight up (SU) and 0-3 against the spread (ATS). That included a blowout upset home loss to the Falcons (35-14) in Week 3.

But it appears Green Bay has righted the ship, winning and cashing the past three weeks to move to 4-2 SU/3-3 ATS. In addition, standout running back Josh Jacobs is off the Commissioner’s Exempt List and is eligible to play.

Detroit (3-2 SU/2-3 ATS) has alternated wins and losses over its first five games, but the Lions put up their best scoring effort of the season in Week 5, in a 45-21 road rout of Arizona. Detroit then had a bye in Week 6.

Caesars Sports opened the Lions as 3-point home favorites vs. the Packers and quickly went to Detroit -3.5, then returned to -3. As of Wednesday evening, it was Lions -3 (-115) for a 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday kickoff on FOX.

“There was sharp money towards the Packers at +3.5, but we’ve seen mostly Lions money come in, especially since they’re coming off the bye,” Feazel said.

The Pack is currently on a three-game winning streak ahead of Week 7 (Getty Images).

That said, the total is what’s getting more attention. Caesars opened at 52.5 and is up to 53.5, three points higher than any other total in NFL Week 7 odds.

“That high total has garnered some Over money. Both teams are playing well, and bettors know the Lions don’t have a good defense but know how to score,” Feazel said. “I don’t anticipate the Over money stopping.”

Ahead of Packers-Lions, FOX has 49ers-Falcons at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. San Francisco (6-0 SU/4-2 ATS) is one of just three unbeaten teams, while Atlanta’s 2-4 SU and ATS record belies its talented backfield of Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson.

At DraftKings Sports, San Fran opened as a 4.5-point road favorite, dropped to -3.5 on Monday and -3 on Wednesday. And there’s a notable difference in opinion.

The 49ers were drawing 67% of spread bets as of Wednesday evening, but 86% of early spread money is on the short home underdog Falcons.

  Thursday Night Showdown

Caleb Williams didn’t take long to get his mojo back for the Bears (4-2 SU and ATS). Williams completed 30 of 36 passes, including his first dozen, in a 31-23 road win over the Falcons in Week 6.

And the Patriots (4-2 SU and ATS) have won three in a row, though they fell just short of covering in Week 6. New England was a 7.5-point favorite and beat the Jets 26-19.

For Thursday night’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, Chicago is a steady 3-point favorite in Caesars’ Week 7 NFL odds.

“We’re seeing more Bears money on the spread, but I don’t see this going past 3. It might close 2.5,” Feazel said. “People are gonna take the Bears on the spread or the Patriots on the moneyline.

“It’ll be a big decision, and we’ll likely need the Bears to win by one or two points.”

The total inched from 50 to 50.5, the second-highest of the week.

“This is another one that will attract a lot of Over money,” Feazel said.

  Sunday Night Showdown

At 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, the Chiefs visit the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

Kansas City (5-0 SU/3-2 ATS) is looking more like the team that won three Super Bowls over the past few seasons. On the flip side, Seattle (3-3/1-4-1 ATS) already has as many losses on the field as all of last season, and the Seahawks have one of the NFL’s worst spread-covering marks so far.

That said, Caesars opened Seattle -1.5 (-115) and it was up to -2.5 (-117) as of Wednesday night.

“It’s a little bit surprising here. We’re gravitating toward more Seahawks action,” Feazel said. “We haven’t seen as much Chiefs action as we expected, even though they’re undefeated.

“We’re also seeing more money on the Under, and it’s sharper action.”

Caesars saw sharp money on Under 44.5 and 43.5, with the total at 42.5 midweek.

Bettors are behind the Seahawks despite the Chiefs’ undefeated record (Getty Images).

Rams In A Jam

As noted above, the Rams are 2-4, both SU and ATS. In Week 6, Los Angeles suffered the biggest upset of the season, losing to the Cardinals 18-16 as a 12.5-point home favorite.

Further, the Rams lost wideout Davante Adams to a ruptured hamstring. The timeline to return is 6-10 weeks, so that could end his season. L.A. is also dealing with injury issues elsewhere, including at kicker.

