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.
