How to Bet on NFL Futures

All of these wagers are available on most traditional sportsbooks and they are called NFL futures.

As expected, predicting the outcome of the tournament is unlikely, but those who do pull it off can get substantial rewards. Winning on an unlikely future bet is similar to winning a jackpot on a casino game. As a result, many prefer to use no verification casino, which enables them to bet with higher levels of anonymity. On these platforms, you have less stringent identity checks as well as faster privacy and transaction processes. In other words, it will be difficult for someone to find out who you are if you end up winning big on future bets.  

If this sounds fun and appealing, let’s see what you should know about these wagers, how they work, and what to expect. 

Types of NFL Futures Bets

NFL futures bets consist of a wide array of long-term wagers. These allow bettors to make predictions as to what will happen during the season. A few common types include:

• Super Bowl Winner. One of the most popular futures bets involves betting on which team will win the Super Bowl. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs were favored with odds of +600 before the start of the season. This means a $100 bet would earn $600 if the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
• Conference Champions. This includes betting on the winner of the AFC and NFC championships. The odds here can shift tremendously due to team performance. For example, the Buffalo Bills might have +350 odds to win the AFC.
• Division Winners. Bettors are able to wager on teams to win their particular divisions. These odds depend on other factors like the composition of the teams and their schedules.
• Win Totals. A certain amount is set for the total wins expected of a team. Player bets that the actual figure will go either over that number or under it.
• Player Awards.  A single bet type that focuses on a certain (player-related) award, such as Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, or MVP.  For example, imagine a quarterback who played as a baseball pitcher. They would most likely have great mechanics and power beforehand. Thus, they might get higher odds of winning an award.

How Odds Work in Futures Betting

Futures bets are often displayed in American format, which shows the potential reward compared to the initial stake. A positive shows how much you will win on a 100$ bet. While negative shows how much you'd need to lay out to collect that sum. 

• Positive Odds (+). For example, if you were to wager on a team with +800 odds to win the Super Bowl, you would receive $800 for a wager of $100. 

• Negative Odds (-). Coming across negative odds is rare in futures betting, but if someone is expected to collect an award with -150 odds, they would have to spend $150 to make a $100 profit. 

Keep in mind, that odds change drastically with formations of teams, injuries, and betting patterns. A perfect illustration would be, let’s say a popular competitive side began the season in poor form, their odds might lengthen, offering higher returns.

Researching Your NFL Futures Bets

Detailed research is needed to make effective futures bets. Think about these strategies:

Evaluate the Team

Check how they performed in the past seasons, their offseason activities, and any preseason games they participated in. For instance, a team with significant offseason additions will most likely have better odds.

Follow Players Movements and Injuries.

A player’s trade, signing, or injury can drastically change a team’s chances of performing better in the season. Being updated on these happenings is important.

Pay Attention to Changes in Your Team’s Coaching Staff.

A complete overhaul of the coaching staff may impact how the team performs. As an example, a team’s hiring of a good defensive coach may increase the team’s defensive statistics.

Understand Betting Trends

Observing the current market trends, the popularity of parlays and other multi-leg bets has skyrocketed even with their harsh odds. Americans have been known to take long-shot bets that are easier to get into for casual bettors, but their odds are not as great. 

Shop for the Best Odds

The same futures bet might come with different odds depending on which sportsbook you are using. Make sure to check a few different platforms to see where you will get the greatest return on your investment. 

Manage Your Bankroll

You must always be on top of your budget. Make sure to divide your bankroll into portions that would allow you to make multiple bets placed over a long period of time.

Be Mindful of External Factors

Don't disregard weather conditions for some outdoor teams, a team's travel schedule, and other possible off-the-field situations. These things could significantly affect their performance.