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FIFA Club World Cup prop picks June 18: Back Vinicius Jr., Petar Ratkov in Matchday 1 finale

The final games of Matchday 1 at the FIFA Club World Cup take place on Wednesday.

The latest: Xabi Alonso makes his managerial debut with Real Madrid against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, and he has no shortage of star power to choose from. After that, two evenly matched teams — one from Austria and one from Mexico — lock horns.

Check out the best FIFA Club World Cup prop picks for Wednesday’s group-stage matches featuring Vinicius Jr. and Petar Ratkov.

FIFA Club World Cup prop picks

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Best Bet: Vinicius to score or assist (-127)

Alonso has some decisions to make in his starting XI with the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the potential departure of Rodrygo to Arsenal.

But two players are pretty much guaranteed to start up front: Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe.

Los Blancos are massive -335 favourites to win this fixture and are -385 to score over 1.5 goals. An offensive outburst is expected against Al Hilal, and that duo should be driving the bus.

Mbappe holds -250 odds to score or give an assist, which is too rich for my blood. Vincicus comes in at a much more palatable -127, though.

The Brazilian national was asked to play second fiddle this season but still had a monster campaign. He posted 19 goal contributions in 30 La Liga fixtures and 10 in 12 Champions League games.

Vinicius closed out the La Liga season with assists in consecutive games, including two against defensively stout Barcelona in a 4-3 losing effort.

Key stat: Vinicius ranks in the 91st percentile in non-penalty xG + xA per 90 (0.67), compared to positional peers in Men’s Big 5 Leagues, UCL, and UEL over the last year, per FBRef.

Full FIFA Club World Cup betting markets

CF Pachuca vs. Red Bull Salzburg best bet

Ratkov over 0.5 shots on target (-125): A competition like this naturally lends itself to some lesser-known players getting shine. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of Ratkov before now.

The Red Bull Salzburg forward has established himself as a super sub in the later days of the season, scoring two goals with three assists in his last four games.

He’s registered a shot on target in four of his last six contests and has at least one shot attempt in all of those games.

The Austrian side is taking on Mexican side CF Pachura, which sits a pedestrian eighth in Liga MX.

FIFA Club World Cup prop picks made at 12:00 p.m. on 06/17/2025.

Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final Game 6 SGP predictions: Back Leon Draisaitl to score at +440

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet for a potentially series-deciding Game 6 on Tuesday.

The pregame narrative: Florida is one win away from defending its Stanley Cup title and reaching dynasty status. Edmonton, meanwhile, must buckle down defensively to stave off elimination after giving up 23 goals through the first five games.

Check out my Oilers vs. Panthers SGP predictions, featuring Leon Draisaitl and Brad Marchand.

Oilers vs. Panthers predictions

Parlay: Oilers +2.5 | Draisaitl to score | Marchand 1+ points (+440)

Oilers +2.5 (-315): I can’t picture the Oilers going down without a fight.

Sure, Edmonton has failed to cover this line in two of five games this series. But we have to remember it was 14-2 against a +1.5 line before then.

And during the playoffs, Kris Knoblauch’s group has responded to all three of its multi-goal losses with a victory while averaging 5.0 goals per game. That includes a 5-4 win over the Panthers in Game 4.

The Oilers are very familiar with adversity, having erased a 3-0 deficit in the Cup Final last year to force Game 7. This will be a dog fight.

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NHL SGP legs

Draisaitl to score (+120): Draisaitl has always been an elite playoff performer, but he’s taken things to another level this year.

The winger has scored an NHL record four overtime goals this postseason, and two of those have come in the Stanley Cup Final.

LEON DRAISAITL IS THE OT HERO ONCE AGAIN

THE OILERS WIN GAME 4 AND TIE THE SERIES 🚨 pic.twitter.com/8XxHFrKIjA
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 13, 2025

Overall, he’s buried 11 playoff goals and has four through five games against the Panthers. Draisaitl sits ninth all-time in playoff goals per game (.547), right ahead of Pavel Bure.

