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**Udog** · 08-09-2017, 10:27 AM

Wednesday's (8-9-17) NFL preseason Week 1 betting primer and odds: Texans at Panthers

Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers (-1.5, 36.5)

The Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers kick off Week 1 of the NFL preseason with an exhibition matchup Wednesday night at Bank of America Stadium. While many feel betting the NFL preseason is the ultimate "degenerate" bet, we here are Covers want to help you out if you're itching to test the waters in these games that don't really matter.

When it comes to quarterback play for the Texans, coach Bill O'Brien isn't saying much other than that all three of Tom Savage, rookie Deshaun Watson and veteran backup Brandon Weeden will play Wednesday, but it will be Savage making the start. O'Brien would not divulge on how much time each signal caller would spend under center.

It should be noted that Savage has taken all the first team snaps so far during training camp and starters typically play no more than a drive or two in a preseason opener. However, Savage could see a few more snaps since he has only made two starts in his three-year career.

On the other side of the ball for the Texans, J.J. Watt will play as well, but don't expect more than a series or two from the three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner. Watt missed most of 2016 with a herniated disc.

Meanwhile, Panthers starting quarterback and former MVP Cam Newton is likely out for this game. Newton suffered a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery. Reports out of camp are saying he suffered the setback throwing in line drills on July 30th.

Backup Derek Anderson will start in Newton's place, with Joe Webb and newcomer Garrett Gilbert expected to see plenty of action.

While Newton won't play, we'll still get treated to the debut of Panthers' rookie running back Christian McCaffrey. He has been the talk of Panthers' camp, so keep an eye on the play-making back out of Stanford as we get a glimpse of how Carolina will employ him this season.

TV: NFL Network 7:30 p.m. ET.

LINE HISTORY: The Panthers opened this game favored by a field goal, but with the news coming out Newton won't play at all on Wednesday, Carolina has moved down to -1.5. The total, to no one's surprise, has dropped a point moving from 37 to 36.

**Udog** · 08-09-2017, 10:31 AM

Betting 101: Best ways to safely handicap the NFL preseason

So you want to bet NFL preseason football, do you?

Steering bettors away from the NFL’s unpredictable exhibition schedule is like trying to convince high school kids to wait until marriage, if you know what we mean. You aren’t going to convince them otherwise so you might as well preach about safe sex - or in this case safe betting habits.

We break down the best ways to handicap the NFL preseason slate and hope you don’t lose your shirt – and pants – by the time Week 1 rolls around:

Read everything

The great thing about the NFL preseason is that books and bettors are on the same level. Coaches don’t reveal their plans until usually the day before a game, and by that time odds have been up for a while. If you catch an online presser or read a quote from a coach spilling the beans on his starters’ playing time, you can quickly get down before the lines adjust.

Research is everything for preseason capping. Find out how many snaps the first teamers will get, what the focal point of the offseason is – offense or defense – and wager accordingly. Also, keep an eye on camp injuries or how veteran players are treating the tune-up games. Some star players go through the motions in August and ones limited by injuries won't risk going all out before the real games start.

A team that is trying to establish some momentum on the ground will likely run the ball a lot – therefore keeping the clock ticking and the final score Under the total. If a team is trying to fill roster spots in the secondary and is plugging in rookies and inexperienced player in its pass defense, than perhaps look at the other team to air it out and exploit those weaknesses.

QB depth

Much the way starting pitchers make up 90 percent of baseball handicapping, quarterbacks hold a similar value when betting on the preseason. It’s the most important position on the field and can single-handedly make or break your bets.

Finding a team with depth at quarterback is the key for success during the exhibition schedule. The No. 1 passer will likely only take a handful of snaps in the first two games of the preseason, turning the offense over to the backups.

Look for teams with an experienced backup under center. Many clubs have veterans and former starters on the roster, guys who won’t be freaked out by the NFL’s big stage like rookie QBs and wet-behind-the-ears free agents. These vets can keep the chains moving and often excel against an opponent’s second and third-tier defense.

New coaches and schemes

The preseason is summer school for many NFL teams transitioning their playbook, whether that be with a new head coach, coordinator or just an overall flip in the way they do things.

New head coaches aren’t necessarily a red flag. They can often feel a little pressured to win in the preseason in order to impress the front office and fan base, which can give some teams added betting value. New coordinators, on the other hand, are working in different plays and schemes, which usually come with a learning curve.

Read up on how teams are adjusting to new systems and offenses, especially if there is a dramatic shift in gears, like speeding up with no-huddle attacks or going from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4. When these teams take on established coaches, who have implemented their systems for a while, there can be value going against those new faces on the sideline.

Preseason lines

Come the regular season, the infamous 3-point spread is everywhere. And while a field-goal line is a key number in football betting, it loses some of its stature in the preseason.

Teams are more likely to go for a two-point conversion or try their luck on fourth-and-short in the preseason than play it safe. Not only do the games not matter, but a fourth down gamble or two-point attempt is an extra set for the offense as it works toward the regular season.

Depending on how those rolls of the dice play out, the final score can either be closer than three points or well over it. It’s rare to see a preseason spread of more than three points with most bouncing between 1-2.5 points.

Week to week

For those looking to bet the closest facsimile of Week 1 action during the preseason, you may want to pass on the first two weeks of exhibitions and save your marbles for Week 3. That’s when starting players tend to log the most time, working the majority of the first half and sometimes into the third quarter.

Week 1 and 2 often has first teams playing limited snaps – depending on the team’s situation – and Week 4 is pretty much a craps shoot. Coaches are making their final cuts, players are fighting to stay on the roster, and the coordinators are tightening the final nuts and bolts of their playbooks.

For those bettors who like a challenge, Week 4 of the preseason could be the trickiest week of the entire NFL schedule – preseason, regular season and playoffs – to wager on.

**Udog** · 08-10-2017, 11:06 AM

Thursday's NFL preseason Week 1 betting primer and odds

The NFL preseason gets into full swing Thursday night with seven games on the schedule, including the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots who will host the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.

Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens (-1, 37)

* The Redskins will be missing some key members of their offensive unit as TE Jordan Reed, WR Josh Doctson, WR Jamison Crowder, and WR Kendal Thompson will all sit out Thursday with injuries. Running back Rob Kelley is dealing with a minor neck strain and, although he has not officially been ruled out, is also unlikely to play. If quarterback Kirk Cousin does set foot on the field it will only be for a series or two. The Skins know what they have in backup Colt McCoy so the bulk of the action is expected to go to No. 3 quarterback Nate Sudfeld.

