Checking Those NFL Futures Bets After Week 1



After the first week of the NFL season, a brief look at future betting opportunities, including MVP and SBLVII champ.

All of the futures bets placed before the NFL season began are based on speculation. However, the differences between what we think’s going to happen and what actually happens is larger in the NFL than in any other sport. Now that the season has started, let's see what's happening.

Super Bowl LVII

Super Bowl future odds bettingThe favorites at the top of the board (Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers) all were good in their openers. All of those are appearing capable of deep postseason runs that could end at the Super Bowl in Arizona.

Buffalo has been and remains the favorite, priced at +500, according to Super Bowl odds.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers began the season fifth among the choices, and they have some issues. While the Chiefs had no problem replacing Tyreek Hill, Green Bay clearly has a huge hole at wide receiver without Davante Adams. Led as a team by running back A.J. Dillon’s 46 yards isn't good.

San Francisco 49ers

One of the trendy selections to emerge from the NFC has been the 49ers, after missing out on a Super Bowl appearance by three points last season. Well… ouch. That’s the only way to describe losing to the Bears in sloggy Chicago. Watching your future, quarterback, Trey Lance, play like someone who hasn't started since he was a 19-year-old college student was not fun.

Could Jimmy Garoppolo have scored more than 10 points against Chicago?

NFL MVP

Josh Allen - Bills
He’s the wagering favorite to win the award, and nothing in Week 1 changes that status. Allen is truly unique, and it looks like he’s even better this season dissecting the opposing defense. 

MVP  futures betting tipsPatrick Mahomes - Chiefs
So, no Tyreek Hill, no problem. Patrick Mahomes completed passes to nine different players Sunday, becoming just the sixth player in NFL history with at least six career five-touchdown games. As with Josh Allen, Mahomes is appearing to be a better version of himself.

Joe Burrow - Bengals
Bright side for Joe Burrow is that last season, Aaron Rodgers was absolutely abysmal in Week 1 and still won the MVP award at the end of the season. The bad side for Burrow, Rodgers threw just four interceptions in 2021. Burrow is already at that ignominious total of four picks after one very tough start against the Steelers.

Dak Prescott - Cowboys
Try 'disaster' as the only word to explain the start to the season in Dallas. Getting nothing with Dak Prescott and the offense, now without an injured Prescott for at least a month, and perhaps more. He fractured his thumb, requiring surgery to repair it.

Rookie of the Year

Really, not much changed in the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year, as none of the rookie quarterbacks played and the top wide receivers were good, but not spectacular.

Drake London caught five passes for 74 yards for the Atlanta Falcons. In the same game, New Orleans Saints' rookie Chris Olave caught three (41 yards), while the Tennessee Titans' Treylon Burks had a trio of receptions (55 yards).

Defensively, however, there were performances worth some props.

Travon Walker - Jaguars
The Jaguars had a late lead over the Washington Commanders, before it faded away.  It wasn't because of the play of No. 1 overall pick (via Georgia) Travon Walker. He had his first sack and first interception, the latter on a beautiful read of an attempted screen pass by Carson Wentz.

Aidan Hutchinson - Lions
There’s nothing quite as gaudy on the stat sheet in the debut of No. 2 overall draft pick Aidan Hutchinson, There’s no reason to worry, either. He had a tackle and a couple of pressures against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in a losing effort. There will be easier quarterbacks to face in the future.

Quay Walker - Packers
The other 'Georgia Walker,'  Quay, started at inside linebacker, recording eight tackles (seven solo) in a loss at the Minnesota Vikings before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injured shoulder. He was playing fast, aggressive football before exiting Sunday.

It's never too early to peek at the NFL Draft and the crop of 2023. As per NFL odds, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is the choice to be taken first in the draft. He's at 3-2, or +150, in the wagering.

/osgabooks/betus.html


Sign-up for the OSGA Newsletter!

Every week get news and updates, exclusive offers and betting tips delivered right to you email inbox.