As the College Football Playoff prepares to name its first champion of 2026, ESPN analysts have shared their predictions for major trophies across sports. From the Super Bowl to the World Series, they’ve picked favorites and crafted parlays ranging from safe doubles to massive longshots. These bets, sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook, highlight value in underdogs and emerging contenders.
The focus is on fun and accountability—receipts for improbable payouts. Odds were current as of early January 2026, prior to key matchups like Miami-Ole Miss.
College Football Playoff National Championship
The CFP National Championship on Jan. 19 features Indiana Hoosiers as slight favorites at +125, followed by Miami Hurricanes (+310) and Oregon Ducks (+320). Pam Maldonado backs the Hoosiers, citing their disciplined defense that excels in January’s high-stakes environment.
She explains: “Defense travels, discipline compounds and variance shrinks in January. They force long drives, win red zones and avoid self-inflicted chaos.” Against Oregon’s speed and Miami’s volatility, Indiana’s patience should prevail in tight moments.
Maldonado’s conservative parlay pairs this with Carlos Alcaraz to win the Australian Open (+160), paying +485 on a $10 bet.
This pick underscores Indiana’s late-game edges, a trait proven in past playoff runs by structured teams.
Olympic Winter Games Medal Standings
Norway leads Olympic medal futures at -160, with Germany (+450), USA (+500) and Canada (+600) trailing. Liz Loza selects Germany for most golds, pointing to their 12 from 2022 Beijing and Norway’s key retirements in Nordic combined.
Germany boasts stars in bobsled, skeleton, hockey and biathlon. “The Germans could be on the precipice of an upset,” Loza notes, making them a strong underdog play from Feb. 6-22.
Her aggressive three-leg parlay adds Buffalo Bills for the Super Bowl (+1000) and Philadelphia Phillies for the World Series (+1100), yielding +72500 payout.
This bet reflects Germany’s infrastructure gains post-Beijing.
Norway’s dominance in skiing remains, but gaps are closing.
Super Bowl LX Predictions
Seattle Seahawks top Super Bowl odds at +330, with Los Angeles Rams (+425), Denver Broncos (+650) and New England Patriots (+900). Seth Walder picks Denver, highlighting their playoff path in a weak conference and post-bye offensive surge (eighth in EPA per drive).
“Denver doesn’t need Nix to be perfect,” Walder says, thanks to elite lines and defense. Matt Bowen favors Buffalo Bills (+1000), trusting Josh Allen’s dual-threat ability despite secondary concerns.
Walder’s parlay includes Arsenal for EPL (-500) and New York Liberty for WNBA (+370), at +4130. Bowen’s monster six-leg features Canada Olympic hockey (+130), Houston NCAA men’s (+1500), Denver Nuggets NBA (+700), Phillies MLB (+1100) and Scottie Scheffler Masters (+300), paying +15544220 on $1.
These diverge on QB talent versus team balance.
Bills’ third-ranked scoring (27.1 PPG) adds firepower.
NCAA Basketball Championships
Men’s favorites: Michigan (+340), Arizona (+850), UConn (+950), Duke (11-1). Women’s: UConn (-160), Texas/South Carolina/LSU/UCLA (+800-+850). Mark Zinno tabs Arizona men for their pace, shooting, defense and rebounding dominance.
“The Wildcats have no holes and can beat anyone,” Zinno asserts. His parlay with Edmonton Oilers NHL (+1100), Oklahoma City Thunder NBA (+115) and Barcelona LaLiga (-170) pays +38827.
April’s tournaments reward versatility, as Arizona’s shown.
Women’s race stays tight with UConn’s edge.
English Premier League Title Race
Arsenal dominates EPL odds at -500, ahead of Manchester City (+450), Aston Villa (+3500) and Liverpool (100-1). Victoria Matiash picks Villa, citing their 13-1-2 surge since late September, fueled by Europa League success.
“Ollie Watkins & Co. would sit neck and neck alongside the leaders” without a recent Arsenal loss, she says. Her parlay adds Bills NFL (+1000) and Colorado Avalanche NHL (+280) at +150380.
City’s stumbles open doors for mid-table risers.
Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery mirrors past surprise winners.
UEFA Champions League Final
Arsenal (+400), Bayern Munich (+450), PSG/Manchester City (+700). Dan Thomas backs PSG (+700), last season’s winners with Luis Enrique’s young squad. “The chasing pack have issues galore,” he notes—Barcelona’s defense, City’s backline, Bayern’s travel woes, Madrid’s form.
Parlay with Arsenal EPL (-500) and Spain World Cup (+450) pays +5180 on May 30.
PSG’s value stems from forgotten success.
Stanley Cup Final Outlook
Colorado Avalanche (+280), Carolina (+600), Tampa Bay (+750), Vegas (+850). Sean Allen picks Avalanche over Florida Panthers (+3000) in an exact-result bet, pitting his favorites.
Parlay with Sweden men’s Olympic hockey (+500) at +18500 for June.
Avalanche’s regular-season run sets stage.
Florida’s finals streak adds intrigue.
NBA Finals Contenders
Oklahoma City Thunder (+115), Denver (+750), Spurs/Knicks/Rockets (+1200-+1300). André Snellings eyes Boston Celtics (+2500), second in East without Jayson Tatum but poised for playoffs return.
“If they enter with a high seed and get Tatum back, they will have a strong chance,” he says. Parlay includes Rams NFL (+450), Jannik Sinner Australian Open (-125), Iga Swiatek French Open (+225) at +79752.
Celtics’ core seeks repeat.
FIFA World Cup Favorites
Spain (+450), England (+550), France/Brazil/Argentina (+800). Eric Karabell picks France (+800), led by Mbappé after 2018 win and 2022 final.
Parlay with Spurs NBA (+1200), Padres MLB (+2000) at +245600 for June-July.
Star power endures.
World Series and WNBA Finals
Dodgers (+330) lead MLB, with Blue Jays (+1500) Tristan Cockcroft’s pick after heavy spending. Parlay: Broncos NFL (+650), Jack Draper Wimbledon (+1800) at +227900.
WNBA: Lynx (+300), Aces (+310), Liberty (+370), Fever (+425). Eric Moody selects Golden State Valkyries (+2500), expansion success story. Parlay: Jaguars NFL (+1300), Pistons NBA (+2000) at +764300.
These longshots highlight rapid builds.
Why parlays captivate bettors
These ESPN picks blend data, gut and narrative—from Indiana’s structure to Valkyries’ infrastructure. Payouts tempt, but low hit rates demand discipline.
Track them through 2026; even partial hits validate the logic. As events unfold, value shifts—stay nimble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.