The NFL playoffs are right around the corner which means the time for finding value on the futures market is coming to a close.
The pregame narrative: Luckily, there's one team that still holds long-shot odds to win their conference and that's the Los Angeles Rams. Recent developments have significantly shortened the odds for the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys, but both are still worth putting down on.
Check out our best NFL futures bets to make before the playoffs begin.
NFL odds as of 3:22 p.m. on 01/08/2024.
NFL futures bets
Best Bet: Rams to win the NFC (+1,800)
There aren't many futures bets with odds greater than 10-to-1 that are going to be overly appealing, but this is one I can get behind.
Los Angeles has been very good when both Matt Stafford and Kyren Williams are on the field. The team is 8-4 in those 12 games, is averaging 27.2 points per contest and has even impressed in losing efforts.
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The Rams' four losses were to the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals (with Joe Burrow) and San Francisco 49ers. Three of those losses came by one score, with the lone exception being a nine-point defeat to Philadelphia.
Examining Los Angeles' recent performance against the Ravens to San Francisco's is an interesting exercise. The Rams visited Baltimore, in poor weather, and took the Ravens to overtime. The 49ers, on the other hand, lost 33-19 in a home game.
Los Angeles would play the Detroit Lions based on the standings ahead of Week 18. Detroit enters the final week of the regular season on shaky ground with three losses in its last six games.
Key stat: Stafford and head coach Sean McVay are a perfect 4-0 together in the postseason, winning their lone road playoff game (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Quick picks
Bills to win the AFC (+280): Buffalo's odds to win the conference have shortened quickly, but I still think there's value here.
The play of the team's defence is encouraging. The Bills have won four consecutive games in large part on the strong play of that unit. They've limited their last four opponents — a group that includes the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys — to just 17.5 points per game.
The offence has had its issues but the overall philosophy of the unit has shifted. Buffalo is seventh in the league in run-play percentage (45.86%) and first over the last three weeks (62.70%), according to Team Rankings.
James Cook is fifth in the league in scrimmage yards (1,515) while Josh Allen (42) is first in total touchdowns. The offence is capable of playing any style at a high level and that'll be a tough challenge for most in the postseason.
The playoffs aren't guaranteed for Buffalo as it'll likely have to beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 18 to make it. But a victory clinches the Bills second in the AFC.
Cowboys to win the NFC (+350): For those who aren't willing to get behind the Rams, the Cowboys remain a solid value at this price.
Dallas sitting in the driver's seat for second in the NFC is a huge deal. The Cowboys are a perfect 8-0 at AT&T Stadium, winning by an average margin of victory of 21.5 points.
They have run over teams at home. But their record drops to 3-5 on the road with a minus-two point differential.
A win over the Washington Commanders in Week 18 guarantees the Cowboys the No. 2 seed. Hosting against every NFC team (except the top-seeded 49ers) is a massive advantage.
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