NFL Handicapping – Preseason Kick Off

NFL Preseason Strategies and Insight

The NFL action begins as preseason football kicks off Sunday, August 7. I’ve provided some analysis of the Hall of Fame Game along with insight and info when analyzing and betting preseason football.

As I noted in this article, preseason football isn’t as intense as regular season NFL action, but the competition is still fierce for many players trying to make the team and others working their way into starting spots. Evaluating players for most coaches takes priority over winning, but you can still gain an edge when betting if you follow closely and understand coach’s philosophies, strategies and recognize what they are trying to accomplish each week in August.

If you’re betting preseason games, follow the beat writers and those close to the teams, and pay attention to coach’s comments and strategies they may employ. Look for insight they may provide, along with motivation. For example, if a team loses a pair of early preseason games and are even embarrassed, you can usually count on a strong effort into their third or final preseason contest.

The Hall of Fame Game has gone under the total in each of the last four years by scores of 14-3, 17-13, 10-6 and 17-10. The Packers veteran players and coaches are not too excited about playing a fifth preseason game this year against the Colts, and coach Pagano says the Indianapolis starters will all play Sunday, including QB Andrew Luck. Perhaps it’s appropriate that Luck and Aaron Rogers, two future Hall of Fame QB’s, are meeting in this HOF kickoff game. Rogers will play very little if any, but he’ll get to watch his former mentor and teammate Brett Favre enter the Hall of Fame at this year’s ceremony.

Read my full preseason article and check out the quarterbacks chart for all the teams. Recognize some of the experienced and better backups along with stronger supporting players that will also get more preseason playing time. Combine this with some of my other advice in identifying additional strategies and parameters to employ, and you’ll gain an edge when betting preseason football.

For those that consider the NFL preseason ‘meaningless’, know there is still plenty of interest and wagering in these contests. After all, last year’s preseason exhibition game between the Vikings and Steelers (14-3) drew a 6.9 overnight TV rating. That game outperformed the very meaningful Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals and World Series games.

Welcome back NFL – the real money maker.