Edmonton is likely to deploy its “nuclear option” heavily evening, pairing Draisaitl with Connor McDavid. I expect fireworks whenever those two are getting heavy minutes together.

Marchand 1+ points (-124): Marchand is one win away from cementing himself as the greatest deadline acquisition ever. Perhaps I’m getting caught up in the moment, but the numbers don’t lie.

10 goals (third-most in playoffs)
20 points (seventh-most in playoffs)
+18 (best in playoffs)

And he’s doing all of that at 37 years old.

Marchand has scored five goals in the Cup Final and is leading all Panthers with 22 shots on goal this series. He also ranks second in xG (2.18) and high-danger chances (eight).

Oilers vs. Panthers predictions made at 10:04 a.m. ET 06/17/2025.

FIFA Club World Cup prop picks June 17: Back Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries against C.F. Monterrey

The FIFA Club World Cup continues on Tuesday with a three-pack of games.

The latest: Inter Milan, fresh off a Champions League final thrashing, is back at it against Mexican side C.F. Monterrey. Before that, German giants Borussia Dortmund are favoured to beat a lesser Brazilian team, Fluminense FC.

Check out the best FIFA Club World Cup prop picks for Tuesday’s group-stage matches featuring Denzel Dumfries and Serhou Guirassy.

FIFA Club World Cup prop picks

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Best bet: Dumfries over 0.5 shots on target (+148)

The last time we saw Inter take the pitch, they were decimated 5-0 in the UCL Final by Paris Saint-Germain.

That also marked Simone Inzaghi’s last game as manager, as the Italian moved on to coach the Saudi Arabian national team. Now, Cristian Chivu has taken over after a one-year stint with Parma.

Chivu will continue on with Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

That means Dumfries will continue to be slotted as the far right midfielder, where he wreaked havoc for most of the season.

The Dutch national scored seven goals in Serie A and added a crucial brace against Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal.

Gazzetta dello Sport also reports that the midfielders on the ends of the five-player group (i.e., Dumfries and Federico DiMarco) will be encouraged to get forward and attack the penalty area.

Dumfries has the ability to jump into play and make noise, and he should feast against a C.F. Monterrey side that sits a mediocre seventh in Liga MX.

Key stat: Dumfries averaged 0.87 shots on target per 90 in Serie A this year, according to FBRef.

Full FIFA Club World Cup betting markets

Fluminense FC vs. Borussia Dortmund best bet

Serhou Guirassy to score (-122): Borussia Dortmund ended its season on a tear, going on a seven-game unbeaten run (6-0-1) with a 3-1 win over Barcelona and a 2-2 tie against Bayern Munich.

Guirassy was at the heart of it all, scoring nine goals and cashing this bet in his last six contests. That included a hat-trick against Barcelona and a brace against Wolfsburg.

The Guinean national led the club with 34 goals in 44 appearances across the Bundesliga and Champions League and is undoubtedly BVB’s top threat to score.

Fluminense sits sixth in the Brazilian Serie A and has conceded 12 goals through 11 games. That’s the worst mark of anyone sitting eighth or better in the table.

Guirassy ranks in the 89th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.64), compared to his positional peers in Men’s Big 5 Leagues, UCL, and UEL over the last year.

FIFA Club World Cup prop picks made at 2:25 p.m. on 06/16/2025.

Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets June 16: Back Cease and Tatis in Ohtani’s 2025 pitching debut

Shohei Ohtani makes his long-awaited return as a pitcher on Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres.

The pregame narrative: Ohtani hasn’t thrown since the 2023 season and is expected to be used sparingly as an opener tonight. Pitching opposite Ohtani is San Diego stud Dylan Cease, who has dominated L.A.’s lineup in the past.

