2017 NFL Betting for the Week 1 Preseason Games

If you have been feeling starved of football in the last few months, then we have some good news for you. Last week represented the final full week of life without football. Training camps are open and the preseason gets started this coming Thursday night with the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Wagering on preseason games can be rather precarious, especially since large portions of those games are going to feature guys who will not be on a team in a couple of weeks. Still, it’s also fun to test your skills a little, and I know that I find it impossible to pass up on preseason games, simply because football tends to be my go to sport for wagering. Let’s look at some of the games coming up in Week 1 of the NFL preseason and their betting picks.

2017 NFL Betting for the Week 1 Preseason Games

   

Dallas Cowboys Vs Arizona Cardinals – Thursday, Aug 3

The Cowboys had a great season last year, thanks in large part to the performances from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. It’s going to be interesting to see if a sophomore slump becomes an issue for either of these guys, assuming of course that Elliott even gets to start in the early part of the season. There have been some off-field issues for Elliott this offseason, and the Cowboys are still waiting to see if a suspension will be handed down. The Cardinals are getting a little long in the tooth, and will surely be hoping that some of their draft picks deliver. We should get a good look at those guys this Thursday. I like the Cowboys to win this one.

Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers – Wednesday, Aug 9

Can the Texans finally put together an offensive unit that matches their brilliant defense? Can the Carolina Panthers bounce back after missing the playoffs last season? For the Texans, it is all going to depend on how well DeShaun Watson does at QB in his rookie season, and I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of him in preseason. The Panthers are good enough to bounce back this year, although, I do believe they will lose their preseason opener.

Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins – Thursday, Aug 10

Last season saw the Carolina Panthers go from a Super Bowl loss to missing the playoffs, which is a fate that the Falcons will be trying to avoid this season. The Miami Dolphins are simply trying to get back to respectability, and they really need Ryan Tannehill to step up and prove that he can be an elite QB in the NFL. The Falcons will want to set the tone early, and will be looking to win big in preseason, which I think they will do here.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants – Friday, Aug 11

This could be a pivotal season for the Steelers, as it may end with them losing Ben Roethlisberger and LeVeon Bell. Roethlisberger came close to retiring this offseason, and may pull the trigger at the end of this year, while Bell has not signed his franchise tag contract or shown up at training camp, although he will before the regular season begins. All eyes will be on QB Joshua Dobbs, as he is the kid that will be primed to take over from Big Ben. We should see a lot of him in the preseason, and I believe he will shine.

Seattle Seahawks at LA Chargers – Sunday, August 13

The Seahawks were good enough to go to the Super Bowl last year, in my opinion, but injuries to key personnel ended up doing them in. They are going to come into this season feeling as though they have something to prove, as are the Chargers, who will be trying to build a devoted fan base in their new digs. This could be a very good season for the Seahawks, while I believe that the Chargers are going to struggle a little. I think that Seattle can get the preseason off to a winning start in this one. These are just a few of the games that have caught my eye in Week 1 of the NFL preseason, but there are plenty more besides. Check out the odds for all the games and let’s get back to some Week 1 football wagering.