Welcome back to SchizPicks! It has been a long and grueling offseason, betting on the dog-days of summer baseball while waiting for the NFL season to finally begin. It is good to be back!

Futures bets present significant opportunity, as the favorites start off the season with excellent initial odds and sleeper teams can be had at a huge discount. This means there is a great chance to make some nice profit without tying up too much cash.

Each future will include a confidence level in terms of how I intend to bet the provided line:

3: Highest level of confidence :Worth a full unit.

2: Great odds to risk ratio: Worth a good sized bet but don’t go crazy.

1: Sprinkle style: Has a good chance to hit and the odds are crazy. Throw a few bucks!

Without further ado, let’s get started! As always, make sure to shop around the books for the best lines.

Win totals

LA Rams o10.5 +105

2021 Record: 12-5

The Los Angeles Rams are not only defending Super Bowl Champions but are returning most key pieces of their team to try and run it back. Elite Quarterback Matt Stafford is fresh off his first ring, hungry to solidify himself amongst the greats. SB MVP Cooper Kupp will return to this offense, ready to show up and show out for LA once again. While the Super Bowl hangover is a real thing, I don’t see it keeping this team at a 10-7 record or worse. There were 4 competitive teams in this division last year but with Russell Wilson leaving Seattle, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers handing the keys to unseasoned second year QB Trey Lance, and the absence of DeAndre Hopkins in Arizona for six weeks, I think the Rams will have an easier climb to the top of this division. 11 wins is a fair ask from this juggernaut, and you shouldn’t have to sweat. At plus money, this is a no-brainer.

Confidence Level 3: Toss a unit or more and ride it out!

Cincinnati Bengals o10 +100

2021 Record: 10-7

In an unprecedented run, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North last season and made it to the Super Bowl on the back of Joe Burrow and his counterpart, and college teammate, WR Ja’Marr Chase. Now in year two as a tandem, the pair have unfinished business to take care of.

There are two things that intrigued me about this bet: the low win total and the line. Similar to the Rams, I do not foresee a Super Bowl Hangover keeping this team to a 9-8 record. Replicating last season's 10-7 record would result in a push, leaving an extra safety blanket for bettors. 11-6 is more than attainable for this team, and the bet is a great value as it sits currently.

Confidence Level 3: Full unit play!

Division Winners

Tennessee Titans to win AFC South +175

2021 Finish: 1st, 2021 Record: 12-5

This is a classic example of the value of a bet being more important than the outcome. Do I think Tennessee will win the division? No, I think it will be Indiannapolis. +175, however, is a really good line for the defending division champions who are returning much of their offense from a year ago. The notable loss is WR AJ Brown, a feared presence on the outside that helped divert attention away from the running lanes of healthy-again RB Derrick Henry. You all know how we feel about the true throw value king Ryan Tannehill here at Broto, and although the concerns for Henry’s health are valid, I like the value at +175.

Confidence Level 2. Worth a quarter to a half unit, whatever you are comfortable with.

LA Chargers to win AFC West +220

2021 Finish: 3rd, 2021 Record: 9-8

This is perhaps my favorite play on the whole ticket. You can get more than 3x return on investment for a team that should be the favorite. The Kansas City Chiefs lost Tyreek Hill, which is a big loss no matter how you swing it. The Broncos and Raiders both got better in key areas, particularly through the acquisitions of Russell Wilson and Davante Adams, respectively, making the waters in this division very murky.

Justin Herbert is the real deal and it is time for him to win the AFC West. After a long-awaited breakout from Mike Williams last year, LA now has two high level outside targets to go alongside their highly efficient, dual threat running back Austin Ekeler. With Derwin James making his return to the field alongside Joey Bosa, this defensive unit is nothing to shrug at either. I believe all 4 teams in this division could make the playoffs, but LA should be on top.

Confidence Level 3. Full unit play.

Awards

Lamar Jackson to win MVP +2000

Creator: Sam Navarro | Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Copyright: Sam Navarro

This one is short and sweet. Lamar has been put down by the league and the industry time and time again for his unique skill set. He was the last of the big 5 Quarterbacks drafted in his class, and the last pick in the first round. He won an MVP award, and still does not get the respect he deserves. In a contract year, with Mark Andrews coming off a true breakout campaign, I could see much crazier things happening than Lamar taking the league by storm once again. He is tied for the 10th favorite so the odds to longshot ratio is perfect here.

Confidence level 2: Worth a generous sprinkle!

Saquon Barkley CPOY +1600, Brian Daboll Coach of the Year +1800

This may be my homer side coming out—Giants fan, here—but hear me out! Brain Daboll is an offensive mastermind. He, along with his staff in Buffalo, transformed the Bills offense from a perennial laughing stock to arguably the most feared unit in the entire league. He did so by maximizing Josh Allen’s talents inside a system where he could thrive. I believe this is what Brian Daboll will successfully do in New York (maybe not to the same scale as Josh Allen and the Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills) with Daniel Jones and, by extension, Saquon Barkley.

Saquon Barkley is returning to the field fully healthy arguably for the first time since his monstrous rookie year. His injury history is riddled with bad luck, not recurring or concerning soft tissue issues. The Giants are coming off a 4-13 season, so if they are playing meaningful games in December, both of these lines should be in the cards!

Confidence level 1: For the price, these are worth your spare change.

Other Sprinkle Worthy Awards

Justin Jefferson OPOY +1200

Joey Bosa DPOY +2000

James Cook OROY +1800

Kayvon Thibodeaux DROY +600

Super Bowl Straight Forecast: LA Chargers to beat TB Buccaneers +8000

This is just a fun one to sprinkle! Not much of an explanation here. Straight forecasts are a blast and the odds are way better than picking just an outright winner. Sprinkle a few and have some fun.

As always, bet responsibly!

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By Michael Schissel

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