Vik Chokshi

Chicago, Illinois

Head of Sports Betting at FOX Sports

Sports and random thoughts | 💼: Sports Betting @TheAthletic | 🎓: @marquetteu & MBA @giesbusiness | 🎙️: VIKtory Lap | Love: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧☕🏀🏈⛳✈️

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Articles

Grande scratched from Kentucky Derby, bringing field down to 19

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Zach Powell |Vik Chokshi

A little more than 24 hours before the 151st Kentucky Derby, Grande has joined the list of scratched horses. Grande, owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, will not race due to a bruised foot, the Derby announced, bringing the field for Saturday's race down to 19. The move came a day after Rodriguez, the Bob Baffert-trained horse, was scratched from the race because of a bruised foot.
Will Taylor Swift be shown? Can a long shot win?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

Every first Saturday in May, the world turns its attention to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. From a betting perspective, the "Run for the Roses" has always been a huge draw. However, not everyone is the betting type, which is why we've created a party props sheet for those gathering with family and friends for the festivities. Have you ever been to a Super Bowl party where everyone fills out a props sheet?
Rory McIlroy's Masters win pays off for bettors to chagrin of sportsbooks

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

Last week, Johnny Avello, the race and sports operations director at DraftKings, told The Athletic that Rory McIlroy was attracting more bets to win the Masters than last year's champion, Scottie Scheffler. Other sportsbooks shared a similar sentiment, as McIlroy's recent form attracted a multitude of outright wagers from fans eager to see him win his elusive first green jacket and complete the coveted grand slam by winning all of golf's major tournaments.
Late 3-pointer by Ole Miss leads to brutal March Madness bad beat for Michigan State bettors

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

One of the most alluring things about sports is that every single play matters - a more important lesson when it comes to sports betting, and one reinforced Friday night during the Michigan State vs. Ole Miss Sweet 16 game. For those of you who missed the ending, with 4.2 seconds left in the game, Michigan State's Tre Holloman made his second free throw, essentially punching his team's ticket to the Elite Eight by putting the Spartans up 73-67.
How sportsbooks calculate predictions, and how many awards they got right

Mar 4, 2025 | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

"Anora" took down best picture honors on Sunday during the 97th Academy Awards ceremony. The movie was the -200 betting favorite going into the event that most refer to as the Oscars. Yes, you read that last sentence right. You can now legally bet on non-sports-related events like the Oscars, depending on the state in which you reside.
New Defensive Player of the Year favorite, Cooper Flagg sweepstakes update

Feb 21, 2025 | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

On Thursday, the San Antonio Spurs announced that their young superstar, Victor Wembanyama, is expected to miss the rest of the season with deep vein thrombosis - a blood clot - in his right shoulder. After winning NBA Rookie of the Year last year, the phenom was having a stellar second season, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.8 blocks per game.
Why Lions' loss to the Commanders was 'a win for the book'

Jan 20, 2025 | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

In November, BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini told The Athletic in crystal-clear terms how the Detroit Lions winning the Super Bowl would be a huge problem for the sportsbook given the big money bettors stood to make with the Lions hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Most other books shared a similar sentiment, as Detroit's hot start had attracted a multitude of Super Bowl futures wagers from fans eager to see the Lions pivot from their losing ways.
Lamar Jackson closing in on Josh Allen after Christmas Day performance

Dec 26, 2024 | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

Last week, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the NFL MVP award would go to Buffalo Bills' quarterback Josh Allen. That all changed on Christmas Day after Lamar Jackson 's picturesque performance. Jackson led the Ravens to a 31-2 win over the Houston Texans in heroic fashion, and the MVP race turned upside down - at least when it comes to the betting odds. While Allen is currently a -250 favorite on the MVP odds board, Jackson has closed the gap at +160.
Who are the NBA's most valuable players toward the point spread?

Oct 23, 2024 | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

As the season tips off, it's a fun time for prognostication. One NBA award that has always been a hot topic among friend groups is the MVP. This year, more than ever, a handful of guys could walk away with it, which has led to some contentious preseason discourse in my personal group chats. The MVP award is given to the best NBA player during the regular season who also appears in at least 65 games, but who is the best player on a game-to-game level?
How much does Jayden Daniels' injury shift the Bears-Commanders point spread?

Oct 22, 2024 | nytimes.com | Vik Chokshi

The news created a ripple effect in the betting market. After Monday's update, the betting odds for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Bowl (as I like to call it) between Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels shifted significantly. Daniels' injury concerns caused the Commanders to go from favorites to underdogs. Generally, every NFL player is given a value toward the actual weekly point spread, and quarterbacks are the most valuable.