NFL Preseason Week 2 – Best Bets

The NFL Preseason has taught us so far that Chad Johnson can’t catch, Terrelle Pryor isn’t worth any more ESPN time, and ALL of these NFL teams need a lot of work before the regular season. The good news is that NFL Preseason Week 2 puts us closer to GAMEDAY!

The games start with a doozy this week on Thursday night with the Pennsylvania State Scuffle:

Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers – Thursday, August 18 at 8:00 ET – FOX-TV
Philadelphia Eagles – (+3 -120)
Pittsburgh Steelers – (-3 +100)
Over/Under Total – (33.5)

SWEEEEET!! We have an NFL state rivalry Thursday night with Philly traveling to Pittsburgh. Vick against Big Ben! Nnamdi covering Hines Ward! Wait a minute, this is preseason. Oh well, it will still be the best game of the week and worth watching and betting.

The “dream team” will be fun to watch as the backups try to muddle through their plays against possibly the best defense in the NFL. I don’t think the Eagles care as much about winning this game as the Steelers do about intimidating the Eagles.

At least we will get an early look at the circus known as the Philadelphia Eagles and the proven 6-time NFL Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Don’t expect much Vick time, so at least we will be entertained by Vince “cuckoo” Young.

Bet Pittsburgh -3 +100 over Philadelphia

Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars – Friday, August 19 at 8:00 ET – FOX-TV
Atlanta Falcons – (+3 -120)
Jacksonville Jaguars- (-3 +100)
Over/Under Total – (35.5)

The Falcons can exhale now that Corey Peters is considered day-to-day instead of practice-to-surgery. Peria Jerry  will start which is great for us fans to see if this first-round pick is stepping up compared to last year.

Blaine Gabbert didn’t show much brilliance last week for the Jaguars, but expect him to improve in the preseason on the field and regular season on the bench. The Jags showed nothing last week, and I expect the Falcons super scrubs to do better than Jacksonville’s starters.

Bet Atlanta +3 over Jacksonville

New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans – Saturday, August 20 at 8:00 ET – NFL-TV
New Orleans Saints – (+1.5)
Houston Texans – (-1.5)
Over/Under Total – (36.5)

Last year’s preseason game may make the Texans at least show up with their starters. It was pitiful as the Saints went up 28-10 by halftime.

The interesting thing to watch for on the Texans is surprisingly the defense and new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ adjustments. Houston’s defense seems to be optimistic about Wade(much better coordinator than head coach) and we will see ifMario Williams’ has had time to make the adjustment as a standing killer on the line. I think we will.

Mark Ingram has that real deal feel early my friends, but I don’t see him playing much here with 2 running backs, Chris Ivory and Joique Bell, already injured.

Bet on Houston -1.5 over New Orleans

San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys – Sunday, August 21 at 8:00 ET – NBC-TV
San Diego Chargers – (+1.5)
Dallas Cowboys – (-1.5)
Over/Under Total – (37)

The Cowboys and Chargers are actually practicing with each other a few times this week which makes me think of soft, calm, fluffy clouds not hurting anyone…..NOT!!

Tony Romo will probably play a quarter or more in this one, and I expect him to pull out all the stops to bring back the confidence in himself not only for himself but more importantly for his team.

This is also a Sunday Night Football game on national TV, so don’t expect egomaniac Jerry “Jerry-Tron” Jones to let head coach Jason Garrett lose this game even if it is preseason.

Bet Dallas -1.5 over San Diego