Full weekends of football for the rest of the year. The wait is finally over, degens! After an outstanding appetizer of a game in the Hall of Fame Game last week between the Panthers and Cardinals, all 32 NFL teams are in action this weekend. It starts Thursday night with six games and goes through Saturday. Let’s dive in and take a look at the NFL preseason Week 1 preview and best bets.
A lot of starters and NFL stars will see action here in Week 1. It may just be for a series or two, but it’ll get their feet wet and into the rhythm of game day. News will continue to roll out, but at the time of this writing, here are some key reports: Tua Tagovailoa will get the start for Atlanta, a huge opportunity for him to show off while Michael Penix still isn’t cleared to play. Starters for Atlanta are expected to see a drive or so. Joe Burrow and the Bengals starters will see action.
Jordan Love and the Packers starters will play with the expectation of Josh Jacobs, who is dealing with a groin injury. Raiders starters will play, and it sounds like Fernando Mendoza will play with them despite being expected to start the year as the backup. Panthers starters are expected to play after sitting out the Hall of Fame Game; notably, Jonathan Brooks is expected to see action.
NFL Preseason Betting Trends: Every Head Coach’s Against the Spread Record
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders Over 41.5 (-105)
This one has game-of-the-week potential to it. Starters are confirmed to be playing for both teams, so you could get quick points, which is nice. But behind those starters, this is two teams that were terrible last season. They have new faces, and players looking to make a name for themselves and make the cut. We’ll get to see a rematch at quarterback during this game as Fernando Mendoza and Carson Beck face off. Neither is a starter and has a lot to prove. For Mendoza, he wants to show the work he’s put in after being the first overall pick in the Draft. Beck already has a preseason game under his belt, in which he looked fantastic. If he can stockpile another performance like that, it may put pressure on the Cardinals to rethink it and give him a shot this season.
No matter which quarterbacks play for what amount of time, we’ll get decent play out of them. The Cardinals have Jacoby Brissett, Carson Beck, and Gardner Minshew. For the Raiders, it’s Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, and Aiden O’Connell. Jeremiyah Love will make his debut; Brock Bowers, Marvin Harrison, and plenty of playmakers will see the field. Arizona has already hit one over this preseason; let’s make it two.
Colbie Young Over 25 Receiving Yards (-105)
In the Lions-Bengals game on Thursday, one young player I have my eye on is Colbie Young. After Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins take a seat, the fourth-round pick from Georgia gets his chance to shine. Young has been one of the more talked-about Bengals rookies in camp. He’s impressed with his 6’3” frame and ability to make contested/high-point catches.
If he sees time when Joe Burrow is in, extra bonus points in getting to this total. The Bengals are set at their top receiver positions, but they are looking for a trusty third option. He’s impressed in camp; now the question is, can he do it on the field? The Bengals will be looking for that. It’s important to note Detroit will not be playing their starters.
Miami Dolphins -3.5 (+100)
Miami is the bet in this game for a few reasons. It starts with the fact that they have a brand new head coach in Jeff Hafley. Hafley is taking the “merit-based” approach with the old-school earn-your-position mentality. They will be using this game as a starting spot for their evaluations. Malik Willis will play, since he’s still technically competing for the job.
On the other side of the game, Dan Quinn doesn’t care about winning preseason games. His record is at 7-17-1 ATS through the 2025 preseason. That’s only a 29.2% cover rate. His Week 1 preseason record specifically is 1-5 ATS. A new coach that’ll be trying to win vs. a coach who doesn’t care, plus Miami players who are truly battling for their spots all up and down the roster, gives them the advantage.
Los Angeles Rams over Kansas City Chiefs +2.5 (-110)
This one is pretty simple; I believe the Rams have a much deeper roster between the two teams. They are a championship-level team with fierce battles to make the final roster. Kansas City has been that team, but hasn’t been lately. Plagued by injuries and off-the-field issues, I expect Andy Reid to be much more conservative.
Reid has never cared much about winning or covering preseason games. His preseason record is 46-52 straight up, and 36-43-1 ATS. Sean McVay is slightly better, checking 12-15 straight up, but 15-12 ATS. Two good teams and good coaches; give me the underdog with the deeper squad and better ATS record.
