NFL Pre-season Betting Info

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NFL Preseason Primer: Thursday Game Betting Breakdown
By Sean Murphy
Covers.com

Here's a quick look at what to expect in Thursday's two NFL preseason tilts.

New England at Detroit (-2.5, 46)

The Patriots are off to a flawless 2-0 start to the preseason, winning in Philadelphia and at home against Tampa Bay. Like most teams, they're treating this game as a 'dress rehearsal' for the regular season. Tom Brady hinted that the team will play with a sense or purpose on Thursday night at Ford Field. “We’re going on the road, tough environment; we went there a few years ago and didn’t do very well, which we’ve already heard about for three days now,” Brady said. “So we’re going to have to do better than we did the last time.” Guard Logan Mankins said that the team did watch Lions game film on Monday and also had crowd noise pumped in at practice in anticipation of a loud environment in Detroit. Brady has been wearing a knee brace at practice, but is still expected to play through the first half - along with the rest of the starting units. Wide receiver Danny Amendola isn't likely to be on the field, as he has yet to practice this week due to an undisclosed injury.

Detroit won its preseason opener against the Jets but followed it up with a stinker in Cleveland last week. Head coach Jim Schwarz hasn't tipped his hand as to exactly how long starters will play, but has indicated that quarterback Matt Stafford will see at least a half of action. Safety Glover Quin welcomes the challenge of facing Tom Brady and company. "Let me go into the preseason and measure up against the top guys. Tom Brady is considered the top quarterback? That's fine - bring him on, so we can get a live look at, 'Hey, this is where we are as a defense right now. This is where we are as a secondary right now." Wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice on Monday and Tuesday due to a bruised knee and remains questionable to play on Thursday. He did say the knee has improved and hopes to suit up. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill is 'nicked up' according to coach Schwarz and could miss Thursday's game as well. That would mean more playing time for third-stringer Kellen Moore.

Carolina at Baltimore (-3, 42)

The Panthers have kept things rather vanilla in their first two preseason tilts but are planning on ramping things up a bit in Baltimore this week. Quarterback Cam Newton expects to see progress against the Ravens. “There are just some things we just need to iron out. But all in all, I think we've moved the ball and executed really well. We can do better and we will do better as this preseason progresses.” In their first year under the guidance of Mike Shula as offensive coordinator, it's not a surprise that the Panthers haven't been willing to tip their hand in exhibition play. Carolina will once again be without running back Jonathan Stewart while fullback Mike Tolbert is still recovering from a hamstring strain. With that in mind, the Panthers can ill afford to over-work DeAngelo Williams. Ted Ginn Jr. is expected to return kicks for the Panthers on Thursday night, getting another shot at the Ravens after facing them as a member of the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Head coach Ron Rivera is taking this game seriously, stating “This is a big week because this is really your trial run."

Like the Panthers, the Ravens are also looking for more production from their starting offense this week. Quarterback Joe Flacco has struggled to get in rhythm with his targets while the ground game has yet to gain much traction at all. With the starters expected to play the entire first half, and possibly even into the third quarter, they'll have ample opportunity to do so on Thursday night. Offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell wants to work new additions, Dallas Clark and Brandon Stokley, into the offense this week. “Hopefully, we’ll get them a few more snaps." Caldwell said on Monday. He also told the Baltimore media that he wants to see improvement from his offense as a whole. “I think it’s very important just for us to play well, more so than anything else. Any unit that takes the field, we want them to go out there and be in sync, move the ball and put some points on the board. We’re looking forward to that.” Baltimore is off to a perfect 2-0 start to the preseason thanks to last week's fourth quarter comeback win against the Falcons.

[TheGame]

Thursday's Preseason Action
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com

Preseason betting recap: After favorites struggling to cover in Week 1, posting a 6-11 straight-up and against the spread record, the 'chalk' bounced back in Week 2. Favorites last week won 13 of 16 games, while covering 11 times, as the Ravens and Bears were the only two teams that failed to cash in a victory.

The 'over' is hitting at nearly a 60% clip with a 19-13-1 mark through the first 33 games of the preseason. That number tapered off following a 12-5 record in the first week (including the Hall-of-Fame game) as the 'over' hit in just seven of 16 contests last week.