Check out my Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets for June 16, featuring Cease and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets

Best Bet: Cease over 6.5 strikeouts (+105)

All eyes will be on Ohtani tonight — but this Cease guy is pretty good, too.

San Diego’s ace is one of the best swing-and-miss arms in baseball, posting a 70th-percentile K rate or better in each of the last five seasons, according to Baseball Savant.

This year, he owns a 95th-percentile whiff rate (34.7%) and an 88th-percentile K rate (29.9%).

Cease has gotten touched up at points this year, surrendering a high volume of hard contact, which leads to shorter outings. But he’s buckled down since the beginning of May and was spotless against the Dodgers last week.

Cease has a 3.33 ERA across eight starts since May 1.

In that span, the righty has logged six-plus Ks seven times and is 5-3 vs. this line.

He most recently struck out 11 Dodgers in 7.0 shutout innings on June 10.

That was Cease’s best outing of the season, by far, but torching the Dodgers is nothing new for the 29-year-old.

Key Stat: Cease has a 32.7% K rate against this Dodgers lineup in 150 combined plate appearances.

Best MLB picks

Tatis over 1.5 bases (+115): In all likelihood, Tatis will only see Ohtani once this evening. If he can get after him in his first at-bat of the night, great. If not, I still like our chances.

Tatis is coming off a monster series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 8-for-13 at the plate with three doubles.

The superstar outfielder has proven to be a streaky hitter at times, but when he gets hot, he gets hot. Tatis posted a .323/.390/.591 slash line in April with seven home runs, and I’m hoping the weekend’s success will roll over into tonight.

L.A.’s bullpen hasn’t been great this season, posting a 4.08 ERA and giving up 40 home runs (second-most in MLB).

This seems like a good spot to back a surging hitter.

Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets made at 11:27 a.m. ET on 06/16/2025.

Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets June 16: Back Cease and Tatis in Ohtani’s 2025 pitching debut

Shohei Ohtani makes his long-awaited return as a pitcher on Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres.

The pregame narrative: Ohtani hasn’t thrown since the 2023 season and is expected to be used sparingly as an opener tonight. Pitching opposite Ohtani is San Diego stud Dylan Cease, who has dominated L.A.’s lineup in the past.

Check out my Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets for June 16, featuring Cease and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets

Best Bet: Cease over 6.5 strikeouts (+108)

All eyes will be on Ohtani tonight — but this Cease guy is pretty good, too.

San Diego’s ace is one of the best swing-and-miss arms in baseball, posting a 70th-percentile K rate or better in each of the last five seasons, according to Baseball Savant.

This year, he owns a 95th-percentile whiff rate (34.7%) and an 88th-percentile K rate (29.9%).

Cease has gotten touched up at points this year, surrendering a high volume of hard contact, which leads to shorter outings. But he’s buckled down since the beginning of May and was spotless against the Dodgers last week.

Cease has a 3.33 ERA across eight starts since May 1.

In that span, the righty has logged six-plus Ks seven times and is 5-3 vs. this line.

He most recently struck out 11 Dodgers in 7.0 shutout innings on June 10.

That was Cease’s best outing of the season, by far, but torching the Dodgers is nothing new for the 29-year-old.

Key Stat: Cease has a 32.7% K rate against this Dodgers lineup in 150 combined plate appearances.

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Best MLB picks

Tatis over 1.5 bases (+104): In all likelihood, Tatis will only see Ohtani once this evening. If he can get after him in his first at-bat of the night, great. If not, I still like our chances.

Tatis is coming off a monster series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 8-for-13 at the plate with three doubles.

The superstar outfielder has proven to be a streaky hitter at times, but when he gets hot, he gets hot. Tatis posted a .323/.390/.591 slash line in April with seven home runs, and I’m hoping the weekend’s success will roll over into tonight.

L.A.’s bullpen hasn’t been great this season, posting a 4.08 ERA and giving up 40 home runs (second-most in MLB).