* Ravens' starting quarterback Joe Flacco is nursing a back injury and will not play Thursday night. The team is saying the ailment is relatively minor and he should be ready to play in Week 1 of the regular season, but he is unlikely to suit up at all during the preseason. Ryan Mallet will handle the starting quarterback responsibilities during the preseason and will likely play into the second quarter Thursday as the team works to get him as many starter reps as possible, just in case Flacco's injury lingers into the regular season.

Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (+1, 36)

* We get to see our first glimpse of the Steve Sarkisian edition of the Falcon’s offense Thursday night in Miami. Now don’t expect too many changes considering the Falcons led the NFL in scoring (by a large margin) with 540 total points. Teams usually play their cards pretty close to the chest in the preseason, but we should get some insight into some of the new wrinkles Sarkisian will bring to the Atlanta attack. Unfortunately Julio Jones won’t be a part of that attack. The star wideout had a bunion removed this offseason and the Falcons won’t be pushing him into game action until at least Week 3.

* There has been a lot of talk out of Dolphins camp this week about the arrival of quarterback Jay Cutler and how his arm has looked pretty good. However, it is unlikely that he will suit up for Thursday’s game. That means look for incumbent backup Matt Moore to do all he can to prove he should still get a chance for this Dolphins team. Running back Jay Ajayi and lineman Jeremy Tunsil are both expected to miss Thursday’s contest.

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns (-3, 38)

* Starting quarterback Drew Brees and newly acquired superstar running back Adrian Peterson will both sit out Thursday's game in Cleveland. The New Orleans offense should not be an issue this season as they ranked second in the NFL in scoring offense last season and first in passing offense. They will, however, put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball during the preseason.

* Browns head coach Hue Jackson named Brock Osweiler the starting quarterback for preseason Week 1, but made no guarantees moving forward. Jackson also publicly stated his desire to win this preseason. "I want to win them all if I can. We need to go out and play good in front of our fans and go win." Osweiler will play two or three series' and rookie DeShone Kizer is expected to play the entire second half. Rookie defensive end Myles Garrett and fellow rookie defender Jabrill Peppers are both looking to make a major impact in Thursday's contest.

Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills (+2, 36.5)

* Rookie running back Dalvin Cook has already been named the Vikings starter, according to their first official depth chart and he will be the featured back on Thursday. Offseason acquisition and former Raider, Latavius Murray has been ruled out for this game. Expect to see Cook play for about a quarter in the Vikings first game.

* Bills fans will get a bit of a treat in their preseason opener, as head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the team’s starters will play “about a quarter, give or take.” That is much more than the regular series or two most NFL starters play in a preseason opener. That includes wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-3.5, 40.5)

* The Branden Albert stuff in Jacksonville is just plain weird, but the Jaguars have questions to answer at offensive line, especially if they are truly changing their offensive philosophy in 2017. We should get a little bit of a glimpse of this Thursday night as first round pick Leonard Fournette is set to make his NFL debut. But it all comes down to Blake Bortles for the Jags, check to see if his footwork looks at all improved in their preseason opener. If not, it could be another long season in Jacksonville.

* Tell me if you guessed this, the Patriots do not care about the preseason. Reports heading into this game are that a number of key starters won’t play at all; including Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks, Julian Edelman and Mike Gillislee. That means Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett will split the majority of the snaps Thursday. Both have starting experience due to the Brady suspension, but both need a strong showing after a rough start to camp. Keep an eye out for how the Pats use new tight end Dwayne Allen in this game.

Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears (+1, 35.5)

* Denver travels to Chicago for their preseason opener to take on an Bears team led by former Broncos' head coach John Fox. The Broncos are strong at every position on the football field, except the most important one - quarterback. Denver has to figure out whether they are going to enter the season with Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch as their starter. Reports are that neither player has performed well at camp and both will see significant reps Thursday night.

* All three quarterbacks on the Bears' roster are newcomers to the team and they will all see some time on the field in order to get more familiar with Dowell Loggains' offensive system. Mike Glennon will likely play two or three series' followed by some combination of Mark Sanchez (listed as No. 2 on the team's depth chart) and first round draft pick Mitchell Trubisky for the remainder of the football game.

Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers (-1, 38.5)

* The Eagles' starting offense is expected to play one or two series' against the Packers in Green Bay on Thursday night. That "starting offense" will include quarterback Carson Wentz but will likely not include newly acquired wide receiver Alshon Jeffery who is nursing a sore shoulder. After Wentz is done the rest of the game will likely be shared by Matt McGloin and Dane Evans. The Eagles are looking for big things from rookie first round pick Derek Barnett at defensive end and expect him to get into the backfield several times in this game.

* Packers' starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not play Thursday night against the Eagles and the throwing duties will be shared by Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan, and undrafted rookie free agent Taysom Hill...in that order. Rodgers will be joined on the sidelines by wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who tore his ACL in a Packers' preseason game back in 2015 - no need to tempt fate there.

**Udog** · 08-11-2017, 08:11 AM

Friday's NFL preseason Week 1 betting primer and odds

The stars of NFL Hard Knocks take the field on Friday against the New York Giants. Bucs QB Jameis Winton is expected to play the entire first quarter along with his fellow first team starters.

Week 1 of the NFL preseason continues with three games to keep pro football bettors busy on Friday night. Here are some notes you need to know before getting in on the action.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants (-3.5, 37)

Steelers

There will be a lot of missing firepower for the Steelers. Running back Le’Veon Bell is a camp holdout while QB Ben Roethlisberger and All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown are both ruled out for Friday’s game. Backup signal caller Landry Jones is hurt and won’t suit up either.

Rookie fourth round pick Joshua Dobbs will get the start at quarterback and he’ll be backed up by undrafted free agent Bart Houston.

Giants

Head coach Ben McAdoo, who looks like divorce according to the Dan Le Batard Show, hinted his plan for playing time should mirror how the Giants proceeded in Week 1 of the preseason last year. Eli Manning and Odell Beckham both didn’t play in that game.

Expect to see the quarterback snaps shared between Josh Jackson, ex-Jet Geno Smith and rookie Davis Webb. The job for Manning’s top backup is undecided and up for grabs.

Line moves

The G-Men opened as 2.5-point favorites but the line moved past the key number up to 3.5. The total also moved down 1.5 points from the opening number of 38.5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (-2, 37)

Bucs

Tampa Bay will play all healthy players according to HC Dirk Koetter. He told reporters his starters will play the first quarter before giving way to the reserves. That means bettors will get to see how the Bucs offense will look with new additions WR Desean Jackson and rookie TE O.J. Howard.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Griffin and rookie Sefo Liufau complete the QB rotation after starter Jameis Winston.

