T.M. Selection: New Orleans Saints - Moneyline

I like the New Orleans Saints to win this game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. Even after watching the Texans win their opening preseason game, I wasn't really impressed with either of their units. The offensive unit had tons of holes, especially the offensive line. That really showed in their week two game against the Dolphins. Now, they finish off the preseason with this game against the Saints who've been strong in both games. NO is excellent defensively and should be able to limit the Texans to few points once again. The QB battle between Carr and Winston is still at large and very well could be decided in this game. Expect an easy win for the Saints to end NFLX. 

T.M. Prediction: 27-13 Saints. 

Line: -142 

Line Parameter: play until -220

T.M. Selection: Baltimore Ravens - ATS 

I like the Baltimore Ravens to win this game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. Coming off their first preseason loss in many years, people think they'll just stop trying now. However, head coach John Harbaugh is still just as motivated to win. This is a team that won 24 straight NFLX games. Now, after they loss once, they are an underdog. The Ravens should be able to move the ball quite easily here in this one as they should win comfortably. 

T.M. Prediction: 27-17 Ravens. 

Line: +2.0

Line Parameter: play until -1 (can play ML..) 

T.M. Selection: BAL @ WSH - UNDER 

I am on the UNDER in the Baltimore Raves @ Washington Commanders game on Monday. All the talk is going to be about the Ravens and their perfect record coming into this game. However, that's not what I'm looking at. The Ravens NFLX success over the years has been about running the ball and their scrambling QB play. There's no secret that Harbaugh wants to win. That means playing great defense. In last week's game, they played very strong defense. Despite allowing 19 points, they only allowed 13 of those while on D. Washington is looking to be the first team in 25 attempts to beat Baltimore. They need to establish the run game of their own as their QB's struggled in last weeks game. I expect a run fest, leading to a lower scoring game here in this one. UNDER is the play. 

T.M. Prediction: 17-16 Baltimore. 

Line: O/U 38.0, -110 

Line Parameter: play until 38.0, -125.. 

T.M. Selection: TEN @ MIN - OVER 

I am on the OVER in the Tennessee Titans @ Minnesota Vikings game on Saturday. Even though the Vikings have a set QB already, I expect Kirk Cousins to maybe get a few snaps in this game. I also expect Justin Jefferson to find himself playing a few series' in this nflx wk2 matchup. On the other hand, Malik Willis and Will Levis are going toe-to-toe for the backup job behind Tannehill. Tannehill might see a few snaps in this game as well, but with the battle of those two going on I expect some touchdowns put on the board. In what could be a back and forth game between two teams that lost in the first week, expect a lot of points in this one. 

T.M. Prediction: 29-24 Vikings. 

Line: O/U 37.5

Line Parameter: play until 40.0.. 

T.M. Selection: LV - ATS 

I like the Las Vegas Raiders to win this game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Even though I expect another postseason run from the Niners, I don't really love this first preseason matchup. The Raiders always give full effort in the preseason and I expect Jimmy G to get at least a few snaps against his former team. Although Lance and Darnold are supposed to QB the Niners, I don't see Shanahan playing many of his starters here today. As a decent sized underdog, I'm grabbing the points here with the Raiders. 

T.M. Prediction: 23-10 Raiders. 

Line: +4.0 

Line Parameter: play until +3.0.. 

I like the Cleveland Browns to cover the spread against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Browns have gone 2-0 through the preseason and have kept both of their opponents to 13 points each. Both quarterbacks played an alright game for them in their last. The Browns have already looked great on defense allowing a low amount of scoring against, and their offense will only get better as Mayfield and his gang take the field for some playing time here. The Falcons have gone 0-2 so far scoring a total of 20 points in 2 games. They have just been straight up bad in past years and still have not shown any signs of turning their franchise around. They are already not scoring and will now be facing a tough defense that has been on point lately. Cleveland should come in and take care of business covering the spread in this one as they are just the better team overall.

T.M. Prediction: 24-13 Browns.