Patriots at Lions

New England: 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS
Detroit: 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS

The Patriots' offense has stepped up in two preseason games by scoring 31 points against the Eagles and 25 points in last week's victory over the Buccaneers. New England has easily cashed the 'over' in both wins, now hitting the 'over' in four of its last five preseason games dating back to last August.

The Lions took care of the Jets with ease in the preseason opener, but Detroit barely competed in last Thursday's 24-6 defeat at Cleveland as 1½-point road underdogs. Detroit is 1-1 to the 'over' in the preseason, while the Lions have split their last six exhibition games since the start of the 2012 preseason.

New England has struggled in the third game of the preseason, posting a 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS mark since 2008. Meanwhile, Detroit has thrived in Week 3, winning and covering four of five times in this same stretch with the lone loss coming last August at Oakland as three-point road favorites.

Quarterback Rotations:
New England: T. Brady, R. Mallett, T. Tebow
Detroit: M. Stafford, S. Hill, K. Moore

Expert Handicapper Analysis: Doc's Sports - The Lions are just a juggernaut in the preseason and you can pretty much just play them blind. Jim Schwartz is 13-5 straight-up and 12-6 ATS. They did not perform very well last week against Cleveland so I look for a big bounce back performance in this game.

Panthers at Ravens

Carolina: 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS
Baltimore: 2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS

Baltimore has won each of its two preseason contests, beating Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The victory over the Falcons last week wasn't easy, as the Ravens overcame a 23-7 to stun Atlanta, 27-23 as 4 ½-point favorites. Tyrod Taylor led the second-team to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, while the go-ahead score came on an Asa Jackson punt return for a touchdown.

Carolina took care of Chicago in its preseason opener, 24-17, but the Panthers' offense struggled in last week's 14-9 defeat at Philadelphia. The Panthers were limited to three field goals, while the defense yielded 166 rushing yards to the Eagles, as Philadelphia cashed as three-point home favorites.

Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens own a 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS record in the third game of the preseason. Baltimore has won four consecutive "dress rehersal" contests, including each of the last three at home. Since Week 2 of the 2011 preseason, the Ravens have cashed the 'over' in six of the last eight exhibition games.

In Ron Rivera's short tenure as coach of the Panthers, Carolina has split the pair of Week 3 games in the preseason. Last season, the Panthers cashed outright as three-point road underdogs in a 17-12 triumph over the Jets, while Carolina has compiled a 4-1 ATS record the last five exhibition games.

Quarterback Rotations:
Carolina: C. Newton, D. Anderson, J. Clausen
Baltimore: J. Flacco, T. Taylor

Expert Handicapper Analysis: Marc Lawrence - When the Ravens host the Panthers, Baltimore will take the field knowing that defending Super Bowl champions are 1-10-1 ATS in the preseason when playing with an undefeated record against an opponent off a loss, including 0-9-1 ATS since 1983, when as a dog or favorite of less than 10 points.

[TheGame]

Danny Amendola (undisclosed) will not play in Thursday night's preseason game against the Lions.
Amendola didn't even make the trip to Detroit.

Calvin Johnson (bruised knee) is inactive for Thursday night's preseason game against the Patriots.

Wes Welker (ankle) returned to practice in a limited fashion Thursday.
Welker suffered a "minor" ankle sprain in last Saturday night's preseason game. He's not expected to play this week, but coach John Fox says Welker would play if it were the regular season.

[TheGame]

NFL Preseason Primer: Friday Game Betting Breakdown
By Bryan Power
Covers.com

Here's a quick look at what to expect in Friday's two NFL preseason tilts.

Seattle at Green Bay (+2, 43)

This is a rematch from the infamous “Fail Mary” game from last year’s regular season that in many ways set the tone for both teams’ regular seasons. For a second straight year, the Seahawks have looked great in the preseason. Last year’s 4-0 campaign introduced us all to the exploits of future MVP candidate (yes, you read that right) QB Russell Wilson, and so far they are 2-0 in 2013, making it six consecutive double digit wins in the preseason under head coach Pete Carroll. That’s a big reason why they are favored here on the road. After humiliating Denver last week, 40-10, the Seahawks have now outscored their two preseason opponents this year 71-20.

