Quarterback rotations and playing time take centre stage for bettors as the NFL moves deeper into its preseason schedule
The NFL is into the second week of the preseason, when position battles intensify and coaches get closer to determining who fits on the 53-man roster. The cutdown deadline this year is Aug. 30, after the third preseason weekend.
Watching the Las Vegas Raiders defeat the Houston Texans 22-20 last night, I was struck by how Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is handling his quarterback situation. The preseason doesn’t last very long. There isn’t much time to get it right.
The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins as a free agent in April to mentor No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
But Cousins has played just one series through the team’s first two preseason games. Mendoza played the first half last night and, other than an interception returned for a touchdown, showed some good signs, including a strong arm. He finished 8-of-15 for 86 yards and also had a couple of perfectly thrown balls dropped by Malik Benson.
Aidan O’Connell impressed in the second half, going 15-of-24 for 166 yards and leading the Raiders to the come-from-behind win.
Kubiak said he isn’t ready to name his Week 1 starter, adding that he doesn’t want any of his three quarterbacks getting comfortable just yet — Cousins included.
There are three games tonight.
The New York Jets are in Pittsburgh tonight to face the Steelers at 7 p.m. EST.
In NFL betting at Betway, the Steelers are -125 favourites on the moneyline, with the Jets at +105. Pittsburgh is a 1.5-point favourite (+100), while New York is +1.5 (-120). The total is set at 38.5, with the Over at -105 and the Under at -115.
At 7:30 p.m. EST, the Carolina Panthers are in Jacksonville to play the Jaguars. At Betway, the Panthers are -135 favourites on the moneyline, with the Jaguars at +115. Carolina is a 1.5-point favourite (-110), while Jacksonville is +1.5 (-110). The total is set at 37.5, with the Over at -105 and the Under at -115.
At 9 p.m. EST, the Green Bay Packers are in Denver to play the Broncos. At Betway, the Broncos are -275 favourites on the moneyline, with the Packers at +220. Denver is a 6.5-point favourite (-110), while Green Bay is +6.5 (-110). The total is set at 40.5, with the Over at -115 and the Under at -105.
Go with the Steelers moneyline tonight, with head coach Mike McCarthy going with two young QBs – Will Howard and Drew Allar – getting a good long look. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph are not playing.
And both those young QBs looked good in Pittsburgh’s 28-9 win over Green Bay. Allar went 10/13 for 153 yards and 2 TDs, while Howard went 7/9 for 86 yards. No interceptions for either QB.
I am going to go Under 37.5 in Panthers at Jaguars, with neither offence giving me enough confidence tonight.
Carolina’s first-team offence hasn’t exactly been on fire. The Panthers’ starters had only nine offensive snaps against Buffalo and struggled.
Carolina’s team site reported the offence also started slowly during Wednesday’s joint practice against Jacksonville before improving.
In the later game, go Broncos -6.5. Denver coach Sean Payton kept Nix out of Denver’s preseason opener and has already said he’ll make his debut against Green Bay.
Denver is a big preseason favourite, but laying -275 in an exhibition game offers little value. The Broncos have good QB depth behind Nix. That’s what makes a touchdown victory for close to even money logical.
