“Bear Bets” are real wagers that Chris “The Bear” Fallica is actually making.
We are approaching one of the best stretches on the sports calendar, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off and 104 matches to bet on, along with a full summer of MLB action ahead.
With that in mind, let’s dive into some of our favorite World Cup and MLB futures bets that I am backing.
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Ivory Coast (+700) to win Group E
Ivory Coast (+600) top African team
Amad Diallo and Ivory Coast have +700 odds to win Group E (Getty Images).
Germany hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals of a major international tournament since the European Championship in 2016. Sure, it’s a new roster and a new coach, but even at Euro 2024 as hosts, it still went out in the quarterfinals.
I just don’t think Germany warrants being such a heavy favorite here, so I’m not only taking a shot on Ivory Coast to win the group, but also to be the African nation that advances the furthest.
I think the Elephants are low-key loaded. Maybe they ultimately prove to be too young, but the talent is there: Diallo, Diomande, Guessand, Kessie, to name a few.
The Germany match will be played in Toronto during the middle of the afternoon. Could the weather become a factor for some of the European nations?
Win the group, and you likely draw a third-place side in the Round of 32. Finish second, and you’d probably get Norway in the Round of 32, which is still very manageable.
And when you consider Morocco — the African side most people would pick to advance the furthest — would likely draw the Netherlands in the Round of 32, there’s a real chance they could go out immediately.
So we’re digging a little deeper than the obvious top choice here.
England (+375) Stage of Elimination: Quarterfinals
Harry Kane and England are currently +650 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Getty Images).
I can’t see England going any deeper than the quarterfinals.
A look at England’s projected path as likely group winners reveals a potential matchup with Mexico at Azteca Stadium in the Round of 16, followed by a possible quarterfinal against Brazil in Miami.
That’s a lot of heat, humidity, elevation and hostile environments for England to deal with.
I’ll take the +375 on England to be eliminated in the quarterfinals, and I’ll also monitor who the potential Round of 16 opponent ends up being. If it’s Mexico, we could grab El Tri as a hedge opportunity there.
Gerrit Cole (+10000) to win AL Cy Young
Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees is currently +10000 to win the American League Cy Young (Getty Images).
Even as someone holding a Cam Schlittler ticket at a great number, I still think there’s value in the American League Cy Young market.
Enter 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, who, in his return from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of 2025, has thrown 12.2 innings of shutout ball across two starts while allowing just six hits and striking out 12 batters.
Sure, one of those games was against the Royals — not exactly an elite lineup — but it’s still an extremely promising start for a Yankees team that desperately needs him given its other pitching injuries and suspect bullpen.
During his Cy Young campaign in 2023, Cole posted a 2.63 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and 222 strikeouts across 209 innings.
Some detractors might point to the time he missed, but because the absence came at the beginning of the season, it could easily be overlooked if Cole continues to perform at this level.
There’s also still plenty of runway left. The Yankees have 106 games remaining, which would likely give Cole around 21 more starts if everything goes according to plan.
At this number — and maybe there were even better prices available earlier — I’ll bite.
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