Smart NFL Future Bets to 100% Boost Your Season-Long Wins

NFL future bets are some of the hardest bets to actually get right, mainly because you’re betting on things that will happen way later in the NFL season. You can bet on who will win the Super Bowl, which team will take their division, and even who might get the MVP.

The upside? The payouts.
They’re fantastic, and today I’ll tell you how to sharpen those predictions down to a T.

Types of NFL Future Bets

You can bet on all sorts of things that will happen further down the line, but a few NFL future bets stand out:

NFL Super Bowl Winner Bets
NFL Conference Winner Bets
NFL Divisions Winner Bets
NFL Player Awards Future Bets

NFL Super Bowl Winner Bets

As the name implies, an NFL Super Bowl Winner Bets is all about predicting who’s gonna win it all at the end of the season. The payouts are pretty great, even if you bet on favorites, but that’s because all sorts of things can happen during the season. Could be anything from a star player getting injured, to a major shakeup and infighting with the coach that ruins their run.

Let’s say you’re looking at the Dallas Cowboys to win the 2024 Super Bowl. For this example, we’ll say the odds for the Cowboys are +1200, meaning they’re considered a solid contender but not the top favorite.

If you put down $100 at these odds, here’s how it works:

If the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, you’d take home a juicy $1,200 in profit.
Plus, you get your original $100 back, so your total payout would be $1,300.

Now, if they don’t win, you just lose your $100, but that’s the risk in futures betting. The bet is really fun though, you get to follow this team all the way to the title run for the whole season!

NFL Conference Winner Bets

The Conference Winner Bets is another fan favorite, mainly because it offers phenomenal payouts, and are slightly easier to predict than a Super Bowl winner. You’re betting, as you probably guessed by now, that the team will dominate their Conference and go on to greater things.

Let’s imagine that you’re feeling good about the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC for the 2024 season. For this example, we’ll say the Ravens have odds of +600 to win the AFC. These odds are solid but show they’re not the clear favorite.

Are Spread Bets Good Bets for Beginners?

If you drop $100 on this bet and the Ravens win the AFC Championship, here’s what you’d walk away with:

$600 profit, because the odds are +600.
Plus, you get your original $100 back, so your total payout would be $700.

It’s a pretty good “set it and forget it” kinda bet. However, if they fall short in the playoffs, you can kiss your 100 bucks good bye. That’s the risk of the game.

NFL Divisions Winner Bets

The NFL Division Winner Bets is even more specific than a Conference Winner bet, because you’re betting on a team to win their division. Divisions are smaller groups of teams, and each conference (AFC and NFC) has four divisions. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs play in the AFC West.

You just know I’ll talk about the Chiefs next. Let’s say you want to bet on the Chiefs to win their division in 2024. Given how dominant they’ve been in the AFC West, let’s put their odds at -200. This means they’re strong favorites, so the payout isn’t as big compared to riskier bets.

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Here’s how it works: If you put down $100 at -200 odds and the Chiefs win the AFC West, you’d make:

$50 in profit because -200 odds mean you’d have to bet $200 to win $100, so with your $100 bet, you’re winning half that.
You also get your original $100 back, so your total payout would be $150.

If the Chiefs don’t win the division, you lose your $100. This bet is all about playing it safe with a favorite, but the reward is smaller. But, it’s a solid example, because even future bets can yield small profits and subpar odds in the right division. Just something to consider.

NFL Player Awards Future Bets

NFL Player Awards Future Bets allow you to bet on the MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, or Rookie of the Year. Remember, this is a season-long bet, so you’re riding with your pick through thick and thin, hoping they have the best year of their careers (and not even that is enough sometimes, to be fair).

However, let’s say you’re thinking about Lamar Jackson for the 2024 MVP. Let’s put his odds at +1000—he’s a former MVP and always a threat, but with some tough competition. You might be surprised at the odds, but trust me, repeating MVP awards is no small feat, and there’s a lot of talent in the league.

So, if you put down $100 on Lamar and he wins the MVP, here’s how it shakes out:

You’d win $1,000 in profit, thanks to the +1000 odds.
Plus, you get your original $100 back, so your total payout would be $1,100.

