We’re three weeks into the NFL season, sufficient time to attract loads of conclusions, however not sufficient to be assured in them.
That’s the place many of the futures betting alternatives are at this level within the 12 months: hedging in opposition to market overreactions based mostly on unexpectedly quick or sluggish begins.
Listed here are three of our high futures wagers to make earlier than Week 4 commences, and all three observe that logic to some extent.
Los Angeles Rams to win NFC West (+265, DraftKings)
The Rams are 1-2 after a second-half collapse in Denver, and have been with out star receiver Puka Nacua and cross rusher Myles Garrett.
They’ve additionally already misplaced to the 49ers, which means one of the best they will do is even the head-to-head tiebreak.
However the workforce that was everyone’s preseason darling is instantly a commodity value shopping for low, at odds that recommend a lower than 1-in-3 probability they are going to emerge as division winners.
Nacua may very well be again as quickly as this week. Garrett ought to return just a few video games earlier than the Rams’ Week 11 bye. The 49ers have persistently struggled with later-season accidents. And the Rams’ schedule finally eases following video games in opposition to Philadelphia and Buffalo in Weeks 4 and 5.
If there’s any cause to not make this wager, it could be to attend on a fair cheaper price if the Rams lose both of these subsequent two.
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Chicago Bears to win NFC North (+390, FanDuel)
Writing off the Bears this early makes even much less sense than the Rams.
Caleb Williams’ hamstring damage could also be worse than initially feared, however the subsequent month’s schedule is comparatively mild.
Case Keenum’s debut Chicago efficiency as Williams’ backup most likely isn’t sustainable. It additionally is probably not wanted to get wins in opposition to the Jets and Patriots at residence or the Falcons and Jets on the street.
And up to now, the Bears have one of the best level differential within the division in opposition to the hardest schedule any of these 4 groups has performed.
The loss to the Vikings in Week 2 hurts the tiebreaker eventualities. However there’s loads of time for Williams to get wholesome earlier than the rematch in Week 18.
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Los Angeles Chargers over 6.5 wins (-105, BetMGM)
The Chargers have misplaced three straight to start a season that many thought would come with a problem to Denver and Kansas Metropolis for AFC West Superiority.
And whereas that ship might have already sailed, don’t anticipate the second workforce in Los Angeles to go down with no combat.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has by no means didn’t put up a .500 file within the NFL. And even with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter departing to teach the Ravens after final season, the protection has performed respectably.
It’s the connection between quarterback Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel that appears stalled, however possibly anticipating that partnership to blossom immediately was naive.
The division is a attain, however the Chargers will get again into this factor, or at the very least method .500 earlier than the season’s finish.