Next up for the Rams is a 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday kick on FOX vs. the Raiders. Las Vegas won its first three games, then lost its next three to sit at 3-3 SU. But the Raiders are the best spread-covering team in the NFL at 5-1 ATS, with close home losses to the Chiefs and the Bills.

Oddsmakers still showed the Rams some respect, with Caesars opening Los Angeles as a 6-point road favorite. But that line dipped to Rams -5.5 in short order on Sunday, then went to -4.5 on Monday — after the Adams news — and -4 on Tuesday.

“This game has seen more two-way action,” Feazel said. “The Raiders have been competitive and efficient on offense. And the Raiders have shown they can score a lot of points against good teams.”

Indeed, Las Vegas fell to K.C. 30-27 as a 3.5-point home underdog in Week 4, then came up similarly short vs. Buffalo in Week 6, losing 33-30 as a 5.5-point home ‘dog.

The public masses are certainly attracted to that scoring.

“We’re seeing Over action. We’ll have a big need for the Under in this one,” Feazel said.

The total opened at 48.5 and fell as low as 47 early in the week. But it was at 48.5 (Under -115) on Wednesday night.

NFL Sharp Side

Professional bettor Randy McKay is among those intrigued by the Rams-Raiders matchup. He grabbed Las Vegas +4.5, which on Wednesday night, was still available at some books, including DraftKings Sports and FanDuel Sports.

“This is similar to the Bills-Raiders line last week,” McKay said. “I like the improvement of Las Vegas with new coach Klint Kubiak. And this Rams team is losing games in all kinds of ways — on offense, defense and special teams. There’s also injuries on the Rams’ defensive line and to Adams.”

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Will the reigning national champion Hoosiers bounce back after their loss to Ohio State with a Week 8 win over Michigan? 

Can Texas find its footing against Ole Miss after dropping two consecutive matchups?

Here are the five must-watch games for college football Week 8 (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 22).

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.

Spread: Indiana -7.5
Moneyline: Indiana -278; Michigan +225
O/U: 41.5

What To Know: Last weekend, Indiana lost its first game since 2024, falling 19-15 to Ohio State. Now the reigning national champions get a chance to right the ship against Michigan. The Wolverines are 4-2 straight up (SU), but they’re 2-4 against the spread (ATS). They also started their season off with a controversial 13-12 win against Western Michigan — the precursor to Blue not covering. Indiana, at 1-6 ATS, is even worse in that spot. But the Hoosiers are 6-1 SU on the season and are still fifth on the board at +750 to win the College Football Playoff. “The Hoosiers have never lost back-to-back games under Curt Cignetti and that won’t start now,” FOX Sports college football writer Laken Litman noted.

Spread: BYU -6.5
Moneyline: BYU -258; UCF +210
O/U: 43.5

What To Know: BYU’s 28-24 upset over Notre Dame in Week 7 helped move the Cougars to No. 2 in the national rankings. But they’re still relative long shots at +4400 to win the title. Can BYU keep rolling two weeks in a row and get a win over UCF one week after an emotional victory over the Irish? Well, the Knights are 3-3 SU but are 4-2 ATS, so bettors eyeing this game might want to keep that in mind.

Spread: UCLA -14.5
Moneyline: UCLA -700; Michigan State +500
O/U: 43.5

What To Know: The UCLA Bruins are one of the most surprising betting stories of this college football season. They’re without their starting quarterback, yet they’re 6-0 under the leadership of first-year head coach Bob Chesney. In their Week 7 win over Wisconsin, the Bruins’ backup QB Ty Dieffenbach went 22 of 33 passing for 264 yards. It was his first start for UCLA. Michigan State’s season has taken a completely different trajectory, as the Spartans are 2-5 SU. State’s record ATS is 4-2-1.

Spread: Texas -3.5
Moneyline: Texas -162; Ole Miss +136
O/U: 54.5

What To Know: In Week 7, by a score of 31-3, Ole Miss dismantled Missouri — a team with one of the top rushing offenses in the country. In that contest, Heisman contender Trinidad Chambliss passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Ole Miss now heads into hostile territory to face a Texas team that’s desperate for a win after losing two straight to Oklahoma and Florida. The Longhorns’ 4-2 SU record is disappointing, considering they were once near the top of the oddsboard to win the CFP. Now, they’re +135 to even make the 12-team field. Can Texas, at 1-5 ATS, win and cover at home in Week 8? According to FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, the answer is no. “I think Ole Miss wins this outright, 28-21. I’ll take the -3.5 and take Ole Miss.”

