NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Lines: Patriots QBs are in the Spotlight

Unless there’s another paint problem, Week 1 of the NFL preseason will finally kick off this week. As usual when it comes to the preseason the home team is favored in every game currently on the board and the spreads are small with the biggest favorite only getting 3.5 points.

The game that could garner the most attention is the New Orleans Saints at the New England Patriots. New England faces a tricky situation with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo both needing time with the first-unit offense. That’s because for the first four games of the regular season Garoppolo will be the starting QB with Brady suspended. Will New England risk injury to their offensive starters and keep them on the field so both Brady and Garoppolo get reps?

The Patriots enter the game as a 3.5-point favorite. They’re also facing a Saints squad that has lost their last five preseason contests straight up and against the spread.

Also on the Week 1 slate the Los Angele Rams make their return to the west coast when they play host to the Dallas Cowboys. In their first game as the Los Angeles Rams since back in 1994 they’re a 3.5-point favorite. It will also be the first look at first-overall pick Jared Goff at quarterback. Right now it looks like Goff will begin the regular season as the backup unless he can outperform Case Keenum in the preseason.

For Dallas all eyes will be on their own first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott – if he plays. Elliott has been dealing with a hamstring injury which could force him to miss the preseason opener.

Both sides in this matchup have dreadful preseason records. The Rams have dropped five in a row SU and ATS in the preseason, while Dallas is 1-8 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games.

Sticking with first-round picks the Philadelphia Eagles will debut their first rounder, quarterback Carson Wentz, in their preseason opener at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Wentz, who went second overall behind Goff, won’t get the start though. According to Eagles new head coach Doug Pederson Wentz won’t get in the game until the second half. Splitting the first half will be incumbent starter Sam Bradford and veteran Chase Daniels.

Tampa Bay also has a new head coach, with former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter taking over from the fired Lovie Smith. Smith was given his walking papers after the Buccaneers finished under .500 and last in the division for the fifth straight season.

Philadelphia is a 3-point favorite in the matchup and they enter boasting a solid preseason record the last few seasons. In their last six preseason games the Eagles are 5-1 SU and ATS. They also play a lot of high-scoring affairs with the OVER at 9-1 in their last 10. Tampa Bay is 3-6 SU and ATS in their last nine preseason games.