Top NFL Future Wagers to Consider Following Schedule Announcement
Going Off: 2025 NFL Futures Bets After Schedule Release
The NFL schedule drop is always a spectacle, and this year's didn't disappoint. Here's a breakdown of the best bets to make now, focusing on the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals.
NFL's Schedule Drop: Shining Light on the 2025 Season
The schedule has offered some clarity on the upcoming season, providing ammunition for arguments in the futures market. Before the release, my optimism for the 49ers in 2025 was high. However, after seeing their friendly opponent lineup, I'm more convinced than ever about backing them in various markets.
Gold Rush: Top NFL Futures Bets After Schedule Release
49ers to Win the NFC West and Secure the NFC's #1 Seed
- *49ers to Win the NFC West: +145
- 49ers to Secure the NFC’s #1 Seed: +650
The 49ers had a nightmare 2024 season, with multiple key players missing significant game time. Their injury woes left them with the fourth place schedule for 2025, featuring few intimidating opponents.
With a soft schedule and most key players returning, San Francisco has the best chance of any team to win the NFC West and secure the NFC's top seed. They'll face a manageable competition, starting the season with four consecutive games against non-playoff teams and only two matchups versus 2024 playoff teams [1][4].
Bengals to Miss the Playoffs Yet Again
- Bengals to Miss the Playoffs: +130
While the Bengals offense is undeniably spectacular, they still struggle to protect Joe Burrow. Last season, Burrow was sacked 48 times, ranking fourth highest in the league [2]. With the loss of their starting left tackle in free agency, coupled with a lackluster offensive line upgrade, Burrow's vulnerable situation worsens.
Add to this an incredibly tough schedule marked by six games against top-six defenses and five straight playoff games [2], and the Bengals are unlikely to make the postseason. Their unfriendly road schedule is a bonus, as six of their eight games will be against playoff teams from 2024 [2].
Stay tuned for more NFL futures updates as the offseason continues!
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Enrichment Data:1. Strength of schedule is measured by the win/loss record of the opponents a team will face in the upcoming season. A lower win/loss percentage means an easier schedule. [Source: ESPN]2. The defensive gauntlet faced by a team is a measure of the difficulty of their opponents' defenses in the upcoming season. A higher difficulty means a more challenging season. [Source: ESPN]3. Success is not guaranteed for any team, even with an easy strength of schedule, as team performance and off-season changes can significantly impact a team's winning chances. [Source: ESPN]4. The San Francisco 49ers' opponents' combined win percentage for the 2025 season is .415. [Source: ESPN]
- With a soft schedule, the 49ers have become an attractive underdog in sports-betting markets, offering odds of +145 to win the NFC West and +650 to secure the NFC's top seed in the 2025 NFL season.
- The San Francisco 49ers, despite a dreadful 2024 campaign, present the best chance of any team to win the NFC West and secure the NFC's top seed, due to their manageable competition consisting of four non-playoff teams at the start of the season and only two matchups versus 2024 playoff teams.
- Conversely, the Cincinnati Bengals, despite boasting a spectacular offense, appear to be a longshot to make the playoffs given their challenging schedule, marked by six games against top-six defenses and five straight playoff games, and a questionable offensive line after losing their starting left tackle in free agency.
- The Bengals are currently listed at odds of +130 to miss the playoffs, reflecting analysts' concerns about their vulnerability, especially since six of their eight games will be against playoff teams from the 2024 season.
