Sports Betting Futures

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Futures bets have a lot of positives and negatives that sports bettors either love or hate. The key to deciding whether or not making a futures bet is for you or not is first to understand what they are, how they work, how they’re paid out, and the pros and cons of making them. Sports betting isn’t that complicated and that’s very much the case with a futures bet. This kind of wager is one of the first wagers that many new bettors make when they’re first introduced to sports betting. A futures bet is a wager on an event, series or an award that will finish in the future. SBD’s Experts make their best futures bets heading into an uncertain 2021 sports landscape We offer futures picks in 2021 for the NBA, NHL, MLB, Soccer, and College Basketball seasons See our favorite futures bets along with analysis below The year 2020 for futures bets.

Sports betting isn’t that complicated and that’s very much the case with a futures bet. This kind of wager is one of the first wagers that many new bettors make when they’re first introduced to sports betting.

A futures bet is a wager on an event, series or an award that will finish in the future. This is different than a wager on the outcome of a single game, but almost as popular.

The result of a futures bet is for an event or season that is completed in the future, not the day the wager is placed. Many bettors enjoy these bets because it’s a single wager that has a long life. Single-game wagers are often reconciled within a day or week. Futures bets allow a gambler the ability to have money at risk for multiple games without having to spend time researching each of the individual games.

New sports bettors may be more familiar with a futures bet as the kind of wager on their favorite team to win a league championship. For example, New York Jets fans could place a $10 wager on the Jets to win the Super Bowl at 80-1 odds (+8000) in a New Jersey casino. A winning result would pay the bettor a cool $800 for the wager that will last from the first game of the season to the final play of the Big Game.

Futures odds 2020

Click the tab below to view our extensive menu of sports betting futures for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and more.

How futures odds work

Futures odds may change often. During the season futures odds may change with wins, losses, injuries, trades and so forth. During the off-season, futures odds may change with free agent acquisitions as well. The odds changing for one team often lead to odds changing for other competing teams.

Futures odds at a sportsbook tend to be based on the chance that something will happen. However, futures odds aren’t specifically intended as a prediction of what will happen. When released, the odds may be set more on the likelihood of a team winning but that’s not always the case.

The predictive nature of a futures bet is part of the model built into making the odds but there’s a bit more information used. Futures odds may change at a particular sportsbook based on how much money is wagered on a specific team. Additionally, a sportsbook may also hedge odds based on expected wagers. This allows the sportsbook operator to limit their liability on a specific team winning.

In Las Vegas, sportsbook operators at local casinos located around town may see more wagers placed on teams from the west coast. Meanwhile, casinos on the Vegas Strip may see more wagers on teams from large markets. Most wagers at casinos on the Vegas Strip come from tourists visiting from around the world. Each of the casino groups may have different futures odds based on how much money is wagered (or what they expect will be wagered) on a specific team.

Get current Futures odds on any sport at online sportsbooks

How to place a futures bet

Placing a futures bet in a casino is fairly simple. When placing a wager in person the bettor just tells the ticket writer in the casino the rotation number listed next to the team name and how much they’d like to risk. It’s that simple.

At an online sportsbook, futures bets can be found within a specific sports section. Team futures and player futures will have their own tabs in the mobile app. They are typically easy to navigate and find.

The payout based on the odds will be printed on the ticket. If the wager wins, the bettor will be paid the winning amount based on the odds posted at the time of the bet plus the original bet. It’s important to remember that even though the odds on futures may change, the wager is only good for the odds listed on the bet ticket.

Types of futures bets

MLB

When it comes to placing futures bets for the MLB, bettors have nearly infinite options. The most common are:

Other, more specific futures can include the first team to 90 losses, team to finish with the best regular-season record, and most player home runs.

NFL

NFL futures look similar to MLB, with bets able to be placed on these popular markets:

Projected NFL draft picks are also popular futures bets, most commonly the first overall pick.

