NFL Betting: Things Still Wide Open in AFC West Heading Into Preseason Week Four

Of the four divisions in the AFC, perhaps once again it is the West that appears to be the most wide-open heading into this regular season. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to defend their title and hold on to the division heading into this NFL betting lines season, but they will face a tough test as each of the other three teams have all shown improvement this preseason.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Green Bay Packers

Thursday, 8:00 PM ET

The Chiefs have been a major question mark in the NFL futures this week, with a debate about whether they have a legitimate shot to repeat as division champions, or if they are simply one-year wonders. Kansas City does have a ton of talent on its roster, but whether or not those core players are capable of excelling for years to come has yet to be proven. The Chiefs have a tough preseason finale against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and although it won’t mean much in the long run the first quarter could serve as a strong test of sportsbook promo merit.

NFL Betting Pick: Kansas City Chiefs +3

Denver Broncos @ Arizona Cardinals

Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

While the Chiefs have to prove that they can repeat, the Broncos are simply trying to prove that they can compete as they look to close out their season on a winning note against Arizona. Denver will open the season with Kyle Orton as its starting quarterback, which leaves Tim Tebow to hold off Brady Quinn as the team’s second-string pivot. Tebow may not get another true shot at game action until a few weeks in to the season, and he likely will put on an NFL spectacle before taking a seat.

NFL Betting Pick: Denver Broncos + 3

San Francisco 49ers @ San Diego Chargers

Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

The Chargers’ offense has looked in midseason form so far this preseason, and will look to keep it going and avoid a slow start out of the gate this regular season. Phillip Rivers continues to emerge into one of the elite quarterbacks in the game today, and as long as the defense can play to an average standard San Diego should be golden. The Chargers have nothing left to prove heading into this exhibition finale, but they do have more depth than the 49ers and that will make the sports betting difference.

NFL Betting Pick: San Diego Chargers - 3

Oakland Raiders @ Seattle Seahawks

Friday, 10:30 PM ET

Terrelle Pryor will see his first NFL action on Friday night, as the Raiders take to the field in Seattle looking for their first win of the preseason. Things haven’t been pretty in Oakland so far in 2011, and you have to think that head coach Hue Jackson would like to see his team go fishing for at least one.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Oakland Raiders + 3.5

North Texas vs. Florida International Betting Mobile Odds

Online Mobile Free Pick: Florida Int´l over North Texas by 20

Things sure have gone south at North Texas. After head coach Darrell Dickey was fired in 2006 for logging just fi ve wins in his final two seasons, legendary high school coach Todd Dodge was handed the reins – and he sank to an even-worse six total wins before being jettisoned just seven games into his fourth and final season at Denton.

Enter new head coach Dan McCarney, former mentor at Iowa State. Not only is McCarney a major step up in class for the not-so-Mean Green, he proved he can do more with less by clawing his way to a respectable 56-85 SU log during his 12-year tenure at Ames.

But even though he proved he can win with a lower-tier program, UNT’s new head man can’t seem to ring the ATS register when overmatched on the playing fi eld, posting a woeful 3-17 ATS mark as a conference road dog of 13 or more points.

Worse, North Panther QB Wesley Carroll may have graduated last year but he’s back with another season of eligibility.

Fla International is a - 14 point favorites and you can check on Luxbet Mobile that the total is set at 54.

Meanwhile, second-year OC Scott Satterfi eld has expanded the FIU playbook by 40% so it’s a good thing QB Carroll has plenty of free time to study the new schemes.

He’ll be tossing to T.Y. Hilton, arguably the best player in the conference and the team leader in receptions each of the last three years. Still, the question begs: can Mario Cristobal’s Panthers snap an 18-game losing streak during the fi rst three games of the season?

Reveals FIU as a play-on team (40-26-2 ATS) who improved its defense by 100 or more yards from the previous season. Lay the points as FIU beats the spread for the fi fth time in its last six games.

NFL Betting: The Top Five Preseason Finales To Watch This Week

While fishing fans are looking to get in a couple more trips before the weather starts to cool down, NFL football fans will be getting ready for the final week of the preseason, which is usually a glorified practice as coaches don’t want to risk an injury to their starters just before the regular season and also, they have to finalize roster spots. Here are five games to keep an eye on this week in your sports betting book.

Lions Bills Odds – Thursday, 6:30 PM ET

The Lions are 1-point underdogs in this contest according to NFL betting lines, but Detroit fans may be praying that their team throws this game; Detroit is 3-0 and have looked extremely good in the preseason but remember, they went 4-0 in the 2008 preseason and ended up going 0-16. Winning is important, but the Lions don’t want to shoot all their bullets already.

Colts Bengals Odds – Thursday, 7:00 PM ET

The Colts are 6-point underdogs on the road, and those who make NFL betting picks will probably get to see Kerry Collins, who was brought out of retirement by Indianapolis as Peyton Manning may not be ready for the regular-season opener. It’ll be interesting to see how the veteran pivot picks up Indianapolis’ intricate offense.

Giants Patriots Odds – Thursday, 7:30 PM ET

This is currently no NFL line for this game in New England, but all eyes will be on the Patriots and specifically defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who has yet to suit up for New England after coming over from Washington into one of the biggest moves of this shortened offseason. While he won’t get substantial time, Haynesworth should get a series of work, at least.

Broncos Cardinals Odds – Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

The Broncos are 3-point underdogs in the desert, but the attention in this game will be on their backup quarterback role as Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn are still battling to hold the clipboard behing Kyle Orton. Reports surfaced that Tebow was the fourth-string quarterback, but as a first-round pick and a high-profile player, he’ll get more chances, and he should get one on Thursday.

Raiders Seahawks Odds – Friday, 10:30 PM ET

Finally, the Seahawks are 3-point favorites at home, but their transition into the post-Matt Hasselbeck era hasn’t gone smoothly in the preseason as Tarvaris Jackson has struggled mightily. Jackson has offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who was the coordinator in Minnesota while Jackson was there, and he also has Sidney Rice, who emerged as one of the biggest deep threats in the league, but Jackson has a scattershot arm, even when he isn’t under pressure. Unless he improves, Seattle won’t move up a bit in your sports betting book.