Sports betting

NFL Preseason Odds, NFL Gambling, NFL Picks, NFL Preseason Odds & Picks

by Chad Rogers | August 21 2009

NFL Preseason Odds for NFL gambling enthusiasts are up on the betting boards around the online gambling industry for Week 2 action.

Totals' betting was a split in the first week of the NFL preseason but some home teams had more to play for and it showed on the scoreboard. Looking at online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.COM, we see the numbers in Week 2 have taking a boost but in a few cases it could be more about the hype than the talent.

To help commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the American Football League, nearly all of the original teams from 1960 were slotted in to open the 2009 preseason on home turf. Owners, founders, family and friends were on hand for small pregame and half-time ceremonies and the teams put on quite a show.

It started at the Hall of Fame game when the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans combined for 39 points—more than a touchdown higher than the opening total.

Online sportsbooks made small adjustments after that wild performance but it wasn't enough. Buffalo and Tennessee scored well above average, hitting 27 points each in their second outing. Oakland's 31 points in its win over Dallas matched the Raiders' season high from 2008 and the list goes on.

All said, the original eight AFL teams counted for an average of more than 21 points per side resulting in 6 overs and just 2 unders through the first round of preseason betting.

As Week 2 gets underway sports bettors are seeing the numbers climb again. Offenses are expected to open up the playbook, defenders looking to make a name will take more chances and the general consensus is that it should boost overall scoring by a few points per game.

Football handicappers in search of preseason action are forced to decide whether the inflated Over/Under numbers match up to the hype from Week 1.

Start in Dallas where the brand new, $1.15 billion Cowboys Stadium is being unveiled vs. the 2-0 Tennessee Titans. A virtual online walkthrough demonstrates just how amazing this facility is; it has a 60-yard TV screen! But the line opened at 36 in this contest and has moved as high as 39 at some sportsbooks.

Before jumping on the bandwagon it pays to do a little research. First of all, note that only one of Tennessee's past six road games would have cleared a number that high. Second, ask yourself what kind of incentive Titans HC Jeff Fischer has to go all out considering his team has already notched a pair of wins. Tennessee was 2-0 in the preseason last year, too. In their third game they lost 17-3 at Atlanta, an inter-Conference foe like the Cowboys.

The highest line on the board for Week 2 is a few hundred miles south of Dallas where the Houston Texans are taking on the New Orleans Saints. Betting started on Saturday's contest at 40 but it has taken downward pressure.

Big debuts are taking place this weekend in Minnesota (Favre) and Washington (Haynesworth)and as fans across the nation check in, the home sides are getting hammered.

Motives are in place for the Vikings to prove that they know what they've been doing all along and for the Redskins to show they can score a single point, but putting a price tag on intentions in the preseason can be a risky play.

Good luck with your NFL betting this week.

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