We're deep into the NFL preseason and that only bodes well for both football fans and bettors.
With Week 3 upon us, the first teams will see a lot more action, starting QBs will take more snaps and talented players who are trying to make the team will go the extra mile.
This week's preseason sked started off with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Chicago Bears by a final count of 37-30.
Friday will see a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX with the Philadelphia Eagles traveling to New England to play the Patriots. Oddsmakers are favoring the home team by 2.5-points with a total of 37.
The Pats are 0-2 in exhibition play but the Chowder Heads probably aren't jumping off of bridges yet, after all it is the preseason and Tom Brady is supposedly suffering from a foot injury.
Foxsports columnist Alex Marvez told a Canadian radio station about a theory regarding New England's preseason strategy that he heard: head coach Bill Belichick is resting Brady and other players so that they will be fresh for the regular season.
Regardless, ESPN, citing the Boston Globe, has Brady listed as Probable and with the regular season a mere two weeks away, now would be a good time as any for Brady to get some reps.
Bettors are expecting the Pats to get preseason win No. 1 and with the starting QB expected to see playing time, based on the injury report, New England is seeing 68% of the betting action at SPORTSBETTING.COM.
The marquee matchup on Saturday will see the New York Giants playing the New York Jets with the line favoring the J-E-T-S by a field goal and the Over/Under at 38.
Just like the jealous middle child, the Jets sat around and watched their more athletic, popular brother, the New York Giants, win the Super Bowl and bask in the glory. The football Giants made the late night talk show circuit, got the ticker tape parade and got all the headlines; and all the Jets could do was watch…that is until recently.
The acquisition of Brett Favre has done wonders for the Joe Namath’s old team. Prior to the deal, the Jets were listed at +3500 to win the Super Bowl, but as of today, they're down to +2500.
Jets WR Laveranues Coles was close with former QB Chad Pennington and wasn't happy to see his buddy jettisoned (no pun intended) to make room for Favre.
Favre has said all the right things but it remains to see if the two connect on and off the field; Coles is listed as Questionable on the injury report with a leg injury.
But despite that, bettors look like they are banking on the Jets' desire to show up the Giants after all the attention they received, pre-Favre.
SPORTSBETTING.COM reports that Favre's new team is seeing 65% of the betting action.
Another Saturday game sees the New Orleans Saints traveling to Cincinnati to play the Bengals, with a Total of 42.
Last season, the Saints and Bengals ranked near the bottom of the NFL in defense (26 and 27 respectively) while they ranked a respectable fourth and tenth in offense.
Apparently Total bettors remember last year well, as a 64% majority are wagering on the Over for Saturday's game.
August is almost over and that mean's the NFL regular season will soon be upon us.
Enjoy your weekend.
