NFL betting odds: Preseason Week 1 preview, trends, schedule

The Washington Redskins are 10-2 straight-up and 9-3 against the spread in their last 12 preseason games overall, but just 0-5 against the New England Patriots in exhibition play.

Which streak is better predictor of what will happen in Week 1 of the NFL preseason schedule? The streak that includes a current stretch of 6-0 SU and ATS over its last six preseason games, or the one that suggests that the Redskins are patsies against the Pats?

Washington is a 1.5-point home favorite hosting the New England Patriots on Thursday night, according to most sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Having a strong stable of young quarterbacks should help Washington continue its preseason success, with Robert Griffin III backed up by Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. Bill Belichick has historically been excellent in Week 1 of the preseason however, with an 11-3 SU record in 14 years with New England.

The Harbaugh brothers will do battle on Thursday night when John’s Baltimore Ravens host Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in a game that is currently going off as a pick’em.

San Francisco has been extremely tough to play against since Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach, and the preseason has been no exception. The 49ers are 6-2 SU and ATS over the last two preseasons.

The Atlanta Falcons suffered through a disastrous 4-12 SU season in 2013, and that was preceded by a weak 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS preseason. Weak preseasons are common under head coach Mike Smith, who is 1-11 SU and 3-9 ATS in his last 12 preseason games with the Falcons.

Despite Atlanta’s preseason struggles, the team is a 2.5-point favorite at home against the Miami Dolphins on Friday night.

One of the most highly anticipated games of Week 1 will be the Cleveland at Detroit game on Saturday night. Football fans and bettors are curious to see how Johnny Manziel’s game will translate to the NFL level, even if only in the preseason.

Manziel has been taking first-team reps this week, and will be trying to win the starting job from current starter Brian Hoyer. The Lions are a 2.5-point favorite over the Browns at home.

Fans will also be looking forward to Thursday’s Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos in Denver. Seattle is a 1-point road favorite and owns a 9-0 SU and ATS record in its last nine preseason games. The Seahawks have dominated the Broncos 4-0 ATS in recent exhibition games.