Saturday's Preseason Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Chiefs (-1½, 41) at Bears
Kansas City
Head Coach: Andy Reid (32-38 SU, 30-36-4 in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Alex Smith, Nick Foles, Aaron Murray
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Terez Paylor
The Chiefs have been on the wrong side of a pair of one-point defeats to NFC West foes in the preseason. After allowing a Hail Mary on the final play in a Week 1 home loss to Seattle, Kansas City failed to score a point in the second half of last Saturday’s 21-20 defeat at Los Angeles. The Chiefs’ passing game was strong against the Rams by compiling 308 yards through the air, including 133 from former Ram Nick Foles. In Reid’s three seasons as head coach, the Chiefs have put together a 2-1 SU/ATS record in the “dress rehearsal” game, including a 34-10 blowout of the Titans last August.
Chicago
Head Coach: John Fox (31-27 SU, 28-29-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, Connor Shaw
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Zach Zaidman
The Bears grabbed a fortunate backdoor cover in a 23-22 defeat at New England last week by scoring 22-yard touchdown on the final play of regulation (also converted the two-point conversion). Chicago jumped out to a quick 11-0 lead before New England put up the next 23 points even though Tom Brady sat for the Patriots. The Bears have lost each of their last two Game 3’s of the preseason, with both defeats coming by double-digits, including a 21-10 setback at Cincinnati in 2015.
Eagles at Colts (-3, 42½)
Philadelphia
Head Coach: Doug Pederson (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel, McLeod Bethel-Thompson
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Jeff McLane
Last preseason, the Eagles couldn’t stop scoring points under Chip Kelly. This time around under Pederson, Philadelphia has scored just 34 points through two victories, but has held the opposition to a total of nine points. Philadelphia pitched a shutout of Pittsburgh last Thursday, as the Eagles intercepted Landry Jones four times and returned one of those picks for a score. Sam Bradford put together an efficient performance at Pittsburgh by completing 14-of-19 passes for 115 yards, while rookie Carson Wentz continues to be sidelined due to a rib injury.
[map]Indianapolis[/map]
Head Coach: Chuck Pagano (6-12 SU, 8-10 ATS preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, Stephen Morris
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Stephen Holder
The Colts are one of two teams to be involved in a pair of one-point decisions in the preseason (Chiefs the other), but it’s rare to see a club on each end of the same exact score. One week after rallying past Buffalo, 19-18, the Colts fell to the Ravens, 19-18 at home as Baltimore went ahead on a pick-two, an interception return on a two-point conversion taken back for a score. Luck was solid in his first preseason action by completing all eight of his passes for 71 yards, but Tolzien and Morris found the end zone with touchdown passes. The Colts have dropped five straight home preseason games since 2014, but Indianapolis has won two of the past three “dress rehearsal” contests.
Lions at Ravens (-3½, 43)
Detroit
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (9-13 SU, 11-11 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Jake Rudock (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Dave Birkett
The Lions are facing their third consecutive AFC North squad in the preseason after splitting games against the Steelers and Bengals. In last week’s home loss to Cincinnati, Detroit allowed less than 300 yards, but the Bengals scored four touchdowns, including an interception return for a score. Stafford has been solid in his limited action, completing 12-of-17 passes for 171 yards and no interceptions, but has yet to throw a touchdown. The Lions have won and covered four of their last five road exhibition contests, while posting a 5-1 ATS mark in six preseason games as an underdog during Caldwell’s tenure.
Baltimore
Head Coach: John Harbaugh (22-12 SU, 21-13 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Joe Flacco, Ryan Mallett, Josh Johnson, Jarrod Johnson
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Jamison Hensley
Flacco has yet to take a snap for Baltimore in the preseason, but the Super Bowl winning quarterback is expected to start against Detroit. The Ravens have won each of their first two preseason contests by a combined four points, both as an underdogs against the Panthers and Colts. Baltimore gained 251 yards of offense at Indianapolis, one week after racking up 288 yards against Carolina. The Ravens have split their last four Game 3’s of the preseason, while winning five straight exhibition contests at M&T Bank Stadium since 2014.
