NFL Preseason Week 1 Parlays, Picks + Predictions - NFL Play of the Day
The NFL Preseason is difficult to bet on because it’s unclear which players will actually suit up for the game, especially in Week 1. I decided to approach this week by focusing on teams with more at stake, whether it’s because of a new head coach trying to make a strong first impression or if there’s an important position battle that needs to be resolved.
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Best NFL Parlays Week 1
Detroit Lions +2 (-110) vs. Buffalo Bills
Atlanta Falcons +1 (-110) vs. Tennessee Titans
New Orleans Saints +2.5 (+100) @ Baltimore Ravens
The Detroit Lions make their debut with new head coach Dan Campbell. They’re taking on a Bills team that is a Super Bowl contender with nothing really to play for here. On the other hand, the Lions have several new players on the roster looking to make an impression on a new coaching staff. You can bet that Campbell will push for a win with his new team. He seems intent on setting the tone with a culture change in Detroit.
Like the Lions, the Atlanta Falcons will be playing their first game under new head coach Arthur Smith. Smith gets to face his former team in the Tennessee Titans, where he worked in several roles since 2011. The Titans are a team that should make the playoffs, while coach Smith can try to stick it to his former colleagues with a win here. The Falcons have more at stake in this game.
The New Orleans Saints are a team in transition with a battle between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill at starting quarterback. There’s a decent chance that we’ll see both quarterbacks in this game. On the other side, the Baltimore Ravens are another Super Bowl contender, so this game obviously means less to them. Bet on the team with the quarterback competition.
NFL Week 1 Longshot Parlay Prediction
Atlanta Falcons (+100) vs. Tennessee Titans
New Orleans Saints (+120) @ Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals (+200) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jacksonville Jaguars (+230) vs. Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions (+110) vs. Buffalo Bills
Five-team parlays are longshots, so it makes sense to take my three point spread wagers and play them on the moneyline as well. I also added the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 6-point underdogs against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are returning several of their starters from last year with not many position battles, so it’s worth it to take a shot on the underdog.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are also facing a Super Bowl contender in the Cleveland Browns, with new head coach Urban Meyer starting off his tenure with the Jags. No team should be such heavy underdogs in Week 1, so we’ll capitalize on the value here.
Same Game Parlay Picks Week 1
Cincinnati Bengals +6 (-110) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bengals/Buccaneers Over 33.5 (-110)
There’s simply no way that a team should be laying six points in Week 1 of the preseason. There are just too many variables to consider, such as which players are players and for how long. The Bengals have more at stake in this game, as the Bucs roster is pretty much settled. They should be able to cover this spread.
I’m also adding the over on the 33.5-point total here, simply because it’s just too low of a number. This game can finish 20-14 and we would still clear the over, which really sets a low bar. While we can’t expect a shootout in the first week of the preseason, it’s hard to move away from this over while it’s so low.
