2018 NFL Preseason Betting Predictions for Every Team

The NFL’s 2018 preseason gets underway in earnest this week, with each of the 32 teams playing this weekend. Each franchise has some questions to answer — who will start at quarterback for the Jets? Who will emerge as the top wide receiver for Dallas? Will Deshaun Watson be 100% recovered from that ACL tear when the season opens? For our sports betting enthusiasts, we have put together one prediction for each team for this 2018 NFL preseason.

2018 NFL Preseason Betting Predictions for Every Team

NFL Preseason Power Rankings: 1. @Eagles 2. @Jaguars 3. @Patriots 4. @RamsNFL 5-32. https://t.co/9sK6n7YZET (via @HarrisonNFL) pic.twitter.com/0R6L7PpJG7

— NFL (@NFL) August 7, 2018

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys will try to sell their fan base on going with a committee approach to the wide receiver and the tight end positions. Their defense will be marginally better, but they’re one injury away on either line from sinking to 7-9 territory. New York Giants — Saquon Barkley will remain a mysterious quantity, as the Giants are likely to protect him from a lot of contact — which means we won’t see much of him at all in preseason contests. But he’ll still be exciting. Philadelphia Eagles — The Eagles will keep Carson Wentz under wraps, but we’ll see a lot of enthusiasm from their defense, which added end Michael Bennett. Will they have the hunger to fight after winning the city’s first NFL title in 58 years? Washington Redskins — The Skins went 7-9 last year with a lot of injuries. Their new quarterback, Alex Smith, has led the Chiefs to the postseason in four of the last five seasons. However, Smith’s wideouts in Washington are not contenders, and their best candidate at tailback is a rookie — Oh, and that defense.

NFC North

Chicago Bears — Two solid tailbacks in Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard. Wideouts Allen Robinson II and Trey Burton join the team. The defense was #10 in the NFL last season. Can Mitch Trubisky throw the ball? We’ll find out. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah keys the pass rush for this team. Can Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount get the mall moving on the ground? That will take some heat off Matthew Stafford so he can get the ball to Golden TAte and Marvin Jones Jr. But they’re in the same division with Green Bay and Minnesota. Green Bay Packers — Aaron Rodgers is back! But who will he throw the ball to when opponents double-cover Jimmy Graham? That’s the biggest question for the Packers, unless you wonder how they will rush the passer or cover receivers, which you should. Minnesota Vikings — This team upgraded at quarterback, getting Kirk Cousins, and they brought in D-lineman Sheldon Richardson. Dalvin Cook returns from injury. What’s keeping this team out of the Super Bowl?