NBA

Like all other major leagues, NBA futures bets center around:

Coach of the Year and Sixth Man award are also common individual futures bets. Since the playoffs are in a best-of-7 format, NBA playoffs futures include in how many games a series is one (for example, Clippers vs Nuggets– Clippers in 4, 5, 6 or 7 games at various odds and Nuggets in 4, 5, 6, or 7 games at various odds.

NHL

Common futures bets on the NHL include the Stanley Cup champion, as well as the Hart Trophy winner (league’s best player), league rookie of the year, Coach of the Year, etc. With positions being more specialized than many leagues in the NHL, player futures are more individual in nature– for example, most saves, assists, goals, and others. Like the NBA, the NHL playoffs are a best-of-7 format, with series odds being dependent on how many games the series is played (for example, Blue Jackets in 4, 5, 6, or 7 games at various odds and the Penguins in 4, 5, 6, or 7 games at various odds).

PGA Tour

Since golf is an individual sport, futures are more restricted and dependent only on individual performance. Common futures include specific major tournament winners:

College football

The most common futures bets on college football for teams are national champion, win totals and conference champions. College football has a wide array of individual awards handed out every season including the Heisman Trophy.

College basketball

With so many teams and so many players, college basketball betting might be the most difficult of the major US leagues. Common bets here include odds to make the NCAA Tournament (March Madness), the Naismith Award (nation’s best player), and over/under win totals. Once the NCAA Tournament begins, game lines and odds to make certain rounds (Sweet 16, Final Four, etc.) become common futures bets.

Potential downside of futures bets

All bettors are different and futures bets aren’t for everyone. Futures bets allow a bettor to have an event or season-long wager. This long-term wager helps a bankroll last a longer time than with a single wager. However, this may not be the best bet for everyone because futures bets sometimes have a larger house edge.

When placing a wager on a single game the bettor is laying $110 to win $100. This works out to be a 4.5% house edge. Futures bets work differently. Not all futures bets have the same house edge. Some futures bets for a championship or tournament could have a house edge as high as 20% or 25%. Like all wagering opportunities, it helps to do a little math to see if the wager is worth the risk.

Plenty of sports bettors enjoy having wagers throughout the season. In that case, having part of the gambling bankroll tied up for an entire season may not be the best use of money. Gambling is entertainment for the vast majority of gamblers and it’s important to manage budgets accordingly. Even if a futures bet has a positive expected value, the lack of in-season wagering might offer less enjoyment to those who prefer having action often.

Trying to figure out what’s going to happen in the future is part of the fun of being a sports fan. Debates are constantly raging on all sorts of topics, such as who is going to win next year’s Super Bowl or which player is poised to take down the NBA MVP award.

Westgate sportsbook futures

Thanks to legal and regulated sports betting, fans can put their money where their mouth is while predicting all sorts of future outcomes. If they turn out to be correct, they’ll wind up with a whole lot more than bragging rights.

Futures betting is a big part of the wagering menu and one of the most popular features at sportsbooks. These are wagers that users can place on something that has yet to happen, such as the winner of the World Series or the golfer who will take down the Masters.

Odds are listed for all of the possible choices, ranging from the favorites all the way down to the long shots. The futures market is quite active and makes for a fantastic snapshot of the current lay of the land in all of the major sports.

We’re going to take a detailed look at everything you need to know to begin placing bets in this exciting marketplace.

What is futures betting?

A futures bet is a wager that can be placed on the outcome of an event that has yet to happen. It’s a popular and active marketplace with offerings to be found for all of the major sports.

Among the items that can be bet on are champions of the major team sports, and individual player events such as major tennis and golf tournaments.

For each of the listed markets, there will be odds for all of the possible choices. After one quick glance, you’ll quickly have a sense of the consensus on what may happen.

Favorites will be listed up top, long shots at the bottom, and the middle will be populated with everyone else. For bettors, the goal, naturally, is to choose the ultimate winner, but also to hunt for value in choices that may be undervalued by the betting community and oddsmakers.