I am on the under in the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Dallas Cowboys game. The Jags are 0-2 this preseason scoring a total of 34 points across 2 games. All 3 of their quarterbacks threw for over 100 yards in their last game. Their running game was lacking though, unlike their passing. The Cowboys have not looked good at all going 0-3 this preseason scoring 33 points through those 3 games. With Prescott still sufferring from his minor injury, there are still a few question marks on this offense. The Cowboys have not been able to get anything going and with no certainty at the quarterback position, I don't see them scoring a lot of points here. The Jags have been moving the ball well lately but they have always been known for lower scoring games and a solid defense. I think this one will stay low scoring as both teams struggle to get points up on the board.

T.M. Prediction: 17-10 Jaguars.

I like the over in the Los Angeles Rams vs Denver Broncos game on Saturday. The Rams have not looked good so far going 0-2 this preseason scoring a total of 22 points in those 2 games. The Rams have not really had any starters play in those games but we should see some Matt Stafford along with some other key pieces in this one. They should definitely put up some more points and a better fight with their starters in the game. The Broncos have been destroying going 2-0 so far scoring at least 30 points in each of those games. They have looked good regardless of who is out there on the field and they can only get better as more starters find their way in the lineup. The Broncos have the potential to send this one over the total themselves with the way they have been playing, along with whatever points the Rams put up, this game is destined to shoot over the total.

T.M. Prediction: 31-24 Broncos.

I like the Tennessee Titans to cover the spread against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. The Titans have been rolling so far going 2-0 through this preseason. They have scored 57 points in 2 games and are coming off a big 34-3 win over the defending Super Bowl champs the Bucs. Matt Barkley had a solid game going 12-16 in the passing game for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. Even Logan Woodside had a good game going 7-8 for 64 yards and a touchdown. Their running game also had over 100 yards rushing for the day. The Bears are 1-1 coming into this game but they looked awful in their 41-15 blowout loss to the Bills last week. Andy Dalton could not get anything done and if Nagy is determined to have him start in week 1, he will definitely be in this one mucking up the passing game for them. The Titans can only get even better once they add some starters to the mix and with the way Dalton has looked so far, the Bears have another blowout loss on their hands here.

T.M. Prediction: 20-17 Titans.

I like the Green Bay Packers to cover the spread against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Packers have gone 0-2 so far but have slowly worked their offense up in each game. They only scored 7 points in their 1st game but have upped that to 14 in their last. The Packers did not have any key players playing in those games and with this being the last chance to get some playing time before the real season, we should see some here. If Aaron Rodgers plays a few downs they will surely score some points along with their solid running backs and receivers. The Bills looked very good in their last game, but was that the Bills being so good or just the Bears not being able to produce. In their 1st preseason game, the Bills just squeezed out a 1 point win over the Lions. This should be much more competitive as the starters get some playing time here. This spread is pretty big and I like the Packers to keep it a close game.

T.M. Prediction: 24-20 Bills.

I am on the over in the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets game on Friday. The Eagles have been struggling in the preseason putting up just 16 points in 2 games. They were embarrassed in their last game getting shutout 35-0 by the Patriots. Joe Flacco was once again the best player for the team going 10-17 with his passing for 83 yards and 1 interception. Luckily, with this being the final preseason game, Jalen Hurts should get some playing time which means this offense will move much better, with the help of some other starters getting in there. The New York Jets have been killing the preseason winning both of their games. They scored just 12 points in the first game but they shot that up to 23 in their last game. Zach Wilson has shown some good play so far and this looks like it will be a good competitive game. The Jets will surely score points as their offense has looked good so far and the Eagles are bound to look better with Hurts as there is no where to go but up for them after that last performance. I see this one going over the posted total.

T.M. Prediction: 24-17 Jets.

I like the over in the Indianapolis Colts vs Detroit Lions game on Friday. The Colts have gone undefeated in this preseason so far, scoring a total of 33 points through their 1st 2 games. They only put up 12 points in their last as they squeeked by the Vikings, but Jacob Eason played a very good game and he should have some better weapons playing in this last preseason game. The Lions have been the complete opposite this preseason going winless through their 2 games. They have been scoring points though, putting up 35 through those games. They put up 16 in the 1st game and 20 in their last one. David Blough played very well in that last game and he is sure to get some more playing time here along with Jared Goff who should make an appearance as well. Between these 2 guys they should be able to move the ball and score some points. Despite the low scoring game, Eason and the Colts have also looked good so I expect enough points from both of these teams to shoot this one over the total.

