NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds and Trends
Week 2 of the NFL preseason begins Thursday night as the favorites try to improve on a lackluster Week 1. In Week 1 the favorites barely got over the .500 mark with a 9-7 record against the spread.
Highlighting Week 2 is a Super Bowl rematch on Thursday night as the New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles as a 3.5-point home favorite at Bovada Sportsbook.
The Eagles began the preseason by getting crushed by the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-14 as a 3-point favorite. That was their second straight preseason loss both SU and ATS, but they’re still 6-3 SU and ATS in their last nine.
New England got past the Washington Redskins 26-17 as a 2.5-point favorite last week to snap a five-game ATS losing streak in the preseason. In their last 12 preseason contests, the Patriots are a strong 9-3 SU but only 3-8-1 ATS.
Shifting to Friday the Cleveland Browns look to continue their preseason winning streak when they host the Buffalo Bills as a 3-point favorite.
Cleveland has won five in a row SU and ATS in the preseason following last week’s 20-10 win over the New York Giants as a 1-point favorite. The best bet on the Browns may be the UNDER, as they are 12-0-1 UNDER in their last 13.
The Bills have been a bad bet in the preseason lately at 1-6 SU and ATS in their last seven. That includes last week’s 28-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers as a 3-point favorite. On the road in the preseason Buffalo has dropped five straight SU and ATS.
Vikings favored at home over Jaguars
On Saturday the Minnesota Vikings are 4.5-point favorites at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Vikings rolled to a 42-28 win over the Denver Broncos as a 1-point favorite in their preseason opener. With the win they improved to 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS in their last nine, and when favored they’re 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10.
The Jaguars were upset by the New Orleans Saints last week 24-20 as a 2-point favorite. As a preseason underdog the Jaguars are a lame 3-7 SU in their last 10, but they’re 6-3-1 ATS.
Finally, Week 2 concludes on Monday night with the Indianapolis Colts hosting the Baltimore Ravens as a 1-point favorite.
The Colts rode the return of Andrew Luck to a 19-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks last week as a 2-point underdog. Don’t get too carried away, though. In their last seven preseason games as the favorite, the Colts are 1-6 SU and 0-7 ATS.
Baltimore blasted the Los Angeles Rams 33-7 as a 3-point favorite last week. That was the Ravens’ 10th straight preseason win during which they are 9-1 ATS.