Green Bay is 1-1 in the preseason, having responded from a 17-0 shutout loss to Arizona in the opening game with a 19-7 win last week at St. Louis. Reportedly, Mike McCarthy was unhappy with the team’s practice on Wednesday. The coaching staff has not made a decision on how much time the starters will play Friday, but it figures to be longer than the first two games combined. QB Aaron Rodgers has not thrown a TD pass this preseason, albeit he’s only been on the field for four drives total. Both Packers’ starting wide receivers – Randall Cobb & Jordy Nelson - are not 100%.

Chicago at Oakland (+3.5, 38)

Both road teams are favored Friday night. The Bears and Raiders each come into this game at 1-1 SU. The Bears are 0-2 ATS, though the loss of Coach Lovie Smith has not affected the defense’s propensity to force turnovers. In two games, Chicago has an incredible eight takeaways. The problem though is new head coach Marc Trestman was brought in to improve QB Jay Cutler, who has not looked good so far. Last week saw Cutler play a full quarter, and while he completed 4 of 5 passes, the only receiver he targeted was Brandon Marshall. Though they put up 33 points in the win over San Diego, the offense had only 13 first downs and 185 total yards. Thanks to special teams and defense, they routinely benefited from good field position.

Oakland lost last week in New Orleans, 28-20 as six-point dogs. After one quarter, they trailed 17-0. The offensive line stunk, allowing QB Matt Flynn to be sacked five times. The defense was no better, allowing Saints QB Drew Brees to throw for 220 yards and direct five scoring drives. Making matters worse, the team suffered eight injuries according to Head Coach Dennis Allen.

[TheGame]

NFL Preseason Primer: Saturday Game Betting Breakdown
By Bryan Power
Covers.com

Buffalo at Washington (-1, 42.5)

Injuries at the quarterback position are the story here for this late Saturday afternoon start time. Both the Bills and Redskins are 2-0 SU/ATS in the preseason, but the respective moods surrounding both teams are a bit darker than you’d think. In Buffalo, EJ Manuel appeared to be well on his way to winning the starting QB job in his rookie season. But after completing 26 of 33 passes for 200+ yards in two games, swelling was discovered in his left knee & he’s been lost for the remainder of the preseason. This leaves Kevin Kolb to start here. After injuring himself by slipping on a wet practice mat and missing the opener, Kolb didn’t look too good last week, throwing an INT and completing only 13 of 21 passes.

The Robert Griffin III saga has grabbed all the headlines in the Nation’s capital during training camp. Though he reportedly took reps against the starting defense in practice, RG3 has still not been cleared for the regular season opener against Philadelphia on September 9th (Monday night game). This is problematic because backup Kirk Cousins sprained his knee in Monday’s 24-13 win over Pittsburgh. Rex Grossman is the only other QB currently on the roster. The short week certainly is no help to Washington here.

NY Jets at NY Giants (-2.5, 38)

This annual clash is always one of the “most anticipated” games of the preseason, if for no other reason that it’s New York vs. New York. Because they’ve really never accomplished anything since Super Bowl III, the game was always taken more seriously by the Jets, who hold a 14-5 ATS edge since 1993. However, the Giants dominated last year’s game, winning 26-3. That was actually the second and not the third preseason game for both teams though.

After losing their opener to the Lions, the Jets won last week against the Jaguars 37-13, but that score is somewhat misleading as they outscored Jacksonville 27-0 after halftime. Rookie Geno Smith will get the start at QB this week over Mark Sanchez and this is his moment to try and earn the starting gig. Sanchez has been his usual uneven self this preseason, looking good at times and then turning the ball over like always. Smith did not play last week after injuring his ankle in the first game.

Cleveland at Indianapolis (-2.5, 42.5)

The Browns are 2-0 and have surprisingly looked pretty good for first year head coach Rob Chudzinski. They have beaten both St. Louis and Detroit at home, and the most promising bit of news has been the play of second year QB Brandon Weeden, who has gone a combined 18 of 25 for 229 yards and three touchdowns. To no one’s shock, he was officially named the team’s starter for the regular season, mid-week. In both games the Browns have led 17-0. Running back Trent Richardson saw game action for the first time last week. Unfortunately, several Cleveland players suffered serious injuries last week, including Richardson’s backup (Dion Lewis) as well as 1st round draft choice Barkevious Mingo.