T.M. Prediction: 23-20 Colts.

I am on the over in the Jacksonville Jaguars vs New Orleans Saints game on Monday. The Jags lost their 1st preseason game to the Cleveland Browns 23-13. They had 4 quarterbacks play in that one and all of them did quite well all throwing for about 50+ yards and completed more than 50% of their passes. two of them scored a touchdown and only 1 threw an interception. The run game was pretty non-existant in that one but the receiver showed up. three of their receivers had over 50 yards and 3 of them averaged 10+ yards per catch. A lot of different players caught a pass for the Jags in that one and most of them were for longer plays than short. The Saints also lost their 1st preseason game to the Baltimore Ravens 17-14. They played 3 quarterbacks in that game and they all played well. Ian Book completed 9/16 passes for 126 yards and 1 interception, Taysom Hill completed 8/12 for 81 yards and 1 interception, and Jameis Winston completed 7/12 for 96 yards 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Tony Jones Jr. had a great running game rushing for 82 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 carries. They also had 2 receivers with 60+ yards and 3 different receivers that averaged 20+ yards per catch. Both of these teams have shown already that they have the pieces and can move the ball efficiently down the field. There should be some more points for both of these teams than what they scored in their 1st preseason game. I expect this game to go over the posted total.

T.M. Prediction: 28-24 Saints.

I like the San Francisco 49ers to cover the spread against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The 49ers lost their 1st preseason game to the Chiefs 19-16. Josh Rosen played well in that game completing 10/15 for 93 yards and 1 interception. Try Lance had an up and down game only completing 5/14 passes, but it was for 128 yards scoring the only passing touchdown for the 49ers. Even Garoppolo went 3/3 the little that he played. JaMycal Hasty led the rushing with 63 yards on 10 carries with 1 touchdown, just 1 of 5 players that rushed for over 20 yards in that one. Trent Sherfield caught the only touchdown through the air with 1 catch for 80 yards. There were 5 players that averaged 10+ yards per catch showing that they can definitely move the ball efficiently through the air. The Chargers won their 1st preseason game against the Rams 13-6. Both quarterbacks played well spreading the ball around, but they both failed to score a touchdown through the air. Larry Rountree III played well rushing for 63 yards on 8 carries, but that was all they had going for them in the run game. A lot of their widerecivers only caught 1 pass as well, not allowing any to get a good rhythm going. The 49ers just have better pieces on their team and can execute deep plays much better. I think they cover the points in this one.

T.M. Prediction: 23-14  49ers.

I like the Indianapolis Colts against the spread on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. The Colts won their 1st preseason game 21-18 against the Carolina Panthers. They came back from down 18-10 in the 4th quarter to win that one. Both of the quarterbacks for the Colts played an amazing game. Jacob Eason completed 15/21 passes for 183 yards and Sam Ehlinger completed 10/15 passes for 155 yards and just 1 interception. They had a great showing from the receivers as well, 5 different players receiving for 30+ yards. They also had 5 different players averaging 14+ yards per catch in that game. The Vikings had an awful game in their 1st preseason game losing 33-6 to the Denver Broncos. The Vikings did not do much at all on offense in that game, both quarterbacks completing less than 51% of their passes each for less than 55 yards. Their best player in that game was Asim Rose who rushed for 100 yards on 25 carries, averaging 4 yards per rush. He also led the team in the passing game with 1 catch for 18 yards. with such opposite performances in week 1, it is tough not to like the Colts here so I am on them to cover the spread in this game.

T.M. Prediction: 20-17 Colts.

