NFL Odds & Picks
We're off and running at 2-0 in the NFL preseason.
Last night, the Patriots lost but covered and the Ravens continued their dominant preseason run by winning their 21st straight game.
We now get more football on Friday night, with five games on the docket. Our staff of NFL betting analysts has looked over the slate and picked their favorite bets. They've focused on four games for three picks.
We have three picks on the game spread or result, and then one over. Check out our breakdowns below.
Brandon Anderson: In the preseason, sometimes it's best to keep the reads simple. And sometimes you just gotta go with vibes.
Look, you watched Hard Knocks too. I didn't know I needed No. 2 overall pick Aiden Hutchinson rocking "Billie Jean" with a choir of Lions supporting him any more than you did, but now I wonder where it's been all my life.
The Detroit Lions are vibes. Head coach Dan Campbell is vibes. This team has been waiting all offseason to bite some more kneecaps, and the one thing we know about this squad is that they always show up and play hard.
I'll bank on that effort even in a meaningless preseason game and trust the Lions to go have a good showing for their HBO opportunity.
Keep it simple and ride the vibes with the Lions even odds to win outright at home.
Sam Farley: Given the situation around Deshaun Watson it’s likely that this is the most discussed preseason game of the weekend. Watson is currently scheduled to start under center despite facing a six-game suspension.
One thing we know about Watson is that despite having spent a year off the field, he is still one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. With him starting, as well as the majority of the Browns' first-string offense, there should be plenty of opportunities for them to score. It also wouldn’t be a surprise for Watson to get a little more time on the field than he normally would, given the suspension he's facing.
The Jaguars will give their big offensive names at least a few series on Friday, with Trevor Lawrence likely to see the field after missing the Hall of Fame Game. Jacksonville will still be careful with him and with the season opener not far away you’d expect him to be pulled before Watson.
Kevin Stefanski has won all three of his Browns preseason games since becoming head coach. You can rely on them to win again, covering the spread in the process.
Blake Krass: Both Robert Saleh and Nick Sirianni have announced their starters will only play a series or two in this first preseason game for both squads.
Once the starters sit, the Jets will have the elite veteran Joe Flacco and Mike White, who defeated the AFC-champion Bengals last year, come in at quarterback. I think this gives them an edge in the second half over the Eagles.
Robert Saleh is the type of "rah rah" coach who will get his team fired up for a game of “no consequence.” The Jets went 2-0-1 in the preseason last year in Salah’s rookie year as head coach, with the tie coming against these Eagles.
Meanwhile last year in Nick Sirriani’s first season the Eagles went 0-2-1, which included a 35-0 beat down by the Patriots.
With all of their exciting rookies, their deep QB room and their fiery head coach, I think the Jets are the team to back here. I'd bet this game all the way to Jets -2.5.
Isaiah Sirois: These teams combined for 62 points in their preseason matchup last year. They did so without either starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts or Zach Wilson, playing a snap.
Unlike that game, the starters could see the field on Friday night. Neither team logged a joint practice session, and head coaches Nick Sirianni and Robert Saleh have told the press they plan to feature their starters for a series or two.
Those opening drives should generate a few scores. Even mediocre offensive play should suffice against these defenses. The Jets’ starting defense ranked 32nd in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) and the Eagles’ unit ranked 25th. Both squads went 10-7 to the over in the regular season.
Also, both teams have solid journeymen quarterbacks to take over for the starters. Gardner Minshew is the big name behind Hurts for Philadelphia, and then there's Flacco and White for New York.
I feel comfortable buying this up to 37.5. Some books have already moved the line to 36, so get your action down before sharps bid it up further.
