NFL Week 2 Preseason Odds, Betting Lines: Predictions & Picks
NFL betting analyst Nick Galaida’s early preseason picks went 3-1 last week and cashed a +200 underdog! See what Week 2 preseason lines he’s eyeing now, and make sure to come back for his in-depth game previews closer to kickoff!
The NFL preseason is in full-swing for the first time since 2019. Oddsmakers struggled in Week 1 to effectively price odds on games with a high amount of volatility and unpredictability—evident by the fact that 14 of the 16 games hit the under on the total. Perhaps as a consequence of the rough few days, sportsbooks have been a little slower to post totals this time around.
Let’s take a look at some betting picks for preseason Week 2, beginning on Thursday, August 19th.
NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds, Betting Lines
All NFL odds for preseason Week 2 are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
- New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles +1.5, O/U 37.5
- Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals +2.5, O/U 37
- Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Football Team -3.5, O/U 33
- Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears -2, O/U 37.5
- New York Jets at Green Bay Packers -2.5, O/U 34
- Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins -3, O/U 37
- Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers +2.5, O/U 35
- Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers -6, O/U 37
- Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3, O/U 38
- Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys -3, O/U 37
- Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings PK, O/U 37
- Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams +4.5, O/U 36
- Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks +4.5, O/U 37
- New York Giants at Cleveland Browns -5, O/U 37.5
- San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers +2.5, O/U 34
- Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints -3.5, O/U 37
Preseason Picks, Best Bets
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles +1.5, O/U 37.5
The New England Patriots opened their preseason schedule with a 22-13 victory against the Washington Football Team. They are now 7-2 straight-up in their last nine preseason contests under Head Coach Bill Belichick, who is not only committed to winning regular season games, but also shining during the NFL’s exhibition slate. New England’s preseason has also intensified due to the strong play of Mac Jones, who completed 13 of 19 passes against Washington for 87 yards. Jones is quickly closing the gap on Cam Newton for the starting quarterback job. While it would be surprising to see Jones win the right to start Week 1, bettors can be sure that Belichick wants to get Jones as many reps as possible, so that he is sufficiently prepared to take the field in the regular season if he is needed.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost their preseason opener to their cross-state counterparts, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Eagles led that game 13-0, but Pittsburgh’s depth proved problematic for Philadelphia in the second-half, scoring 17 unanswered points in a 24-16 Steelers’ victory. Jalen Hurts is likely to get more reps in the second week of action, after only completing three of seven passes against Pittsburgh. Although he is the presumed starting quarterback for the Eagles, having him on the field for longer might actually inhibit Philadelphia’s ability to drive the ball down the field.
Bettors should put their faith in New England to shine once again in this matchup. Here’s a more in-depth Patriots vs. Eagles Preseason Preview for more details.
Pick: New England Patriots -1.5 (-110)
Kansas City Chiefs (-160) vs. Arizona Cardinals (+135)
Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals won their opening matchup of the preseason last week. However, these two teams have vastly different objectives for their exhibition slate of action, which makes the odds on this affair more than a little bit surprising. The Chiefs are coming off of their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, and are returning the vast majority of their roster for the upcoming year. The Cardinals experienced tangible growth in 2020, but they are still yet to make the postseason under the guidance of Kyler Murray, are have more than a few open position battles with only a few weeks remaining until the regular season begins.
Murray did not attempt any passes in Week 1, and Patrick Mahomes completed only 1 of 2 passes for four yards. Both players figure to see more playing time on Friday, but it would be surprising if Mahomes is in the game for too long. At significant-plus money, bettors should consider placing a small wager on the Cardinals, who are likely to let their starters get a lot more time on the field in this one. Don’t forget, online sports betting in Arizona almost here!
Pick: Arizona Cardinals ML (+135)
Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers -6, O/U 37
The Steelers have looked very good in each of their first two preseason games, but it is perplexing to see such a large spread in a game with so much uncertainty surrounding game plans and playing time for star players. Pittsburgh theoretically has a leg-up on the Detroit Lions, due to the extra exhibition game under their belt, in addition to the fact that they have a far more talented roster. However, Ben Roethlisberger is still yet to play during the exhibition slate. Also, Pittsburgh did not score a single point against the Eagles until just before half-time. Expect Jared Goff and the Lions to continue working on their team chemistry in their first live-action together. Seven of the 16 games last week finished with a margin of victory of five points or fewer. The Lions have a good chance to cover in this situation, if not win outright.
Pick: Detroit Lions +6 (-110)
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