NFL Preseason Betting Preview
Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals
Friday, 10:00 pm Eastern

SBG Global Opening Line: Cardinals  -  3  ,  Total  38

Normally the final game of the preseason is virtually meaningless but that may not be the case in Arizona on Friday night as the Cardinals host the Denver Broncos.  It was thought that Kurt Warner had won the starting quarterback job for Arizona but head coach Ken Whisenhunt was unhappy news was released by the media and supposedly Matt Leinart is still in the running.  It may not matter though if Leinart plays as bad as he did a week ago when he was 4-12 for just 24 yards against the Raiders, throwing three interceptions. SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Cardinals at Home.

Kurt Warner will start the game against Denver but Whisenhunt is still waiting to name the regular season starter.  “We all want to know,” Warner said, “For Matt and myself, it’d be nice knowing what the situation would be and be able to move forward with it. The way I look at it more than anything, the sooner it can happen, the sooner we can get past the (interviews and media coverage) that goes with it, and you can prepare for the game.”  Warner has not taken nearly as many snaps as Leinart in the preseason but has played far better.  “Hopefully we’ll get in enough snaps with the first (offensive) line that both can play,” Whisenhunt said. “I just wanted to make sure Kurt gets his timing with the ones for this game, much like we did in Kansas City.” Most of the starters for both teams are not expected to play a great deal on Friday so how much can be determined with backups playing alongside Warner and Leinart is up for debate.

SBG Global Current Line: Cardinals  -  3  ,  Total  38

Denver has looked good this preseason, especially quarterback Jay Cutler.

He is 30 for 43 for 352 yards, with three touchdowns, and no interceptions this preseason.  He probably won’t play long on Friday which means backups Patrick Ramsey and Darrell Hackney will see the bulk of the action. Starting wide receiver Brandon Marshall may see some action though since he will miss the first part of the regular season due to suspension.

NFL betting stats show that Denver has a 12-5 edge in the all-time preseason series with Arizona, including a 21-3 home win last year in the preseason.  The Broncos have been great in preseason finales in recent seasons, winning eight of their last nine. Denver is 3-1 in its last four preseason games against the Cardinals including three straight.

Pick: Cards 2units

NFL Preseason Betting Preview
Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Redskins
Thursday, 7:00 pm Eastern – NBC

SBG Global Opening Line: Redskins  -  3  ,  Total  35

A little bit of revenge could be on tap when the Washington Redskins host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night in the final preseason game for both teams.  Jacksonville defensive coordinator Greg Williams was expected to get the head coaching job at Washington when Joe Gibbs retired but he was bypassed for the job and Jim Zorn was hired.  Williams could have some strong feelings and his Jacksonville defense could want to prove a point in this game.
SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Jaguars on the Road.

Williams replaced former Jaguars’ defensive coordinator Mike Smith who took the head coaching job in Atlanta.  Jacksonville’s defense has looked strong under Williams in the preseason but they are still missing first round draft pick Derrick Harvey who is holding out.  The Jaguars are also missing wide receiver Jerry Porter who has been out with a hamstring injury. Washington will be without defensive end Jason Taylor who was injured last week against Carolina.  Free safety LaRon Landry is also questionable.

Last week in the preseason, the Redskins were humiliated by the Carolina Panthers 47-3.  Quarterback Jason Campbell was sacked four times in the loss.  It was the Redskins worst loss in the preseason since the 1970 merger.

The Jaguars defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week in preseason action as quarterback David Garrard was 10-16 for 118 yards with two touchdowns.

SBG Global Current Line: Redskins  -  3  ,  Total  34

Normally in the final preseason game the starters don’t play long, if at all, but in the case of Washington they may play longer than normal simply for the fact they played so poorly a week ago. “That’s something I’m going to discuss,” head coach Jim Zorn said. “I’m open to it. I may have to do that just based on what we did [against Carolina]. It’s not a matter of throwing them back out on the field, or putting on pads and scrimmaging for two hours. It’s a matter of developing a drive and getting back some tempo before the regular season. A 10-day layoff without getting them out there for a drive [against Jacksonville] may not be the right thing.”

The NFL betting teams have met twice in their history in the preseason as the Jaguars have won both meetings including a 31-14 win last year. The Redskins have played the Jaguars four times in the regular season and lead the series 3-1.

Pick: Over 3 units

NFL Preseason Betting Preview
Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 8:00 pm Eastern – NFL Network

SBG Global Opening Line: Colts  -  3 ,  Total  37

Indianapolis will open up their new stadium on Sunday as they host the Buffalo Bills in preseason action.  The game will be shown on NFL Network and could end up being a battle between backup quarterbacks.  Normally the starters for both teams would play into the third quarter but Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning is still out and Buffalo starting quarterback Trent Edwards is questionable. That means that Jim Sorgi will get a lot of playing time for the Colts while J.P. Losman will see a lot of time for the Bills. SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Colts at Home.

The Colts could have a couple of starters back in action on Sunday.  Top defensive stars Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney might play on Sunday.

Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy has said the starters will play into the third quarter on Sunday.  “I always like to do that in the third preseason game – get us playing in the third quarter so we get the feel for what we do at halftime and how we make adjustments, incorporating that into the second half. I’d say those guys would play into the third quarter for sure.” Dungy said.

The Colts lost the Hall of Fame game to Washington, lost to Carolina in week 1 in overtime and defeated Atlanta last week.  Buffalo has split their two preseason games, winning last week against Pittsburgh but losing their opener against Washington.

SBG Global Current Line: Colts  -  5.5 ,  Total  38

NFL betting stats show that this will be the fifth preseason meeting between the Colts and Bills.  Indianapolis has a 3-1 preseason series edge.   The two teams used to be in the same division for many years which is why they have only met four times in preseason history.

Looking at the NFL betting stats for the coaches we see that Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron has a below .500 record against the spread in his preseason career. Tony Dungy is also below the .500 mark against the pointspread in the preseason as head coach of the Colts.