I am on the under in the New York Jets vs Green Bay Packers game on Saturday. The Jets won their 1st preseason game over the New York Giants 12-7. Their 3 quarters backs played well in that one as all of them completed over 50% of their passes, 1 of them even throwing for 127 yards. The ball was spread out quite a bit too as 3 running backs had 20+ yards rushing, and 3 receivers had 20+ yards receiving. Despite all this ball movement, they still had nothing to show for it scoring just the 1 touchdown in the game, mustering up just a total of 12 points. The Packers lost their 1st preseason game to the Houston Texans 26-7. Both of the quarterbacks for the Packers played well, each completing more than 50% of their passes and throwing for 80+ yards. A few receivers also had a good game averaging over 10 yards per catch. Again though, execution was the issue in this one as the Packers only managed a measly 7 points in that loss. Both of these teams have shown they are able to move the ball in this preseason, but have failed where it matters most in executing for the score. I expect those troubles to continue in this one here keeping this game under the posted total.

T.M. Prediction: 13-10 Jets.

I am on the over in the Buffalo Bills vs Chicago Bears game on Saturday. The Bills won their 1st preseason game 16-15 against the Detroit Lions. They had 2 quarterbacks give a solid performance in that one. Davis Webb completed 11/16 passes for 90 yards and 1 touchdown while Jake Fromm completed 8/13 passes for 65 yards. The running game did not do much in that one, but passing game had a lot of action. Only 1 receiver hit 50 yards, but 12 different players caught a pass in that game, 4 of them averaging 10+ yards per catch. The Bears also won their 1st preseason game over the Miami Dolphins by a score of 20-13. Justin Fields had a great performance in that game, he completed 14/20 passes for 142 yards and 1 touchdown. They also had a good running game with 4 different players rushing for 30+ yards, 2 of those players averaging 10+ yards per carry. The receivers played well too, 4 of them averaging 10+ yards per catch i n that one. Both of these teams showed a real good passing game in their 1st preseason games. The more the ball flies through the air, the more opportunity for bigger plays and more scoring as these young guys look to have that breakout game to land a spot on the team. This game should have a lot of scoring in it so I am on the over in this one.

T.M. Prediction: 27-20 Bears.

I like the Kansas City Chiefs on the money line against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday. The Chiefs won 19-16 against the San Francisco 49ers in their 1st preseason game. Nobody really had a breakout perfomance in that game, but the Chiefs showcased plenty of their depth in that game. They had 3 quarterbacks, not including Mahomes, who threw for over 50% pass completion in that game. two of those quarterbacks threw for 70+ yards. They had 8 different players carry the ball in that game and also had 16 different players make a catch. The Cardinals also won their 1st preseason game 19-16 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cardinals had Chris Streveler play in the game and although he threw for 107 yards, he did not get a touchdown and only completed 50% of his passes. Streveler also led the team in rushing which is not a good sign when your quarterback is the best player in the game in that department. The Cardinals did not play many star receivers as just 1 of them made 1 catch in the game. The Chiefs have a lot more depth on their team and the players seem to be performing better than the Cardinals in this preseason. I think the Chiefs win this one.

T.M. Prediction: 23-20 Chiefs.

I like the New England Patriots ATS on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots had a very good showing in their 1st preseason game winning 22-13 against the Washington Football Team. Both Mac Jones and Cam Newton will be fighting to be the starter for week 1 so they will likely get some more playing time here. The Patriots were very run heavy in that game, their breakout player Rhamondre Stevenson as he rushed for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 carries. He is likely to get some more work in this game as well. The Eagles had a poor outing in their 1st preseason game losing that one to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-16. Jalen Hurts got some work in that game but only completed 3/7 passes for 54 yards. Their running backs did not do much either in that one and the only receiver that had a good game was Quez Watkins who scored 1 touchdown on a 79 yard play, his only catch of the game. The best player for the Eagles in week 1 of the preseason was Joe Flacco as he completed 10/17 passes for 178 yards and 1 touchdown. If Joe Flacco is your best player on the field, even if it is just the preseason, your team has some real issues to address. The Patriots just looked like the better team last week so I like them to cover the spread on Thursday

T.M. Prediction: 24-14 Patriots.