Giants (-2½, 43) at Jets
N.Y. Giants
Head Coach: Ben McAdoo (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib, Logan Thomas
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Ralph Vacchiano
“Big Blue” has been less than impressive in two preseason losses to the Dolphins and Bills, tallying just 10 points in those defeats. New York posted only seven first downs and 166 yards of offense in last week’s 21-0 shutout at the hands of Buffalo, while turning the ball over four times. The Giants and Jets have alternated wins and losses in each of the past seven preseason contests since 2009 with the Jets winning last season, 28-18. The underdog has compiled a 5-2 ATS record in this span.
N.Y. Jets
Head Coach: Todd Bowles (4-2 SU, 4-2 in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, Bryce Petty
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Rich Cimini
The Jets have split a pair of preseason games, scoring a combined 35 points against the Jaguars and Redskins. New York is trying to figure out who its second quarterback will be behind Fitzpatrick, as Petty put up impressive numbers against Washington by throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Smith struggled by completing 6-of-13 passes for 47 yards and an interception against the Redskins, one week after throwing for 79 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville. The Jets have been up and down in the last six preseason “dress rehearsals” by going 3-3 SU/ATS, while the last three meetings with the Giants have flown OVER the total.
Titans at Raiders (-3½, 43½)
Tennessee
Head Coach: Mike Mularkey (7-7 SU, 8-6 in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Marcus Mariota, Matt Cassel, Alex Tanney
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Jim Wyatt
Tennessee hits the road for the final two games of the preseason after routing San Diego and losing to Carolina at home. The Titans allowed nearly 400 yards to the Panthers in last Saturday’s 26-16 defeat, including 340 through the air. Mariota put together an efficient 9-of-10 line for 104 yards, a touchdown, and an interception against the defending NFC champions, as the Heisman Trophy winner has thrown one incompletion in two preseason games. The Titans have lost five of their past six road preseason games since 2013, while allowing 65 points in two away setbacks last August.
Oakland
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio (23-19 SU, 22-18-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Connor Cook (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Vic Tafur
The Raiders finally return home after spending the last two weeks at Arizona and Green Bay. Oakland split those two contests, while the offense was held out of the end zone in last week’s 20-12 defeat at Lambeau Field. The lone touchdown for the Raiders came on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone in the final minutes of regulation, as Oakland’s offense mustered 187 yards. The Raiders have won five of their previous eight home exhibition games, but own a 1-4 ATS as a home favorite.
Rams at Broncos (-5, 42)
Los Angeles
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher (40-42 SU, 38-42-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Case Keenum, Jared Goff (Rookie), Sean Mannion, Dylan Thompson
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Gary Klein
The Rams leave Southern California for the first time in the preseason, as L.A. looks to improve to 3-0. Following a comeback victory over the Cowboys in the opener, the Rams rallied again for a 21-20 triumph over the Chiefs last Saturday. Los Angeles allowed 390 yards to Kansas City, while the Chiefs held the ball for 36:30. Goff improved from Week 1 by throwing for 82 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Rams have dropped seven of their past eight road preseason games, but have managed a 4-4 ATS record.
Denver
Head Coach: Gary Kubiak (23-15 SU, 23-13-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Trevor Siemian, Mark Sanchez, Paxton Lynch (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Mike Klis
The Broncos put together perhaps the most dominant performance in a Week 1 shutout of the Bears on the road, but Denver was tripped up by San Francisco in Week 2. The 49ers put up 400 yards on Denver’s vaunted defense, while Lynch continues to fight for the starting job by tossing two touchdowns and accumulating 113 yards through the air. Siemian is expected to start for Denver in spite of a sore shoulder, as the former Northwestern standout was intercepted once and threw for 75 yards against San Francisco. Denver has compiled a 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS mark in its last four “dress rehearsals,” while failing to cover twice as a favorite of at least 6½ points.
NFL: Streak, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings
One barometer used by handicappers in these meaningless games is to identify coaches who have a history of instilling a winning attitude during practice season. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is shaping up to be one of the few coaches putting an emphasis on winning these August games. Nipping Bengals 17-16 in the NFLX opener, handing Seahawks an 18-11 defeat in Wk2 has Zimmer's troops 10-1 SU with a money making 9-2 mark at the betting window in HOF/Preseason games since taking over the reigns in 2014. Vikings opened -4.0 point favorites.