The College Football Playoff is set to crown the first champion of the 2026 calendar, making it the perfect time to ask our analysts to go on record with their picks for who will lift the various cups and trophies to be won by the end of the year. And just for fun, we asked them to reveal their favorite championship bet for the year and then discuss their choice, whether it’s a conservative pairing or a multileague ticket to the dreamer.
Let’s be clear: As is the general expectation with most negotiations, it is highly unlikely that these bets will be successful. They’re about making predictions, having the receipts to prove them, and, if an impossible event happens, being able to answer the question: What were the chances?
All the possibilities provided by DraftKings Sportsbook And current at the time of publication.
College Football Playoff National Championship (January 19)
Current favourites: Indiana Hoosiers (+125), miami storm (+310), oregon duck (+320)*
Pam Maldonado’s CFP pick: Hoosiers +125
Hoosiers win because defense trips, discipline compounds and variances are reduced in January. They force long drives, win red zones and avoid self-created chaos. Oregon’s speed meets structure, and Miami brings instability. When the game gets tight and nerves under pressure matter most, Indiana answers, patiently and late in the game.
Maldonado’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +485 ($48.50 to win $10)
*Odds and bets placed ahead of Thursday’s Miami-Ole Miss game
Olympic Winter Games (February 6–22)
Current medal leaderboard favourites: Norway (-160), Germany (+450), USA (+500), Canada (+600)
Liz Loza’s Olympic medal selection: Germany +450
Norway (-160) is, for good reason, the favorite to win the most gold medals at this year’s Olympic Games. The Land of the Midnight Sun is the all-time leader in gold medals at the Games, largely due to the country’s dominance in skiing and biathlon events. However, Germany is in serious competition, having won an impressive 12 gold medals (second only to Norway) at the 2022 Games in Beijing. The Germans could be on the verge of an upset this round, especially with Norway’s two most prestigious competitors having retired from Nordic combined. Additionally, with superstar contenders in the bobsledding and skeleton events, as well as emerging hockey and biathlon talent, Germany is a hotbed to bet on.
Loza’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +72500 ($7,250 to win $10)
Super Bowl LX (February 8)
Current favourites: Seattle Seahawks (+330), Los Angeles Rams (+425), denver broncos (+650), new England Patriots (+900)
Seth Walder’s Super Bowl pick: Denver Broncos +650
The more I watch the playoffs, the more I see the seas parting for the Broncos: They’ve got a bye in a conference that doesn’t have a single team in the top five of FPI. And while I’ve been doubting bo nix In hindsight, the Broncos’ offense has ranked eighth in EPA per drive since the team’s bye in Week 12. Plus, Denver doesn’t need the Knicks to be perfect because he is surrounded by talent. The team has an excellent offensive line and excellent defense. That’s a recipe for winning without an elite quarterback.
Walder’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +4130 ($413 to win $10)
Matt Bowen’s Super Bowl pick: Buffalo Bills (+1000)
In the postseason open field, I’m willing to bet josh allenUnique dual-threat traits and an explosive Buffalo offense that ranks third in scoring this season (27.1 points per game). Yes, I have concerns about the Bills defense, a unit that lacks high-end speed in the secondary. However, if Sean McDermott’s team can play with zone discipline in their main coverages while using calculated pressure to disrupt the pocket, it will create more opportunities for Allen, who I see as the ultimate difference-maker in the NFL playoffs.
Bowen’s 2026 discussion:
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NFL: Buffalo Bills +1000
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Men’s Olympic Hockey: Canada +130
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Men’s NCAA Tournament: Houston +1500
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NBA: Denver Nuggets +700
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MLB: Philadelphia Phillies +1100
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Scotty Scheffler wins Masters +300
Payout +15544220 ($155,442.20 for $1 win)
Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Championships (April)
Current men’s favourites: michigan (+340), Arizona (+850), Yukon (+950), ruler (11-1)
Current women’s favourites: Yukon (-160), texas (+800), South Carolina (+800), LSU (+850), UCLA (+850)
Mark Zino’s Men’s Champion Selection: Arizona (+850)
The Wildcats may be the most fundamentally sound team in the country. Offensively, he plays with speed and can light up from anywhere on the floor. Defensively, they blow your mind with size, length and athleticism. And you can forget about trying to hit back against them – the only people in America who clean glass better are actually on the scaffolding of a tall building. This is not a team that has to worry about “good draws” in March. The Wildcats have no holes and can beat anyone. I trust them to cut the net when it’s all over.
Zinno’s 2026 Parle:
Payout +38827 ($3,882.70 to win $10)
English Premier League (May)
Current favourites: armory (-500), Manchester City (+450), Aston Villa (+3500), liverpool (100-1)
Victoria Matyas’ Premier League champion selection: aston villa +3500
Considering the success Unai Emery’s side have enjoyed since the end of September, it’s almost hard to remember the club’s disappointing 0-3-2 start. Since defeating Fulham on 28 September – perhaps partly inspired by a courageous win bologna In uefa europa league Contest three days ago–Villa’s record is 13-1-2. If not for recent losses armorywhom they defeated earlier this season, ollie watkins & Co. will sit shoulder to shoulder with league leaders. For value, with Manchester City A late wobble and Villa’s excellent ride, this play presents as an attractive bet on Arsenal slipping down the stretch.
