I've been known to dabble in a bit of gambling from time to time and one way type of bet I love is a good future bet. The reason I love future bets are because it allows to feel you like you have action every week without actually having place a wager every weekend. With the NFL season set kick off Thursday night, here are some NFL future bets I have circled for the upcoming season.
Note: This is not gambling advice and all odds are from Fanduel Canada
Win Totals (8 Picks):
Cleveland Browns Under 8.5 Wins (-138)
The Browns to go under 8.5 wins is one I love for multiple reasons, one, I do not believe in Deshaun Watson at all, and I would not be shocked if we saw him get benched at some point, also, the offensive line which is this team's strength on that side of the ball is already banged up. In 2023, the Browns may have had the best defense in football, and while I expect them to remain elite, I don't think they will be able to carry this team two years in a row. Lastly, The division as a whole has improved, the Ravens added Derrick Henry, Joe Burrow is back healthy in Cincinnati and the Steelers' QB situation, while still not great with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, both still are a clear upgrade from what Pittsburgh put out on the field in 2023.
Denver Broncos Over 5.5 Wins (-142)
There are certain coaches I just can't imagine fielding one of the league’s worst teams, Sean Payton is one of them. Heading into his second year in Denver, Payton has started reshaping the roster to his liking, by moving on from several veterans, but most notably, by replacing Russell Wilson with 12th overall pick Bo Nix at quarterback. Nix is entering the league as a 24-year-old rookie, him being that old should allow him to feel more "pro-ready" than most first-year quarterbacks given how much experience he has. Outside of Nix, the remainder of the Broncos' 2024 draft class has also generated a lot of excitement, and if those players can contribute early, this rebuild could progress faster than expected. I believe Payton will get the most out of this young team, and the Broncos win at least six games.
Green Bay Packers Over 9.5 Wins (-138)
If you saw my season predictions post, you know I "Love" the Packers and their quarterback heading into 2024. After starting 3-6 last season, it started to click for this young team and they began to turn things around, winning 6 of their last 8 to finish 9-8 and make the playoffs. With such a young team, I can’t see how there is not significant internal improvement throughout this roster, which should lead to a faster start and better record. I fully expect the Packers to reach at least 10 wins in 2024, if not more.
Houston Texans Over 9.5 Wins (-158)
Much like Green Bay, the Texans are a young team that is set up to compete for years. With having such a young core, there also is a ton of room internal improvement throughout this roster, not to mention, they’ve also added key veterans like Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter. In the first year of the C.J. Stroud era, they finished 10-7, aside from injuries, I don't see how they don't at least match that record in 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs Over 11.5 Wins (-112)
This one’s pretty simple for me, last year was a nightmare regular season for the Chiefs, and they still managed to win 11 games. I expect the offense to be much better in 2024, and aside from last season, the Chiefs have won at least 12 games every year of the Mahomes era. Given their history, I think the Chiefs will return to their 12-win regular-season standard this season.
New York Giants Under 6.5 Wins (-128)
I absolutely love the Giants under 6.5 wins in 2024. The Giants could very well be the worst team in the conference, I expect Daniel Jones to get benched early due to his guaranteed money being down after this year if he can pass a physical in the spring. Outside of Malik Nabers, the rest of the offense is putrid and lacks any dynamic playmakers with the departure of Saquon Barkley. While the defensive line is strong, it won’t be enough to carry a team that will struggle to put points on the board consistently.
New York Jets Under 9.5 Wins (+162)
I'm not buying into the Jets hype this time around. Do I think Aaron Rodgers will be good coming off a torn Achilles? Yes, I do, but I don't think it’ll be enough to overcome the chaos that forever surfaces around the New York Jets. Robert Saleh has proven himself as a defensive mind, but as a head coach, he's yet to show he can lead a complete team or hire a staff that can properly support him. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has never actually called plays for Rodgers, when they were in Green Bay, head coach Matt LaFleur did that. Hackett has yet to prove he’s a capable, let alone good play-caller. If this total was 8.5 wins that seemed reasonable to me, asking for 10 feels like a stretch for this team.
Seattle Seahawks Over 7.5 Wins (-158)
Biased? Maybe, but I just think the roster is too talented to lose 10 games, especially in the NFC. I believe in Mike MacDonald as the new head coach and I expect him to turn this defense back into a top-half unit. Offensively, I anticipate an elite passing attack once again, Geno Smith may have his flaws, but he's one of the most accurate deep ball passers in the game today, and Ryan Grubb’s system very much loves to throw the ball down the field. While a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed, I’m confident the Seahawks get to at least 8 wins.
Division Exact Order (1 Pick):
NFC North Exact Order: 1. Lions, 2. Packers, 3. Bears, 4. Vikings (+600)
I usually don't love placing bets on division standings, but I feel extremely confident about this one. In my opinion, the Lions have the best overall roster in the NFC and deserve to remain the division favorites. The Packers, I believe are the only legitimate threat to challenge Detroit for the division title, while the Bears, despite all the hype, have the most questions with their coaching staff which I think will end up leaving them as the third-best team in the NFC North. As for Minnesota, they might end up being the best last-place team in the NFL, but with their current quarterback situation, I can’t see a scenario where they don't finish at the bottom of the division.
Division Winners (1 Parlay):
Chiefs, Bills, Bengals To Win Their Divisions (+971)
I believe Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen are the three best quarterbacks in football. So if you're giving me two of their teams with the second-best odds to win their divisions, I'm taking it. As long as Mahomes stays healthy, it's a given that the Chiefs will win the AFC West. Therefore, this bet really hinges on Burrow and Allen getting the job done. In the AFC East, despite Buffalo's lack of weapons, I trust the Bills more than the Dolphins or Jets simply because of Josh Allen's raw talent. As for the AFC North, while Burrow’s health could be a concern, every season he’s finished healthy, he’s won the division. Given that, I’m comfortable betting on the three best quarterbacks in the league to win their divisions in 2024.
Make Or Miss Playoffs:
For a more in depth analysis of my playoff projections, hit the hyper link here.
Dallas Cowboys To Miss Playoffs (+164)
Jacksonville Jaguars To Make Playoffs (+118)
Los Angeles Chargers To Make Playoffs (+118)
Los Angeles Rams To Make Playoffs (-110)
Seattle Seahawks To Make Playoffs (+172)
Super Bowl Matchup Bet: Kansas City Chiefs Vs Detroit Lions (+2600)
For a more in depth analysis of why I like Chiefs Vs Lions hit the hyper link here.
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