NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds and Picks

Every NFL team will be in action this week as the preseason officially gets underway. There will be 16 games between Thursday, August 10, and Sunday, August 13, and that will give bettors the first chance to really bet on NFL Preseason football. We have already seen some decent line movement as certain teams have announced their plans for playing time, and this is one of the key things to watch considering how much time backups will be on the field.

NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Odds at BetRivers Sportsbook

Denver Broncos -5.5
Arizona Cardinals +5.5
Total 37.5

The Arizona Cardinals are going to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. Arizona does not have a lot of talent on defense, and the Cardinals will not have starting quarterback Kyler Murray for at least the first several weeks of the 2023 campaign. That will thrust 37-year-old Colt McCoy into the starting role. McCoy is 11-25 in his NFL career with 34 touchdown passes and 32 interceptions in 56 games, but new head coach is unlikely to play McCoy much in the preseason considering his experience, and that will put the Cardinals at more of a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are out to quickly right the ship with Sean Payton at the helm. Denver was arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL last season as Russell Wilson flopped in the Mile High City. Payton should rejuvenate this offense, and there’s a good chance that the Broncos will put more effort into the preseason than usual given the expectations for a quick turnaround under one of the best offensive minds in the game. After all, Wilson will turn 35 in November, so the Broncos are certainly in ‘Win Now’ mode.

Pick: Denver -5.5

Philadelphia Eagles +6.5
Baltimore Ravens -6.5
Total 35.5

At first glance, the NFL betting odds here might cause you to do a double take. It’s rare to see a team be nearly a touchdown favorite in the preseason, but the Baltimore Ravens have been lights out in the preseason under John Harbaugh. Baltimore has a sterling 43-12 preseason record since 2008 under Harbaugh, and the Ravens have not dropped a preseason game since all the way back in 2015.

Lamar Jackson might not play in this game after signing a massive contract in the offseason, but Baltimore has brought in quarterbacks with similar skillsets to Jackson in order to get the most out of the offense when he is hurt or gone. Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown can make things happen with their legs too, while Josh Johnson has more than a dozen years of experience with preseason football.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia will likely only play its starters for one series as Nick Sirianni does not value preseason highly. The Eagles are 1-4 in the preseason under Sirianni, as the team tends to just go through the motions in the games. The defending NFC champions don’t want to risk injury after being very fortunate when it comes to avoiding the injury bug last season.

Pick: Baltimore -6.5

Kansas City Chiefs +3.5
New Orleans Saints -3.5
Total 37.5

The defending Super Bowl champions have a better preseason record recently than you might think given the fact that Andy Reid’s career postseason mark is 44-46. Kansas City has won five of its last six preseason games, but there is really nothing for the Chiefs to prove this time around after winning their second Super Bowl back in February. It seems very unlikely that Patrick Mahomes will play in the preseason opener for the Chiefs, so Blaine Gabbert and Shane Buechele will probably see the bulk of the snaps.

New Orleans should have the best offense in the NFC South, although that’s not saying much considering the lack of talented quarterbacks in that division. Derek Carr will give the Saints the best quarterback they have had since Drew Brees, but this offense is going to need some time to get into rhythm. That should mean more playing time for Carr than you would see otherwise, giving New Orleans a great chance to win this game by more than a score.

Pick: New Orleans -3.5