With so many betting options ahead of the NFL playoffs, we asked PressBox’s Stan “The Fan” Charles, Glenn Clark, Spencer Schultz and Joe Serpico and FantasyPros’ Ken Zalis to share some of their favorite futures bets.
All odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook in mid-December.
Stan “The Fan” Charles
Parlay: Chiefs To Win AFC (+210), Lions To Win NFC (+145)
I get it, the Chiefs are not the offensive powerhouse they used to be, but they’re going for a three-peat. As such, I am not leaving them out of my picture entirely. The Lions look like the best team in the entire league. Dan Campbell and Jared Goff have done an amazing job in Detroit.
Parlay: Steelers To Win AFC (+1000), Lions To Win NFC (+145)
Let’s say I stick with the Lions, but I am not a huge fan of the Bills, Chiefs or Ravens at their respective odds and I see the Steelers as a good buy. I will parlay the Russell Wilson good vibes show along with the Lions.
Parlay: Steelers To Win AFC (+1000), Eagles To Win NFC (+280)
I’ll go with an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl parlay, taking the Steelers and Eagles to make it to the Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025.
Parlay: Bills To Win AFC (+240), Packers To Win NFC (+800)
My one dark-horse NFC pick is Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay Packers. Jordan Love is on the verge of greatness and his squad looked like they could go toe-to-toe with the seemingly invincible Lions in early December. Let’s take a shot coupling them with the Bills.
Put a little money on each of these and it makes for a fun ways to enjoy all the playoff games through the conference championships. You might even have a decent payday when the dust settles.
Glenn Clark
Los Angeles Rams To Win NFC (+2000)
I’ve never been able to quit the Rams. When they’re healthy, they simply have too many pieces on both sides of the ball (including sensational defensive rookies Braden Fiske and Jared Verse) to dismiss them. As I type this, they have the same NFC championship odds as the Buccaneers and Seahawks, which shouldn’t be the case.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl Matchup (+6000)
If you like the first bet enough to make it, it’s worth getting froggy and doubling down on these 60-1 odds. I’ve already made my case for the Rams and the Chiefs are, well, the Chiefs. If you’re confident about the first scenario, it’s probably worth a shot at this to get the desirable price. You might think the Chiefs’ incredible good luck is due to run out but, you know, we’ve said that no fewer than 7,000 times before.
Spencer Schultz
Eagles To Win Super Bowl (+550)
The Lions are too injured defensively to make it through two playoff games. The injuries will only continue to pile up. Their offense is capable of getting them by, but eventually a team like the Packers, Eagles or Vikings will come up with enough of a game plan to slow their offense.
The Eagles have already won the NFC recently, are balanced on both sides of the ball and don’t have a glaring hole. They get after the quarterback, can play coverage and defend the run. They also have a dominant run game and weapons on the outside.
Bills To Win Super Bowl (+650), Ravens To Win Super Bowl (+1000)
The Chiefs, like the Lions, are flawed. They, too, have been decimated by injuries, but they have come on the offensive side of the ball. Their shoddy tackle play has led to Patrick Mahomes being hit consistently. While they finish better than anyone in the sport, they will wear out.
The Bills, as presently constructed, are a bad matchup for the Chiefs. There is a cycle of destruction, however, because the Ravens are a bad matchup for the Bills. The Ravens are healthy, have a stout run defense and have finally figured out how to play sound coverage on the back end after personnel changes. Weather will likely play a factor in either Kansas City or Buffalo to determine the AFC champion.
The Chiefs would rather face the Ravens, but it’s hard to beat a team twice in a year. It’s likely that the Chiefs or Bills will have to defeat Baltimore prior to the AFC championship game, with Kansas City as the No. 1 seed and Buffalo the likely No. 2 seed. It’s too much for a beat-up Chiefs team that has to play another January.
Joe Serpico
Eagles To Win Super Bowl (+550)
Maybe I am being a homer as an Eagles fan, but this is arguably the most complete team Philadelphia has ever fielded. Vic Fangio’s defense is the best in the NFL, and Saquon Barkley has put the Eagles’ offense over the top. If you really want to get crazy, bet the Eagles to exact revenge for the Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs at +2000.
49ers To Win Super Bowl (+10000)
This pick is strictly about the value. Entering Week 14, the NFC West was still up for grabs with the 49ers still in the hunt for the division title. Injuries have taken a toll on the Niners, and they will need some help to get into the postseason. But if they qualify for one of the final playoff spots, watch out. This number is just too juicy to pass up for one of the preseason favorites.
Ken Zalis
Eagles To Win Super Bowl (+550)
The Eagles have looked great for weeks. Run game, check. Defense, check. Stud wide receiver, check. Super offensive and defensive lines, check. What’s not to like?
Ravens To Win Super Bowl (+1000)
Worth a sheckel or two? The Ravens usually play well against the best teams besides Kansas City. They will probably be on the road, where most of the franchise’s postseason success has come. Hey, why not? They already dismantled the Bills and should have beaten the Chiefs.
Photo Credits: Kenya Allen/PressBox
Issue 290: December 2024 / January 2025
Originally published Dec. 18, 2024