Hall of Fame Game Preview – Owens, Bengals Battle Cowboys

We kick of NFL preseason betting with the Hall of Fame Game this coming weekend. It’s been many months in the making, but the 2010 NFL betting season is upon us. At the very least, we’re in for one quarter of solid NFL action as Terrell Owens faces off against one of his former teams when the Cincinnati Bengals battle the Dallas Cowboys in Canton.

Football betting fans know that NFL teams use preseason games to sort out the depth chart and figure out who the deserving starters will be. It’s also used to groom the first team offense and defense so they build chemistry and the coaches can identify any weak links.

While the Cowboys won’t have any opportunity to evaluate Dez Bryant, their first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, since he injured his ankle during training camp, the Bengals will get plenty of time to dissect whether Terrell Owens is deserving of a start across from Chad Ochocinco.

Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) vs. Dallas Cowboys (0-0)

Sunday, August 8 th — Fawcett Stadium, Canton — 8:00pm EST

NFL Preseason Betting Line: CIN -3.0 (32.5)

Cincinnati will probably put Carson Palmer on the field for the first quarter to work things out between Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant and Owens. Expect a lot of pass plays that will test the Dallas secondary and provide further data on whether Bryant or Owens will start in the second receiver spot.

Dallas doesn’t have too many questions about their offensive game plan. Roy Williams slips back in to the second receiver spot and Miles Austin won’t have any chance of losing his starting role unless he gets injured.

On the ground, Dallas has already figured out their rotation. Marion Barber and Felix Jones will be trading carries between the twenties, and Tashard Choice will be deployed on third down duties. That much we know, and there isn’t anyone on the depth chart that will test these guys.

With Dallas already having worked out the kinks in their offense and defense, they likely won’t subject Tony Romo and the main starting cast to too much work on Sunday night, which greatly affects this game from a football betting standpoint.

Cincinnati still has to get some looks at Bernard Scott and Bryan Leonard to see who will get the primary role of backup tailback behind Cedric Benson. On top of that, their backup quarterbacks include J.T. O’Sullivan and Jordan Palmer who are very capable in place of Carson for preseason betting.

The Bengals will also try to get as much work in for Andre Smith at offensive tackle as possible. After being drafted 6 th overall in the 2009 entry draft, Smith injured himself after holding out for a huge contract. He needs work, and lots of it, which means that running lanes and pass protection will be there for the Bengals.

Smith adorned the unfortunate nickname of “Man Titties” after showing up to training camp last year out of shape and with – well – breasts. Now that he’s been paid, and had a year off to recover, he has to prove he was worth every penny. Marvin Lewis will put Smith to the grindstone early and often in the preseason to make sure he has the mettle to start the regular season.

Preseason betting is all about the favorites, and I like the depth on Cincinnati to outduel the fledgling practice roster punching bags that will tatter Dallas’s offensive production overall.

Furious Hall of Fame Game Free NFL Picks – Cincinnati -3.0 (UNDER)