NFL Futures: Early Game Spreads to Lock In (2020)

Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our How To Section — including How to Make a Moneyline Bet at a Sportsbook â€” or head to more advanced strategy — like Win Totals Strategy for Sports Betting â€” to learn more.

Sports bettors often associate futures bets with identifying which teams will win championships or what players will win individual awards. However, along with many different team and player props, bettors can take an early stab at picking games against the spread.

FanDuel Sportsbook has already released spreads and totals for Week 1 along with a full slate of spreads for Week 2. In addition, they have lines available for all primetime games played on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night throughout the season.

While many bettors may only be comfortable placing bets for Week 1 at the moment, I encourage you to take a look at spreads later in the season. Sure, a lot can happen between now and a game you may bet in December. However, you may be able to take advantage of oddsmakers’ poor projections and get a great value on lines right now.

These spreads may change as much as seven to ten points as the season wears on. If you are confident in your season-long projections for certain teams, join me in locking in some early wagers.

Here are our five best NFL spreads and totals throughout the season to lock in now and get a jump on the oddsmakers.

Claim your FREE bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook >>

Week 1: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings O/U 46.5

For our first pick, we take advantage of some of the only totals posted to date in Week 1. The Packers and Vikings play historically low scoring games when the game is played in Minnesota. Here is the combined score for both teams in their last six games in Minnesota: 33, 41, 33, 31, 43, 45. Therefore, you have to go all the way back to October 2013 to find a game played between these two teams in Minnesota that went over the projected total of 46.5.

Both of these teams have question marks on offense entering 2020. The Packer’s front office surprised everyone by not only failing to provide Aaron Rodgers with more weapons in the early rounds of the draft but also selecting his heir apparent in Jordan Love. In addition, how will the Vikings offense look without wide receiver Stefon Diggs on the outside?

Another reason the under 46.5 is appealing is the fact that COVID-19 may continue to interrupt all teams’ preseason practices. If players and coaches are limited in how often they can report to team facilities, look for some sloppy play across the league to start the season.

PICK: UNDER 46.5

Week 2: New Orleans Saints (-4.5) at Las Vegas Raiders

This Week 2 Monday Night Football matchup is historic, as the Raiders play their first home game in Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see if Allegiant Stadium creates its own version of the Black Hole. Either way, expect Raiders fans to be fired up to welcome their team to a new city.

Though this is only the second game of the season, expect it to be a letdown spot for the Saints. New Orleans opens the season with a tasty home matchup against the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints would clearly admit that the Bucs are their biggest challengers in the NFC South now that Tom Brady is under center.

I expect there to be less focus from the Saints players after their big Week 1 showdown, making the points with the Raiders very enticing.

PICK: Las Vegas Raiders +4.5

Week 3: Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5)

What did Texans head coach Bill O’Brien do to anger the NFL schedule makers so much? The Texans start the year with two of the toughest opponents imaginable. They play at Kansas City to start the year and welcome the Ravens in their home opener in Week 2. That kind of schedule has to take its toll on the Texans as they head to Pittsburgh in Week 3.

The earlier you can bet on the Steelers the better, as they have been bitten by the injury bug of late. Granted, Ben Roethlisberger was not even available in Week 3 last year as he missed 14 games to end the year. However, we will bank on the fact that he will be healthy and under center for this matchup.

The Texans may very likely enter this game 0-2. After a questionable offseason that saw them trade their best receiver in DeAndre Hopkins, it is safe to wonder how quickly O’Brien will lose his locker room. While some would argue the Texans would be playing with desperation under these circumstances, I see a team in a horrible spot entering a hostile environment.

PICK: Pittsburgh Steelers -4.5

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens (-2.5)

We follow up Week 2’s historic MNF clash with the best MNF matchup of the season in Week 3. The Chiefs and Ravens are not only projected to be the best two teams in the AFC, but many experts rank them as the best two teams in the entire league. This is a rematch of a Week 3 game played in Kansas City last year which the Chiefs won 33-28.

The change in venue to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore will make all the difference in this matchup. The Ravens went 7-1 at home last season, beating playoff teams like the Patriots, Texans, and 49ers by an average of 18 points per game.

Under head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are nearly unbeatable at home in primetime games. Since 2008, the Ravens are 14-1 in primetime home games and are currently on a 12-game winning streak. They are 7-0 on Thursday Night and 2-0 on Monday Night.

Patrick Mahomes threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns in their meeting in Arrowhead last year. Look for reigning MVP Lamar Jackson to get the better of this matchup between young stars this year.

PICK: Baltimore Ravens -2.5

Week 9: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-6)

This Thursday Night Football matchup is a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game. That game was effectively over at halftime as the 49ers jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead. The 49ers went on to win 37-20, though they clearly took their foot off the gas in the second half. This point was highlighted by the fact that 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo attempted just eight passes for the entire game.

The 49ers completely dominated the line of scrimmage against the Packers last year. They ran for 285 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry. The defense sacked Aaron Rodgers three times and forced Green Bay into three turnovers.

Some teams are just a bad matchup, so expect more of the same in this year’s rematch. San Francisco will find themselves in the midst of a brutal stretch in their schedule entering this game. Week 9 is their only home game in a five-week stretch, so there will be an added importance to this game. In addition, Thursday Night games tend to favor the home team. Lay the points with the 49ers on a short week.

PICK: San Francisco 49ers -6

View the top deposit bonuses and promo codes for each sportsbook >>

Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.