Spread: Utah -6.5
Moneyline: Utah -250; Houston +205
O/U: 56.5

What To Know: With a 6-0 record overall, Utah has climbed its way into the top 10. In fact, this is the hottest start the Utes have had in 12 years. Against Colorado, Utah QB Devon Dampier had 278 passing yards and three touchdowns. As a team, the Utes had 409 total yards in the 27-24 win. Houston, with its 6-1 record, comes into the weekend on the heels of a close victory over Oklahoma State. The Cougars got past the Cowboys 35-32 in a contest where QB Connor Weigman threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns. And FOX Sports college sports writer Ben Portnoy is backing the Cougs. “[Head coach] Willie Fritz has the Cougars riding high after last week’s huge victory over Oklahoma State,” he explained. “That momentum carries them in this one.”

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What a difference a year makes.

Even with the graduation of Paige Bueckers, the UConn women’s basketball program was sailing right along as another national title was well within the grasp of a team led by eventual No. 1 overall WNBA pick Azzi Fudd and AP Player of the Year Sarah Strong.

It all came crashing down with a loss to South Carolina in the national semifinals. The 48 points scored were the fewest for UConn in an NCAA Tournament game in 34 years.

However, that was not what is most remembered from South Carolina’s Final Four win. UConn coach Geno Auriemma confronted South Carolina coach Dawn Staley over what he felt was a lack of protocol regarding a customary handshake between the two coaches. He later lamented why he “couldn’t keep it in for five more seconds.”

“People that call me the best coach who ever lived for winning in 2025 to the worst person who ever lived,” Auriemma said. “You don’t believe them when they call you either one of those things. You learn something every day.

“If you were to ask people whether it was (former LSU and Alabama football coach Nick) Saban or anybody else who has coached a very long time, anybody who has been in the public eye a long time, what’s their rationale for not wanting to do it anymore — that’s it right there.”

Video of the exchange between Auriemma and Staley is sure to become front-page news again when the teams meet at Mohegan Sun Arena on Nov. 24. However, that is not on Auriemma’s radar right now.

Strong leads the list of returning players for UConn, along with veteran guards KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade and last year’s top freshman Blanca Quiñonez.

Auriemma and the Huskies, the No. 2 team in the AP preseason poll, approached this offseason much like any other in his Hall of Fame career.

Auriemma guided the Huskies to three titles in a row with Diana Taurasi leading the way in the early 2000s. Breanna Stewart powered UConn to four consecutive national titles from 2012-13 to the 2015-16 seasons.

There have also been crushing Final Four losses when the Huskies looked good enough to add to their collection of national titles.

“Going into last year’s Final Four and I think it started to show up even during the NCAA Tournament, we had some deficiencies that we have been able to hide for a long, long time (being) 38-0,” Auriemma said. “But we would go to practice each and every day, and our coaching staff would go, ′Do you think we can hide this for one more weekend?’ Unfortunately, we couldn’t. So when it ended, I think we as coaches understood that there were just some things that we knew if they happened, there wasn’t much we could do about it.”

With Fudd and Serah Williams off to the WNBA, it won’t be the same team. However, this could be a deeper team. Freshman Jovana Popovic – who has played for the Serbian national team – was one of UConn’s best players in exhibition games against Syracuse and Texas. Center Olivia Vukosa – a member of Croatia’s national team since 2023, and the No. 2 recruit last year – and Marine Dursus – a guard with France’s youth national team since 2021 – are other freshmen ready to contribute. Sophomore Gandy Malou-Mamel, who spent her freshman season almost entirely on the bench, played with Ireland’s basketball team in the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket Division B tournament, and is expected to play more post-Williams. Guard Morgan Cheli is back on the court after missing the 2025-26 season recovering from ankle surgery.

Women’s College Basketball Related Stories

Guards Allie Ziebell and Kayleigh Heckel, as well as center Jana El Alfy, averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season. This returning squad, combined with the freshmen class, explain why UConn didn’t utilize the transfer portal even after losing two players to the WNBA.