Bengals

Head coach Marvin Lewis is back to work after having some work done on his knee. As for his playing time for his players in Friday’s preseason, Lewis isn’t giving reporters much to report on. He says some starters will play and some won’t.

Judging by his decisions in years' past, bettors should expect the starters to play one series before the backups take over the game.

Line moves

No movement on the spread but the total opened at 38 but has been bet down to 37.

San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs (-4, 37.5)

Niners

The 49ers QB rotation against the Chiefs will go Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley and rookie third rounder C.J. Beathard will finish the game off. One thing to mention: beat reporter Grant Cohn was critical of San Fran's practices this week and new coach Kyle Shanahan’s lack of discipline.

Chiefs

The Chiefs will play their starters for the first quarter including quarterback Alex Smith. Fifth-year backup QB Tyler Bray will play the second quarter while rookie first round pick Patrick Mahomes II will get mop-up duty in the second half.

Line moves

KC opened as 4.5-point chalk but have been bet down half a point.

**Udog** · 08-12-2017, 08:58 AM

Saturday’s NFL preseason Week 1 betting primer and odds

The New York Jets' path to figuring out who their starting quarterback will be come Week 1 begins on Saturday with their preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals (-3, 39.5)

Raiders

Head coach Jack Del Rio won’t say exactly how much time his starters will see but bettors can assume injured stars Amari Cooper and Khalid Mack both won’t play. Del Rio also hinted veteran running back Marshawn Lynch won’t see much – if any – action in the preseason.

Starting QB Derek Carr is coming off an excellent season totaling 28 TDs and almost 4000 passing yards. He’s also coming off a broken leg he suffered at the end of last year. Don’t expect much playing time for the established star player.

That means lots of Connor Cook and former Buffalo Bills first round pick EJ Manuel under center for the Raiders in their first preseason game.

Cardinals

Carson Palmer and the rest of the Arizona Cardinals first teamers will start and are expected to play about 15 snaps. Of note, Palmer threw just once in full practice this week according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. Head coach Bruce Arians wants his 37-year-old QB to be rested and ready for the start of the regular season.

Backup QB Drew Stanton is expected to play the second quarter while Blaine Gabbert, who was impressive for the Cards in the Hall of Fame Game, will take all the snaps in the second half.

Line moves

The spread and total are both holding steady. Worth noting the 39.5 Over/Under line is tied for the highest number set in the preseason this year.

Tennessee Titans at New York Jets (+3, 37)

Titans

Head coach Mike Mularkey hasn’t said exactly how much time his first teamers will get, but starting quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to play the first series or two in this game. First round pick wideout Corey Davis will not play because of a sore hamstring.

Matt Cassel and Alex Tanney should split the reminder of the snaps under center after Mariota makes his exit. Cassel is the incumbent backup quarterback but reporters close to the team suggest Tanney has a shot at dethroning Cassel from the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Jets

It’s a three-man race for the starting quarterback job according to head coach Todd Bowles. That means Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty are auditioning through their performances in preseason for the starting job.

Expect McCown to start followed by Hackenberg and then Petty.

Line moves

The Jets opened as 2.5-point home dogs but have been bet up to +3. The total, meanwhile, moved down half a point from 37.5 to 37.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams (+3, 37.5)

Cowboys

There’s not much news out about how long the Cowboys starters will play on Saturday. Dallas beat writers are busy reporting on the effect of star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension will have on the team moving forward.

None of the Cowboys’ starters played in the Hall of Fame Game a week ago, so we should be safe to speculate on the first stringers seeing at least a series on Saturday.

Rams

The Rams are in a similar position where there big team news is not what’s going on the field. Los Angeles traded cornerback E.J. Gaines to the Buffalo Bills for former fourth overall pick Sammy Watkins. Watkins won't suit up for this game obviously and neither will holdout defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Second year signal caller Jared Goff is expected to start while Sean Mannion and Dan Orlovsky will back him up. Talk about an underwhelming trio. Orlovsky was signed just before the Rams opened their training camp last month.

Line moves

The Cowboys opened as 2.5-point road favorites but have been bet up to -3. The total is set at 37.5

**Udog** · 08-13-2017, 11:07 AM

Sunday’s NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Primer And Odds

Scott Tolzien is almost 30 and has appeared in just nine regular-season games in his seven seasons, with just three starts.

Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts (PK, 36)

Lions

Matt Stafford played one series before sitting down in last season’s preseason opener and might not even get that this year. Question marks at left tackle after Taylor Decker suffered a shoulder injury during the team’s offseason program in June has left a big hole in Stafford’s protection. With Greg Robinson, Storm Norton and/or Cyrus Kouandjio still learning the system the Lions might be reluctant to let their franchise quarterback onto the field in their first preseason game. Jake Rudock and Brad Kaaya are expected to get most of the reps at quarterback. In the battle to be Stafford’s back-up in Week 1.

Lions rookie receiver Kenny Golladay has been generating a lot of buzz at camp and look for him to get a lot of reps. Lions coaches are trying to figure out if the third-round pick can prove worthy of the hype and matching him against unfamiliar competition is the next step in his evaluation.

Colts

The Colts have a unique problem, Scott Tolzien is their starting quarterback until Pro Bowler Andrew Luck returns from offseason shoulder surgery. However, Tolzien has only appeared in nine regular-season games in his seven NFL season and needs to take some snaps in game-conditions. Head coach Chuck Pagano has said they will treat Tolzien as the teams starter, then quickly contradicted saying Tolzien needs to play. He will get the start, but for one series or one quarter is still up in the air.

Expect to see the remaining snaps shared between undrafted free agent from Temple Philip Walker and former Miami Hurricane Stephen Morris.

Line Moves

The Lions opened as 1-point road chalk and the line has yet to move off the opening number. The total opened at 37.5 and has been bet down a full point to 36.5.

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers (-2, 37.5)

Seahawks

Russell Wilson is expected to get the start and play the usual series or two that starters generally get in the preseason opener and rest the remainder of the game. The majority of the remaining snaps belong to second-year TCU grad Trevone Boykin and recent signee Austin Davis. Boykin is the incumbent backup but maturity questions arose after he was arrested in March for marijuana possession and public intoxication. Reports are that neither has distanced themselves at camp in the battle for the backup spot.

