U.S. Open Predictions: 2 Last Minute Picks Before Round 1

Our last-minute U.S. Open picks and predictions expect more strong play from Sam Burns and Ben Griffin at Oakmont Country Club.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Jun 11, 2025 • 13:17 ET • 4 min read
Sam Burns U.S. Open PGA Tour
Photo By - Imagn Images. Sam Burns during a round at the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.

We're less than 24 hours away from U.S. Open action kicking off at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

With U.S. Open odds constantly on the move, some betting value may emerge later in the week. Here are some last-minute additions and U.S. Open predictions before things get going Thursday morning.

U.S. Open picks and predictions

Pick: Ben Griffin Top 30
+130 at bet365

This is a long number for one of the hottest players on the planet. Ben Griffin has gained true strokes across the board while bookending his win in the Charles Schwab with a T8 in the PGA Championship and solo second in the Memorial.

Griffin also ranks sixth in this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green, 11th on approach, and third in putting during the three-tourney run, and he’s 13th in adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour this season.

Pick: Sam Burns Top 30
+115 at bet365

While a disappointing playoff in the RBC Canadian Open cost Sam Burns his sixth PGA Tour win, his solo second continued a sneaky stretch consisting of six straight Top 30s. Burns has gained true strokes off the tee and on the greens throughout to card a pair of Top 5s and three more Top 20s dating back to the RBC Heritage.

Most encouraging heading to Oakmont is Burns gaining true strokes the past two weeks on approach. He’s an elite putter, so after gaining +0.81 true strokes on approach, I expect the solid ball-striking to continue and position him for another solid showing in the U.S. Open.

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Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet broadcast.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Neil’s top pieces of advice for recreational bettors are to stay within your means and to remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.

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