The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up the 2017 season on a 15-2 straight up and 12-5 against the spread run that was capped off by a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Eagles and the 31 teams hoping to dethrone them are all in action this week as the preseason’s full schedule gets underway.
NFL odds 2018: Preseason Week 1 includes Eagles as home favorites vs. Steelers
The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles return to action this Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers and sit among the small favorites on the NFL preseason odds.
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Philadelphia is a 3-point home favorite on the NFL preseason Week 1 odds hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers this Thursday night at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Thursday’s preseason betting card is loaded up with 12 games with six games, including Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, kicking off the action at 7:00pm ET.
The Eagles have historically made for a strong bet in the preseason with an 11-3 SU and ATS record over their last 14 preseason games, according to the OddsShark NFL Database. This stretch includes a perfect 8-0 SU and ATS record at home in the preseason since 2014.
Pittsburgh on the other hand has been far less impressive in preseason play in recent years with a 6-15 SU and ATS record in its last 21 preseason games. The Steelers have lost each of their last three preseason meetings with the Eagles.
After falling short as 4.5-point favorites in the Super Bowl last year, the New England Patriots finally get the chance to kick off their redemption tour with a preseason opener at home against Washington.
The Patriots - who are 3-point betting favorites - have generally been an average preseason performer under Bill Belichick, but in their last five preseason games they are just 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS. All four of their preseason games last season went OVER the posted total.
Thursday night’s action wraps up with a matchup of Indianapolis at Seattle (-2). Both of these teams enter 2018 flying under the radar, but if things shake out the right way and quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson can stay healthy, that could change.
Coming off a season-long injury last year, Luck is projected to play most of the first quarter Thursday.
Week 1 of the preseason wraps up with Atlanta at the New York Jets (-3.5) and Detroit at Oakland (-3) on Friday night, and Minnesota at Denver (pick’em) and the Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona (-2.5) on Saturday night. Minnesota is 15-3 SU and 13-5 ATS over its last 18 preseason games.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Lines
Atlanta at New York Jets (-3.5)
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (-3)
Washington at New England (-3)
Detroit at Oakland (-3)
Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona (-2.5)
Indianapolis at Seattle (-2)
Minnesota at Denver (PK)
For more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsShark.libsyn.com.