The Seahawks rushing attack of Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy, and C.J. Prosise are all expected to play Sunday. Other offensive weapons Luke Wilson and Doug Baldwin are expected to sit out because of health reasons.

Chargers

The first-team offense and defence are going to see some game-action as coordinators Ken Whisenhunt and Gus Bradley want to see how some of the newest Chargers react. Both units have been overhauled from last season, the offensive line is expected to have three new starters come Week 1. The defensive scheme under Bradley is switching over to a 4-3 defense and game time reps will show which players are understanding the philosophy.

When it comes to quarterback play, Philip Rivers has the 4th longest consecutive starts streak all-time with 185 starts and is the franchise guy. After that things get really interesting for the Chargers. Kellen Clemens is the incumbent and until a few weeks ago was expected to retain his job as no. 2. That was until Cardale Jones was acquired from the Buffalo Bills. New Chargers coach has been singing Jones praise during camp.

Captain Obvious here, Antonio Gates is expected to sit out the preseason.

Line Moves

The Chargers opened as 1.5-point home favorites and that line has been bet up to an even 2. The total hit the betting board at 37.5 and has yet to move off that number.

**Udog** · 08-17-2017, 08:31 AM

Thursday's NFL preseason Week 2 primer and odds

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is having the training camp from hell. His receivers are showing him up and his head coach doesn't seem to have much faith in him.

With every week we get deeper into the preseason, the closer we get to real football.

The common practice for playing time in Week 2 of the exhibition calendar is for the starters to play the first quarter with the backups playing the second quarter and the scrubs fighting for roster spots playing the second half.

Not all teams follow this staple and that’s why we’re going long to find any nuggets to help our readers gain an edge over this book when betting on the NFL preseason on Thursday.

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins (-3, 38)

Ravens

Starting quarterback Joe Flacco is out for all of preseason with a bad back meaning bettors will see lots of Ryan Mallett. The Ravens’ de facto No. 1 QB hasn’t impressed in training camp and wasn’t much better in his Week 1 preseason appearance. Mallett completed nine of 18 passes for 58 yards and an average of 3.2 yards per attempt.

Baltimore cut Dustin Vaughan, the guy behind Mallett on the depth chart, and signed veteran Thad Lewis as his replacement. Mallett, Lewis and Josh Woodrum will get all the snaps on Thursday against the Dolphins.

Dolphins

Jay "smoke 'em if you got ‘em" Cutler makes his debut for the Fish on Thursday. The retread QB, formerly of the Bears and Broncos, will start against the Ravens and is expected to play a couple series maybe even all the first quarter.

Matt Moore, who started last week under center, is not expected to get much action this week. Coach Adam Gase is worried about over-extending his 33-year-old veteran.

That leaves Brandon Doughty and David Fales to split the remaining snaps once Culter completes his cameo. Fales went 8-for-17 on his pass attempts and racked up 184 yards and two TDs to one INT last week. Doughty completed seven of his 12 pass attempts and totaled 69 yards through the air with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Miami beat reporters suggest starting running back Jay Ajayi might not play as he is still recovering from a concussion suffered earlier in camp.

Line moves

The total opened at 39.5 but has been bet down to 38 while the Fish have gone from 2.5-point favorites to 3-point chalk.

Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles (-4, 39.5)

Bills

Buffalo fans are still spinning following the two trades their team made last week shipping its best wide receiver and cornerback out of town. One of the players the Bills got back in the trades, WR Jordan Matthews, is a bit banged up and isn’t expected to play for the rest of the preseason. Ditto for starting left tackle Cordy Glenn.

Rookie QB Nathan Peterman has overtaken T.J. Yates as the team’s top backup under center. Tyrod Taylor will start and play most of the first quarter before giving way to Peterman and Yates.

Eagles

Philly head coach Doug Pederson says his plan for playing time should mirror Week 1 when the starters got one series before heading to the sidelines. Pederson says he might extend their playing time to two drives, but no more.

The Eagles released veteran running back Ryan Matthews earlier this week, clearing the path for LeGarrette Blount to the top of the depth chart.

New wideout Alshon Jeffery is expected to make his first preseason appearance for the Eagles on Thursday, although, Pederson hinted he’d like to see his team do a better job of establishing the run game. Philly picked up just 47 yards on the ground last week on 19 carries against the Green Bay Packers.

Line moves

The spread and total are both holding steady to their opening numbers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Pick’em, 40.5)

Buccaneers

The Bucs’ starters are expected to play the entire first half against the Jags. Don’t expect wideout Desean Jackson to suit up though, the free agent signee was limited in practice on Tuesday because of a sore ankle.

Tampa will be working in a new kicker after the team cut former 2016 second rounder Roberto Aguayo.

Jaguars

Things aren’t going well for the Jags and we’re just a week into preseason. Starting running back Leonard Fournette will not play against TB because of a foot injury.

Meanwhile starting quarterback Blake Bortles is having a disastrous training camp. He’s tossed two picks in practice over the weekend before head coach Doug Marrone yanked him. Marrone had Bortles sit out more sessions because he said he thought his QB’s arm looked tired. Bortles says his arm is fine.

Awkward.

There have already been a couple videos going viral from practice where Jags receivers can be heard voicing their frustration with the throws they’re getting from Bortles.

Line moves

The total has moved down half a point to 40.5 while the spread when from Jags -1.5 to pick’em.

**Udog** · 08-17-2017, 11:23 PM

Friday’s NFL preseason Week 2 primer and odds

Rookie running back Dalvin Cook could be a big part of the Vikings' offense this season. He hopes to help Minnesota build on an already impressive preseason record under head coach Mike Zimmer.

The lone Friday Week 2 NFL preseason game sees the Minnesota Vikings visit the Seattle Seahawks. How long will there be players on the field with names we all know?

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (-3, 40.5)

About the Vikings

The Vikings improved to 13-1 straight up and 12-2 against the spread in the preseason under head coach Mike Zimmer after last week’s 17-10 win over the Buffalo Bills.

“At the end of the day, does it matter? No,” Zimmer told Minnesota reporters after being asked about his record in exhibition games. “But I think the competitive nature of your team, especially if you’ve got a young team getting used to winning — that’s good. I know the record. We don’t really go out of our way to win, but I like to win, yeah.”

Zimmer expressed concern about seeing a lot of NFL starters pick up injuries – some season-ending – in the first week of the preseason. The Vikes head coach would also like to see something more production from his first teamers last week.