The Colts responded nicely from a 44-20 drubbing at the hands of Buffalo in their opener to defeat the Giants on the road last week, 20-12. The defense (obviously) played much better, recording six sacks. QB Andrew Luck threw a pair of touchdown passes. Putting Indianapolis at somewhat of a disadvantage here is the fact they will have had two less days to prepare.

Tampa Bay at Miami (-3, 40)

During the week, we all learned how Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton felt about Bucs QB Josh Freeman. Still though, it is widely presumed that he will win the starting job over rookie Mike Glennon out of North Carolina State. Tampa Bay is 0-2 this preseason and last week’s final score vs. New England was somewhat misleading as the team trailed 25-10 going into the fourth quarter. The week previous they were dismantled at home by Baltimore 44-16.

Miami is playing its fourth preseason game, but its first at home. After opening the NFL season with an outright loss to the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game, they have split a pair of road games, first winning at Jacksonville 27-3 and then losing last week at Houston 24-17. The worst news of all has been the loss of tight end Dustin Keller for the year on a much debated shot to the knee. On a positive note, second year QB Ryan Tannehill and newly acquired WR Mike Wallace connected on three passes for 58 yards last week.

Kansas City at Pittsburgh (-3, 40)

Both of these teams are 0-2 so far and have scored 13 points in each of their games. Thus, it hasn’t been pretty for either of these playoff hopefuls. The short week does the Steelers no favors here, though they will at least get to play at home. Rookie running back Le’Veon Bell won’t play for the remainder of the preseason after getting hurt last week at Washington, but at least the injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as was originally feared. But it has been a sloppy two games for Mike Tomlin’s team.

One would think that the Chiefs would really want to get Andy Reid a win in his first preseason with the team. But then again, they failed to ‘circle the wagons’ last week for QB Alex Smith, who was facing his former team, the San Francisco 49ers. Playing without injured running back Jamal Charles, the only touchdown Kansas City scored last week came via a kick return. Smith did not look very good. Surprisingly, after playing one another, the Chiefs and 49ers made a trade. They exchanged receivers Jonathan Baldwin and AJ Jenkins, both of whom have been considered disappointments in their short careers.

Philadelphia at Jacksonville (+3.5, 43)

Mike Vick has officially been named the starter for the Eagles, which seems to be the right call as his skill set seems better suited to run Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense compared to Nick Foles. This will be Philadelphia’s first road game under Kelly as they split a pair of home games against the Patriots and Panthers. It will be interesting to see how the quarterbacks perform now that the competition has been settled. The defense was much better last week, holding Carolina to only nine points after being shredded by Tom Brady and New England in the opener. Five-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Jason Peters is set to return to the lineup here and is scheduled to play about three quarters.

For the Jaguars, it’s the same old story. This team simply cannot put points on the board. They are 0-2 and have scored only 16 points total. The much maligned Blaine Gabbert has officially been named the starter by 1st year Head Coach Gus Bradley, but I found that interesting as he’s injured and there are concerns about him being ready to practice for the regular season opener. Gabbert did play well last week vs. the Jets and the team did lead 13-10 at halftime before getting blown out in the second half.

Atlanta at Tennessee (-3, 42.5)

Both teams here are 0-2, but with the Falcons that’s a bit misleading as their backups stink and blew a 23-7 fourth quarter lead last week at Baltimore. Both Julio Jones and Stephen Jackson looked good in limited action last week. With the first team offense getting extended playing time this week, you have to like Atlanta’s chances more. However, special teams have been an issue so far as they have given up a touchdown on a punt return each of the first two games.

Tennessee is a team that I don’t have much regard for heading into the regular season and it’s not been a very good first two games for them at all. The first team offense has yet to generate a touchdown and the kicking game was a disaster last week in Cincinnati with three missed field goals. The Titans defense allowed the most points in the league a year ago and again looks suspect coming into 2013. Wide receiver Kendall Wright is injured. Just about the only positive has been the re-tooled offensive line.

St. Louis at Denver (-6.5, 43.5)

Big line here as the injury-riddled Broncos host the 0-2 Rams. After pulling out an ugly 10-6 victory over San Francisco in the opener, the Broncos were flat out embarrassed last week by Seattle, losing 40-10. This will be their first home game of the preseason. Denver defenders have been dropping like flies as of late, most notably now Von Miller, who will be suspended for the first six regular season games. At least Peyton Manning will see his most action of the preseason this week, thereby giving the team a chance.

