NFL Pre-Season Betting Explained

Hell yes. If you know what to look for.

Preseason football isn’t about stars. It’s about roster battles. Backups. Who’s hungry. Who’s trying to keep a job. That’s where the edge is.

This is where understanding how sports betting works helps—just a little. Like, if the preseason football Patriots are playing the preseason football Packers, and the Patriots are -2.5 favorites, they need to win by 3+ for your bet to hit. We break it down in our point spread betting glossary. But don’t worry, no math degree required.

What the Smart Bettors Watch

Wanna feel sharper than your buddy Dave? Watch these:

• Quarterback depth charts (yes, QB3 matters here)
• Coach tendencies (some want to win, some literally don’t care)
• Travel schedules (a West Coast team playing at 10am ET? Fade it)
• Injury reports (if anyone gets hurt, all bets are off—literally)

Also, yes: preseason football NFL scores matter. They give you clues. Like if a backup offense looks fire, or a defense looks like a high school team.

Here’s your quick hit list. No fluff.

• Preseason Football Vikings: Rookie QB watch. Big potential, big chaos.
• Preseason Football Patriots: They love testing weird lineups. Be ready.
• Preseason Football Chiefs: Even their backups score points. Always a show.
• Preseason Football Packers: Expect lots of WR reps and pass-heavy play.

Each team has a vibe. Once you spot it, you’ll know how to play it.

How to Read Preseason Betting Lines (Without Melting Your Brain)

Alright. Let’s not overthink it.

Say the Packers are -1.5 vs. the Vikings. That means Green Bay needs to win by 2+. You’ll also see totals like 35.5. That’s the expected combined score.

You can bet:

• The spread (Packers cover)
• The total (over under)
• Or go full chaos with live betting once the 3rd string QB shows up and starts slinging.

Preseason lines move fast. One coach presser can flip the number. If you hear a starter’s playing the first half? Hammer that edge.

You really wanna know when NFL preseason started? Like, historically?

Fine. It’s been a thing since the 1920s. But the format we know now (shorter, wilder, better for betting) really got spicy in 2021 when they dropped to three games and added a regular season one. Less prep time means teams care more about each game. That’s good for bettors like you.

Example Time (Real One, No Boring Stuff)

Let’s say the preseason football Patriots are facing the preseason football Vikings.

The Pats announce their QB2 is playing the full first half. The Vikings? They’re trotting out a rookie who looked lost last week.

The line opens at Patriots -1.5.

You smash that bet early.

By kickoff, the line jumps to -3. You just locked in closing line value, and now you’re texting the group chat like a genius.

That’s how Shurzy bettors play the preseason.

Only if you like winning. And let’s be honest—you do.

Betting football preseason is about being early, smart, and just a little lucky. The info’s there. You just have to know where to look. (Hint: it's probably not on Reddit.)

If you're sick of the same old picks and half-baked “analysis,” come join the fast lane. We built tools for people who want to win, flex, and get back to the game.

Want a cheat code? Check out our futures glossary for the long game, or just fire off a couple totals and ride the chaos.

Quick Tips Before You Fire

• Bet early, move fast
• Follow team news (Instagram counts)
• Look for QB battles and coaching quotes
• Fewer stars = more edges
• Overs can hit when backups go YOLO

The NFL Pre-Season is your chance to be early, loud, and right.

Check out our full betting toolset to start spotting profitable lines.