Today’s Top Futures Bets
Looking for the best futures bets across NFL, NBA, NHL, and more? Our team of experts analyzes data and trends to give you the most accurate and profitable futures bets for today. Our comprehensive coverage includes divisional futures and other long-term bets on all the top leagues. Don’t miss out.
Futures Betting Explained
Betting on sports has always been a popular form of entertainment, but it has become even more popular with the rise of online betting sites. Futures betting is a type of sports betting that involves wagering on an outcome that will occur in the future, usually several months away. Because futures wagers take place so far in advance, they are considered to have more risk; this is why these types of bets can come with a big payday.
What are futures bets?
Futures betting is a type of sports betting where you bet on an outcome that will occur in the future. Futures are popular for the biggest betting events, like the World Cup or March Madness in college basketball; you can also place futures bets on individual player awards, total points scored by a team or player and more.
Futures betting is different from traditional sports betting because the outcome is typically not determined until several weeks or months later.
For example, you might bet on a particular team to win the Super Bowl before the start of the season. If that team goes on to win the Super Bowl, you win your bet. If the team doesn’t win, you lose your bet.
Futures betting odds are adjusted throughout the season based on team performance.
Available Futures Betting Markets
There are plenty of futures bets for bettors to choose from and they are offered on a variety of domestic and international sports.
Here are some of the most popular futures bets.
- Championship futures: Championship futures are bets on which team will win the championship at the end of the season. Many leagues have major championships; betting sites typically offer futures odds on all major events. For example, you could bet on a team to win the NBA championship or the World Series.
- Conference winner futures: Conference futures are bets on which team will win their conference at the end of the season. For example, you might bet on a team to win the Eastern Conference in the NBA.
- Division winner futures: Division futures are bets on which team will win their division at the end of the season. For example, you might bet on a team to win the AFC East or NFC West in the NFL.
- Season win totals: Season win totals are bets on how many games a team will win during the season. For example, you might bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to win over or under 10 games during the NFL season. Season-long futures like this have a higher payout the earlier you place your bet.
- Player futures: Player futures are bets on individual players. This type of bet allows sports fans to wager on various statistics, individual player awards and accomplishments for individual players in many different sports, such as who will lead the league in home runs, who will win the Heisman Trophy or who will have the most passing yards in the NFL.
- Team futures: These bets are placed on team accomplishments or milestones, such as whether a team will make the playoffs or win a certain number of games. You can place a futures bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, or the Lakers to have the most regular season wins.
- Draft futures: These bets are placed on which players will be drafted in a particular position or by a particular team. For example, you can wager on the first point guard draft pick in the NBA or over/unders on how many players will be drafted into the NFL from a particular college.
- Event futures: These bets are placed on major sporting events, such as the Olympics or World Cup. You can bet on individual games or athletes, or find futures odds on different event props.
What sports can you place futures bets on?
One of the most popular sports for futures betting is football, particularly the National Football League (NFL). Fans can place NFL futures bets on the Super Bowl winner, conference champions, division winners and regular season win totals. Additionally, there are player futures bets available for awards such as the MVP or Offensive Player of the Year.
Basketball is another popular sport for futures betting, with the National Basketball Association (NBA) offering a range of futures bets. Fans can bet on the NBA champion, conference champions, division winners, regular season win totals and player awards such as Kevin Durant to be the MVP or a new player to win Rookie of the Year.
Baseball also offers plenty of futures betting opportunities, with fans able to place bets on the World Series winner, league champions, division winners, regular season win totals and player awards such as the Cy Young or MVP.
Hockey fans can also get in on the futures betting action, with betting sites offering futures lines on the Stanley Cup winner, conference champions, division winners, regular season win totals and player awards such as the Hart Trophy or Vezina Trophy.
College sports are also popular for futures betting, particularly college football and college basketball. Fans can place bets on the national championship winner, conference champions, division winners, regular season win totals and player awards such as the Heisman Trophy or Naismith Award.