“When you come off winning a title, obviously it is a great feeling,” Shade said. You don’t have that crushing feeling like when you don’t win it. It definitely is different and the way the South Carolina game went for us this past year, that played a factor in how we are coming back. When you get beat up that much and feel that defeated, you want to do everything you can when you get back, in preseason and in every workout, just to try to be better”.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Way back on March 25, when the MLB regular season began, you could’ve made one or both of the following bets on World Series futures odds at DraftKings Sportsbook: Rays +8000 to win the World Series or Brewers +3500 to win the World Series.

Imagine having a hundred bucks on either right now. Or better still, both, locking in a minimum $3,400 profit and a max profit of $7,900. 

But those tickets are few and far between, as very few bettors envisioned a Tampa Bay vs. Milwaukee Fall Classic.

“There are not a ton of customers holding tickets from Opening Day on either of these clubs,” DraftKings director of sportsbook operations Johnny Avello said. “But after two straight seasons in which the favorite won it all, this matchup gives long-shot backers something to root for.”

Avello helps break down World Series futures betting and how customers are wagering this week, now that the matchup is set, with Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET Friday on FOX.

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.

  Unexpected Matchup

Much of this season, the usual suspects — the Dodgers and Yankees — took the lion’s share of action in World Series odds, especially Los Angeles, the two-time defending champion.

But the Brewers — who had the majors’ best regular-season record at 103-59 — stunningly swept the Dodgers in the best-of-seven NLCS.

The Rays, meanwhile, had the AL’s best record at 98-64 and swept the Yanks 3-0 in the ALDS. Then Tampa Bay took the ALCS over Cleveland in six games.

“You can’t take anything away from these two teams,” Avello said. “The best teams got to the World Series, and both were remarkable at home and good on the road.”

Still, neither oddsmakers nor bettors saw Tampa getting this far, demonstrated by those Opening Day 80/1 odds.

“The Rays weren’t expected to do this well,” Avello said. “They didn’t take the action of the bigger-market teams. Bettors had many chances to bet the Rays at a longer price.”

Bettors didn’t take advantage of it. 

The Brewers weren’t quite as long a shot, and as such got a little more action from March to August. But Milwaukee didn’t really attract attention until later in the season.

“It’s not like the Brewers weren’t played. But it was a steady flow of action the last three weeks of the regular season,” Avello said. “And once the playoffs started, customers continued to play the Brewers.”

If you’d just taken a shot on either team when the playoffs began, then you still could’ve gotten +800 on the Rays and +550 on the Brew Crew.

  Where Are They Now

On Thursday afternoon, just more than 24 hours before first pitch, the Brewers are the -165 favorite in DraftKings’ World Series odds. The Rays, on the road for Games 1 and 2, are the +145 underdog.

And no surprise, the favorite is seeing the bulk of activity to win the best-of-seven series.

“Bettors like Milwaukee. They’re laying the price with the Brewers,” Avello said. “And Game 1 is kind of like a mirror of that — they’re betting the Brewers.”

In fact, Avello pointed out that odds to win the series are nearly identical to Game 1 odds. The Brewers are -166 and the Rays +137 in Friday’s opener.

“Since the Brewers have their No. 1 guy going, those prices are pretty equivalent,” Avello said.

That would be 24-year-old ace Jacob Misiorowski, who went 16-5 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA in the regular season. Misiorowski didn’t get credited with the win in either of his postseason starts so far, but Milwaukee won both games — 3-2 in the NLDS opener vs. the Padres, and 2-1 in NLCS Game 1 vs. the Dodgers.

  MVP Money

Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio is the +600 favorite in World Series MVP odds at DraftKings. That’s just ahead of Brewers catcher William Contreras, the +650 second choice.

Then comes Rays third baseman Junior Caminero at +750, followed by Misiorowski at +800.

But DraftKings customers are looking down the board a little further, hoping for a better payday.

“They’re betting Christian Yelich at 25/1, both tickets and money,” Avello said.

Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP, is the Brewers’ designated hitter in the World Series.

He’s certainly got an attractive price. A $100 bet on Yelich would profit $2,500, if he hoists the MVP trophy at the close of the World Series.