I am on the under in the Carolina Panthers vs Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Carolina Panthers will not be playing much of their starters, so it will be backup competition all day for them on the field. I do not think they will be able to score many points in this game with all of these backups playing a lot. The Indianapolis will also not be playing too many starters, but even with their starters they have always been a lower scoring grindy team. The Colts have a great defense with lots of depth that will shut down this Panthers offense. They have also been known for running the ball heavily, which eats up a lot of clock in games. I think this game is set up perfectly for us to see a low number of points scored in it. I am on the under in this one.

T.M. Prediction: 17-10 Colts.

I am on the Baltimore Ravens ML at home on Saturday against the New Orleans Saints. The Baltimore Ravens are carrying over a 17 game win streak in the NFL preseason. Clearly, this is a team that plays to win, regardless of the meaning of the game. This will also be a good opportunity for their younger players to showcase their talent and try to earn a spot on this starting roster. The New Orleans Saints are currently dealing with a lot of trade rumors around Michael Thomas, so the dressing room vibes are not the greatest right now. They will also be having a quarterback battle between Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston, neither are the clear favorite to win this battle. There's a reason that there is no clear winner yet, and it is because neither are that solid reliable starting quarterback. Winston has already showed his many flaws as a starting quarterback throughout his carreer and Hill has seen some flashes of play, but a lot of them have been trick plays or runs. Baltimore have solid core players and a lot of depth on  their team. They are also just more consistent in their play on the field, and have shown that they will take preseason games just as serious as regular season. The Ravens will continue their huge preseason win streak here with another win over the Saints.

T.M. Prediction: 20-16 Ravens.

I like the Minnesota Vikings +2.5 on Saturday against the Denver Broncos. The Vikings will be at home for their 1st NFL preseason game this year and i think they have a good chance to even win this game, or at least cover the +2.5 points. I can't imagine that the starters will be playing too long in this game, but I expect to see them in the 1st half putting in a good effort. Even once the starters come off the field, this Vikings team has a lot of depth on their side and still mhave a few open positions on the team up for grabs on both offense and defense. They will want to give it their all in this game to try to earn a spot on the team for this season. The Broncos have a very good team, but they still have a big question mark at quarterback. Bridgewater will likely be seen in this game, but could be a little nervous going back to the place where he suffered a massive injury that derailed his carreer. Drew Lock will be seen as well, but he is not making any more progress than Bridgewater at training camp. I don't think the Broncos will be moving the ball very well against the Vikings so I like Minnesota to keep this a close game. I think there is good value on them here at home in the 1st game for either team in many months.

T.M. Prediction: 17-16 Vikings.

I like the Arizona Cardinals to beat the Dallas Cowboys on Friday night. This is the Cardinals 1st preseason match this year and I expect them to get some of their starters in the game for this one. Kyler Murray will definitely be getting some plays in the game along with a few others on both the offense and defense. The Dallas cowboys will not be able to get Dak Prescott any playing time as he has suffered a minor injury that will keep him out a little longer. The Cardinals have slowly built a pretty good team over the past couple of years while it seems like the Cowboys have been moving sideways. We have already seen the Cowboys play in a preseason match a week ago and it did not look good, only mustering up 3 points in the whole game. The Cardinals will have more of their starters making an appearance than the Cowboys including quarterback Kyler Murray, which should be enough to get some points up. The Cowboys will not be able to score enough to keep up in this one. Cardinals win this game here at home.

T.M. Prediction: 28-10 Cardinals.

The Washington Football Team is taking on the New England Patriots in Week 1 of the NFL preseason and I am on the over in this one. The HOF game was a bit of a snore but i think this game is set up much better to see a lot more scoring in. This game will be a chance for Taylor Heinicke to showcase his talent and prove that he deserves a chance at being an NFL starter. Whether or not he can, there is definitely motivation there for him to want to put a lot of points up in this game. Washington has picked up a lot of pieces this offseason and this is the first real opportunity to see how it will all mesh. Ron Rivera has already expressed that he expects his players to work hard at everythiing this year, this game included. I expect the Football Team to go out there and try to get the win which means they will be trying to score lots of points as the young players will want to use this chance to try to make a name for themselves. New England will be having their rookie Mac Jones play in this one and he too will want to prove in this game why he can overtake Cam Newton as the starter for the Patriots. He has been looking great at training camp and has a real good chance to win this job which means he will also be out there playing to win. With both of these teams treating this more like a real game and less like a meaningless preseason game, the over makes total sense. I think there should be plenty of scoring from both sides here so I am on the over.

