Keegan Bradley is fronting the 2026 John Deere Classic preview, and SportsLine’s model is leaning against the betting favorite. Ben Griffin sits at +1500, but the projection sends him outside the top 5.
The tournament starts Thursday at 7:40 a.m. ET from TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. It is the final stateside 500-point event before the Open Championship, so the opening board carries more weight than a routine week on the PGA Tour.
Ben Griffin At +1500
Griffin is the favorite in the latest odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, but SportsLine says its model expects a stumble. That puts the market leader on a collision course with the model’s forecast before a shot is hit.
The model is built by DFS pro Mike McClure and simulates every PGA Tour tournament 10,000 times. SportsLine says it has nailed 17 majors entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters, its fifth Masters in a row, plus last year's PGA Championship and Open Championship.
Jackson Koivun Debuts
Jackson Koivun gives the week a different edge. He is making his professional debut after foregoing his senior year at Auburn, and he enters the odds at +2200.
Christ Gotterup is listed at +1800, while Pierceson Coody comes in at +3500 and is described as a top contender. SportsLine is also targeting several other longshots, including one at around +4000, which keeps the model’s focus on more than the favorite.
SportsLine’s Longshot Window
That spread leaves the 2026 John Deere Classic open to movement early, especially with several big names taking the week off. If Griffin holds the favorite’s tag, the market will have to absorb that against a model that says the top of the board is vulnerable.
New SportsLine memberships include Paramount+ Premium for no extra cost, and the pick board is built for readers who want more than one opinion before Thursday and the opening tee time. For the player pool, the clearest split is already on the favorite: the odds say Griffin leads the field, and the model says he lands outside the top 5.