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Baker Mayfield expects to return from a thumb injury and play when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback dislocated his right thumb when his throwing hand hit Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman on a desperation pass on fourth down that was intercepted late in the fourth quarter of a 23-16 loss in Week 3.

“It’s been feeling slowly better and better. That’s the frustrating part with an injury like that,” Mayfield said Thursday.

Buccaneers’ QB Baker Mayfield was injured against the Minnesota Vikings on September 27, and hasn’t made his way back to the field yet. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Mayfield has worn a special glove in practice and plans to use it in the game.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels started the past three games, going 1-2. The Buccaneers (1-5) are last in the NFC South entering the game at Carolina (3-2).

Mayfield said he was aiming to return to face Pittsburgh last week but wasn’t ready. The Bucs wasted a 16-3 lead in the fourth quarter and lost 26-19 in overtime. Daniels threw two picks in the fourth quarter that led to a pair of field goals.

“Anytime you dislocate something there’s gonna be ligament damage. It just didn’t happen to be ligaments and tendons that I needed surgery on,” Mayfield said. “So just give them time to heal, do as much as possible, come back stronger and work on that. And yeah, it’s football. If something like that happens, that’s the nature of the game, unfortunately. But we’ve got into a place where it’s strong enough to (play).”

Mayfield, who signed a $165 million, three-year contract extension before the season, hadn’t missed a start since joining the Buccaneers in 2023. He played through various injuries throughout his career, which began in Cleveland after the Browns selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2018.

The Buccaneers got off to their worst start since 2014, going 0-3 with Mayfield. He struggled behind an offensive line that was woeful at the time. He has two touchdown passes and two interceptions, has lost three fumbles and has been sacked 13 times.

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Daniels didn’t fare much better but led an impressive win at Dallas on Oct. 8. Daniel has three touchdowns, five picks and a 63.4 rating.

“We weren’t doing the little things right,” Mayfield said. “Whether it’s guys overthinking. … I don’t think we have dumb guys on this football team. It’s guys overthinking, just not doing the Day 1 stuff the right way. And so when you have that, guys flying around, you hesitate at quarterback or your eyes are in the right spot quarterback and you’re trusting a guy to be there, you need to understand that you build this system based on timing, the rhythm of your feet, so it’s really important to do that. Our O-line is playing a lot better, and we need to take advantage of it. We need to be on the same page.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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“Billy, of the 20,000 notable players for us to consider, l believe that there’s a championship team of 25 [now 26] people that we can afford because everyone else in baseball undervalues them like an island of misfit toys.”

Peter Brand’s logic in “Moneyball” can be applied to the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays.

Yes, the team that won an American League-best 98 games and reached the 2026 World Series is a roster made up primarily of players who either weren’t drafted or weren’t signed as an international free agent by the Rays. By the way, the Rays are 28th in MLB this year with a $95.6 million payroll.

Here are 10 of Tampa Bay’s most critical players (there are much more than just 10 players in this boat!) and their respective career paths to the 2026 World Series:

Note: Players are mentioned in alphabetical order.

Bryan Baker Stats (2026 Regular Season): 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 63 strikeouts, 41 saves, 2.9 wins above replacement and a 295 ERA+ across 62 ⅓ innings (65 appearances)

Baker was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, but he wouldn’t make his MLB debut until 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-handed reliever would then spend three-plus seasons with the Baltimore Orioles (2022-25), with whom he held his own, before being acquired by the Rays during the 2025 season.

How did Baker fare in his first full season with the Rays? He established himself as Tampa Bay’s closer, while leading the AL in saves and earning his first career All-Star nod.

Junior Caminero Stats (2026 Regular Season): 170 hits, 42 home runs, 101 RBIs, 5.7 wins above replacement, a 144 OPS+ and a .276/.360/.524 slash line (702 plate appearances)

Yes, the face of the Rays technically didn’t begin his professional career with the franchise. While Caminero made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay in 2023, he was originally signed by the Cleveland Guardians, who Tampa Bay defeated in the 2026 AL Championship Series, as an international free agent in 2019 and later traded to the Rays in 2022.

