Who ordered a fresh batch of NFL futures for the AFC? Hopefully, you did. Because that’s what we’ve got for you.
This time around, we’ll be taking a look at the best bets to win the 2024 AFC Championship. Conference titles are our favorite wagers to play so late into the NFL regular season. The pool of contenders has narrowed considerably from Week 1, but every AFC Champion candidate still pays out better than even money entering Week 15. Before we dig into our top options, here are the latest odds for these NFL futures:
To Win AFC 
Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens +240 +245 +230 Kansas City Chiefs +290 +295 +280 Miami Dolphins +350 +355 +340 Jacksonville Jaguars +1000 +1100 +900 Buffalo Bills +1000 +1100 +900 Cleveland Browns +1300 +1350 +1200 Houston Texans +3400 +3450 +3300 Denver Broncos +4200 +4250 +4100 Indianapolis Colts +5000 +5050 +4900 Pittsburgh Steelers +6000 +6050 +5900 Cincinnati Bengals +8500 +8550 +8400 Los Angeles Chargers +3500 +3550 +3400 New York Jets +5500 +5550 +5400 Tennessee Titans +100000 +100000 +100000 Las Vegas Raiders +100000 +100000 +100000
Without question, you will want to double-check these online NFL betting odds right up until you actually submit your wager. Our NFL futures for the AFC are accurate entering Wednesday, December 13. The AFC Championship game will not take place until Sunday, January 28. That gives the best NFL online betting sites plenty of time to make adjustments leading into opening kick-off.
While this process is a bit simpler than it was weeks ago, predicting the AFC title winner is absurdly difficult compared to their counterparts in the NFC. The crop of contenders here is unfathomably deep. You have the usual suspects like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. But a host of other squads are staking their claim inside the NFL futures market.
Who are these new teams? And which squads are the best options to win the 2024 AFC Championship? And who is our ultimate pick to win it all? Let’s get cracking.
Should the Baltimore Ravens Really Top the AFC Futures Landscape?
In a somewhat stunning turn of events, the Baltimore Ravens (+240) have claimed top billing in the AFC’s NFL futures department. This isn’t to say they haven’t earned it. Baltimore currently has a top-five offense and defense.
Some claim they are the Dallas Cowboys of the AFC. This is to say, people believe the Ravens’ schedule has been relatively easy.
That’s not untrue. But you can’t penalize a team for beating—often walloping—the opponents in front of them. And the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens have done that as well as anyone this season.
Is It Time to Worry About the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC Championship Stock?
At this writing, the Kansas City Chiefs (+290) have lost three of their past four games and incurred serious decline on the offensive side of the ball. As a result, they have seen their AFC futures tumble from the top spot. Kansas City’s odds to win Super Bowl 58 have also taken a considerable hit.
To say we’re unconcerned would be an exaggeration. Then again, it’s tough to get too worked up about their offensive struggles. Patrick Mahomes still exists, and the Chiefs are hardly without firepower. They should find their groove when it matters most.
And in the event the offense flops, Kansas City still has a top-three defense on which to hang their hats.
Better AFC NFL Futures Bet: Buffalo Bills or Miami Dolphins
All year long, we have been driving the Miami Dolphins (+350) bandwagon. Everything from their AFC Championship futures to their Super Bowl 58 futures have seemed undervalued to us.
Skeptics have pointed toward the absence of a trademark win. And after Miami’s Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans, we’re starting to emerge as doubters ourselves. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is clearly reliant on wide receiver Tyreek Hill to keep the chains moving—maybe too reliant. And though the defense has perked up in recent weeks, you can’t forfeit 320 passing yards to the Titans and call yourself a championship contender.
Right now, at this moment, we’re feeling much better about the Buffalo Bills (+1000). Quarterback Josh Allen has started getting his turnover and decision-making issues under control, and the Bills defense is back to delivering both pressure and turnovers.
Putting the Bills at 10-to-1 to win the AFC made sense a couple of weeks ago. It’s currently a freaking steal for people who have been paying attention to what they’re doing.
Best Dark Horse Bet to Win 2024 AFC Championship
Plenty of outlets will go with the Jacksonville Jaguars (+1000) in this space. Some might even invest in the Houston Texans (+3400). Even the Cleveland Browns (+1300) continue to receive some love despite the season-ending injury to quarterback Deshaun Watson.
None of those teams are our favorite NFL futures dark horse. That would be the Denver Broncos (+4200).
Bemoan their offensive inconsistency all you want. The defense is playing at a best-in-the-NFL level—and has been for some time. Denver knows how to grind games down to a slog, and quarterback Russell Wilson continues to make just enough of a difference on the ground to drive the offense.
Make no mistake, these 42-to-1 odds are a risk. The Broncos aren’t even guaranteed to make the playoffs. But if they do, there’s a chance they turn the entire bracket upside down.
Official 2024 NFC Championship Prediction
And our pick to win the 2024 NFC championship is…the Kansas City Chiefs.
Experience has a lot to do with this decision. The Chiefs won’t be fazed in big games. And really, if it weren’t for their most recent offensive slump, they would be leading the NFL futures field.
This is a good time to reiterate the word “slump.” Kansas City is not suddenly inept on the offensive side. They remain 11th in points scored per game despite failing to eclipse 20 points in three of their past four contests. That’s a pretty significant deal.
So, too, is the state of their defense. The Chiefs have flashed the bandwidth to shut just about every type of opposing offense down. Potential playoff matchups with the Bills or Dolphins or Ravens will hardly scare them.
Basically, we’re siding with championship experience and pedigree. And we have no regrets.
OSB Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs (+290)
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your 2023 NFL betting:
Online Sports Betting © 2024