Understanding Futures Bets: How Long-Term Odds Work Across Sports

One of the most common cliches you hear from players and coaches is that they are taking things one game at a time.

While there is some truth in that, you can also bet that they are looking at the bigger picture, trying to figure out what they need to do to get to the playoffs and win a championship.

Bettors are like that in many ways.

They certainly take games day by day, but they also look at the big odds on future wagers and try to plan ahead to win big.

If you are unfamiliar with futures betting, we are going to cover it all in this helpful guide, so let’s get to it.

💡 What Is a Futures Bet?

No one knows what the future holds, but with futures betting, you have an opportunity to take your best guess.

When betting on futures, you are wagering on an event in the far distance.

For example, you could wager on the Super Bowl before the first game of the new season.

When you wager early, the betting lines are created with uncertainty priced in, which creates an opportunity for some real value for bettors.

📈 How Sportsbooks Set Futures Odds

Like every set of odds released in the sportsbook, probability is what is at play.

When you talk about futures odds, risk, time, and public perception are all added into the mix to come up with what the bookies believe to be a fair market price.

Those odds will change once the season begins, results start arriving, and the public begins to wager more regularly on the futures market.

A team that starts the season at +600 and comes out the gate with a long winning streak might see their odds drop to +250.

⚡ The Pros and Cons of Any Futures Bet

The obvious positives of playing futures is that the sportsbook odds are very favorable, especially when they are first released for the upcoming season.

You have a real opportunity to win big with a relatively small investment.

The major downside is that your money can be tied up for months, which could be a problem if you are working with a smaller bankroll.

For a deeper breakdown of the risks and benefits involved, see our guide to the advantages and disadvantages of futures betting.

🌍 Sport-by-Sport Futures Coverage

With NFL futures, you can wager on the Super Bowl winner, division and conference champions, MVP, and win totals.

NBA futures include conference winners, MVP, season awards, and NBA champion markets.

The MLB season allows hedge opportunities across World Series, Cy Young, MVP, and win totals.

NHL futures markets can shift rapidly due to goaltender performance and league parity.

College football futures are extremely volatile, where one loss can dramatically alter championship odds.

Soccer futures involve league titles, tournaments like the Champions League and World Cup, with pricing affected by talent gaps and external factors.

🕑 When Is the Best Time to Place a Futures Bet?

The answer to this question probably depends on how risk averse you are.

The sportsbook odds at the start of the season are great, but you have nothing to go on other than the roster of each team.

Many bettors watch the betting lines after each round of games and strike when the value matches their belief that a team will win it all.

It’s always a good idea to look at the current odds and weigh that against the probability that you have factored in for the performance of each team.

⚠ Common Mistakes Bettors Make With Futures

Going heavy on a preseason favorite is never a great idea, especially if that means tying up a large portion of your bankroll.

That money is going to be locked up for months, which can impact your wagers during the season.

Sports headlines can influence betting decisions, but bettors should always question whether those narratives relate to market price or opinion.

FAQs

Bettors using alternative payment methods may also want to review why sportsbooks make sense for crypto bettors, especially when placing long-term futures wagers.

✅ Final Thoughts: Betting Futures With Purpose, Not Hope

Futures wagers should not be placed with fingers crossed.

You should make them when you feel confident about a specific outcome as opposed to simply chasing lucrative odds.

Before placing a futures bet, compare betting lines, evaluate the market price, and log in to your sportsbook with a clear plan.

---

Join @MyBookie on X

Ready to lock in your plays? Don’t wait — early bowl lines move fast.

Bookie Betting Lines
Updated Vegas Odds & Spreads at MyBookie

---

About the Author

• Henry Watkins
• Henry Watkins is a Sports Writer at MyBookie. Originally from Scotland and currently residing in Metro Atlanta with his wife Penny, Henry covers a range of topics, including competitive and professional sports as well as sports business. In addition to his sports writing, he is also an author of horror fiction, with works such as Karaoke Night, Crueller, and Off The Grid.

 

Sportsbook Bonuses

 

---

  ^ Top

Sports Betting Odds

---

Sportsbook Odds | MyBookie Online

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later