NFL Futures

There are more ways to bet on the NFL than picking the winning team or the spread for an individual game. Think you know who is going to win the Super Bowl next season or who will be crowned the winner of the NFC East? Test your knowledge by placing NFL futures bets. Often, these odds are available weeks or months before the season begins.

The game that sees the most betting is the Super Bowl. There are many ways that an individual can bet on this game. Let's first start with futures bets, which allows players to guess who will win the final game of the season months before it even takes place. NFL Super Bowl odds are available nearly all year long, and the odds shift based off wins, losses, player movement and injuries.

Once the final matchup is set, players can bet on the game like any other regular season or playoff matchup. However, there are significantly more odds and props available in this game as it is the only contest of the week – and one that even the casual NFL bettor likes to wager on.

Also, there are alternative lines, over/under bets, prop bets, etc. There are even bets available that have nothing to do with the game, such as how long will the National Anthem be sung, what color will the sports drink be when dumped on the winning coach, etc. Make sure to explore all of these bets before the final game of the season starts.

One of the most common bets for the Super Bowl is who will be named the game’s “Most Valuable Player.” Like the regular season award, quarterbacks usually have the highest odds to win the award. If a quarterback plays well and his team wins, he is often given the award.

However, because the award is based off only one game, position players are far more likely to win the Super Bowl MVP. Be sure to check out these odds before kickoff and consider taking a receiver, running back or a star defensive player as their odds could provide value.

Every year, the NFL gives out an award for the "Most Valuable Player." NFL MVP odds are usually up on the site during the offseason, and the odds are expressed as a moneyline number, such as +800. As the season shortens, the list of candidates who could win the award will become smaller as players struggle, deal with injuries, etc.

Typically, quarterbacks win this award, but it’s not impossible for another player to be considered, such as a running back. When looking at the MVP odds, make sure to check the team’s win total as well. Usually, the Most Valuable Player award is given to a player whose team is doing well and is on track to make the playoffs.

When betting on this award, make sure to consider potential narratives as well. Voters like to give the award to players who had to overcome an obstacle or had to carry a “bad” team to the playoffs. Voters don't like to give the award to a player who is doing well, but their team isn't having regular-season success. Before betting on a potential league MVP, check out all of the NFL MVP odds to find the best value.

Future bets are usually offered in the NFL offseason and/or during the first few weeks of the season. Bettors will have a variety of future bets available to them, including Super Bowl odds, MVP winners, Rookie of the Year honors, division winners, playoff odds, etc. All of the previously mention qualify as future bets and are offered during the NFL offseason.

The most common NFL futures bet offered in the offseason are who will win the upcoming Super Bowl. At the beginning of the new season, all 32 teams have Super Bowl odds posted. However, these odds will often shorten as the season progresses as teams are eliminated from contention. Super Bowl odds are available all year long as once the final game has ended, the odds for the next year are quickly produced and available for bettors.

Future odds use moneyline odds, which are shown as +600, for example. If a bettor places a $100 bet on a team with +600 odds to win the Super Bowl, they would earn $600 for a winning bet. If a team has odds of -110, it means that a bettor would need to risk $110 to win $100. Usually, these types of odds are reserved for favorites and are atypical for futures odds.

What Impacts NFL Future Odds

There are a variety of things that can impact future odds. Injuries, trades and other various roster moves can shift odds one way or another on a futures bet. However, all roster moves and injuries aren't created equal. An injury to a star quarterback is much more likely to hurt the odds of a futures bet than a defensive tackle doing down for a few games.

Odds shift all the time for futures bets, but these odds are likely to change only after substantial moves by teams.

Another reason that future odds can/will shift is when the season shortens. As teams are eliminated, for example, the Super Bowl odds for the remaining teams in contention will drop. The same holds true for other future bets, such as MVP, division winners, etc. The earlier a player places a bet on a team/outcome, the better the odds they are likely to receive.

Betting NFL Win Totals

Another way that bettors can gamble on the NFL is by betting on win totals. A sportsbook will place a number of wins a team is projected to have in the following season and it’s up to the bettor to decide whether or not that total is too high or too low. Sometimes, the "win totals" will have a 0.5 game attached to prevent a "push."

Typically, the odds on an NFL win total bet will be equal on both sides, promoting action from bettors. Usually, these odds are somewhere between +100 to +115, depending on the team, the number of bets placed, etc.

However, there are times where there is more or less value to bet either the over or under, based off of who the public or “sharps” are backing.

The best value in win totals come during the offseason, before free agency and the NFL draft. Be sure to take a look at the win totals throughout the year and notice what type of player movement or injuries can impact NFL win totals.