In advance of a season or big event, the futures market provides a preview of how the field shapes up. For example, there are 130 teams playing at the highest level in college football.

It can be tough to understand the shape of all of them heading into a new season, but futures odds give you a quick sense of who the top contenders may be, as well as which programs could be in for a long season.

There’s something to be found in the futures market all year round, which only enhances the appeal. The market will stay active throughout the individual sport seasons and as major tournaments get underway.

Bettors can make long-term investments in advance and hold the tickets until the end, or they can just keep a watchful eye on the odds board to hunt for appealing opportunities along the way.

How do you place a futures bet?

At most online sportsbooks, you can find a dedicated link to the futures market for each sport. In general, there’s a menu that lists all of the sports the book has to offer.

Once you click on that, the offerings will expand and you should find a link to the futures market for that particular sport. Depending on the chosen market, you should see multiple listings for all of the current futures on the board.

Vegas Future Odds

For example, in advance of the MLB season, you’ll find futures for things such as the winners of the World Series, pennant, division and individual player awards.

After you examine the market and find choices that you like, you simply click on your selection. It’ll be added to your ticket from there. Once you enter the stake, you’ll see the potential return.

Futures wagering can be quite lucrative. However, there’s also a good chance of losses as not all of your selections will be correct.

Examples of futures bets

To further understand the futures market, let’s walk through a few examples using different sports.

Let’s say that you’re interested in placing a bet on the winner of next year’s Super Bowl. After glancing at the odds, you’re sold on one of the current favorites being the winner. Here’s what the odds look like:

  • Kansas City Chiefs +650
  • Baltimore Ravens +700
  • San Francisco 49ers +900

After doing your due diligence, you decide that it’s the 49ers’ year. You place your bet and hold your ticket throughout the year. Here’s what the potential return looks like:

  • $100 wager at odds of +900 equals potential total return of $1,000.

If you’re correct on your call of the 49ers winning, you’re looking at an exceptional return on your initial stake.

Netent online slots

Next, let’s look at the odds for the MLBAL East Division in advance of the coming season:

  • New York Yankees -370
  • Tampa Bay Rays +400
  • Boston Red Sox +800
  • Toronto Blue Jays +5000
  • Baltimore Orioles +10000

After handicapping the division race, you come to the conclusion that the oddsmakers and betting public are right. The Yankees are stacked. You just don’t see a way they can lose the AL East, so you place your bet accordingly.

  • $100 wager at odds of -370 equals total potential return of $127.

While not exactly a stellar return, this wager gives you an additional rooting interest throughout the year. As another approach, you can just keep an eye on the odds board and wait until you can get the Yankees at a more appealing price, perhaps after they hit a rough patch during the season.

We’ll head over to the NBA now and consider the debate for league MVP. While there’s a ton of talent in the league, four players have separated themselves as the top favorites:

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo -390
  • LeBron James +700
  • James Harden +1100
  • Luka Doncic +1100

You decide that you’re going to take your chances on the young Doncic as he continues to turn heads with his stellar play.

  • $100 wager at odds of +1100 equals total potential return of $1,200.

Just like that, you have an additional rooting interest in how the rest of the regular season plays out, not to mention the chance for a fantastic return.

For our final example, let’s consider one of the signature golf events of the calendar year, the Masters tournament. While the tournament remains a ways away, the futures market is weighing in on how it sees things playing out. Here are the three favorites:

  • Rory McIlroy +750
  • Jon Rahm +1100
  • Tiger Woods +1100

You’re a huge Woods fan, but you also think he has a real chance to win on top of the sentimental reasons. As such, you place your wager and look ahead to the greens at Augusta with some skin in the game.

Sports Bets Picks

  • $100 wager at odds of +1100 equals total potential return of $1,200.
Future

If Woods manages to snag another green jacket, you’re going to be quite the happy camper. The futures market offers a great opportunity to get some serious bang for your buck, and it also enhances rooting interests for sports and events that you already love.

