The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals will meet in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 6th.
This morning, veterans for both NFL clubs are set to report to training camp.
For the Panthers, there’s real optimism that last year’s NFC South title and playoff appearance were the beginning of something special.
That sentiment is reflected in a move from 150-to-1 to 80-to-1 to win the Super Bowl at FanDuel this offseason.
As for the Cardinals, the outlook is much different.
Arizona is 1000-to-1 to win the Super Bowl at FanDuel – the longest odds of the league’s 32 teams.
In fact, the Cardinals are 20-to-1 to make the playoffs.
For perspective, 12 NFL teams have shorter odds to win the Super Bowl, including all three division rivals.
For a rebuilding franchise like Arizona, the best-case scenario is to continue to build a strong foundation and secure the highest possible pick for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Playing one of the league’s most difficult schedules in the league’s toughest division should help the Cardinals achieve that goal.
As I highlighted in Tuesday’s column, the Los Angeles Rams are the clear Super Bowl favourite at +550.
The Seattle Seahawks (+1200) and the San Francisco 49ers (+1500) are also among the top five choices, along with a pair of AFC contenders in the Baltimore Ravens (+1100) and the Buffalo Bills (+1100).
In 10 days since FanDuel launched in Alberta, the Rams have been the most popular bet to win the Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, it should come as no surprise that the Edmonton Oilers have been the most popular bet to win the Stanley Cup in Alberta.
Beyond the Oilers and Rams, what other futures bets have caught the attention of FanDuel bettors in Alberta?
Let’s go back to the futures and look at the most popular Alberta bets over the 10 days since FanDuel’s launch in this Morning Coffee for Wednesday July 22nd, 2026.
Oilers Stanley Cup, Rams Super Bowl Among Alberta’s Favourite FanDuel Futures
While most bettors are looking for instant gratification, others are willing to fire up the flux capacitor and head back to the futures to find some long-term value.
Interestingly, the NFL has dominated the futures market in Alberta in the 10 days since FanDuel launched.
The NFL accounts for 19 of the 20 most staked futures.
However, there are a couple of notable exceptions.
While I don’t have the ability to track down the exact city locations where these bets were placed, it’s not a stretch to assume that FanDuel bettors in Edmonton have made the Oilers the most popular bet to win the Stanley Cup.
Additionally, the Oilers to win the Pacific Division at +190 and to make the playoffs at -650 have been popular bets.
In case you missed it, FanDuel allows bettors to parlay teams to make or miss the playoffs, which means a bet on the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens to make the playoffs can be found at -113 at FanDuel this morning.
I highlight the Canadiens because Montreal at -154 has been the second-most popular bet to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Alberta.
A year ago, Montreal to make the playoffs could be found at plus-money at FanDuel.
After a deep run to the Eastern Conference Final, you won’t find the Habs at plus-money to make the playoffs again for a very long time.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are the second-most popular bet to win the Stanley Cup at +650.
As for the most staked futures in Alberta, the NFL accounts for 19 of the top 20 positions, including a top five that features some interesting player props.
Bijan Robinson to register 1250 or more rushing yards is the most staked futures bet at FanDuel in Alberta.
Robinson, who has topped that mark in back-to-back seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, is +140 to do it again in his fourth NFL season.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to reach 1250 or more receiving yards at even-money is the second-most staked futures bet.
The veteran wideout has averaged 1393 receiving yards while clearing 1263 receiving yards in each of his last three seasons in Detroit.
Coming off an unforgettable offseason, all eyes are on the Lions star wideout entering the 2026 NFL season.
As is the case with the NHL futures, FanDuel allows its bettors to parlay select NFL futures as well.
A parlay with Robinson to clear 1250+ rushing and St. Brown to clear 1250+ receiving yards can be found at +323 odds at FanDuel this morning.
If I add the third-most popular NFL futures bet – Justin Jefferson to record 1250 or more receiving yards at +140 – a three-leg parlay gets me +830 odds at FanDuel.
Meanwhile, the five most popular bets to make the NFL playoffs in Alberta to date include the Rams, Bills, Seahawks, Ravens, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
An NFL futures parlay with those five teams to make the playoffs pays +395 at FanDuel this morning.
We’re 49 days away from the start of the NFL regular season, 69 days away from the start of the NHL regular season, and only 10 days into FanDuel’s Alberta launch.
I’m fascinated to see how the futures markets to take shape as NFL and NHL fans in Alberta continue the countdown to their first gameday bets in September.
For now, there’s been plenty of hometown love for the Oilers, as well as support for the Rams as the clear Super Bowl favourite.
Hopefully, by the time the future becomes the present, FanDuel bettors in Alberta will be celebrating some big wins on those long-term investments.
Have a great day, everyone!