In addition to these major sports, there are plenty of other sports that offer futures betting options, including soccer, tennis, golf and more. Fans can place bets on events such as the World Cup, Wimbledon and the Masters, among others. There are also plenty of futures bets offered on international sports.
Advantages and Risks of Betting Futures
Futures betting can offer many advantages, but like any form of gambling, it also has its own set of risks. Here are some of the main advantages and risks to consider when betting futures:
Advantages
High Payouts: One of the biggest advantages of futures betting is the potential for high payouts. Since futures bets are typically placed on events that are likely to occur in the distant future, the odds are usually higher than they would be for a more immediate bet. This means that if you bet on a team or player at the beginning of the season and they go on a winning streak, your potential payout could increase significantly.
Long-Term Betting: Another advantage of futures betting is that it allows you to enjoy the excitement of betting over a longer period of time. Instead of placing a bet on a single game or event, you can follow the progress of your bet over the course of an entire season or tournament. This can be a great way to stay engaged with a sport or league even when your favorite team isn’t playing.
Risks
Unpredictable Events: Futures betting involves betting on events that are likely to occur far in the future, which means there are many unpredictable events that can occur between the time you place your bet and the time the event takes place. Injuries, trades and unexpected changes in form can all have a significant impact on the outcome of a futures bet.
Tied-Up Funds: Another risk of futures betting is that your funds will be tied up for an extended period of time. If you place a bet at the beginning of the season, you may not see a payout for several months. This can be frustrating if you need the money for other expenses or if you want to place other bets in the meantime.
Strategies for Futures Betting
If you’re interested in futures betting, here are a few strategies you can use to increase your chances of success:
- Research: Before placing a futures bet, it’s important to do your research. Look at the current form of the teams or players you’re considering betting on, as well as any upcoming events that could impact the outcome of the bet. Pay attention to injury reports, trades and consider results from the previous season.
- Shop for the Best Odds: Like with any type of betting, it’s important to shop around for the best odds before placing a futures bet. Different sportsbooks will offer different odds on the same event, so it pays to do your homework and find the bookmaker offering the best payout for your bet.
- Manage Your Bankroll: Futures betting requires a long-term view and a healthy bankroll. Be sure to only bet what you can afford to lose and to spread your bets out over multiple events to mitigate risk.
- Hedge Your Bets: If you’re feeling unsure about a futures bet, you can always hedge your bet by placing a secondary bet on a different outcome. This can help protect your bankroll and minimize losses.
- Avoid Overreacting to Early Results: Overreacting to early results is one of the major mistakes players make when placing futures bets. It’s important to remember that futures bets are typically long-term bets, so it’s not uncommon for a team or player to have a slow start to the season. Instead of panicking and abandoning your bet, stay patient and trust your research. If you need to adjust your bet based on new information, be willing to do so but also stay committed to your bet as well.
Conclusion
Futures betting can be an exciting and profitable way to wager on sports. By understanding the advantages and risks of futures betting and implementing effective strategies, you can increase your chances of success.
Remember to do your research, shop around to find the best futures odds, manage your bankroll and avoid overreacting to early results. With the right approach, futures betting can be a rewarding experience for sports bettors of all levels.
FAQs — Futures Bets
Where can I bet on futures?
Most online sportsbooks will offer futures betting lines. The individual sports or types of bets could vary from book to book but most popular markets will be offered at any of the top sportsbooks.
How do futures pay out?
Futures bets pay out based on the odds at the time the bet was placed, and if the chosen outcome occurs. The payout is typically higher than immediate bets due to the longer-term nature of the bet.
Can you do a parlay on futures?
Yes, you can place a parlay on futures bets, combining multiple bets into one larger bet with higher potential payouts.
What is the futures market in sports betting?
The futures market in sports betting involves placing bets on future events, such as the winner of a championship or the performance of a player over a season.
Can you cash out a futures bet?
Some sportsbooks offer cash out options for futures bets, allowing bettors to take a smaller payout before the event’s conclusion, reducing the risk of losing the entire bet.