This seems like a good spot to back a surging hitter.

Padres vs. Dodgers prop bets made at 11:27 a.m. ET on 06/16/2025.

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Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals Game 5 SGP: Bet on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso at +350

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder will break a deadlock in the NBA Finals on Monday night.

The pregame narrative: Nobody expected this series to be tied through four games, and the odds indicate OKC should pull away with this in short order. The Thunder are heavily favoured to win at home tonight behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been automatic at Paycom Center.

Check out my Pacers vs. Thunder SGP predictions for Game 5 on June 16, featuring SGA.

Pacers vs. Thunder predictions

Parlay: Pacers +16.5 | Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ points | Caruso 2+ threes (+350)

Pacers +16.5 (-315): At this point, it wouldn’t shock me if the Pacers managed to win this game and the series. Rick Carlisle’s squad has been pulling off upsets all postseason and has been an exceptionally tough road team since Day 1.

The Pacers have an 8-2 road record in the playoffs.

Their +0.4 road net rating ranks third among all playoff teams.

Since the start of the regular season, Indiana is 19-12 ATS as a road underdog. That’s the fourth-best mark in basketball.

The Pacers are 18-2 against this line in the playoffs and have covered this mark in five of six games against the Thunder this year (all four this series).

Don’t expect Indiana to roll over tonight.

Embed: #114865

NBA SGP legs

Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ points (-265): Gilgeous-Alexander is on a generational scoring run, and that’s reflected in these heavily juiced odds.

The Canadian averaged a league-best 32.7 PPG this year en route to winning the MVP. He has kept his foot on the gas in the playoffs, especially at home.

31.8 PPG at home on 49.4% shooting
30+ points in nine straight home games

SGA is averaging a whopping 35.0 PPG in his last five home playoff games, dropping 38 and 34 in the first two games of this series.

He’s coming off a 35-point effort on the road in Game 4 and is rightfully leading the Thunder in minutes and field-goal attempts per game.

Caruso 2+ threes (-105): Caruso has become an X-factor for the Thunder this series, with Mark Daigneault leaning on the veteran heavily as the series goes on.

He is averaging 29.3 minutes a night — after logging 22.6 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF — and has made hay with those opportunities:

14.8 points/game
2.5 steals/game
50.0 3PT%

Caruso is shooting 43.2% from deep this postseason and is 9-7 against this line since the start of the second round.

Pacers vs. Thunder predictions made at 11:56 a.m. ET 06/16/2025.

Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final best bets Game 6: Bet on a hot start, Evan Bouchard to let it fly

The Stanley Cup will be present for Game 6 when the Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers.

The pregame narrative: Florida is one win away from establishing itself as a dynasty after a suffocating win in Edmonton on Saturday night. The Panthers have started every game hot and are favoured to win at home on Tuesday.

Check out my Oilers vs. Panthers best bets for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, featuring Evan Bouchard.

Oilers vs. Panthers best bets

Best Bet: Bouchard over 3.5 shots (+115)

Edmonton can’t afford to look for the perfect play at this point in the series.

Firing pucks on the net and applying relentless pressure should be the game plan, and Bouchard epitomizes that style of play.

The Oilers’ defenceman has a series-leading 30 shots (6.0/game).

Bouchard is 3-2 against this line, with at least three shots in every game.

He is leading all skaters in the Stanley Cup Final in ice time (151:36).

Bouchard blew by this total in Games 1-3, logging seven, eight and nine shots on goal before putting three on net in each of the last two outings.

His recent form doesn’t dissuade me, though, considering he still logged 14 chances (i.e shot attempts) in those games.

Key stat: Bouchard has 55 chances this series, per Natural Stat Trick. That is 20 more than the next closest player, Brad Marchand.

Stanley Cup Final Game 6 picks

Over 1.5 first-period goals (-143): Florida is the toughest team in the NHL to mount a comeback against, and Edmonton hasn’t made its life easy with the way it’s starting games.