Sam Bradford and Company picked up just one first down in three series. Expect the starters to play at least for the full first quarter for the Vikings.

Case Keenum and Taylor Heinicke are battling for right to be Bradford’s backup. Keenum is No. 2 on the depth chart as it stands and he had a strong showing last week against the Buffalo Bills.

About the Seahawks

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is not talking about playing time for his starters against the Vikings. Carroll kept Russell Wilson and the rest of the first teamers out for the entire first half against these same Vikings in Week 2 of the preseason last year.

Carroll used the same strategy in Week 2 of the 2015 and 2014 preseasons as well.

Seattle put up 48 points on the scoreboard against the San Diego Chargers, by far the most points scored in Week 1 of the preseason. Backup quarterbacks Trevone Boykins and Austin Davis had a lot to do with all those points.

Boykins is fighting for his job as the team’s backup QB because of some problems off the field and because of the play of veteran Austin Davis. The two should split snaps again in the second half against Minnesota.

Players to watch for fantasy football fanatics

Thomas Rawls, RB Seahawks

Eddie Lacy was signed in the offseason but news out of Seattle’s camp is that the No. 1 RB job is Rawls’ to lose.

Dalvin Cook, RB Vikings

The rookie out of Florida State’s average fantasy draft position is in the late third round but he could way outperform that ranking. Anyone who saw him play in college knows he’s got moves and should be a real weapon in the passing game – particularly in an offense led by "captain check down".

Line moves

The spread is holding to its opening number at Seattle -3 while the Over/Under line has dropped half a point to 40.

**Udog** · 08-19-2017, 09:37 AM

Saturday’s NFL preseason primer and odds

Oakland Raiders starting QB Derek Carr makes his first preseason appearance this season on Saturday againt the Rams. It'll be Carr's first live game action since breaking his leg at the end of last season.

The bulk of the NFL Week 2 preseason action takes place on Saturday with nine games in the mix. Find out which teams are leaving their starters are longer and which ones will be resting their best players.

Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans (-3, 41)

Panthers

Head coach Ron Rivera isn’t commenting on whether or not Cam Newton will make his first preseason appearance. Newton had surgery on his throwing shoulder in the offseason and the Panthers have been conservative with their use of Newton in training camp.

Derek Anderson will run out with the starters again if Newton isn’t active for Saturday’s game. Anderson completed four of five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in limited action Week 1 against the Houston Texans. Joe Webb will back up Anderson again for the Panthers.

Carolina starters are expected to play for the first two quarters before giving way to the backups in the second half.

Titans

The good news for Tennessee fans is that Marcus Mariota looks completely recovered from breaking his leg last season. The bad news is his top two receivers are getting many first team reps because of injuries. Rookie Corey Davis is still week to week with a bum hamstring and veteran Eric Decker because of a sprained ankle.

Tennessee starters are expected to play the first half against the Panthers and the group is hoping to move the ball a lot better than it did against the sad-sack Jets last week.

Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5, 39.5)

Chiefs

Kansas City turned some heads when the club traded up in the first round to draft a quarterback. The Chiefs were coming off a 12-4 campaign with respectable service from veteran QB Alex Smith.

Smith is still No. 1 on the depth chart and he’ll get all the first team reps for the duration of the first half against the Bengals. Rookie QB Patrick Mahomes will play the third quarter and Tyler Bray will play the fourth.

Bengals

The Bengals don’t play their starters as long as most teams in the second week of the preseason which explains the pointspread here with the home team catching almost three points.
Starting quarterback Andy Dalton is expected to play the first two offensive series and backup A.J. McCarron will play the next two to three after Dalton’s departure. That leaves third stringer Jeff Driskel seeing the majority of action on the offensive side of the ball.

Driskel complete eight of his nine pass attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys (-5.5)

Colts

The news is not good coming out of Colts training camp. Franchise quarterback Andrew Luck was already ruled out for the preseason and now it’s beginning to sound like he’ll miss Week 1 of the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams. Starting center Ryan Kelly hurt his foot this week in practice and will miss the next six to eight weeks.

Indy reporters are saying the offense has looked bad every day in training camp, which sounds like votes of no confidence in quarterbacks Scott Tolzien and Stephen Morris.

Cowboys

Dallas is expected to play its starters a few series on Saturday and we will see the preseason debut of receiver Dez Bryant. Ezekiel Elliot, however, is not expected to play.

Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 39.5)

Packers

Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not expected to take a preseason snap until Week 3, meaning Washington will face Brett Hundley and Joe Callahan and not the greatest quarterback who ever lived.

Starting running back Ty Montgomery is also not expected to play because of a leg injury.

Redskins

Washington head coach Jay Gruden isn’t saying specifically how much time his starters will play on Saturday. He did go as far to say his first team offense would get more than the six plays the unit saw last week.

New York Jets at Detroit Lions (-5.5, 38)

Jets

A week ago Jets coach Todd Bowles said the competition for the starting quarterback job was wide open. After the first week of the preseason it appears it’s down to veteran Josh McCown and youngster Christian Hackenberg. McCown is expected to start against the Lions with Hackenberg backing him up.

Running back Bilal Powell is expected to play however veteran RB Matt Forte will not suit up.

Lions

The Lions are expected to give their starters two to three series against the Jets on Saturday. Detroit had 14 active players miss practice on Thursday due to injury including starting tight end Eric Ebron.

New England Patriots at Houston Texans (-1.5, 41)

Patriots

New England coach Bill Belichick is staying quiet on whether starting quarterback and newly turned 40-year-old Tom Brady will play on Saturday. Brady didn’t make his preseason debut until Week 3 last year.

Backup Jimmy Garoppolo put up big numbers in an extending outing last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Third-stringer Jacoby Brissett was no slouch in the second half either.

Texans

Tom Savage is still at the top of the QB depth chart for Houston which means he’ll get the start against the Patriots. Texans fans would rather see more from backup and first round pick Deshawn Watson under center. Watson got a chunk of reps with the first team offense during practice last week.

Houston is banged up at receiver. Will Fuller is out unit mid-season and Braxton Miller is nursing a sore ankle.

Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals (-3, 40.5)

Bears

Chicago fans might not want to check into Saturday’s game until the fourth quarter when third overall pick in last year’s draft QB Mitchell Trubisky takes the field. Head coach John Fox is sticking with his QB rotation going with Mike Glennon followed first by Mark Sanchez and finally the rookie out of UNC, Trubisky.

