The NFL season is just around the corner, and for betting, that means NFL futures are up. While there are plenty of bets that can be made on a week-by-week basis, futures are a fun way to stash a bet away and have a team to cheer for throughout the year. It also gives us an idea of what the sportsbooks think of each team. Some of the odds make sense, but others can be head-scratching. Here are three NFL futures that are intriguing at this point of the offseason.
Note: All odds are courtesy of DraftKings and are subject to change.
NFL Futures: NFC South Winner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +320 to win the NFC South
The Atlanta Falcons had the splashiest offseason of any team in the NFL. They have the biggest upgrade at any position from last year. Desmond Ridder was not great last year, but now Kirk Cousins is taking the reins of the offense. While opinions of the former Vikings quarterback differ, there is no denying he is productive. However, the oddsmakers are quick to anoint them as clear favorites in the NFL futures.
There are plenty of questions surrounding this team. They have a rookie head coach, a 36-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles injury, and plenty of new pieces they need to fit together. Enter the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are running it back with basically the same team as last year. This was a team that won the division and a playoff game last season. The odds sit at +320 right now on DraftKings, which is great value. If you aren’t convinced about the Falcons, the Bucs are sitting there for the taking.
Chargers Make The Playoffs
Los Angeles Chargers To Make The Playoffs: +110
This NFL futures bet isn’t going to shower you with cash, but it is still plus odds. The pendulum has swung too far the other way on the Chargers. While their +4500 NFL futures bet to win the Super Bowl might be a fool’s errand, their making the playoffs isn’t. Jim Harbaugh has a track record of getting more out of his team than people expect. They have a solid offensive line and a stud at quarterback. The defense is no longer being run by Brandon Staley but by Jesse Minter, who is coming off a national championship season with Harbaugh at Michigan.
While the Chiefs are in the division, so are the Raiders and Broncos, who are slated to be terrible. If they can go 4-0 against those two teams, they might be able to sneak in with a wild card spot. Harbaugh will want this team to run the ball and control the clock. If the defense looks better this season, look for the Chargers to be fighting for the seventh seed and possibly making you a little money.
Another Surprise In The NFC?
Arizona Cardinals To Make The Playoffs: +300
The Cardinals are an intriguing team in general this year but their NFL futures are even more intriguing to look at. The defense was atrocious last year. If they can even become slightly bad rather than awful, it will be a huge improvement. The offense, however, has a chance to be one of the best in the league. Kyler Murray is fully back from his injury and showed promise last season. He now has a true WR1 in Marvin Harrison Jr. The offensive line has good young players, and Trey McBride is a rising star on the tight end.
The NFC is much more wide-open in terms of the playoffs. 9-8 could very well be the record of the seventh seed. Since the Cardinals are playing a last-place schedule, it isn’t out of the question they could eek out nine wins. It’s a little bit of a riskier bet, but last year, we saw the Texans come out of nowhere. The offensive pieces are there for this team to win some games.
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