The Rams issues have been on offense as they generated only seven points last week in a loss to Green Bay, at home. That lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter as once again the first team offense failed to impress. St. Louis was 1 of 14 on third down vs. the Packers and 0 for 3 when going for it on fourth down.

Cincinnati at Dallas (-2.5, 43.5)

The Bengals are becoming a trendy pick to contend not just in the AFC North, but to be one of the very best teams in the conference as well. They are 2-0 so far in the preseason and that’s playing without stud receiver AJ Green, who may play this week here in Dallas. I like what I see from rookie running back Giovani Bernard. The first team offense put up 220 total yards in last week’s win over Tennessee. In two games, the Bengals have averaged 431.5 yards of offense as a whole.

This will be the fourth preseason game for the Cowboys and their first at home. Since winning the Hall of Fame Game, they have lost at both Oakland and Arizona and looked unimpressive in doing so, scoring a combined 24 points. The lone touchdown last week came in the fourth quarter. The first team offense has yet to account for a single point. The ugliest part of last week’s 12-7 loss were the six turnovers.

San Diego at Arizona (-4, 40.5)

If one thing is clear with the Cardinals, it’s that they have a solid defense. In two games, they have given up just seven points and that came on a touchdown in the fourth quarter last week vs. Dallas. As mentioned in the Cowboys writeup, they forced six turnovers. Now 2-0 in the preseason for first year coach Bruce Arians, they host a San Diego team that’s 0-2 and not looked very good. This would seem to be a favorable matchup for the home team.

The Lightning Bolts appear to be headed for a long season in their first year under Mike McCoy. While both Cardinals’ preseason games have gone Under, both Chargers games have gone Over. The San Diego defense has allowed 64 total points thus far. On offense, there were four turnovers in last week’s 33-28 loss at Chicago. At least running back Ryan Matthews looked decent, carrying the ball nine times for 45 yards. Don’t forget that both starting receivers are sidelined with injuries.

[TheGame]

NFL Preseason Primer: Sunday Game Betting Breakdown
By Bryan Power
Covers.com

Here's a quick look at what to expect in Sunday's two NFL preseason tilts.

New Orleans at Houston (-2.5, 43.5)

Both teams here a 2-0 SU/ATS. The Saints have played both of their games so far at home and only managed to squeak by both the Chiefs and Raiders, two teams that combined for only six wins last season. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Drew Brees and the first team offense looked great last week, racing out to a 23-0 lead vs. Oakland. Brees completed 14 of 18 passes for over 200 yards and wound up leading five different scoring drives. He had some praise for the play of his wide receivers. Only some sloppy second half play from the Saints resulted in the game being close. The defense had seven sacks.

We still have not seen Arian Foster yet this preseason for the Texans. He was taken off the PUP list Wednesday and practiced with the team for the first time. However, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the team’s 1st round draft choice back in April, left last week’s game with a concussion. He will not play here. He had looked good so far in camp as the team desperately tries to develop a No. 2 WR next to Andre Johnson. On defense Brian Cushing returned last week and played 10 snaps. These teams have met in the preseason each of the last two seasons with the home team winning and covering each time. Last year’s game in New Orleans was also the “Dress Rehearsal” game.

Minnesota at San Francisco (-3, 39)

Neither of these playoff teams from last year has looked very good so far, especially the 0-2 Vikings, who lost last week in Buffalo 20-16. The game wasn’t even really that close as Minnesota scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. In the first half, the offense gained only 74 yards total offense and four first downs. Quarterback play remains a concern with Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel not exactly setting the world on fire. Ponder played five series last week and completed only 5 of 12 passes for 53 yards.

San Francisco has also struggled offensively, only scoring 21 total points in two games. After four turnovers cost them in the opener against Denver, they did bounce back to defeat Kansas City 15-13 last week on the road. QB Colin Kaepernick has seen very little time thus far. The defense has been impressive however. Last week alone, they registered seven sacks, eight hurries and nine tackles for loss. Newly-signed kicker Phil Dawson has been impressive so far, connecting on five of six attempts, including a pair of 55-yarders against Kansas City.