Futures betting odds and line moves

Once futures odds are released, the betting public gets a chance to have its say. You’ll start to see the odds shift as action comes in. Players or teams that see a significant amount of betting action could see their odds lessen, while it’s the opposite effect for those that don’t see many wagers.

The lines will also move based on team performance, or individual performance in the case of other major sports. If one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup gets off to a horrid start, then their odds will rise, for example. To the other extreme, a long shot that burns up the ice with a start that no one saw coming could creep its way up toward the favorites.

Futures odds will also adjust if major news breaks. For example, an NBA team that gets decimated by injuries can plummet quickly. If one of the favorites for Wimbledon suddenly drops out, the whole market will see some adjustment.

While you can treat the futures market as a set-it-and-forget-it bet if you choose, there’s a lot to be said for paying attention to the odds board all year long. You never know when appealing opportunities are going to pop up.

The top sports for futures betting

Sports Betting Future Odds

The hierarchy of the futures betting market is pretty similar to the overall sports betting landscape. Gta online free game. The NFL is king and betting on football attracts tons of action. NFL futures betting can definitely pay off if you’re patient.

Other major team sports such as MLB and the NBA will also see plenty of activity. College football and college basketball are incredibly popular. The NHL and soccer have loyal and devoted followings and are in the next tier.

For the team sports, you’ll generally find a whole host of choices, such as:

  • League champion
  • Conference and division winners
  • Regular season win totals
  • Individual player award winners

The individual sports are also active when it comes to the futures market. A good deal of interest is placed on the major tournaments for tennis and golf, as well as big races for NASCAR.

In terms of which sports are best for futures betting, it really comes down to a matter of personal choice. Sticking with what you know is always a good call, but there’s also nothing wrong with taking a shot on a small scale with sports you’re unfamiliar with.

How to handicap futures bets

Handicapping futures bets is a different process than approaching individual games or player props. As opposed to one single day at a time, your focus is on how an entire event or season will play out.

While that can sound like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be so complex. First things first, gain an understanding of what the futures market is telling you.

Favorites are where they are on the odds board for a reason, as are the long shots. Be realistic with your thinking, but don’t be shy about taking a shot on a dark horse that you have a good feel for.

One approach that can be very helpful is to split the odds board into three tiers: favorites, mid-range and long shots. After you have it split up in that manner, you can then examine each tier to find potential opportunities.

Let’s say you go through that exercise for the NBA with an eye on the league winner. There aren’t any teams in the long shot category that you view as having a chance, so you immediately scratch them off the list.

In the mid-range, you see a few potential sleepers, while you have some definite preferences among the favorites. You now have a shortlist to consider. For these choices, you can now do a deep dive on each and determine which ones are the most realistic wagers.

After going through your process, you determine you have a clear team from the favorites, and an intriguing sleeper from the mid-range. You decide to place wagers on both and enjoy the upcoming season.

That’s just one approach that you can use. There are plenty of possibilities to consider with the futures market, so you should be able to find a tactic that works best for your bankroll and strategy.

The bottom line on futures betting

Futures betting revolves around placing wagers on events that have yet to happen. The marketplace is active, and you’ll find opportunities for all of the major team and individual sports.

2020 Nfl Future Bets

For the team sports, you can place bets on things such as the outright winner of the league or the player who will win an individual award. In individual sports, the markets are most active on signature events such as major tournaments or big races.

Handicapping futures is a different approach than single-game betting. The odds board is filled with choices ranging from favorites to long shots. The goal is to identify the choices you find most appealing, whether they be favorites or dark horses.

Sports Betting Futures Market

Returns can be great in the futures market, but there’s also high chance of loss; after all, being correct on every choice isn’t realistic. Additionally, futures betting provides a little extra rooting incentive for the sports and events that you already love.