An All-Star in each of the last two seasons (2025-26), Caminero has averaged 43.5 home runs per year over that span, while finishing in the 95th percentile of MLB in average exit velocity this year (92.7 mph, per Statcast) and posting five defensive runs saved at third base. Caminero is a star not yet in his prime who both consistently flaunts overwhelming power from the right side of the plate and flashes leather at the hot corner. 

Yandy Díaz Stats (2026 Regular Season): 180 hits, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs, 2.4 wins above replacement, a 124 OPS+ and a .293/.359/.446 slash line (686 plate appearances)

Sticking with the Guardians, the Rays acquired Díaz from Cleveland in the 2018-19 offseason; the Guardians signed Díaz as an international free agent in 2013.

Díaz proceeded to become an integral part of the Rays’ operation, consistently displaying an elite ability to drive the ball to the opposite field and get on base via both contact and power hitting. Díaz won the 2023 batting title, earned All-Star nods in 2023 and 2026 and led the AL in hits this season.

Liam Hicks Stats (2026 Regular Season): 36 hits, four home runs, 20 RBIs, 0.7 wins above replacement, a 129 OPS+ and a .288/.379/.440 slash line (145 plate appearances after being acquired from the Miami Marlins in July)

Hicks was selected by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, but he was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and later selected by the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft. Following a 2025 rookie campaign that saw Hicks appear in 119 games, the catcher/first baseman/designated hitter emerged as one of the better contact-hitting backstops in the sport this season, and it got him traded to a contending Rays team, with whom he has provided an oomph to the order.

In all, Hicks had more walks (56) than strikeouts (55) and was tied for second among catchers in batting average (.284) across his split 2026 regular season with the Rays and Marlins.

Nick Martinez Stats (2026 Regular Season): 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 109 strikeouts, 3.9 wins above replacement and a 137 ERA+ across 180.0 innings (31 starts)

Martinez was an 18th round pick by the Rangers in the 2011 MLB Draft and would go on to embark on a distinct professional career.

After primarily serving as a starting pitcher for Texas from 2014-17, Martinez pitched four seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league (2018-21) and returned to MLB as a reliever with the San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Cincinnati Reds (2024-25). Last offseason, after making 26 starts across 40 appearances altogether with the Reds in 2025, the Rays signed Martinez to a one-year, $13 million deal to be part of their starting rotation, and the right-hander earned his first career All-Star honor. 

Víctor Mesa Jr. Stats (2026 Regular Season): 61 hits, 14 home runs, 34 RBIs, 2.9 wins above replacement, a 127 OPS+ and a .260/.327/.498 slash line (262 plate appearances)

Mesa signed with the Marlins as an international free agent in 2018 and ultimately wouldn’t reach the big leagues until 2025. After just 16 games with the big-league club in 2025, Miami traded Mesa to Tampa Bay in February, and the outfielder has since become a key ingredient to manager Kevin Cash’s depth chart.

Slugging at a high rate, cranking out production at a highly efficient clip and playing all three outfield positions (mostly right field), Mesa has provided the Rays with both an effective, left-handed bat and a versatile outfielder.

Richie Palacios Stats (2026 Regular Season): 81 hits, 10 home runs, 57 RBIs, 1.8 wins above replacement, a 97 OPS+ and a .235/.330/.374 slash line (399 plate appearances)

“No … there is another!”

And that is in reference to another member of the Rays’ lineup formerly being part of the Guardians. In this case, Palacios was selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft, debuted in the big leagues in 2022, was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023 and then acquired by the Rays in 2024.

Palacios has dabbled at both corner outfield positions in his time with the Rays, but he has been Tampa Bay’s primary second baseman this year, while posing a respectable threat on the basepath (17 stolen bases in the 2026 regular season) and effectively putting the ball in play.

Freddy Peralta Stats (2026 Regular Season): 3.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 43 strikeouts, 1.2 wins above replacement and a 131 ERA+ across 55 ⅓ innings (10 starts with the Rays after being acquired from the New York Mets in July)

Ironically, Peralta spent the first eight seasons of his MLB career with the Brewers (2018-25), highlighted by a pair of All-Star seasons in 2021 and 2025. He was originally signed as an international free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 2013 and later traded to the Brewers in 2015.