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NFL Preseason Primer

Week 4 Betting Breakdown
by Sean Murphy

Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (+4.5, 39.5)

Off a decisive 40-9 victory over the Patriots last week, the Lions should be content to simply go through the motions and stay healthy in Buffalo Thursday. They've saved their best football for the home faithful in the preseason under Jim Schwarz and that hasn't changed this year, going 2-0 SU and ATS at Ford Field but 0-1 on the road. Expect only cameo appearances from QB Matt Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson and the rest of the first-string offense.

Buffalo can ill-afford another injury under center with both E.J. Manuel and Kevin Kolb already sidelined. Jeff Tuel is expected to start in Week 1 and will see about a quarter of action on Thursday night. From there, we could see newcomers Matt Leinart and Thaddeus Lewis. Leinart was signed, while the team traded for Lewis in a deal with the Lions Sunday. C.J. Spiller left the team last week following a death in his family but did return Sunday. He's unlikely to play more than a series, if at all Thursday.

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals (-3, 38)

Colts DE Robert Mathis says Thursday's game is all about making final decisions on who makes the team and who goes home. "Ah, yes, the infamous Cincinnati fourth preseason game. It's make or break if you are going to make the squad or not. It means a lot. If you want to make the squad, you have to put a good showing together." Head coach Chuck Pagano likes his team's depth heading in. "We've created so much competition. We're deeper across the board at all positions, so we're going to have to let some really good football players go. They'll end up on other teams like everybody else's guys. It's going to be tough."

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis summed up his game plan for Thursday night pretty well earlier this week. "The mindset is it's a great night for our fans. It's another home game. It's a fun thing and we'll have our guys get out there and let them play a little bit, get them out, and let the other guys finish the game up that are fighting for spots. And there are guys who haven't played much who'll be on the 53-man roster that need experience." In other words, don't count on seeing much more than a brief glimpse of the projected starters on either side of the football.

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (+3, 40)

The quarterback competition has already been settled in Philadelphia. Michael Vick will be the starter in next week's season opener. So what can we expect from the Eagles Thursday? A lot of Nick Foles and Matt Barkley under center. Foles will get the start and likely see at least a quarter of action. Of the projected regular season starters, Kelly has indicated that only a few players in the secondary are likely to see any action at all against the Jets.

The big news out of Jets camp last weekend was the needless injury to QB Mark Sanchez in the second half of their game against the Giants. He won't play Thursday. Rex Ryan has yet to name a starter at quarterback for Thursday's game and likely won't until Thursday. There's a good chance that rookie Geno Smith will sit out as Ryan feels he's seen enough of his rookie QB in game action this month. That would leave the bulk of the action to Greg McElroy and Matt Simms, although McElroy is banged up as well.

New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins (-6, 36)

The Saints will be playing on a short week after defeating the Texans in Houston Sunday. Not surprisingly, Sean Payton is expected to give his regular starters the night off, just as he has in previous Week 4 preseason contests. We have seen better production from the Saints’ backup quarterbacks this year, however, with Luke McCown and rookie Ryan Griffin taking turns carrying the load. Expect to see a lot of Griffin Thursday night.

Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the Dolphins first-string offense could see a series or two of action Thursday, but that's it. After Pat Devlin took over for Tannehill last week, we can expect veteran Matt Moore to shoulder much of the load this week. The Dolphins haven't had a great deal of preseason success under head coach Joe Philbin and are off to a 1-3 start this year.

New York Giants at New England Patriots (Pick, 38.5)

Syracuse University product Ryan Nassib will get an extended look for the Giants against the Patriots, entering in relief of Eli Manning after he sees a series or two of action. Head coach Tom Coughlin has indicated that he would like to see all four of his quarterbacks play Thursday. The Giants have dropped back-to-back games after opening the preseason with a win in Pittsburgh.

Patriots QB Tom Brady says he expects to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Giants. Brady believes he needs additional work with his new receivers in advance of next week's season opener in Buffalo. “I think there’s always something to be gained from the competition. I think you have to go out there and always be prepared, and whatever Belichick wants to do for however long he wants to play us, that’s what we’re going to do. So we’re ready to go.”

Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2, 37.5)

With RGIII and Kirk Cousins both sidelined and veteran Rex Grossman not needing any more game reps prior to the regular season, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan has indicated that Pat White will start and play the entire game Thursday. Most of the Redskins starters are expected to sit out Thursday's contest.

