NFL preseason Week 4 odds, angles, best bets
For all intents and purposes, the NFL preseason is over in Week 4. Starters are shelved, game plans are stripped, and backups fight for their lives one final time.
The good news is that using our preseason betting tips, we've gone 8-2 with our best bets this year, including a perfect 3-0 in Week 3. Here are our picks for Week 4, featuring three underdogs in strong situational spots.
Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints (-3.5), total: 36.5
At this point in the preseason, players are motivated by one of two things: earning a roster spot or winning a starting job. Miami quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen fall firmly into the latter category.
New head coach Brian Flores says the competition between the two hasn't been decided, meaning Thursday's exhibition showing could sway his choice. On the other side, Sean Payton has a history of placing little stock in Week 4, with a league-worst 2-11 record straight up.
The 'Fins will already be playing two of the best quarterbacks of the week, and with both playing for their jobs, this is an easy buy.
Pick: Miami +3.5
New York Giants at New England Patriots (-1.5), total: 35
Last week, we suggested backing New York quarterback Daniel Jones as a road underdog amid his torrid stretch. Sure enough, he went 9-for-11 for 141 yards in an outright win over Cincinnati.
The Giants are 3-0 this preseason with Jones playing well in all three games, yet the rookie is again getting points despite earning the starting nod for the first time.
He's 25-for-30 for 369 yards and two touchdowns this preseason. Expect another strong showing as he tries to wrestle the starting job away from Eli Manning.
Pick: Giants +1.5
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5), total: 33.5
Neither team in the Marshawn Lynch Bowl has a clear talent advantage, with both quarterback battles decided and most starters sidelined. Instead, coaching may be enough to swing the result for the road underdog.
For whatever reason, Jon Gruden excels in the games that don't matter. The Raiders coach is 10-1 in Week 1 preseason games and 7-1 in Week 4. And this year, his backups are fighting not only for their jobs, but for national exposure thanks to the presence of HBO's "Hard Knocks" at Raiders camp.
Pete Carroll is a preseason wizard in his own right, but he can't match Gruden's record in the games that matter the least. Take the points here.
Pick: Raiders +2.5