Peralta was traded to the Mets last offseason, but he got off to a disappointing start this season, posting a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts. Then, he was traded to the Rays and is back to being the dominant, top-of-the-rotation force that the right-hander was in Milwaukee. Through 16 ⅔ innings pitched in the 2026 AL playoffs, Peralta has posted a 1.08 ERA.

Drew Rasmussen Stats (2026 Regular Season): 2.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 174 strikeouts, 4.7 wins above replacement and a 159 ERA+ across 172.0 innings (30 starts)

The Rays’ ace and likely 2026 AL Cy Young Award finalist was actually drafted by both these teams. Rasmussen turned down Tampa Bay after being selected with the No. 31 pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, instead staying at Oregon State for one more year, which came after also turning down the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014. Rasmussen was later selected by Milwaukee in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft despite having Tommy John surgery beforehand.

After coming out of the Brewers’ bullpen from 2020-21, the Rays acquired Rasmussen during the 2021 season, eventually made him a full-time starting pitcher and the right-hander became a force to be reckoned with.

An All-Star in each of the last two years (2025-26), Rasmussen boasts a career 2.71 ERA with the Rays. He led the AL in WHIP this year and continues to find success with a consistent, four-pitch arsenal: cutter, four-seamer, sinker and changeup. Rasmussen was four outs away from a no-hitter against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.

Ryan Vilade Stats (2026 Regular Season): 60 hits, 11 home runs, 43 RBIs, 0.8 wins above replacement, a 108 OPS+ and a .245/.321/.429 slash line (278 plate appearances)

Selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Vilade reached the MLB scene in 2021, but he wasn’t able to stick. In fact, he wouldn’t appear in an MLB game again until 2024 and entered the 2026 MLB season with just 28 appearances in a big-league game.

And then Vilade was traded to the Rays.

Vilade has been a jack of all trades for Tampa Bay this season, starting games in right field, left field, first base and second base. Meanwhile, he hit a solo home run in the Rays’ closeout Game 3 ALDS win over the Yankees.

In summation: The Rays are the cleaner from “Toy Story 2.” They get players to tap into their potential, get back on track and pretty much anything in-between. But of course, “You can’t rush art!”

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In its first competitive matches since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. men’s soccer team will play its two-legged fixture against Haiti next month without having to leave home.

On Thursday, Concacaf announced that the USA will open the “away” leg of the two-game, total-goals-wins encounter in the quarterfinals of its 2026-27 Nations League tournament against Haiti Nov. 14 at Nu Stadium in Miami. The decisive rematch follows three days later at Cincinnati’s TQL Park, with the series winner advancing to the four-team Nations League finals in Los Angeles next March. 

With Haiti unable to host the game on home soil because of ongoing security concerns in the country, the first match between the USMNT and Les Grenadiers was originally scheduled for the same Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica. Following an appeal from the Haitian Football Federation, Concacaf — the sport’s governing body in North and Central America and the Caribbean — granted the FHF an exemption to host the match in South Florida, home to the largest Haitian expat population in the United States.

vs. Haiti (1st Leg)	Nov. 14	Nu Stadium (Miami)
vs. Haiti (2nd Leg)	Nov. 17	TQL Park (Cincinnati)

Under FIFA rules, competitive two-leg international contests normally can’t be played entirely within the borders of one of the competing nations. Concacaf pointed to the unique challenges in Haiti in explaining the rationale for its decision in a press release. 

“Under this exceptional arrangement, the FHF may be permitted to play its designated home matches in Concacaf-sanctioned competitions in the territory of its opponents, rather than being limited to the Caribbean region as required under the current regulations,” it read. “This flexibility will remain in place for as long as the security situation in Haiti persists.”

Nu Stadium, the sparkling $1 billion home of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, opened earlier this year. The Stars and Stripes will meet a Haitian side there that is coming off its first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in more than half a century. Drawn into a group containing Scotland, 2022 semifinalists Morocco and five-time champion Brazil, Les Grenadiers lost all three games. 

Yet FIFA’s 84th-ranked country has never been an easy opponent for the No. 16 U.S. While the USA has won each of the last three meetings between the teams — including during the first round of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup — each was by a single goal.

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