Bucs head coach Greg Schiano has indicated that backup QB Mike Glennon will see the majority of the snaps Thursday night. "The plan is, Mike’s going to play a lot. Is he the starter? Proabably. We want Mike to keep getting repetitions. Dan is a multi-year vet who has had a lot of repitions. They’ll both play.'' The Dan he referred to was veteran QB Dan Orlovsky.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers (-3.5, 36.5)

The Steelers backup QB competition is over, with Bruce Gradkowski winning the job. He and Landry Jones will split duty in Carolina with Ben Roethlisberger remaining on the sidelines. Pittsburgh has yet to win a game this preseason but Mike Tomlin isn't putting much emphasis on picking up a win Thursday.

Just like last year, the Panthers are likely to sit Cam Newton with Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen each playing a half. Former Giants WR Domenik Hixon is expected to make his Panthers debut. LB Jon Beason says he would like to play, but could be held out in preparation for next week's season opener.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons (+3, 40)

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley has indicated that RB Maurice Jones-Drew will be held out of Thursday's game after seeing limited action against the Jets and Eagles. Starting QB Blaine Gabbert is unlikely to see much more than a series or two before giving way to veteran backup Chad Henne.

Falcons head coach Mike Smith doesn't put much stock in wins and losses in the preseason and it's shown in the Falcons play so far this month, going 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS. With WR Roddy White already hurt, Smith won't take any chances in Thursday night's meaningless preseason finale. Don't count on even catching a glimpse of Matt Ryan or Julio Jones on the field.

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears (+2, 39)

Bears head coach Marc Trestman is keeping it simple on Thursday night. “I wouldn’t say all, but it’ll be close to all of the starters that sit. There’s always going to be things that happen later in the week because of injuries and things like that that we may have to play some guys but our hope is most if not all will be held out of the game.”

Browns rookie head coach Rob Chudzinksi is taking a different approach. He's leaning toward playing his starters for up to a quarter. "We’re going to approach this next game that those guys are going to play, and then I’ll make that determination later in the week as it goes on.” Cleveland had impressed in its first two preseason tilts before falling flat in Indianapolis last week.

Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings (+4.5, 39)

Titans WR Kenny Britt will not play Thursday night after sitting out back-to-back practices due to knee soreness. No fewer than three Titans linebackers are hurt, including Akeem Ayers and Zach Brown, and none of them will suit up Thursday. As for the offensive starters, they could see a series or two but that's it.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has always treated his team with kid gloves in the preseason, and that won't change this week as they take the field on a short week following Sunday's loss in San Francisco. In other words, don't expect to see much from QB Christian Ponder and the rest of the starting offense.

Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 36.5)

Aaron Rodgers barely broke a sweat during the preseason and while Mike McCarthy has yet to rule him out for Thursday night, there's a good chance he'll be left holding his helmet on the sidelines. Graham Harrell will get the bulk of the snaps regardless whether Rodgers sees the field against the Chiefs. The Packers have been banged up throughout the preseason and should take a cautious approach here.

Andy Reid was mum as to his team's playing rotation Thursday night. “I’ve sat the ones, I’ve played the ones for a series, I’ve played them for a quarter, I’ve done it all. The main thing you want to do is to make sure with the guys who are remaining on this team you get a good evaluation on the players.

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys (+2.5, 37.5)

With starting QB Matt Schaub and the majority of the offensive starters sitting, the Texans will split the snaps between T.J. Yates and Case Keenum in Dallas. Rookie WR DeAndre Hopkins could return to the field after missing last week's game due to a head injury suffered on August 17th against Miami.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett hasn't revealed his gameplan for Thursday night, but chances are he'll sit his regular starters, just as he did against Miami last year. Keep in mind, Dallas still won its 2012 preseason finale by a 30-13 score. After a strong showing against the Bengals last Saturday, there's little reason for the Cowboys to push the envelope here.

Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis Rams (-7, 38.5)

There's a reason why the Rams are the biggest favorite on the board this week. Baltimore will rest the majority of its starters, including QB Joe Flacco and WR Torrey Smith, head coach John Harbaugh revealed earlier this week. The Ravens will open the regular season in Denver exactly one week from Thursday.

Jeff Fisher takes an old school approach when it comes to playing to win in the preseason. “The philosophy has been to build reps throughout camp. That has been the way we’ve done it in the past. We may adjust that ever so slightly this week.” In other words, Rams starters will see some playing time Thursday night. Exactly how much remains to be seen.