Matias’s 2026 Parlay:
Payout +150380 ($10 to win $15)
UEFA Champions League Final (30 May)
Current favourites: armory (+400), Bayern Munich (+450), Paris Saint Germain (+700), Manchester City (+700)
Dan Thomas’s Champions League selection: Paris Saint-Germain (+700)
PSG won the Champions League last season, yet bookmakers have forgotten, and the French side are an excellent value as a result. PSG still have a hugely exciting young squad under Luis Enrique and have plenty of problems in pursuit.
barcelona Can’t defend. Man City’s back line is destroyed. I don’t trust Bayern Munich outside of Germany, and real Madrid It’s just nonsense.
Thomas’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +5180 ($518 to win $10)
Stanley Cup Finals (June)
Current favourites: colorado avalanche (+280), carolina storm (+600), tampa bay lightning (+750), vegas golden knights (+850)
Shawn Allen’s Stanley Cup selections: Colorado Avalanche beat Florida Panthers (+3000)
This season is shaping up to be the perfect opportunity for my favorite teams to meet in the final battle, so instead of picking a winner, I’m going with one of DraftKings’ “Exact Result” bets. My longtime favorite from Denver – created from the childhood love of Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic – is a heavy Cup favorite during their runaway regular season. In the meantime, I picked up my recent favorite from South Florida – Forged By Supporting them alone in 2022-23 – has been going on for the last three years and hopefully it will happen Alexander Barkov Go back in time to make it four. To improve the conversation, let’s go against the Olympic outcome; Like the Stanley Cup playoffs, anyone can make a big play at the right time to change this outcome.
Allen’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +18500 ($1,850 to win $10)
NBA Finals (June)
Current favourites: oklahoma city thunder (+115), denver nuggets (+750), San Antonio Spurs (+1200), new York Knicks (+1200), Houston Rockets (+1300)
Andre Snellings’ NBA Championship Selection: boston celtics (+2500)
The Celtics have a long shot to win a championship, but they are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference and have the fifth-best record in the NBA. And they’ve done it all jaylen brown lead the way jayson tatumWho has consistently said that he hopes to make a comeback this season. If they enter the playoffs with a higher seed and bring Tatum back, they will have a stronger chance to participate in a second championship with this core.
Snelling’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +79752 ($7,975.20 to win $10)
FIFA World Cup (June–July)
Current favourites: spain (+450), England (+550), France (+800), brazil (+800), argentina (+800)
Eric Carrabelle’s World Cup selection: France (+800)
France isn’t exactly a bold pick after Les Blues won everything in 2018 and lost to Argentina in the 2022 final, but a sleeper isn’t winning it all either. The France-Norway Group I match will be the highlight of the inaugural Cup, but regardless of that result, France should go far with incredible star power led by Kylian Mbappe. This could be an excellent year for the country.
Karabel’s 2026 discussion:
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World Cup: France +800
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NBA: San Antonio Spurs (you may have heard of their amazing French center) +1200
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MLB: San Diego Padres (They’ll have to rejoin journeyman 1B Ty France In July, of course) +2000
Payout +245600 ($10 to win $24,560)
World Series (October)
Current favourites: los angeles dodgers (+330), New York Yankees (+750), philadelphia phillies (+1100), Houston Astros (+1300)
Tristan H. Cockcroft’s World Series selections: Blue Jays (+1500)
The Blue Jays, twice away from their third World Series championship and the first in 32 years, would hardly have been satisfied with standing as runner-up. They’ve collectively invested $337 million in four free agents, with more additional investments likely to come. ,kyle tucker, Alex BregmanA bo bichet Reunion?) This wouldn’t be the first time that a team got its first taste of the Fall Classic, then won it the following season: see 2014–15 kansas city royals and 2021-22 Houston Astros (Not to mention the five additional teams this century that made consecutive World Series appearances). Maximizing the championship window is in vogue, and the Blue Jays’ prospects are excellent for a team that has a real chance to take the next step.
Cockcroft’s 2026 discussion:
Payout +227900 ($22,790 to win $12)
WNBA Finals (October)
Current favourites: minnesota lynx (+300), Las Vegas Aces (+310), new york liberty (+370), indiana fever (+425)
Eric Moody’s WNBA Champion: Golden State Valkyries (+2500)
The Valkyries are an attractive choice to win the title despite long odds. In their inaugural season, they went 23–21, becoming the first expansion team to reach the playoffs and building one of the league’s strongest home-court advantages while leading the league in attendance. Natalie Nakase earned Coach of the Year honors and Veronica Burton Emerging as a cornerstone player. The main concern is the lack of a true superstar, but the infrastructure is real. With aggressive ownership, a visionary front office and the ability to pursue elite free agents following the resolution of the CBA, Golden State has a clear path to a rapid championship leap, making it an attractive future bet.
Moody’s 2026 discussion
Payout +764300 ($76,430 to win $10)
