The NFL Preseason is difficult to bet on because it’s unclear which players will actually suit up for the game. I approached this week by focusing on teams with more at stake, whether it’s because of a new head coach trying to make a strong first impression or if there’s an important position battle that needs to be resolved. We often see bad teams win games because they’re more aggressive in establishing priorities than settled teams.
Just having fresh football to analyze and enjoy is enough for most fans, but we know this will be another profitable year after recalibrating our models to account for gaps. There was a lot of change across the league, and preseason can be clunky after a busy offseason. Keep this in mind as well when making your NFL picks this preseason.
All lines are courtesy of BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 28, 2021 – 06:00 PM EDT at FedExField Stadium
Maybe there is something good in the water in Baltimore, but the Ravens have not lost a preseason game in their past 19 outings. Just like each of the past two weeks, I will ride this trend into Washington. While Washington pulled off a home win last week over the Bengals, they get a much tougher task in Week 3 in the form of the Ravens.
Not only did Baltimore cover in the first two games while clearly winning each one outright, but they have outscored opponents 37-17 (Saints, Panthers). Each of their first two games also went under by a total of 16.5 points. Ravens QB Tyler Huntley has played well in each of the first two preseason contests and played the entire game in Week 2. Expect much of the same against the Washington Football Team
NFL Pick: Ravens -3.5 (-120) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
NFL Pick: Under 32 (-105) with BetOnline
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, August 29, 2021 - 01:00 PM EDT at AT&T Stadium
When this Jaguars-Cowboys game kicks off, there will only be 11 days until Dallas plays for real in the Thursday night 2021 NFL season opener on September 9. We already know Dak Prescott will not play. And as far as other notable starters, I highly doubt they will be out there so close to the regular season Week 1 kickoff. The Cowboys have not won a preseason game since 2019, going 0-4 in that time period.
expect this trend to continue in the 2021 preseason finale against the Jaguars, a team I anticipate will treat this game as a dress rehearsal with so much youth and inexperience on their roster. Ben DiNucci, Cooper Rush, and Garrett Gilbert have been handling the quarterback duties this preseason. Expect another game in which all three play with the backup job to Prescott up for grabs — likely between Rush and Gilbert (yikes). The Cowboys have been out-scored 39-30 in two preseason games.
NFL Pick: Jaguars -3 (-107) with BetOnline
NFL Pick: Under 36.5 (-110) with BetOnline
New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
Sunday, August 29, 2021 - 06:00 PM EDT at MetLife Stadium
Giants HC Joe Judge told the press that Preseason Week 3’s matchup against the Patriots will be treated as a dress rehearsal for his starters. However, we could see the Patriots also employ a starting-caliber quarterback for much of the game as well. Patriots QB Cam Newton will not be able to return to team facilities until Thursday following a “misunderstanding” regarding the league’s COVID-19 policy.
As a result, Mac Jones will get to work solely with the first team this week, which could spill over into the preseason finale. If we see a lot of him against the Giants, he could really gain ground on Newton, giving the veteran an even shorter leash for when it counts. In two preseason games thus far, the Patriots have outscored their foes 57-13 and have yet to lose. Meanwhile, the Giants still can’t get out of their own way on offense. They have yet to win a game and have been out-scored 29-20.
NFL Pick: Patriots ML (-160) with BetOnline
NFL Pick: Over 36 (-110) with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