T.M Prediction: 27-20 Football Team.

NFL is back and the preseason kicks off Thursday with the Hall of Fame game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. I am on the under in this game as it will be a game between 3rd and 4th stringers to test their abilities in an actual NFL game. Both teams have left many starters off the table for this game so it is hard to imagine either side moving the ball upfield with ease. The few veterans that will be active for this game are mainly runningbacks so there should be a lot of running plays which will eat up the clock as well keeping this one low scoring. The Steelers will also be testing their 2 backup quarterbacks, Mason Rudolf and Dwayne Haskins, to see who will earn that 2nd spot. Haskins loves to run the ball himself as well as throw and if both sides plan on keeping the game run heavy or even struggle to move the ball, this game will for sure stay under the posted total.

T.M. Prediction: 17-10 Steelers.

T.M. Selection: Jacksonville Jaguars (10* GAME OF THE WEEK)

Atlanta doesn’t put much stock into the preseason, as it has rested its starting players throughout for the last few seasons. Nothing will change here. Jacksonville is also 0-3 SU/ATS so far in the preseason, so that makes home field advantage the difference maker in this one in my opinion. Atlanta is already looking ahead to Week 1 of the regular season. ATL is 1-4 ATS in its last five on the road and while Jacksonville has struggled with production in the preseason, I think it’ll have more than enough in Week 4 to deliver the goods in front of the home town crowd. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: Jags.

T.M. Selection: Tennessee Titans (10* BLOOD-BATH)

Pittsburgh will Ben Roethlisberger under center for the first time in the preseason and I believe he’ll struggle a bit in this difficult road venue. Practice is one, but going at full speed for the first time all year can be a bit disconcerting (even for veterans like Big Ben), so Marcus Mariota and backup Ryan Tannehill have the advantage in this Week 3 contest in my opinion. Note that Tennessee plays with some added incentive of “revenge” as well, as last year in Week 3 the Steelers beat the Titans 16-6. I think the overall situation definitely favors the home side.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: LA Rams (10* TRADE-MARK)

No need to overthink this one. Denver has already said that it plans to rest almost all of its starters, while LA has stated that it plans to play most of its star players. Denver comes in with zero momentum after last week’s 24-15 loss to San Francisco. Note though that the Broncos played in the Hall of Fame Game, which is the reasoning behind resting his starters today. But with the high-powered Rams finally unleashing their full offensive arsenal in Week 3, I look for this to be a blowout of epic proportions. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Saints/Jets under (10* BANKROLL BUILDER)

The Jets’ Sam Darnold and the Saints’ Drew Brees are both expected to only see a couple of series in this one. After that it’s back to the back-ups and wannabe’s for both sides. With that in mind, I believe it’s going to be each side’s defensive units which end up “stealing the show.” Note as well that the Jets have seen the under hit in seven straight preseason home games, limiting their opposition to just 12.4 PPG over that stretch. Not only that, but New Orleans has seen the under hit in ten of its last 13 preseason match ups, with nine of those coming well below the 40 point mark. This number is a tad high, play the under.

T.M. Prediction: 17-14 Saints.

T.M. Selection: Bills/Lions over (10* TOTAL OF WEEK)

The Lions are 0-2. They have a competition for the No. 2 spot behind Matthew Stafford between Josh Johnson and David Fales. Detroit will be pushing the pace here, but note that it’s already allowed an average of 30.5 PPG over the first two games. Buffalo is getting huge production from rookie QB Josh Allen and backup Matt Barkley. With both teams opening up the playbook, look for this total to fly “over” sooner, rather than later.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Cleveland Browns (10* GAME OF WEEK)

