NFL Preseason Week 1 Predictions & Odds

The NFL preseason schedule 2026 officially kicks off on August 13 with six games on the slate. All 32 teams will be in action with 16 games over a three-day span. If the Hall of Fame Game is a prelude to the season it’s going to be an exciting year in the NFL. Carolina and Arizona played the second highest scoring HOF game in history with the Panthers eking out a 33-30 victory.

Carolina visits Buffalo on Sunday in their first official preseason game opening as a 2.5-point favorite. Arizona takes on Las Vegas and first overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza on Friday night. The Card hit the preseason NFL betting board as a 2.5-point underdog.

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NFL Preseason Games This Week

When the NFL added a 17th regular season game to the schedule a few years back it came at the expense of one preseason matchup. Teams have a shorter window to prepare with only three NFL preseason games on the schedule. Arizona and Carolina have what could be considered a small advantage with an extra contest to evaluate talent due to their playing in the Hall of Fame Game. Below is the Week 1 NFL preseason schedule 2026:

Thursday, August 13

• Lions at Bengals, 7 p.m. ET
• Packers at Steelers, 7 p.m. ET
• Colts at Patriots, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Cardinals at Raiders, 8 p.m. ET
• Chargers at Texans, 8 p.m. ET
• Titans at 49ers, 9 p.m. ET

Friday, August 14

• Broncos at Falcons, 7 p.m. ET
• Buccaneers at Jets, 7 p.m. ET
• Dolphins at Commanders, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 15

• Panthers at Bills, 1 p.m. ET
• Browns at Bears, 1 p.m. ET
• Vikings at Giants, 1 p.m. ET
• Rams at Chiefs, 4 p.m. ET
• Jaguars at Saints, 4 p.m. ET
• Eagles at Ravens, 7 p.m. ET
• Cowboys at Seahawks, 8 p.m. ET

Featured NFL Preseason Matchups to Watch

• One of the most intriguing NFL preseason games in Week 1 has to be the Las Vegas against Arizona matchup on Friday night.
• The Raiders hired Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their new coach and selected Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick with the combo tasked with getting the Raiders out of the doldrums.
• He’s not a new head coach but he’s new to the Titans and Robert Saleh takes his club to his old stomping grounds to face San Francisco, where he served as DC for two different stints.
• The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks close out the betting week with a prime time clash against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.

NFL Preseason Schedule 2026

The NFL preseason schedule 2026 started with the annual Hall of Fame Game on August 6 and concludes on Saturday, August 29 with the final games of preseason Week 3 schedule. Every team plays three exhibition games with the exception of the Hall of Fame Game participants.

The shorter preseason schedule was introduced for the 2021 season when the NFL increased the number of regular season games to 17. Teams alternate years hosting an extra game. In a season where a club plays nine regular season home games it will play one preseason game at home. When a team is scheduled for eight regular season home games it will host two preseason contests.

When Does NFL Preseason Start?

• The NFL preseason schedule 2026 officially starts with Week 1 that runs from Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15.
• The exhibition game schedule opened on August 6 with the Hall of Fame Game where the Carolina Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals, 33-30.
• Every team except Arizona and Carolina will play three preseason games in preparation for the start of the regular season on September 9.

NFL Preseason Odds for This Week

Teams have opted to sit starters and regulars for all or most of their NFL preseason games to avoid any injury issues with cornerstone players. This coaching philosophy became more popular in the 2021 season when Sean McVay sat all starters and key players during the preseason and the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.

The motivation of a team’s head coach also influences NFL preseason odds. Some coaches care more about winning preseason games than others making their teams a target. John Harbaugh posted a .750 winning percentage during his stint with Baltimore and is attempting to change the culture with the Giants this season.

How to Read NFL Preseason Betting Odds

• NFL preseason odds are posted just like they would be for a regular season game. The difference being that preseason game totals are usually much lower than during the regular season since backup offenses struggle to score.
• The highest opening total on the NFL preseason Week 1 board is 40.5 for the Arizona at Las Vegas game. The teams must combine to score more than 40 points in order to cash the OVER.
• The point spread is listed at between 1.5- and 3-points in 14 of the 16 NFL preseason Week 1 games. Having confirmed that starters, including QB Joe Burrow, will play in their preseason opener, the Bengals hit the board as the biggest favorite in Week 1 laying 7-points to the Lions.

Factors That Move NFL Preseason Odds

Unlike the regular season, NFL preseason odds are heavily influenced by information regarding who will actually be playing. With starters and regulars not playing or seeing limited snaps, NFL preseason games are decided by depth players. Teams with veteran backups hold a significant edge. Along with who will be taking snaps, coaching strategies and public betting volume are primary factors that move NFL preseason odds.

NFL Preseason Predictions and Analysis

NFL preseason predictions are difficult and much harder than the regular season. There are so many variables in play that oddsmakers even struggle. The good news is that bettors are on an equal playing field with the people who set the stakes, and NFL preseason odds are typically bland. Point spreads are around 3-points and game totals are between 34 and 38 points. There are the exceptions, of course, but for the most part you have vanilla lines.

NFL Preseason Picks for Week 1

• Quarterbacks have the biggest impact on the outcome of a game and teams with a deep roster will typically have success. The Raiders are breaking in No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza, have Kirk Cousins as his mentor and a capable Aidan O’Connell. I expect Klint Kubiak will pull out all the stops making the Raiders (-2.5) a NFL preseason pick.
• The Bears have been a powerhouse NFL preseason pick the last several years going 9-2-1 SU and 10-2 ATS. That’s enough to back Chicago (-1.5) in Sunday’s matchup with Cleveland.
• Baltimore was a favorite NFL preseason pick under John Harbaugh and now that he’s with the Giants that trend could continue. Looking to build a winning foundation, Harbaugh will get the most out of his squad as a 3-point home favorite against the Vikings.

Best Betting Angles for NFL Preseason Games

• One of the best betting angles for NFL preseason predictions is backing teams with quarterback competitions for the backup job.
• Head coaches with a losing preseason record and who tend to sit starters obviously don’t care about the outcome of games. They’ll win a few matchups, but for the most part it’s a good idea to bet against those coaches.
• Pay attention to news from the team you’re looking to back. Not all coaches rest regulars and some announce their intentions ahead of time giving you a chance to throw down before the markets adjust.

NFL Preseason Standings and Team Trends

NFL preseason standings are meaningless and not even worth looking at if you’re planning to wager on games. Last year the Jacksonville Jaguars went 0-2 with a tie in the preseason then went on to win 13 games, the second-most in franchise history, and the AFC South title. On the other hand the Giants won all three NFL preseason games last year and proceeded to lose their first three regular season games and finished at 4-13.

Do NFL Preseason Standings Matter?

• We’ve established that NFL preseason standings don’t mean a thing and hold no value in regards to regular season success.
• Bettors should focus on historical franchise trends, the strategy and motivation of coaches, and roster news about playing time to spot NFL betting value.