Cardinals

Head coach Bruce Arians says his starters will be on the field for the first quarter but no more than 20 plays. QB Carson Palmer, WR Larry Fitzgerald and RB David Johnson are all expected to play.

Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers (-2.5, 39.5)

Broncos

The Broncos still don’t know who they’re going to start at quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season but it’s beginning to look more and more like it is Paxton Lynch’s job to lose.
Lynch, a former first round pick from 2016, took the majority of first team snaps at practice this week and he will start for Denver against the 49ers on Saturday. Last year’s starter Trevor Siemian will back him up and Kyle Sloter will get the mop-up duty.

49ers

San Fran’s starters are expected to get 20 snaps of action Saturday against Denver. Brian Hoyer will lead the first teamers while rookie third round pick C.J. Beathard will take over backup duties from Matt Barkley.

Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders (-3, 39.5)

Rams

The first team offense and defense are both expected to play all of the first quarter including newly acquired wideout Sammy Watkins. After QB Jared Goff and the rest of starters take the pine, the offense will be led by Sean Mannion and finally Dan Orlovsky.

Raiders

Starting quarterback Derek Carr will start and won’t see the hook until early or even late in the second quarter. EJ Manuel will be next in line to take the snaps for the Oakland offense and he be followed by Connor Cook.

**Udog** · 08-20-2017, 09:56 AM

Sunday's Week 2 NFL preseason betting primer and odds

Former teammates Philip Rivers and Drew Brees face off in an exhibition battle on Sunday, as the Saints try to end an 0-10 SU/ATS preseason skid when they visit the Chargers.

Week 2 of the NFL preseason continues Sunday with a pair of games as the Falcons visit the Steelers sans two of the NFL's best receivers and it's a reunion of sorts as Drew Brees and the Saints visit the Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers (+3, 39)

Falcons: Star wideout Julio Jones and recently paid running back Devonta Freeman will both sit out Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. Jones is still recovering from a foot injury, while Freeman in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

However Matt Ryan will play and he will still have Tevin Coleman at his disposal in the backfield and both could play at least for the first quarter Sunday. Ryan picked up where he left off last season, going 3-for-3 for 32 yards and a score in his one series in Week 1 of the preseason.

Steelers: Pittsburgh will also be without two major weapons, as Ben Roehtlisberger and Antonio Brown have both been ruled out for this game, head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed on Friday. Both Steelers' stars have yet to suit up this preseason.

So with Big Ben out and backup Landry Jones still dealing with an abdominal injury, rookie Joshua Dobbs is expected to make his second consecutive start for Pittsburgh. Expect Dobbs to play into at least the third quarter of Sunday's game. The first year pivot out Tennessee was 8-for-15 for 100 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in his exhibition debut.

Line History: Oddsmakers opened the Steelers as slight two-point home favorites for this exhibition matchup. But once word got out that they would not only be without Le’Veon Bell, but Roethlisberger and Brown as well, the line jumped the fence in dramatic fashion moving a total of five points to the current number of Falcons -3. The total meanwhile, hit the board at 39.5 and has been bet down a half-point to the current number of 39.

New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5, 42.5)

Saints: Here is a funny stat that probably means nothing, but, the Saints are 0-10 straight up and against the spread in their last 10 preseason games. Head coach Sean Payton said he “hadn't really paid too much attention to it," Thursday after joint practices with the Chargers, but maybe it could provide just a little more motivation for the Saints.

Quarterback Drew Brees sat out his team’s opener, but is expected to play anywhere from one series, to the whole first quarter. It will probably have to be the latter for the Saints to end this preseason skid.

Chargers: However, maybe Philip Rivers will be just as motivated to show up his old mentor in Brees. Rivers, who replaced Brees in San Diego, got his preseason off to a hot start last week, going 5-for-six for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Rivers will have some help Sunday as wide receiver Keenan Allen is expected to suit up for the Chargers. Rivers should be thrilled to have his top receiving target back in the fold after Allen missed the large majority of 2016 with an injury. So expect the tandem to try and regain their old chemistry for at least the first quarter of Sunday’s game.

Line History: The Chargers opened this game as three-point home faves (if you want to count the diminutive StubHub Stadium as a real NFL home) and bettors have moved that number to Chargers -3.5. The total opened at 43 and has been bet down slightly to 42.5.

**Udog** · 08-21-2017, 11:16 AM

Monday's NFL Week 2 preseason primer and odds: Giants at Browns

The Cleveland Browns franchise hasn't seen a lot of wins in the Hue Jackson era. That's why the team's head coach isn't making any secret about the importance of winning in the preseason.

The curse of crappy Monday Night Football matchups reaches the preseason as ESPN showcases the Browns hosting Odell Beckham and the Giants. The last Week 2 preseason game on the schedule should determine who will win the starting quarterback job in Cleveland.

Find out how long each team plans to play its starters and which QBs will take the field after the first teamers are pulled.

New York Giants at Cleveland Browns (+1, 38)

About the Giants

In his second year as Giants head coach, Ben McAdoo is sticking to his preseason plan from a year ago. His starters sat the first week of the preseason but will take the field against the Browns on Monday.

“We’d like to give [Giants QB Eli Manning] a good chunk of playing time, into the second quarter,” McAdoo told reporters.

Manning saw 19 snaps in Week 2 of the preseason last year before getting the hook. He played one series into the second quarter in what ended up being a 21-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Geno Smith and Josh Johnson are still battling for the No. 2 QB job behind Manning on the depth chart. Johnson started last week but Smith is expected to take the field immediately after Manning completes his cameo appearance. Johnson will take the final snaps of the game once Smith’s night is over.

The Giants are now 2-3 straight up and 1-3-1 against the spread in the preseason under McAdoo.

All G-Men starters are good to go with the exception of cornerback Eli Apple. The second year defensive back out of Ohio State has been ruled out because of a sore ankle.

About the Browns

The Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff is hungry for wins. The team went 1-15 in the regular season and 0-4 in the preseason a year ago. The Browns won and covered last week against the New Orleans Saints but that hasn’t quenched head coach Hue Jackson’s thirst for more victories.

“…we are going there to win, there is no question about that,” Jackson told Cleveland reporters about Monday’s matchup with the Giants. “There is a score being kept and if there is, you want to win.”

Cleveland will start Brock Osweiler at quarterback with rookie DeShone Kizer next in line. The Browns want Osweiler to win the job so that he’ll be the Week 1 starter but the veteran hasn’t been outperforming Kizer in the preseason.

Osweiler completed just six of his 14 pass attempts last week against the Saints for 42 yards, whereas Kizer went 11-for-18 for 18 yards and one TD pass.