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons — Has this team finally shaken off Super Bowl LI? Their offensive coordinator from that season now coaches in San Francisco, and Atlanta’s offense, led by Steve Sarkisian, needs to get back into high gear. We’ll see what tweaks the preseason brings. Carolina Panthers — Luke Kuechly returns to anchor a staunch defense that was third against the run and posted 50 sacks last year. Cam Newton has C.J. Anders and Christian McCaffrey to carry the ball, but the receiving corps is a little thin. New Orleans Saints — The Saints’ defense will determine how far they go this year. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is the defending Defensive Rookie of the Year. I like them to maintain that balance and continue to compete in the NFC. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Expect the pressure to be on Dirk Koetter, even with Jameis Winston’s suspension. Jason Pierre-Paul has come in to boost the D-line, and wideout Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David should end up in the PRo Bowl. However, that secondary and the tailback position are big problems right now.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals — New head coach, new quarterback, rebuilt running back. They did win eight games last year despite all the injuries, but that O-line permitted 52 sacks last year. It will be interesting to see what scheme changes emerge. Los Angeles Rams — This team has tons of upside and is ready to show the league that that home playoff loss to Atlanta was an aberration. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley — with the addition of Brandin Cooks at wide receiver — should be ready to score in bunches, and the Rams’ defense was top-notch last year as well. San Francisco 49ers — Check out Dante Pettis. The press in the Bay Area is all about Jimmy Garoppolo, but this wideout has a quick release from the line of scrimmage and uses his routes to set up defenders to fail. Seattle Seahawks — They haven’t run the ball well since Marshawn left. The offensive line doesn’t block. The “Legion of Boom” defense is either elderly or gone. They lost four Pro Bowl players in one offseason — Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Rumors have Earl Thomas going to Dallas, which would make five. This is a team headed downward in a tough NFC West.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills — They have three quarterbacks in AJ McCarron, Nathan Peterman (who threw five picks in his NFL debut) and rookie Josh Allen. But it’s hard to say that they have a franchise quarterback among those three, at least not yet. So things could get ugly. Miami Dolphins — I look for some big-time risk taking from Ryan Tannehill, who enters his make-or-break season with Miami — and Jarvis Landry is gone. Also, the Dolphins have some D-line and linebacker issues, so it’s on Tannehill. New England Patriots — Don’t expect much to be impressive from the Patriots in the preseason. Tom Brady won’t play much at all, which means lots of Brian Hoyer, and that bad blood from the Super Bowl may take some time to work itself out. New York Jets — Expect some barnburners thanks to the question marks on defense at all three levels. However, they should also score a lot, with three solid choices at quarterback and a stable of speedy receivers.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens — Lamar Jackson will look much better than he did in that Hall of Fame Game (4 for 10, 33 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 8 carries for 25 yards). Now that the shock of playing at NFL speed has worn off, expect his learning curve to be shallow. Cincinnati Bengals — Did you know that Cincy made the playoffs five straight seasons, 2011-2015? However, they have permitted at least 40 sacks in each of the last two seasons, which has kept Andy Dalton from feeling comfortable. I see lots of questions emerging here on both sides of the ball. Cleveland Browns — The hype from “Hard Knocks” will get Browns fans excited for the regular season. They’ve gone 1-31 the last two years, but they have more talent on offense than they’ve had in years. Pittsburgh Steelers — Watch the Steelers’ defense. It was dreadful down the stretch last season, and if it isn’t better, this won’t be an AFC contending team.

AFC South

Houston Texans — Houston scored 33 points or more in five straight games with Deshaun Watson at quarterback. He’s healthy, and so is J.J. Watt, who joins Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney on a terrifying pass rush. Indianapolis Colts — Andrew Luck will shake his rust off in the preseason, because he’ll get some more playing time than most starters, according to head coach Frank Reich. The Colts’ defense might languish, but Luck will get right back where he was before his rash of injuries. Jacksonville Jaguars — The Jaguars’ passing defense permitted just 169.9 yards per game last year. That’s a terrific number. But can Blake Bortles recreate his magic from a year ago? Tennessee Titans — Remember, the Titans went to Kansas City and won a wild card playoff game. Their quarterback Marcus Mariota has recovered from leg injuries, and Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis make a pair of solid tailbacks. Don’t be surprised if they show a lot of promise in the preseason.

AFC West

Denver Broncos — Case Keenum has some good targets in Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, and the defense is OK. However, is Vance Joseph overmatched as a head coach? We’ll see how he manages play this year. Kansas City Chiefs — A lot of the people overrate the Chiefs. Yes, they have wideouts Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, tight end Travis Kelce and tailback Kareem Hunt, but they have unproven quantities at quarterback in Pat Mahomes II — and their defense was dreadful, ranked #28 in total defense and #29 against the pass. So the offseason games could get pretty wild. Los Angeles Chargers — A lot of observers see the Chargers winning the AFC West. They do have two terrific defensive ends and a solid secondary, and they have Philip Rivers leading the offense with tailback Melvin Gordon III. The O-line is good at protecting as well. But there’s that letdown factor that lurks in the back of every Charger fan’s mind. Oakland Raiders — Will Jon Gruden’s return salvage the Silver and Black? Or will the fact that he hasn’t coached in more than 10 years make itself painfully obvious? Well, edge rusher Khalil Mack is holding out, and their tailbacks are old. So the new head coach may wear off by the end of the preseason.