The NFL exhibition schedule heads into Week 2, and with comes plenty of new angles for football bettors. The action is spread across fives days, starting Thursday. Here’s what you need to know to cash in on the NFL preseason Week 2 sports bet odds:
Thursday
The Philadelphia Eagles once again have issues at quarterback after backup Nate Sudfeld broke his wrist in last week’s exhibition opener. The Eagles won’t be marching out No. 1 Carson Wentz in the preseason – not after missing the end of the previous two seasons with injuries – leaving Philadelphia to with Cody Kessler and Clayton Thorson under center when the team takes on Jacksonville as a 3-point road underdog Thursday. This total has dropped an entire field goal from 38 to 35 points.
Friday
Tom Brady sat out the preseason opener against the Lions but he could see significant snaps versus the Titans in Week 2. Brady played more than expected last preseason, logging 26 pass attempts and 172 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 of the 2018 tune-up sked. There are a number of new faces in the Patriots receiving corps and Brady needs to build as much chemistry as he can before Week 1’s showdown versus Pittsburgh. New England is a 3-point favorite at Tennessee with a total of 40.5.
Saturday
The Dallas Cowboys ran the ball only 18 times in their Week 1 preseason loss to San Francisco – a surprisingly-low number of handoffs for team that could possibly be without its star running back for the season opener. Bettors should expect an expanded workout for backup rushers like Alfred Morris and Tony Pollard when Dallas plays the L.A. Rams. Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay couldn’t care less about exhibition results, so don’t plan of seeing many of the Rams’ top stars. Dallas is a 2.5-point road favorite after opening as a field-goal pup.
Sunday
The L.A. Chargers gave their backup runners a good look in the opening preseason game, letting those two carry the ball 10 times for a combined 62 yards. That production is important to a team waiting on star running back Melvin Gordon, who is holding out this summer for a new deal. The Bolts, who are 3-point home faves to New Orleans in Week 2 of the preseason, will kick the tires on their defense versus the Saints offense this week, which could give value to the Under 44.5.
Monday
A preseason taste of Monday Night Football is on deck when Kansas City visits Pittsburgh. It will be an emotional matchup for the Steelers, who are still shaken after receivers coach Darryl Drake passed away at age 62 Sunday. Pittsburgh could honor Drake by going all out in the passing game, which would be good for an offense trying to fill the gap left by Antonio Brown’s departure. The Chiefs scored 38 points in their exhibition opener with starter Patrick Mahomes taking first-quarter snaps. He’ll likely see an increased workload in Week 2. This is the tallest total on the Week 2 preseason odds board, opening at 44.5 and climbing to 46.5 points.