Cody Kessler was the frontrunner to win the starting job when training camp opened but he’s looked so shaky he’s fallen all the way to No. 3 on the depth chart. He’ll take the field after Kizer on Monday against the Giants.

All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas will not play for the Browns on Monday.

Line moves

The Browns opened as 1.5-point home favorites but now stand as 1-point underdogs. The total opened at 39.5 and now sits at 38.

**Udog** · 08-24-2017, 12:06 PM

Thursday’s Week 3 NFL preseason betting primer and odds

Week 3 of the NFL preseason is as close as it gets to being the real thing before the regular season starts. The third game of the exhibition schedule is when starters will see the most playing time in August.

Coaches and players treat the game as a final tune-up before the kickoff of the regular season. And you won’t see any familiar faces in Week 4 of the preseason. Those games are left to the scrubs.

Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5, 42)

About the Dolphins

The big news in Miami is that former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey will be playing Thursday with the rest of the Fish starters. Pouncey hasn’t played since last October due to injury.

Miami is expected to play its starting unit for at least the full first half against Philadelphia. Quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t play the first week of preseason and saw limited action in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Dolphins will have their top two running backs available for game action for the first time this month. Both Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake suffered concussions during training camp.

About the Eagles

Head coach Doug Pederson is acting a little more cautious with his first teamers this year than he did in his first year as the Eagles’ HC. The Philly starters saw just half the first quarter last week whereas in Week 2 of the preseason a year ago, the first teamers played the full first half.

Pederson isn’t telling reporters how much his starters will play against the Dolphins on Thursday either.

“Typically in this game, as you know, two quarters in a half… a little bit into the third,” Pederson told reporters earlier this week. “But I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m going to wait and see how the guys are after these couple days.”

Philly beat reporters are predicting the Eagles starters will play the first half against the Fish before taking the pine.

The Eagles and Dolphins have been practicing together this week and QB Carson Wentz has been lighting up the Miami secondary according to reporters on the scene.

Line moves

No movement on the line or the total in this game.

Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1.5, 43)

About the Panthers

The big story in Carolina is that starting quarterback Cam Newton is expected to see his first preseason action on Thursday against the Jags. Newton is expected to start but beat reporter Scott Fowler says the 2015 league MVP will only play the first quarter and maybe a possession into the second quarter. The rest of the Carolina starters should play until the end of the third quarter.

“He’s staring to get it back,” Rivera said of his starting quarterback. “We’re trying to practice fast and create as close as we can the game simulation. You can see the timing coming back.”
Derek Anderson will assume QB duties once Newton’s night is over in Jacksonville.

The Panthers are 1-1 straight up and against the spread so far this preseason. They’ve scored 27 points in both games helping the Over cash in both contests.

About the Jaguars

The Jaguars announced Wednesday night that Chad Henne will start at quarterback Thursday.

Henne getting the start over Blake Bortles shouldn't come as a huge shock as head coach Doug Marrone left the door open for both quarterbacks to grab the starting job. Bortles will also see some snaps with the first team.

Rookie running back Leonard Fournette will not play due to a foot injury.

Line moves

The game opened as a pick’em but the line has moved to the home team Jacksonville getting 1.5 points. The total opened at 43.5 but has been bet down to 43.

**Udog** · 08-25-2017, 12:01 PM

Friday's NFL Week 3 preseason primer and betting odds

Based on last year bettors can expect quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of the first teams to play until about halfway through the third quarter.

New England Patriots at Detroit Lions (+2.5, 43.5)

About the Patriots

Tom Brady started last week against the Texans before getting the hook after the offense’s first two drives. The 40-year-old quarterback is looking forward to see more snaps Friday against the Lions.

“For me, it is just feeling the rhythm of the game, and it is different than practice,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “The rhythm of practice is very different, and the only way to simulate the game is to play. I can draw on a lot of experience, but it is nice to get out there and actually do it.”

Head coach Bill Belichick is doing his shtick, mumbling but not answering any questions - particularly those about how much time Brady and the first team offense will see on Friday. Using Week 3 of the preseason in 2015 is our best clue for what we’ll see. Brady played in the first half in that game.

In the Brady era, the Patriots are 8-6-1 against the spread in Week 3 of the preseason.

About the Lions

The Lions are 2-0 straight up and against the spread this preseason but those two games came against the sad-sack New York Jets and the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts.

Will Detroit’s defense be able to replicate its preseason success in the first two weeks against the Patriots on Friday? We’re going to guess no seeing how Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo are far superior to Christian Hackenberg and Scott Tolzien.

The Lions’ starters are expected to play the entire first half before the backups take the field for the last 30 minutes of action. Quarterback Jake Rudock will lead the Lions offense in the second half. The second year pro out of Michigan has passed for 226 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while completing 60 percent of his pass attempts.

Detroit is 10-4 against the spread in preseason games since Jim Caldwell took over as the team’s head coach.

Line moves

The Lions opened as 1-point home pups but the line has been bet up to +2.5. The total has also dropped two full points after opening at 45.5.

Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 42.5)

About the Chiefs

The peeps in KC are falling in love with their new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II. The rookie out of Texas Tech has completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts with three TD passes and no INTs in his two preseason outings.

Incumbent starter Alex Smith hasn’t been a slouch this preseason either. The veteran signal-caller is 12 for 15 on his pass attempts for 131 yards and one touchdown in limited action this month. Smith and the rest of the Kansas City starters will play the first three quarters on Friday against the Seahawks.

The Chiefs are 3-1 against the spread in Week 3 of the preseason under head coach Andy Reid.

About the Seahawks

Head coach Pete Carroll hasn’t told reporters exactly how much time his starters will play on Friday, but based on last year bettors can expect quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of the first teams to play until about halfway through the third quarter.

The Seahawks’ offensive line is the talking point this week in Seattle. The team lost starting left tackle George Fant for the season with an ACL injury and the coaching staff is scrambling to find a replacement for him. Offensive line has been the Achilles’ heel of this Seattle club over the last few seasons.

This game will be nationally televised on CBS. Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was going to make his debut as a color commentator but he was a late scratch after his wife gave birth to their third son earlier this week.

Line moves

No movement on the spread but the total has been moved up 1.5 points and is sitting at 43.

**Udog** · 08-26-2017, 10:45 AM

Saturday's NFL Week 3 preseason betting primer and odds

It's Week 3 of the NFL preseason, which is usually the final dress rehearsal for teams before heading into the regular season. Starters usually play about three quarters in this final tune up, which means bettors can finally get a real feel for how games will play out. We break down all nine of Saturday's preseason contests to help you get ready for the real thing in two weeks.

