SBRForum.com: NFL Exhibition Season Betting: A Week 2 Preview

NFL pre-season action continues this week with some very good matchups starting Thursday night. Here’s a quick look at parts of the Week 2 exhibition slate, and some NFL odds and pre-season betting stats to ponder.

Thursday night, in a matchup of playoff teams from a season ago, the Atlanta Falcons host the Cincinnati Bengals. As of Wednesday morning most online football betting outlets are listing the Falcons at right around -4.5 over the Bengals.

Moving to Friday, in another bout between 2011 playoff qualifiers the Baltimore Ravens host the Detroit Lions. The Ravens are a field-goal favorite over the Lions at most online sportsbooks.

Baltimore is 11-5 SU and 9-7 ATS in pre-season games under Coach Harbaugh, but Detroit is 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS in pre-season games under Coach Schwartz.

On Saturday we get the annual battle of New York, played in New Jersey, as the Jets and Giants get together at MetLife Stadium. Also, in a possible Super Bowl preview (too early for that?) the Houston Texans host the San Francisco 49ers. Robert Griffin III makes his second appearance for his Washington Redskins as they visit the Chicago Bears. And a couple of teams that missed the playoffs last year hook up as the Dallas Cowboys visit the San Diego Chargers.

Washington’s Coach Shanahan is 47-29 SU and 42-32 ATS for his career during the exhibition season.

Most football betting shops are listing the Tebows, errr, the Jets at around -1.5 over the G-Men; the ‘Skins at +1.5 vs. da Bears; the Texans at -3 over the Niners; and the Bolts at -3 over the Pokes.

Sunday top-overall pick Andrew Luck plays Game 2 of his NFL career as the Indianapolis Colts hit Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Pittsburgh is an early four-point favorite over Indy.

The Steelers are 16-5 SU and 13-8 ATS during the pre-season under Coach Tomlin.

And finally, Monday night, we get another possible Super Bowl preview as the New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles. According to most online sportsbooks the Pats are 3.5-point favorites over the Eagles.
Philly is 20-32 SU and 22-30 ATS in pre-season games under Coach Reid.