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos (Pick, 38)

The Cardinals will play their starters Thursday night, but not for more than a quarter. QB Carson Palmer may not be among those suiting up, however. RB Ryan Williams is expected to get extended work out of the backfield.

After seeing extended action in last week's dress rehearsal against St. Louis, don't expect to see much of Peyton Manning or the rest of the Broncos’ first-team offense. Head coach John Fox has yet to outline his gameplan but based on past history, is likely to treat this game as little more than a walk-through.

San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers (Pick, 38.5)

John Harbaugh has limited QB Colin Kaepernick's workload all preseason and that isn't going to change in Week 4. The 49ers have a wealth of options at quarterback, with four different possible backups seeing time against Minnesota last Sunday night. Count on another mixed bag from San Francisco Thursday.

With a number of key injuries on both sides of the football, the Chargers will take a cautious approach to Thursday's game. Philip Rivers won't play more than a series or two, with veteran backup Charlie Whitehurst likely getting the majority of the snaps. After getting embarrassed in their preseason opener, the Chargers second and third-string defense has held up well over the last two games.

Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks (-6.5, 36.5)

QB Terrelle Pryor will start for the Raiders in Seattle Thursday. Matt Flynn will sit out as he continues to recover from a minor arm injury, possibly watching his starting job slip away for the second straight year. Pryor saw the bulk of the action in last year's preseason finale in Seattle as well.

Unlike last year, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will only get a cameo appearance against the Raiders. While Seattle always gets fired up in front of its home faithful, it certainly has little to prove this week after winning its first three preseason contests. Pete Carroll has indicated that his young players will not surprisingly get extended work in this game.

[TheGame]

Best over/under bets of NFL preseason Week 4

If you’re tackling totals this NFL preseason this week, take a look at which teams lean towards the over or the under during Week 4 of the exhibition schedule.

Records as of 1995.

Best NFL preseason Week 4 over bets

Dallas Cowboys (11-5 SU, 13-4 O/U in Week 4)

Points for in 2013 preseason: 18 ppg
Points allowed in 2013 preseason: 17.25 ppg

The Cowboys looked pretty good in their Week 3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dallas prevailed 24-18 with Tony Romo going 13-for-18 with 137 passing yards and a pair of touchdown passes. The game finished just under the 43.5-point total and moved Dallas to 2-2 O/U in the preseason. The Cowboys are the No. 1 'over' team since 1995 posting a record of 13-4 O/U in the final game of the preseason schedule, including a Week 4 victory for 'over' bettors one season ago. Dallas closes out its preseason against the Houston Texans Thursday.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-12 SU, 12-5 O/U in Week 4)

Points for in 2013 preseason: 22.33 ppg
Points allowed in 2013 preseason: 21.33 ppg

The Eagles are 5-0 O/U in Week 4 of the past five preseasons and played over the total in Week 3 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Philly was victorious by a count of 31-24 and racked up 452 yards of offense in the process. Michael Vick has been named the Eagles starting QB, but backup Nick Foles was a very efficient 10-of-11 for 112 yards in relief against the Jags. The New York Jets host the Eagles in each teams' final preseason tilt.

Best NFL preseason Week 4 under bets

Detroit Lions (10-7 SU, 5-12 O/U in Week 4)

Points for in 2013 preseason: 24 ppg
Points allowed in 2013 preseason: 16.66 ppg

Quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Kellen Moore led the Lions to a big 40-9 Week 3 victory over the New England Patriots and improved to 2-1 O/U through their first three preseason games. The pair combined to go 21-for-37 and 316 yards passing and three TDs as they picked apart a hapless Pats secondary. The Lions are on the road versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. Their only 'under' thus far this preseason has also been away from Ford Field.

Kansas City Chiefs (7-10 SU, 6-11 O/U in week 4)

Points for in 2013 preseason: 17.33 ppg
Points allowed in 2013 preseason: 17.33 ppg

The new-look Chiefs played over the total in Week 3, but played in a pair of low-scoring games in their first two times out this preseason. New QB Alex Smith played very well and looks to be settling in nicely with new head coach Andy Reid. The defense has kept the Chiefs in each of their preseason games and has only given up four TDs thus far. The Chiefs are home to face the Green Bay Packers in their final tune-up for the regular season.