2024 NFL Preseason Week 1 Spreads, Moneylines and Totals
Thankfully, the NFL Preseason has been reduced to three games. Regardless, the first week of preseason football is the most challenging handicap. That is because of the inability of fans and gamblers to have reliable lineup information. Teams will often play rookies and or inexperienced second or third-string players and free agents. Thus, the lineups have no resemblance to what will be seen in the regular season.
For established championship-caliber teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the main goal of the preseason is to escape without serious injuries to key players. The established powers will focus on finding role players and filling out the bottom of the roster.
On the other hand, perennial losers or teams with new quarterbacks will invest more in the preseason. The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons will use the preseason to evaluate their QBs.
Many sharps love preseason thanks to in-game live betting. Wise Guys will track the lineups on a play-by-play basis, looking for an advantage to leap into action with immediately.
NFL Betting Odds
NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Lines
Opening night of Week 1 NFL preseason features a matchup of two struggling teams with new head coaches and unsettled QB situations. On Thursday, August 8, the New England Patriots will host the Carolina Panthers.
The Bill Belichick era has ended in New England. The Hoodie was fired more for his terrible performance regarding the procurement of talent after Tom Brady departed. In his place, Jerod Mayo was promoted from Belichick’s staff to become the new headman. Mayo is obviously filling some historically large shoes.
New England owner Robert Kraft was tired of Belichick’s lack of personality and gruff ways. Kraft tolerated it when Belichick was at the peak of his powers in leading the Patriots to, arguably, the greatest dynasty in NFL history. But once the losses started to accumulate, Kraft was eager to move on to a kinder, gentler, and more respectful partner. But NFL history shows that tyrants win a lot more championships than the agreeable collaborative types. Thus, there are plenty of skeptics regarding the Patriots prospects.
Another era ended last year at New England. Mack Jones, New England’s first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and a Pro Bowler as a rookie was sent packing after regressing from that peak. Jones took the Pats to the playoffs as a rookie, but once offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Jones lacked the mentoring that had made him so successful. Jones will try and rebuild his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he is expected to back up Trevor Lawrence.
Drake Maye was drafted third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Patriots out of North Carolina. Although Maye is second on the depth chart behind Jacoby Brissett, who is with his fifth team in five years, Maye will be given every opportunity to win the starting QB job.
Alex Van Pelt, New England’s new offensive coordinator and TC McCartney is the QB coach. Both will be experimenting in the preseason to solve one of the worst offenses in the NFL.
Carolina has a new head coach, Dave Canales, who has a reputation for being a QB guru. Canales is being tasked to get 2023 first overall draft pick Bryce Young back on track.
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