{"id":23419,"date":"2022-08-09T18:25:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T22:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=23419"},"modified":"2022-08-09T18:25:53","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T22:25:53","slug":"nfl-preseason-week-1-saturday-sunday-previews-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/nfl-preseason-week-1-saturday-sunday-previews-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL PRESEASON WEEK 1 SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS & PICKS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A full slate of football wraps up our first official week of preseason NFL on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday boasts all but one of the contests, with the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders getting a solo showcase on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it\u2019s the first week of the preseason, we are still in uncharted territory. We\u2019re guessing which teams will take these match ups seriously and which teams won\u2019t. Some of those choices have been made for us, as the Los Angeles Rams have not cared about a single preseason snap since Sean McVay entered the building. As for other coaches, as good as a head man as Ron Rivera is, he\u2019s gotten his key players injured in the preseason before, all but ending Cam Newton\u2019s serious NFL career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of McVay guys on the sideline on these two days so they\u2019re more than likely going with his \u201cstars sit in the preseason plan.\u201d There are also plenty of old school coaches and flat out idiots just champing at the bit to ruin their team\u2019s postseason chances by getting a superstar injured in the first week of the preseason. I\u2019m looking at you, Mike McCarthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An array of new coaches might feel the need to set a tone. But there are also a surprlus of open competitions, especially at QB, where teams legitimately have to play guys to figure out who will lead them to a sub .500 record starting in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with Thursday and Friday\u2019s schedule, just because these are exhibition games doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t make some cash on the odds, lines and totals<\/a>. Here are my picks for Saturday and Sunday\u2019s NFL action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT CHICAGO BEARS (-3.5, O\/U: 34.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the question we all need to ask ourselves coming into this game, \u201c Who is Dustin Crum?\u201d Well, we\u2019re going to find out because he\u2019s a real person, a quarterback on Kansas City\u2019s depth chart who will undoubtedly see action against the Chicago Bears in a contest that means absolutely nothing to the Chiefs. If Patrick Mahomes plays more than a series, someone needs to take Andy Reid\u2019s temperature or check him in the concussion tent. This is a Chad Henne, Shane Buechele (also an actual human being) and Crum presentation. There is no question that this game means more to the Bears and new head coach Matt Eberflus. Justin Fields might play a few series, but expect to see plenty of Trevor Siemian and Jon Gruden\u2019s favorite scrub white guy, Nathan Peterman. I like Chicago. Bears 26, Chiefs 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (-3, O\/U: 37)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only potential 2022 starting quarterback I have less faith in than Carson Wentz is Baker Mayfield outside of New York and Houston. They\u2019ll be matching \u201cwits\u201d in this game for at least a series or two. While Wentz is entrenched as the Commanders\u2019 starter for at least most of the 2022 season, Mayfield has to earn it. Therefore, he\u2019ll probably get plenty of opportunities against Washington to do just that. When the Nos. 2 roll in, Sam Darnold vs Taylor Heinecke, we\u2019re in pretty much the same boat. Two guys you would not want leading your franchise. Frankly, the best match up here is third stringer Sam Howell of the Commanders vs Matt Corral of the Panthers. I suspect this one will be uglier than your usual preseason game. Commanders 16, Panthers 10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT BUFFALO BILLS (-1, O\/U: 34)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want a legitimately good preseason game? This one is probably it. The Bills and Colts boast two of the deepest rosters in the league and two of the most talented QB rooms. Matt Ryan probably won\u2019t see a lot of action for Indianapolis and neither will Josh Allen for Buffalo. But there are plenty of worse match ups in any given season than Nick Foles (Colts) vs Case Keenum (Bills). Zach Moss is Buffalo\u2019s No. 3 running back. Phillip Lindsay is Indy\u2019s. Even going down to your Nos. 3 in QBs you\u2019ve got Sam Ehlinger (Colts) vs Matt Barkley (Buffalo). This should be a legitimately good game between two teams that could both end up in the AFC Championship. Bulls 27, Colts 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-3, O\/U: 35)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this game, every one is showing up. Seattle is trying to pick a quarterback between Geno Smith and Drew Lock, which is like trying to choose between your favorite COVID-19 variant. The Steelers have an open competition between Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and rookie Kenny Pickett that Trubisky will undoubtedly win. Head coach Mike Tomlin just has to convince the more vocal members of his fanbase that it\u2019s fair. That means that Smith and Lock will probably play a lot and Pickett will likely get most of the second half for the Steelers. Which is probably bad news for Pittsburgh. Seahawks 17, Steelers 16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (+1, O\/U: 30.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what we know about this game coming in \u2014 Tom Brady\u2019s not playing. This shouldn\u2019t be a shock to anyone. Brady should never play a down of preseason football and even having him too close to the chalk line on the sidelines is probably stupid. I\u2019d put him up in the owner\u2019s box. Either way, the Bucs are playing for nothing. Their wide receiver corps is banged up, so this will be the Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller show as Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask (who might be their QB of the future) toss them passes. The Dolphins have a little more at stake and need to prove to fandom and pundits alike that Tua Tagovailoa can run the offense and pass deep downfield. Don\u2019t be surprised to see an early hook up with Tyreek Hill called in this one. I\u2019m going with Miami here. I like Teddy Bridgewater as the best back up QB on the field and their running back depth is crazy deep with two time Super Bowl champion Sony Michel clocking in at No. 3. Dolphins 24, Buccaneers 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (+1, O\/U: 33.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it a preseason game full of back ups or the Houston Texans\u2019 actual starting roster? No one really knows. What we can count on is that the Saints back ups could probably not only start for Houston, but give them about two more wins over expected this season. The Texans are a mess. New Orleans looks like a playoff team to me and their No. 3 running back, Malcolm Brown, is better than any RB on the Texans roster. Back up Andy Dalton can also claim supremacy over an QB on Houston\u2019s depth chart. Saints 27, Texans 9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DALLAS COWBOYS AT DENVER BRONCOS (-2.5, O\/U: 31)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time to show off what Russell Wilson can do for a drive or two because everyone behind him on the depth chart is probably a nightmare. The Cowboys are in a little better shape, with Cooper Rush taking over for Dak Prescott, who Dallas shouldn\u2019t even play in this game. While both these teams are built to win now, that comes with a huge drop off in depth. Dallas is a little better and Rush, at least, should be able to soundly win the No. 2 battle with Brett Rypien. Cowboys 26, Broncos 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-3.5, O\/U: 30)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can guarantee you that the Rams are not taking this game serious in the least. Sean McVay has never played starters in the preseason and he\u2019s not going to start the year after he won the Super Bowl. Brandon Staley is a McVay disciple and he too, last year, did not let any of his starters see the field in this game. I expect similar results as last year, with Chase Daniel being the best back up signal caller between both teams making the difference. Chargers 16, Rams 10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (-3.5, O\/U: 33.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I expect both of these teams to be playoff contenders this season and the Raiders already have a victory under their belt, knocking off the Jags last week in the Hall of Fame game. While the Vikings will be much improved under new head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell, he is also of the McVay coaching tree. That means we probably won\u2019t see any starters in this game at all. Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond will get the call Sunday night. Vegas has some solid back ups of their own who shone bright a week ago in Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens. I feel like Vegas is further along and it should show up Sunday night, but I don\u2019t care for the spread. Raiders 20, Vikings 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up: 1-0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread: 1-0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preseason:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up: 1-0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread: 1-0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY ADAM GREENE A full slate of football wraps up our first official week of preseason NFL on Saturday and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":13856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23419"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23420,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23419\/revisions\/23420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}