NFL betting trends, odds and predictions for Saturday, August 26th, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
Saturday's NFL Week 3 Preseason Betting Primer
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Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens (-3.5, 39)
About the Bills
Things are in disarray in Buffalo these days. Just this week veteran receiver Anquan Boldin quit camp and announced his retirement from the league. Boldin’s absence along with the departure of Sammy Watkins and the injury to newly acquired Jordan Matthews leaves the Bills extremely thin at receiver.
Buffalo first year head coach Sean McDermott is being coy about how much time his starters will see on Saturday. Some will play a couple series; others will play into the third quarter.
We’re going to assume quarterback Tyrod Taylor is one of the starters who’ll play into the third quarter. He’s played poorly in the preseason and the Bills would like to get him comfortable with his new offensive targets.
About the Ravens
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco is still nursing a sore back and will not play for the Ravens on Saturday. QB Ryan Mallett has been filling in with the starters. He and the rest of the first teamers are expected to play only 20 snaps on Saturday.
New York Jets at New York Giants (-4.5, 37.5)
About the Jets
You get the sense head coach Todd Bowles either wants Christian Hackenberg to win the starting job or he wants Hackenberg to sink in the preseason so he can justify starting veteran Josh McCown once the regular season rolls around.
Bowles won’t say who’s starting at QB for the Jets on Saturday but does it really matter? For those of you who think it does – the best guess is Hackenberg starts, followed by Bryce Petty and finally McCown.
About the Giants
The Giants played their Week 2 preseason game on Monday, so this is a short week for them. Starters are expected to play into the third quarter for the G-Men, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if head coach Ben McAdoo pulls them early.
All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a sprained ankle in game action on Monday and he will not play this weekend. The under is 5-0 in the Giants’ last five preseason games and the team has scored just 18 points in two games this month.
Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (-3.5, 43.5)
About the Cardinals
The Cardinals enter their fourth preseason game with intentions of letting Carson Palmer and the rest of the starters play the first half against the Falcons on Saturday.
Drew Stanton has locked up the backup quarterback job despite a strong training camp from former Jags starter Blaine Gabbert. Expect Stanton to get the bulk of the snaps in the second half.
About the Falcons
The Falcons played their starters just one series last week against the Steelers and last year head coach Dan Quinn pulled his first teamers after the first quarter. Fair to say the former Seahawks defensive coordinator is more cautious than most head coaches when it comes to starters’ playing time in the preseason.
Atlanta will be without starting running back Devonta Freeman and wideout Julio Jones is questionable. This will be Atlanta’s first game in their new home the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6, 40.5)
About the Colts
Indy is still missing starting quarterback Andrew Luck and while he’s been gone the first team offense has only produced one first down and three points in about three preseason quarters’ worth of work.
Head coach Chuck Pagano says his starters will play the first half and probably come out and play a series in the second half. He wouldn’t say if Scott Tolzien would receive all the first team snaps at QB or if Stephen Morris would get some as well.
About the Steelers
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown will both see their first preseason action on Saturday. Big Ben is expected to play a series maybe two for the Steelers before trading his helmet for ball cap on the sidelines. Running back Le’Veon Bell continues his contract holdout which means he will not, of course, be playing on Saturday.
The Steelers are 2-0 straight up and against the spread in the preseason this year.
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4, 41)
About the Browns
Cleveland made waves earlier this week when the team announced rookie QB DeShone Kizer would start on Saturday against the Bucs. QB Brock Osweiler is not expected to play according to ESPN’s Adam Shefter, leading many to speculate on Osweiler’s future in Cleveland.
Cody Kessel will back up Kizer. Whoever plays best on Saturday will most likely be the Week 1 starter for the Browns.
About the Bucs
The stars of this year’s Hard Knocks series host the Browns on Saturday. The Bucs first teamers are expected to play into the third quarter according to head coach Dirk Koetter.
Wideout Mike Evans is not expected to play after he sat out the two days of practice this week. Desean Jackson is expected to play but probably won’t be on the field as long as many of the other starters.
Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams (-2.5, 41.5)
About the Chargers
The Chargers are expected to play Philip Rivers and the rest of the Chargers starters for the entire first half. Rivers’ preseason playing time has been limited to one drive back on Aug. 13 against the Seahawks. LA will use the second half to determine who’ll be Rivers top backup during the season: Kellen Clemens or Cardale Jones.
About the Rams
The Rams are expected to play their starters about as much as they did last week against the Raiders. Jared Goff and the rest of the first team offense played almost the entire first half against Oakland.
Running back Todd Gurley isn’t expected to see quite that much time on the field against the Chargers. Goff was impressive last week completing 16 of his 20 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. The Rams are 2-0 straight up and against the spread so far this preseason.
Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (-3, 43.5)
About the Texans
Houston’s starters are expected to play about the first half on Saturday. Quarterback Tom Savage is still in the group of first teamers so expect rookie Deshawn Watson to get the bulk of the snaps in the second half.
About the Saints
Drew Brees will be removed from his bubble wrap for a series maybe two against the Texans before he’s put back in the encasement until the start of the regular season. Running backs Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram are both expected to play for the Saints as well.
Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys (-3, 44)
About the Raiders
Oakland played its starters about a quarter and a half last week against the Rams and is expected to play Derek Carr and Company for the entire first half and maybe even a series in the third quarter. LT Donald Penn, who ended his contract holdout, is expected to suit-up and play against the Cowboys.
The Raiders are 0-2 SU and ATS in their two preseason games this season and are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 exhibition games overall.
About the Cowboys
The Cowboys starters looked sharp in limited action against the Colts last week. The first stringers are expected to play the entire first half this week including running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott has yet to play a preseason snap this year and he’s still in the process of appealing the six-game suspension he was handed by the league earlier this month.
Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (-3, 42)
About the Packers
Starting tackle Bryan Bulaga will not play this weekend against the Broncos because of a banged up ankle but quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Jordy Nelson are expected to see some game action against the Broncos.
No word as to how much time Rodgers will be on the field but based on last year, bettors can assume A-Rod will play the first quarter before calling it a day.
About the Broncos
Denver named Trevor Siemian the starting quarterback and he’ll start and play the first half with the rest of the first teamers on Saturday. Defensive end Von Miller is expected to make his first preseason appearance this year as well.
Paxton Lynch should play the bulk of the second half along with the rest of the Denver backups.