It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, the safe harbor at the end of the storm.
Football season.
Eventually, the coronavirus concerns will fade away, normalcy will return, and televised sports will get back on the air.
When that will happen is still uncertain. The NBA and MLB seasons are still filled with question marks. But it seems a safe bet that football season will likely be business as usual.
And thank goodness for that.
NFL futures at PA sportsbooks, Chiefs favorite to repeat
To help bridge the sports gap from now until football season, futures bets for the NFL season are already available. For more details on football betting, see our NFL betting guide.
Bettors can find lines posted on the Super Bowl champion, conference and division winners, and also some player futures at select PA sports betting apps.
Currently, the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorite to repeat as champions, carrying odds of +650 at FanDuel Sportsbook and +600 at Fox Bet and BetRivers.
Eagles, Steelers return greater odds
In Pennsylvania, the Steelers are +2200 at DraftKings and most other sportsbooks. The Eagles are +1700 at most regional sportsbooks.
However, in the NFC East, the Eagles are the favorites to win the division. Fox Bet has the Eagles at +120 to win the NFC East, followed by the Cowboys (+125), the Giants (+800), and the Redskins (+900).
Over at BetRivers, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to finish behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.
The Ravens have odds of -177 to win the division, while the Steelers are +275. The Browns (+550) and Bengals (+2000) follow behind them. The other divisions and their favorites are as follows:
- AFC South: Titans (+180)
- AFC East: Patriots (-305)
- AFC West: Chiefs (-500)
- NFC North: Packers (+135)
- NFC South: Saints (-155)
- NFC West: 49ers (+110)
NFL Draft will go off as scheduled, minus the gatherings
The upcoming NFL Draft has been a huge question mark in many minds. According to an ESPN report Sunday, the NFL league year will start on time this week as planned.
As of Monday morning, the NFL Draft was still on, scheduled to take place April 23-25 as planned, with some modifications. While public NFL Draft events will not take place in April, the event will be televised.
According to the NFL presser, “The NFL is exploring innovative options for how the process will be conducted and will provide that information as it becomes available.”
The league Commissioner Roger Goodell said the following:
“This decision reflects our foremost priority: the health and safety of all fans and citizens. While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”
Futures markets for the April NFL Draft
For those starving for some sports betting, DraftKings has posted a number of NFL Draft futures. Since it’s not an actual sporting contest, you won’t be able to bet on the draft in Pennsylvania, at least as of now. But if you find yourself across the border in New Jersey, here’s what you’ll see.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (-2500) is the runaway favorite to be the first pick. Ohio State defensive end Chase Young is the next closest at +1600.
Bettors can also wager on the first player drafted at each position. The favorites for those bets are as follows:
- First cornerback: Jeffrey Okudah (-3335)
- First defensive lineman: Chase Young (-5000)
- First linebacker: Isaiah Simmons (-1250)
- First offensive lineman: Jedrick Wills (+160)
- First quarterback: Joe Burrow (-10000)
- First running back: D’Andre Swift (+115)
- First safety: Xavier McKinney (-177)
- First tight end: Cole Kmet (-110)
- First wide receiver: Jerry Jeudy (-112)
A few other available bets focus on players and their draft position. Bettors can wager on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s draft position (the over/under is 3.5) and also which team ultimately takes him (the Dolphins are the favorite at -121). There is also a bet available on who will be the third quarterback taken.
NFL futures and for some, the draft will give bettors a chance to get back in the game. Perhaps there will even be some sporting events to watch before that.
But sooner or later, football will arrive.
It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, the safe harbor at the end of the storm.
