Sportsbook executives might still be celebrating the result of the most bet-on game of the year.
The house got the best of the bettors in Super Bowl 59 earlier this month with Nevada books banking a record $22.13 million win on the event, according to a release from the state's Gaming Control Board.
Now, let's try to take some of it back. No sport stands as popular to bet on as the NFL, but there are still plenty of other options to handicap before it returns in September -- and there are already odds on its 2025-2026 campaign, too.
Here's our annual list of bets to make in seven future markets across seven different sports at the conclusion of the Super Bowl.
Men's college basketball
Houston to win the NCAA Tournament at 10-to-1 (South Point)
Three teams have established themselves as far ahead of the pack heading into this year's March Madness: Auburn, Duke and Houston. Only the first two are priced liked it.
Houston is lagging behind in perception because of past tournament failures and a reputation for being more defensively inclined. That's a pair of misguided reasons. This year's Cougars -- which include Desert Pines High graduate Milos Uzan in the starting lineup -- can score more than past versions, rating in the nation's top 10 in offensive efficiency. Many of their past flame-outs meanwhile have been the result of bad luck -- injuries, close-game bounces, etc. At some point, those will regress the other way. Maybe it happens this year.
Similar to the Houston men's team, the women's Longhorns' price is inflated due to absurd factors. Texas isn't seen as dominant as South Carolina or Connecticut because it's not a perennial powerhouse. The Longhorns also get less publicity because of their lack of a superstar like USC's JuJu Watkins or Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo. But Texas might be the best of the bunch this year, or at least right on par with South Carolina and Connecticut. It just avenged an earlier-season loss to South Carolina on February 9 and has rated ahead or equal to Connecticut all year by efficiency metrics. The Longhorns might not be the most likely champion, but their probability is surely higher than the 9% this line implies.
Golf
Rory McIlroy at 9-to-1, Justin Thomas at 30-to-1 and Tyrrell Hatton at 50-to-1 to win the Masters (Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook)
It's best to build a portfolio of golfers for major tournaments like the Masters, and Westgate is making that easy with the best prices in the market on this trio. This feels like the year McIlroy completes the career grand slam and dons the championship green jacket at Augusta National. The 35-year-old is in better form than anyone on the PGA Tour, even arguably including defending Masters/Tour champion Scottie Scheffler. The 31-year-old Thomas meanwhile is under the radar because he hasn't won a tournament since the 2022 PGA Championship, but he's playing well enough to break that streak imminently. The 33-year-old Hatton has been the best golfer on the rival LIV Tour and arguably shouldn't be this high teeing it up anywhere in the world currently.
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder to win the Western Conference at +110 (Wynn)
The odds aren't reflecting how dominant the young Thunder have been this season. They have the best point differential in NBA history at +13.5 per game at the All-Star break. Their lack of postseason experience is what's keeping bettors at bay, a trend reminiscent of a decade ago when the 2015 Golden State Warriors were doubted despite amassing a similar level of production. The Warriors ended up rolling their way to their first of four NBA titles that season. The Thunder may finish the year in the same fashion, but a tough matchup with the defending champion Boston Celtics could loom in the NBA Finals. That's why it's a better bet just to take them to get there by winning the West, a proposition that shouldn't be available anywhere near plus money.
College baseball
Arkansas to win the College World Series at 14-to-1 (BetMGM)
The Razorbacks have repeatedly threatened winning it all with four trips to Omaha for the College World Series in the last 10 years. This could be the season where they finally break through. Arkansas put together the best transfer-portal class in the sport with a balance of pitching and hitting. Veteran Dave Van Horn is one of the most respected coaches in the sport and has expressed confidence the Razorbacks will hit for more power this season. That's the only thing that held them back last year when they still went into the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 5 overall before getting upset in the regional round.
Major League Baseball
Texas Rangers to win the American League at 12-to-1 (Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have more or less ruined World Series futures wagering by putting together one of the greatest rosters of all-time on paper. They're as low as +250 to win a second straight title, and might even be worth a bet at the one book (BetMGM) still offering 3-to-1. But someone has to get there to face them, and it might be the 2023 World Series champions. The Rangers had an injury-plagued World Series defense last year but reloaded in the offseason and look healthier going into this year. They should be the team to beat in the American League West and might have the upside to put a scare into the Dodgers.
NFL
Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl 60 at 20-to-1 (Caesars/William Hill)
The Bengals had one of the best offenses in the NFL by the end of the year; defense was their problem and the reason why they missed the postseason for a second straight season. Luckily, defense is an easier fix from year to year. Cincinnati is a few shrewd free-agency moves and draft choices away from being much more formidable on that side of the ball. The Bengals hired a new defensive coordinator in Al Golden, who should spark some life into the unit.
Cincinnati is no longer priced as a primary contender, but it should be as long as quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase are around.