The Panthers have 11 first-period goals this series, scoring at least two in every game and cashing this bet on their own.

I expect Florida to come out flying, given Edmonton’s goaltender controversy. Stuart Skinner was pulled from the net in Game 5, and Calvin Pickard was shelled in Game 6, allowing four goals on 18 shots.

And we all know how dynamite the Oilers’ offence can be when they’re clicking. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should make their presence felt with their season on the line.

Oilers vs. Panthers best bets made at 1:37 p.m. ET 06/15/2025.

Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final best bets Game 6: Back Florida to start hot, Evan Bouchard to let it fly

The Stanley Cup will be present for Game 6 when the Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers.

The pregame narrative: Florida is one win away from establishing itself as a dynasty after a suffocating win in Edmonton on Saturday night. The Panthers have started every game hot and are favoured to win at home on Tuesday.

Check out my Oilers vs. Panthers best bets for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, featuring Evan Bouchard.

Oilers vs. Panthers best bets

Best Bet: Bouchard over 3.5 shots (+130)

Edmonton can’t afford to look for the perfect play at this point in the series.

Firing pucks on the net and applying relentless pressure should be the game plan, and Bouchard epitomizes that style of play.

The Oilers’ defenceman has a series-leading 30 shots (6.0/game).

Bouchard is 3-2 against this line, with at least three shots in every game.

He is leading all skaters in the Stanley Cup Final in ice time (151:36).

Bouchard blew by this total in Games 1-3, logging seven, eight and nine shots on goal before putting three on net in each of the last two outings.

His recent form doesn’t dissuade me, though, considering he still logged 14 chances (i.e shot attempts) in those games.

Key stat: Bouchard has 55 chances this series, per Natural Stat Trick. That is 20 more than the next closest player, Brad Marchand.

Embed: #114852

Stanley Cup Final Game 6 picks

Panthers over 1 first-period goals (+130): Florida is the toughest team in the NHL to mount a comeback against, and Edmonton hasn’t made its life easy with the way it’s starting games.

The Panthers have 11 first-period goals this series, scoring at least two in every game.

This bet would push if Florida were to score just one first-period goal on Tuesday, resulting in the stake being returned. Given how hot the Panthers have started, I’m all over this plus-money value for them to score a pair with that safety net.

Edmonton has a legitimate goaltender controversy in the season’s dying days.

Stuart Skinner was pulled from the net in Game 5, and Calvin Pickard was shelled in Game 6, allowing four goals on 18 shots.

I don’t trust either netminder to stand tall under the bright lights, especially with how many penalties the Oilers have been taking.

Oilers vs. Panthers best bets made at 1:37 p.m. ET 06/15/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 15: Back Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mookie Betts to score on Sunday

Fernando Tatis Jr. headlines Sunday’s superstar-laden MLB prop bet recommendations.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Tatis’ San Diego Padres are on the verge of getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the star right fielder has been getting aboard at a solid clip and has value to score.

Check out the best MLB prop bets for June 14, also featuring Mookie Betts and Bobby Witt Jr.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Tatis to score (-125)

My colleague Jordan Horrobin recommended this play yesterday, and it cashed as Tatis went 2-for-5 and scored two runs.

I’ll go back to that well on Sunday for a few reasons.

Tatis has scored six runs in his last five games while slashing .375/.545/.438.

He has a stellar .396 on-base percentage in June, scoring 10 runs and going 7-5 vs. this line.

The outfielder has a great history against D-backs starter Merrill Kelly, reaching base safely in 11-of-28 plate appearances (.392 OBP) with four home runs.

Kelly has struck out Tatis at an absurd 32.1% clip in those matchups, which is a drawback. However, Tatis is sporting the lowest K rate of his career (18.1%), by a wide margin, with his second-highest walk rate (10.6%).

