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The big betting attractions happen on Saturday with Mayweather vs. McGregor and the kickoff to the college football season. If you're looking for a little warmup wager on Friday, look no further than the two NFL preseason games. Covers previews both games including the Seahawks hosting the Chiefs which will air nationally on CBS.
New England Patriots at Detroit Lions (+2.5, 43.5)
About the Patriots
Tom Brady started last week against the Texans before getting the hook after the offense’s first two drives. The 40-year-old quarterback is looking forward to see more snaps Friday against the Lions.
“For me, it is just feeling the rhythm of the game, and it is different than practice,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “The rhythm of practice is very different, and the only way to simulate the game is to play. I can draw on a lot of experience, but it is nice to get out there and actually do it.”
Head coach Bill Belichick is doing his shtick, mumbling but not answering any questions - particularly those about how much time Brady and the first team offense will see on Friday. Using Week 3 of the preseason in 2015 is our best clue for what we’ll see. Brady played in the first half in that game.
In the Brady era, the Patriots are 8-6-1 against the spread in Week 3 of the preseason.
About the Lions
The Lions are 2-0 straight up and against the spread this preseason but those two games came against the sad-sack New York Jets and the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts.
Will Detroit’s defense be able to replicate its preseason success in the first two weeks against the Patriots on Friday? We’re going to guess no seeing how Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo are far superior to Christian Hackenberg and Scott Tolzien.
The Lions’ starters are expected to play the entire first half before the backups take the field for the last 30 minutes of action. Quarterback Jake Rudock will lead the Lions offense in the second half. The second year pro out of Michigan has passed for 226 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while completing 60 percent of his pass attempts.
Detroit is 10-4 against the spread in preseason games since Jim Caldwell took over as the team’s head coach.
Line moves
The Lions opened as 1-point home pups but the line has been bet up to +2.5. The total has also dropped two full points after opening at 45.5.
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 42.5)
About the Chiefs
The peeps in KC are falling in love with their new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II. The rookie out of Texas Tech has completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts with three TD passes and no INTs in his two preseason outings.
Incumbent starter Alex Smith hasn’t been a slouch this preseason either. The veteran signal-caller is 12 for 15 on his pass attempts for 131 yards and one touchdown in limited action this month. Smith and the rest of the Kansas City starters will play the first three quarters on Friday against the Seahawks.
The Chiefs are 3-1 against the spread in Week 3 of the preseason under head coach Andy Reid.
About the Seahawks
Head coach Pete Carroll hasn’t told reporters exactly how much time his starters will play on Friday, but based on last year bettors can expect quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of the first teams to play until about halfway through the third quarter.
The Seahawks’ offensive line is the talking point this week in Seattle. The team lost starting left tackle George Fant for the season with an ACL injury and the coaching staff is scrambling to find a replacement for him. Offensive line has been the Achilles’ heel of this Seattle club over the last few seasons.
This game will be nationally televised on CBS. Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was going to make his debut as a color commentator but he was a late scratch after his wife gave birth to their third son earlier this week.
Line moves
No movement on the spread but the total has been moved up 1.5 points and is sitting at 43.