Now, if Lamar doesn’t take home the MVP, your $100 is gone. But if he’s on a hot streak, and you locked in those +1000 odds early, you could be in for a nice payday.

Does Lamar look like a solid MVP pick to you this year, or do you have another favorite?

For me, it’s hard to doubt a talent like him, so I’d prob. take these odds.

How to Make Good NFL Future Bets

Great, so NFL future bets are wide open: there’s a lot of choices for us, with some divisions being easier than predict than others, and MVP awards being an apparent coin toss. So, how do we make money with these bets?

First, I like to analyze what moves the Sportsbook lines (they literally run a business with predictions), and then toss in my own factors to narrow down my NFL future bets options.

Adapt an NFL Betting Strategy

Betting on NFL futures requires a different approach to your typical week-to-week wager, that much is clear. But you’ll still notice there’s plenty of overlap between a Futures NFL strategy, and a good NFL Betting Strategy.

Here are some of them:

Team Performance Monitoring

First, review your chosen team’s previous performance, and look out for teams with a clear upward trajectory. You’re gonna notice players that made an impression last season, and could be on the verge of a break out in the coming season. You see these players all the time: they have incredible talent, but need to work on one or two things to be great.

With the right direction, you’ll notice that these talents can take their teams to the next level. Assuming the transfer market is kind to them, which leads me to my next point

Market Trades and Roster Changes

Just because the season is over, that doesn’t mean that your NFL Betting theorizing is. You need to monitor offseason acquisitions, trades, and injuries.

Teams with new elite signings will probably be all over the news, but what about those teams that desperately needed to cover a position?

Did they bring the players they promised they’d take?
Are they up and coming rookies, or are they experienced players that will organize the offensive or defensive line in a big way?

What about the coach? Ask yourself this:

Is he staying for the next season?
How do his teams perform on his second year of training?
Did he get the players he requested for this next season?

For existing players, you need to see if any of them got injured, and what kind of injury they’re dealing with. Knee injuries are super tricky, and can end otherwise promising careers. Learn to distinguish your garden-variety muscle tear from the serious stuff, and you’ll know when to hold back on a future bet with crappy prospects.

There’s a whole lot of overlap in analysis, so I highly recommend you check out our NFL betting strategy piece and apply that same logic to your future bets strategy.

Betting Early vs Adjusting Midseason

Look, I’m a firm believer that people can do whatever they want with their money. If you like to do future bets early in the season for the turbo odds, that’s cool. If you like to adjust midseason after carefully analyzing line movements, that’s also cool. Future bets are hard to nail, and I firmly believe the main goal is for you to have fun with these.

Just keep in mind that the closer to the Super Bowl or playoffs, the sharper the lines will become. Teams with hard schedules will see their chances of winning a division or making it to the playoffs decrease, and public betting can make these shifts even worse. People that adjust as the season progresses tend to stress way too much, but that’s just what I’ve noticed.

You do you, but don’t let the stress of future bets consume you. There’s still a lot of action outside of future bets.

Keep in Mind Please:

With NFL Future Bets, you don’t need instant results—your payout hinges on long-term outcomes, like a team winning the Super Bowl. It’s a lower-risk way to play, but don’t overdo it. The goal? Have fun, not let betting wreck your wallet!

FAQs on NFL Future Bets

What are NFL future bets?

NFL future bets predict events that will happen later in the season, such as which team will take the Super Bowl, or which player gets the MVP award.

How do I place an NFL future bet?

You can place NFL future bets at any sportsbook that offers them. Simply select the category you want to bet on (e.g., Super Bowl winner) and choose your team or player.

When should I place NFL future bets?

The best time to place future bets is typically before the season starts or early in the season when the odds can offer higher value. However, some bettors prefer to wait and monitor team performance, both approaches are valid.

Can I cash out NFL future bets early?

Some sportsbooks allow early cash-outs for NFL future bets, but this depends on the betting platform and how the odds have shifted since you placed the bet.

What happens if a player gets injured after I place a future bet?

If a key player gets injured, the odds for your bet may shift, but most sportsbooks will not refund future bets due to injuries. It’s part of the inherent risk in long-term betting.

What is the best strategy for betting on NFL futures?

The best strategy involves timing your bets carefully, staying informed about team news, and using expert analysis and tools to guide your decisions.