Winning SU Picks NFL Preseason Week 1

As the regular season approaches, we’re starting off the football season with the NFL Preseason Week 1 matchups. We’ve taken a look at every single game and we’ve given our two cents. Plus, you can even check out the latest Preseason odds for Week 1 as well. So, let’s get into it.

Winning SU Picks NFL Preseason Week 1

Tom Savage will start Wednesday night against the @Panthers, but the other two #Texans QBs will play. : https://t.co/GxTn5ezu0h pic.twitter.com/RE9r0k3NFZ

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 7, 2017

Wednesday, August 9

Houston at Carolina (7:30pm ET)

The year that the Panthers went to Super Bowl 50 was an outlier of a season for all of those players, most notably Cam Newton and the offense. Then they let Josh Norman leave their defense via free agency and missed the playoffs last year. This year they still have those issues to fix with a stout Houston defense coming in. I’ll take the Texans.

Thursday, August 10

Atlanta at Miami (7:00pm ET)

Even though Atlanta has to work in a new offensive coordinator, they don’t have the roster chaos of the Miami Dolphins, who lost Ryan Tannehill (leg) and are evaluating Jay Ajayi (concussion). The battle of reserves will favor the Falcons, who have more talent top to bottom at this point.

Minnesota at Buffalo (7:00pm ET)

In the regular season I would take the Vikings. However, the Bills open the preseason at home with a new head coach and a new sense of momentum with Rex Ryan out the door. The Vikings will protect Dalvin Cook and Sam Bradford, putting reserves on the field — and I like the Bills to give their frontliners more time and win the game.

Washington at Baltimore (7:30pm ET)

Washington might have Kirk Cousins at quarterback, and he might be as good as Joe Flacco at this point, but the Ravens have the defense to lock down Cousins and roll to a win, especially at home.

Jacksonville at New England (7:30pm ET)

Frankly, you’re going to have a hard time getting me to pick the Jaguars in many situations at all this season. Opening the preseason in New England? Definitely not.

Denver at Chicago (8:00pm ET)

Denver has the better defense here, and they also have the more settled situation at quarterback. Give me the Broncos to grind out a win here.

New Orleans at Cleveland (8:00pm ET)

With all of those new draft picks on the field, the Browns will have a ton of energy. I like them to use that to knock off a New Orleans team that is definitely skewing elderly in NFL terms.

Philadelphia at Green Bay (8:00pm ET)

Green Bay has the postseason pedigree and more of a stable program in place, while Doug Pederson enters Year 2 at the helm of the Dreaded and Feared. Neither team has much going in the secondary, so things could get interesting. Can Nick Foles (the Eagles’ backup now) make some hay against the Pack? Maybe, but I still see Green Bay eking out that win at home.

Friday, August 11

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Giants (7:00pm ET)

The investment that the Giants made in a strong defense paid off last year as they nabbed a wild card and beat Dallas twice in the regular season. Pittsburgh also finished with a huge winning streak last season, but I like the Giants’ defensive system better — and I see them winning at home.

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati (7:30pm ET)

The Bengals are a real dumpster fire right now, and they host a Buccaneer team that has its sights set on an NFC South title. Give me the Buccaneers to win and open with real momentum here.

San Francisco at Kansas City (9:00pm ET)

The Niners are another team in some real trouble from top to bottom. Brian Hoyer is their starting quarterback? And Blaine Gabbert jumped ship to sit at the third spot on that Arizona depth chart? Kansas City has the system in place to wear San Fran down and cover this spread.

Saturday, August 12

Tennessee at N.Y. Jets (7:30pm ET)

You have a team adding those last few pieces as they try to contend (Tennessee) against a team in full-rebuild mode (the Jets). The Jets might be trying to build some momentum in this opener, but I don’t think they have the talent to stop the Titans, even when it’s up to the reserves.

Dallas at L.A. Rams (9:00pm ET)

The Rams have a salty defense, but their starters won’t be in — and their reserves don’t have quite the same edge against the Dallas O-line. I like the Dallas offense to establish a rhythm that takes over the game while the defense does just enough to keep Jared Goff guessing.

Oakland at Arizona (10:00pm ET)

I’m a big Oakland believer this year — but the Cardinals have the better running game and have the defensive scheme to pull out a preseason win in their opener.

Sunday, August 13

Detroit at Indianapolis (1:30pm ET)

Two very similar teams — talented but flawed quarterbacks with iffy defenses and subpar running games. Because this is in Indianapolis, I’m taking the Colts.

Seattle at San Diego (8:00pm ET)

I can’t see the Seahawks getting up for a Chargers team that regularly misses the postseason, especially away from home. Give me the Chargers to do just enough to win here.