2025-26 March Madness Odds: Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s Final Four Best Bets

“Bear Bets” are real wagers that Chris “The Bear” Fallica is actually making. Here we are, down to the last four teams. It’s been fun watching the madness of March, but it’s somewhat bittersweet that it will all be over soon. But not before we get another wager in! Here’s where I’m putting my money for the UConn-Illinois game, and some historical Bear Bytes about the tourney. 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. No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 UConn I know the Big East wasn’t very good this year outside of Connecticut and St. John’s, and I guess, to an extent, Villanova. The Huskies already have an early-season win over Illinois, a game in which Tarris Reed played 15 minutes, Braylon Mullins 10 and Keaton Wagler just 14 (scored three points). There’s been a lot of talk this week about how Wagler wasn’t Wagler yet. However, the same can be said for the Huskies, whose two biggest players in the Tournament had minimal, if any impact in that game. The Illini were 6-for-29 from 3-point range in that game, too. In the regional, Reed was 18-for-32 from the field with 46 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. He’s been a monster. Will the Illini’s size negate some of that? UConn beat Duke despite missing 17 of its first 18 3-point shots. Surely the Huskies won’t have that poor a shooting performance again, will they? In addition to the win over Duke and over Michigan State in the regional, UConn has Kansas, Florida and Texas wins from the regular season and a 4-point loss to Arizona in a game which the Huskies led with 1:30 left, despite Reed and Mullins not playing at all. I know all the analytics and sites that track power ratings have the Illini favored here, but I just don’t see it. Here’s an interesting nugget: Illinois went 2-6 against the other top seven teams in the Big Ten, granted four of the losses came in OT. Would it surprise me if Illinois won? Of course not. But there’s something about a Dan Hurley team come tourney time that just clicks. I’ll take the points here. PICK: UConn (+2) to lose by fewer than 2 points or win outright Bear Bytes