Now that the Hall of Fame Game is out of the way the 2022 NFL season kicks into high gear with a full slate of preseason games in Week 1. Every team will be in action over the course of four days with some showing off new coaches and all auditioning new players. Expanded rosters allow for more substitutions during games and we rarely see starters making handicapping exhibition games more difficult. That holds true for oddsmakers as well putting the betting public on even footing with a chance to make a few bucks before the regular season gets underway.
Opening odds for Week 1 aren’t surprising with no team favored by more than 3.5-points. You have to take into consideration how teams prepare for the exhibition games with some focusing more on roster depth and evaluating position battles over winning. There are some coaches, however, who value winning. Take Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, who hasn’t lost a preseason game since 2015 going 20-0 SU and 18-2 ATS over the last 20 contests. Overall, his record is 40-12 during the exhibition season. The Ravens are laying 3.5-points in their opener with the Titans.
Week 1 of the 2022 NFL preseason starts on Thursday, August 11 and concludes on Sunday, August 14. Betting options for every game on the schedule are available at BookMaker.eu.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Schedule and Odds
Thursday, August 11
New York Giants ( -2, 34 ) at New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens ( -3.5, 31.5 )
Friday, August 12
Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions ( PK, 33.5 )
Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars ( -1.5, 33 )
Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals ( -1.5, 33.5 )
New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles ( PK, 35.5 )
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers ( -1.5, 32.5 )
Saturday, August 13
Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears ( -3, 34.5 )
Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders ( -3, 37 )
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills ( -1.5, 34 )
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers ( -3, 35 )
Miami Dolphins ( -1.5, 31 ) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New Orleans Saints ( -1.5, 33 ) at Houston Texans
Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos ( -2, 31 )
Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers ( -3, 30 )
Sunday, August 14
Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders ( -3.5, 34 )
Backups and players who won’t even be on the team when rosters are finalized get most of the action during the preseason. Depending on the head coach sometimes we don’t even see starters take a snap. And given the history of Sean McVay it might be a good idea to bet against the Rams. Yep, McVay sat all his regulars last preseason and went 0-3. But we know how the final product turned out, and will others follow his lead? Also, don’t expect a lot of offense from the Rams. They cashed the UNDER in each of their last eight exhibition games. The Bolts are laying 3-points and knocking off the champs, even in the preseason, is a plus.
Could Jacksonville and Las Vegas have an advantage with a game under their belts? One might think so, though that’s not always the case. Dallas lost the HOF game last year and went on to have a winless preseason. Meanwhile, the Steelers won and covered the following week. I do like the Jags, though, as they look to put the Urban Meyer debacle behind them. Doug Pederson should help transcend Trevor Lawrence and we’re likely to get a look at the 2021 No. 1 pick.
There are expectations, though tempered, for certain teams. The New York Jets have a loaded but unproven roster and the Miami Dolphins have hidden gems throughout their lineup. All they need to do is learn how to win, easier said than done, though. Considering the Jets have a Super Bowl winning backup quarterback who should get reps this week, I like their chances in a tossup at Philly.
While there are 10 new head coaches this season some holdovers find themselves on the hot seat entering 2022. That likely won’t change their coaching style but it does put more of an emphasis on winning. The biggest name is Mike McCarthy in Dallas. The Boys went 0-4 last preseason though they did win 12 games and the NFC East title. But it’s what this club does in the postseason that matters and a wild card flameout is what’s last remembered. It’s nothing a win won’t take care of to wipe away the stain so back the Boys as a 2-point dog in Denver.
Making money on preseason games requires some effort and waiting is always a plus since information about a team’s game plan is usually revealed closer to kickoff. The biggest thing to note is if and how long coaches plan to play starters. A little extra effort can pay off in the long run.
