After close to six months without football, just seeing the betting line for Week 1 of the NFL Preseason is enough to engender excitement for the upcoming season.
It’s (finally!) time to discuss NFL preseason betting tips and trends in an effort to build our bankrolls before the real deal begins on Sept. 7.
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Ravens on Historic Preseason Run
Fun facts to start: The Ravens haven’t lost a preseason game since 2015. Baltimore has won an NFL-record 23 consecutive preseason games. John Harbaugh’s preseason record is an astounding 43-12 during his coaching tenure in Baltimore. That translates to a 78.18% winning percentage.
If you made a $100 moneyline bet on the Ravens in each game during that span, your profit would be a shade under $2,500.
Quarterback Carousels are Key Entering Preseason Games
Stay tuned to your favorite NFL beat reporters on Twitter. There’s a wealth of good info out there when it comes to training camp coverage, key injuries, and how much time quarterbacks will be expected to play in preseason games.
Know the team’s QB depth chart entering the preseason, and look for situations that will dictate increased playing time for certain players. Is there a real competition going on for the backup QB spot? Has there been any indication the team will roster three quarterbacks in the regular season? These are key considerations that can help you find an edge when betting NFL preseason games.
Also read: Super Bowl odds 2024, NFL futures for all 32 teams
Are ‘Unders’ Still a Good Preseason Bet?
One of the most interesting trends in NFL preseason betting last year came at sportsbooks instead of training camps. Posted totals were down, and understandably so, after Unders cashed in preseason games at nearly a 60% clip the previous two years.
If you look back to the 2022 NFL Preseason, the adjustment at sportsbooks contributed to the Under going 2-15 in Week 1. It was a different story in Week 2, as the Under went 11-5-1. The major takeaway here is to pick and choose your spots carefully. We’re going to do that now with an eye on Jets-Browns this week in Canton.
You Don’t Have to Bet on Full Games
The fact that these games are meaningless exhibitions makes betting full-game odds more difficult. Motivation can be difficult to discern through much of the preseason.
But there will be instances when coaches tip their hand in the preseason when it comes to playing time. If you know a team’s starters are going to play the first half based on a coach’s comments, bet them in the first half if there’s perceived value in the betting line.
You can also avoid pre-flop bets when there is no value, and opt to make live bets on NFL preseason games. The benefit here is getting a feel for how the game is being played, and making your live bets accordingly.
Manage Your Bankroll
Football is back, but don’t bet your entire bankroll on the preseason.
While value can be found as mentioned above, a friendly reminder: It’s only the preseason.
Finding success can be a challenge in meaningless exhibition games that are often difficult to predict.
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