Best NFL Futures Bets to Make After Schedule Release

• The NFL released the entire 2025 schedule on Wednesday night
• San Francisco has the easiest strength of schedule, with only four games against 2024 playoff teams
• Below, see the best NFL futures bets to make after the schedule release, featuring the 49ers and Bengals

The NFL can make an event out of anything. No other sport can generate significant buzz from just a schedule release, but that’s why the NFL rules the calendar all year long.

Tonight’s NFL schedule release has shined some clarity on the 2025 season, helping us form arguments for or against teams in the futures market. Before tonight, I was high on the 49ers 2025 outlook, and afterward I feel even better about targeting them in multiple markets.

Best NFL Futures Bets After Schedule Release

My favorite bet is the 49ers to win the NFC West at +145 odds. San Fran’s season was derailed last year, losing more man games to injury than anyone else. The result is a fourth place schedule and few daunting opponents. That makes me want to bet them to win the NFC’s #1 seed as well, at a juicy +650 price.

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I’m also targeting the Bengals to miss the playoffs yet again. That pays +130, which is a steal given the defensive gauntlet Cincy is going to have to face.

NFL Futures Bets #1: San Francisco 49ers to Win NFC West & NFC’s #1 Seed

• 49ers to Win NFC West (+145)
• 49ers to Win NFC’s #1 Seed (+650)

Let’s start with San Francisco. They got just four games out of star running back Christian McCaffrey, and seven games from number one wideout Brandon Aiyuk. Stud Left tackle Trent Williams played only 10 games, while Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel also sat out multiple weeks.

On defense, star pass rusher Nick Bosa missed three games, while All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner played through a broken ankle. The team also lost heavy man games in the secondary, neutering their ability to compete.

The good news is the result is a cupcake schedule in 2025. San Fran has the easiest NFL strength of schedule and will face none of the top-seven favorites in the Super Bowl 60 odds. They get to play the NFC and AFC South, the weakest divisions in both conferences, while their unique games are against the Bears, Giants and Browns, who are all heavy underdogs to make the playoffs.

2025 Strength of Schedule

They start the season with four straight games against non-playoff teams, and none of their final seven contests are versus teams who made last year’s postseason.

All in all, the Niners will play just two teams outside of their division that finished 2024 with a winning record (Tampa Bay and Houston). The offense will return most of its key pieces, while the defense is back under Robert Salah’s command.

Salah’s fingerprints are all over the 49ers recent Draft. They addressed their pass rush concerns and shored up their run defense. San Fan was one of the worst run defenses in all of football last year, after ranking top-six against the run in Salah’s four seasons as defensive coordinator.

As for their divisional opponents, last year’s NFC West winner Los Angeles was the lone playoff team with a negative point differential. Seattle traded away its quarterback and star receiver, while Arizona still has major questions on defense and the O-line. I expect the 49ers to win the division for the third time in four years, and to challenge Philly and Detroit for the NFC’s top seed.

NFL Futures Bets #2: Cincinnati Bengals to Miss Playoffs

• Bengals to Miss Playoffs (+130)

Moving on to the Bengals now, where the same problems exist from a year ago. Yes, the offense is special, but they’ll still struggle to keep Joe Burrow upright. Burrow was sacked 48 times in 2024, tied for fourth most in the league. Cincy lost their starting left tackle in free agency, and did little to upgrade its line, aside from a third round guard.

That’s a huge issue given their schedule. The Bengals will face only one defense that projects to finish in the bottom-10 in the league. They’ll play six games against top-six defenses, not to mention a pair of divisional round contests versus the Ravens.

Cincinnati gets a soft landing in Weeks 1 and 2 versus the Brown and Jags, but after that the road is daunting. They’ll face five straight playoff teams, in a stretch that could make or break their season.

Baltimore’s NFL Divisional odds are significantly shorter than rival Cincy’s, while the AFC North will once again will be among the most competitive in football. If that’s not challenging enough, six of the Bengals eight road games will be against playoff teams from last season.

Defensively, big issues still exist. Top pass rusher Trey Hendrickson won’t report without a new contract, and the team spent so much to keep Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins together, that they can’t afford to significantly upgrade a unit that finished bottom-eight in points and yards allowed.

They may be a top-10 Super Bowl contender by the odds, but I think this team is just as likely to miss the postseason as they are to make it. Given they’re +130 to fall short of the playoffs, I’ll gladly make that bet.