Arizona’s righty has logged consecutive scoreless outings, but has a 34th percentile xBA (.260) and a 10th percentile hard-hit rate.

Batting leadoff on the road, Tatis should have plenty of chances to get aboard.

Key stat: Tatis is 4-1 against this line in his last five games.

Best MLB picks

Betts to score (-118): Getting Betts to score at this price is very compelling.

The MVP shortstop has been getting aboard at a stellar .429 clip this month and bats ahead of big names like Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez.

Tonight, the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the San Francisco Giants and Kyle Harrison.

The 23-year-old arm is largely unproven and ranks in the 30th percentile or lower in xERA (4.58), xBA (.264), barrel rate (10.6%) and hard-hit rate (48.5%).

I think the Dodgers can demolish the young lefty on Sunday Night Baseball.

Witt over 1.5 bases (-143): Let’s get the ugly out of the way: Witt is hitless in his last four games.

The good news is a player like Witt won’t be held down for long, and today he has an A-plus matchup against Jeffery Springs of the Athletics.

The southpaw has a 4.64 ERA and his 4.08 xERA isn’t much better. In his last three starts, Springs has allowed 16 hits and 12 earned runs in 14.2 IP.

Witt is slashing .308/.373/.462 vs. LHP this year.

MLB prop picks made at 9:45 p.m. ET on 06/14/2025.

Best MLB prop bets June 15: Back Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mookie Betts to score on Sunday

Fernando Tatis Jr. headlines Sunday’s superstar-laden MLB prop bet recommendations.

Today’s MLB props narrative: Tatis’ San Diego Padres are on the verge of getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the star right fielder has been getting aboard at a solid clip and has value to score.

Check out the best MLB prop bets for June 14, also featuring Mookie Betts and Bobby Witt Jr.

MLB prop bets

Best bet: Tatis to score (-122)

My colleague Jordan Horrobin recommended this play yesterday, and it cashed as Tatis went 2-for-5 and scored two runs.

I’ll go back to that well on Sunday for a few reasons.

Tatis has scored six runs in his last five games while slashing .375/.545/.438.

He has a stellar .396 on-base percentage in June, scoring 10 runs and going 7-5 vs. this line.

The outfielder has a great history against D-backs starter Merrill Kelly, reaching base safely in 11-of-28 plate appearances (.392 OBP) with four home runs.

Kelly has struck out Tatis at an absurd 32.1% clip in those matchups, which is a drawback. However, Tatis is sporting the lowest K rate of his career (18.1%), by a wide margin, with his second-highest walk rate (10.6%).

Arizona’s righty has logged consecutive scoreless outings, but has a 34th percentile xBA (.260) and a 10th percentile hard-hit rate.

Batting leadoff on the road, Tatis should have plenty of chances to get aboard.

Key stat: Tatis is 4-1 against this line in his last five games.

Embed: #114842

Best MLB picks

Betts to score (-110): Getting Betts to score at this price is very compelling.

The MVP shortstop has been getting aboard at a stellar .429 clip this month and bats ahead of big names like Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez.

Tonight, the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the San Francisco Giants and Kyle Harrison.

The 23-year-old arm is largely unproven and ranks in the 30th percentile or lower in xERA (4.58), xBA (.264), barrel rate (10.6%) and hard-hit rate (48.5%).

I think the Dodgers can demolish the young lefty on Sunday Night Baseball.

Witt over 1.5 bases (-139): Let’s get the ugly out of the way: Witt is hitless in his last four games.

The good news is a player like Witt won’t be held down for long, and today he has an A-plus matchup against Jeffery Springs of the Athletics.

The southpaw has a 4.64 ERA and his 4.08 xERA isn’t much better. In his last three starts, Springs has allowed 16 hits and 12 earned runs in 14.2 IP.

Witt is slashing .308/.373/.462 vs. LHP this year.

MLB prop picks made at 9:45 p.m. ET on 06/14/2025.