FUTURES

Futures Betting – Smart Bets

All sportsbooks offer futures betting. Futures are a prop bet that asks you to be a fortuneteller. With futures you’re betting on which team will win a championship, what player will be the MVP, or who will be Rookie of the Year. 

Although futures are not a good way to make consistent cash when you’re sports betting, they can be a fun prop to play. In this article, we’ll consider how to play the most popular NFL future—the one that offers odds on which team will win the Super Bowl. The information and betting strategy in this article can be applied to any sport.

NFL Futures Betting – The Basics

NFL futures are published immediately after the Super Bowl winner is declared. The first publication of any futures odds is not the last. Throughout the year, even after the season starts, futures odds are updated. Like other odds, the original publication of these lines tends to be soft, and the team that most recently won the championship is usually considered the favorite. As the season goes on and it becomes more certain who is in and who is out, the odds will reflect which teams have the best chance of winning the title and which do not.

NFL futures also allow you to bet on who will win the AFC and NFC, as well as divisional champs. Each team is given odds based on their recent performance, history, and projected strengths and weaknesses for the coming season. As teams go through training camp, play exhibition games, and start playing regular-season games, the odds will fluctuate.

How to Bet Super Bowl Futures

Our strategy for NFL futures betting can be applied to any sport.  First note, that futures are side bets. They are not a way for you to make steady cash or any cash at all. Accept futures as a fun experience and as more of a game of chance than actual sports betting where you utilize research and analysis. There’s just so much you can do to predict who will win a championship months before the season begins. 

Primarily, you’ll be making four bets. You’ll wager on one favorite, two teams that are somewhere in between the top and bottom, and a solid underdog. You’ll make the bets and then forget about them and focus on whatever sport is currently in season that you’re betting on. 

In this example, we’re going to bet 10 units with each unit being worth $10. Thus, there’s $100 total being wagered on futures. (How many units and how much cash you decide to put towards this type of bet is up to you.)

Bet in the following manner:

  • 2 units ($20) on a favorite.

  • 3 units ($30) on a team favored but not a favorite.

  • 3 units ($30) on a club that’s a bit of an underdog.

  • 2 units ($20) on a major dog.

With the above wager, you’re hedging your bets. The point is that if any of the four teams win the big game, you’ll win some money. To clarify, we’ve added some teams and sample odds below.

  • Kansas City Chiefs 10-1 = 10 x $20 = $200 - $80 lost = $120.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12-1 = 12 x $30 = $360 - $70 lost = $290.

  • Los Angeles Rams 50-1= 50 x $30 = $1,500 - $70 lost = $1,430.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars 100 -1= 100 x $20 = $2,500 - $80 lost = $2,420.

With the above betting method, you’ve increased your chances of winning at least some cash and lowered your risk. All while playing futures. 

Futures Betting – Final Thoughts

Futures betting allows you to test your powers as a seer. Before making your bets, make sure you check out various sportsbooks. You may find better odds on your top pick at one book and better odds on your long shot at another. Finally, don’t forget that futures are in essence novelty bets. Play them in that manner.