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens (-3.5, 39)

About the Bills

Things are in disarray in Buffalo these days. Just this week veteran receiver Anquan Boldin quit camp and announced his retirement from the league. Boldin’s absence along with the departure of Sammy Watkins and the injury to newly acquired Jordan Matthews leaves the Bills extremely thin at receiver.

Buffalo first year head coach Sean McDermott is being coy about how much time his starters will see on Saturday. Some will play a couple series; others will play into the third quarter.
We’re going to assume quarterback Tyrod Taylor is one of the starters who’ll play into the third quarter. He’s played poorly in the preseason and the Bills would like to get him comfortable with his new offensive targets.

About the Ravens

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco is still nursing a sore back and will not play for the Ravens on Saturday. QB Ryan Mallett has been filling in with the starters. He and the rest of the first teamers are expected to play only 20 snaps on Saturday.

New York Jets at New York Giants (-4.5, 37.5)

About the Jets

You get the sense head coach Todd Bowles either wants Christian Hackenberg to win the starting job or he wants Hackenberg to sink in the preseason so he can justify starting veteran Josh McCown once the regular season rolls around.

Bowles won’t say who’s starting at QB for the Jets on Saturday but does it really matter? For those of you who think it does – the best guess is Hackenberg starts, followed by Bryce Petty and finally McCown.

About the Giants

The Giants played their Week 2 preseason game on Monday, so this is a short week for them. Starters are expected to play into the third quarter for the G-Men, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if head coach Ben McAdoo pulls them early.

All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a sprained ankle in game action on Monday and he will not play this weekend. The under is 5-0 in the Giants’ last five preseason games and the team has scored just 18 points in two games this month.

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (-3.5, 43.5)

About the Cardinals

The Cardinals enter their fourth preseason game with intentions of letting Carson Palmer and the rest of the starters play the first half against the Falcons on Saturday.

Drew Stanton has locked up the backup quarterback job despite a strong training camp from former Jags starter Blaine Gabbert. Expect Stanton to get the bulk of the snaps in the second half.

About the Falcons

The Falcons played their starters just one series last week against the Steelers and last year head coach Dan Quinn pulled his first teamers after the first quarter. Fair to say the former Seahawks defensive coordinator is more cautious than most head coaches when it comes to starters’ playing time in the preseason.

Atlanta will be without starting running back Devonta Freeman and wideout Julio Jones is questionable. This will be Atlanta’s first game in their new home the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6, 40.5)

About the Colts

Indy is still missing starting quarterback Andrew Luck and while he’s been gone the first team offense has only produced one first down and three points in about three preseason quarters’ worth of work.

Head coach Chuck Pagano says his starters will play the first half and probably come out and play a series in the second half. He wouldn’t say if Scott Tolzien would receive all the first team snaps at QB or if Stephen Morris would get some as well.

About the Steelers

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown will both see their first preseason action on Saturday. Big Ben is expected to play a series maybe two for the Steelers before trading his helmet for ball cap on the sidelines. Running back Le’Veon Bell continues his contract holdout which means he will not, of course, be playing on Saturday.

The Steelers are 2-0 straight up and against the spread in the preseason this year.

Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4, 41)

About the Browns

Cleveland made waves earlier this week when the team announced rookie QB DeShone Kizer would start on Saturday against the Bucs. QB Brock Osweiler is not expected to play according to ESPN’s Adam Shefter, leading many to speculate on Osweiler’s future in Cleveland.

Cody Kessel will back up Kizer. Whoever plays best on Saturday will most likely be the Week 1 starter for the Browns.

About the Bucs

The stars of this year’s Hard Knocks series host the Browns on Saturday. The Bucs first teamers are expected to play into the third quarter according to head coach Dirk Koetter.

Wideout Mike Evans is not expected to play after he sat out the two days of practice this week. Desean Jackson is expected to play but probably won’t be on the field as long as many of the other starters.

Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams (-2.5, 41.5)

About the Chargers

The Chargers are expected to play Philip Rivers and the rest of the Chargers starters for the entire first half. Rivers’ preseason playing time has been limited to one drive back on Aug. 13 against the Seahawks. LA will use the second half to determine who’ll be Rivers top backup during the season: Kellen Clemens or Cardale Jones.

About the Rams

The Rams are expected to play their starters about as much as they did last week against the Raiders. Jared Goff and the rest of the first team offense played almost the entire first half against Oakland.

Running back Todd Gurley isn’t expected to see quite that much time on the field against the Chargers. Goff was impressive last week completing 16 of his 20 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. The Rams are 2-0 straight up and against the spread so far this preseason.

Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (-3, 43.5)

About the Texans

Houston’s starters are expected to play about the first half on Saturday. Quarterback Tom Savage is still in the group of first teamers so expect rookie Deshawn Watson to get the bulk of the snaps in the second half.

About the Saints

Drew Brees will be removed from his bubble wrap for a series maybe two against the Texans before he’s put back in the encasement until the start of the regular season. Running backs Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram are both expected to play for the Saints as well.

Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys (-3, 44)

About the Raiders

Oakland played its starters about a quarter and a half last week against the Rams and is expected to play Derek Carr and Company for the entire first half and maybe even a series in the third quarter. LT Donald Penn, who ended his contract holdout, is expected to suit-up and play against the Cowboys.

The Raiders are 0-2 SU and ATS in their two preseason games this season and are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 exhibition games overall.

About the Cowboys

The Cowboys starters looked sharp in limited action against the Colts last week. The first stringers are expected to play the entire first half this week including running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott has yet to play a preseason snap this year and he’s still in the process of appealing the six-game suspension he was handed by the league earlier this month.

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (-3, 42)

About the Packers

Starting tackle Bryan Bulaga will not play this weekend against the Broncos because of a banged up ankle but quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Jordy Nelson are expected to see some game action against the Broncos.

No word as to how much time Rodgers will be on the field but based on last year, bettors can assume A-Rod will play the first quarter before calling it a day.

About the Broncos

Denver named Trevor Siemian the starting quarterback and he’ll start and play the first half with the rest of the first teamers on Saturday. Defensive end Von Miller is expected to make his first preseason appearance this year as well.

Paxton Lynch should play the bulk of the second half along with the rest of the Denver backups.

Announcement

2017 NFL preseason betting

2017 NFL preseason betting

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