So far Cleveland has looked like the real deal. It’s allowed only 14 PPG so far in the preseason and the offense, including the backups are already performing at an extremely high level. The Bucs have looked decent in one game, but last week they allowed three passing TD’s to the Steelers. The uncertainty at QB and with the offense as a whole make Tampa a risky call in Week 3. I’m banking on Cleveland’s momentum rolling for another week. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Oakland Raiders (8*)

Yes Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to see a few snaps in this game that’s being played in Winnipeg Manitoba on Thursday, but I think that Jon Gruden and the Raiders, who are already 2-0 so far this preseason, keep the foot on the gas in Week 3 as well. Last week the Packers fell 26-13 to the Ravens. Last week the Packers’ defense looked shaky after ranking 22nd overall last year. The Oakland backup QB’s looked sharp last week, with Mike Glennon going 11 of 14 for 175 yards and two TD’s, while Nathan Peterman was 8 of 8 for 41 yards. Look for Oakland’s strong start to the preseason to carry over in Week 3. 

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Jacksonville Jaguars (8*)

Last year Jacksonville finished fifth on the defensive end. It has a new QB in Nick Foles and a RB that’s looking for a rebound season. After starting 0-2, I think Jacksonville’s starters take advantage of a Dolphins’ team that goes to veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Josh Rosen is also expected to see plenty of time today. The uncertainty for the Dolphins at the QB position swings the odds in favor of the Jags here in my opinion. Obviously the outright is possible, but grab the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Falcons (10*)

Both of these teams are winless so far in the preseason. The Redskins’ Jay Gruden and the Falcons’ Dan Quinn are both on the hot seat. Both teams have plenty of issues heading into this one. Atlanta likely won’t even start veteran QB Matt Ryan here. Washington though has major issues at the QB position, as it now looks like Case Keenum is going to have the starters job come Week 1. Keenum will see little time here, with Dwayne Haskins once again expected to get the bulk of action for the visitors. Matt Schaub will see most of the time for the Falcons under center. I like ATL to finally get off the schneid with a win at home in this favorable matchup.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Bengals (8*)

Both teams had poor campaigns last year and each is expected to once again struggle this season. Giants coach Pat Shurmur is 7-7 SU all time in the preseason, which includes a 1-3 in mark in Week 3. New York has won and covered each of the first two games of the preseason, but I think a letdown is imminent here. New York continues to play without top WR’s Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate to injury. The Bengals are 1-1 after two weeks of the preseason, but the team benefits greatly in playing its first home game in Week 3. The Bengals prevailed 23-13 in Washington last weekend and I believe they carry that momentum over here.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Denver Broncos (10* ULTIMATE BEST OF THE BEST)

San Francisco has position battles going on for the No. 2 QB spot and for top RB spot. I don’t think this venue is a very conducive atmosphere for positive production though. Denver looked sloppy in its 22-14 loss in Seattle in Week 1, but I think it gets back on track here in its first home opportunity of the season. The Broncos are 7-3 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in their last ten preseason games and after dropping their first one, I believe they pull out all the stops in front of the home town crowd. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Hawks/Vikes under (10* TOTAL BANKROLL BUILDER)

The Vikings took advantage of a terrible New Orleans Saints defense in Week 1 as they exploded for the 34-25 victory in The Big Easy. The Seahawks though present an entirely different challenge. The Hawks lost this game 21-20 last year. Seattle has already named its No. 1 starting RB in Chris Carson, leaving it wide open for the RB2 spot. The Vikes’ got great play out of their backup offensive players last week, but I’m expecting a more conservative approach in Week 2. This number is a tad high.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: New Orleans Saints (10* MONEY-MAKER)

Both teams come in off losses. The Saints fell 34-25 at home to the Vikings and while the defense played poorly, overall the offense was firing on all cylinders, even without Drew Brees on the field. With several defensive starters expected to see much more time this week, I believe New Orleans will look a lot better on that end of the field today. But as mentioned above, New Orleans got great QB play from Taysom Hill and Teddy Bridgewater and I believe they’ll both be difference makers in this one as well. LA had ten penalties for 85 yards in last week’s loss in Arizona. With QB Philip Rivers once again sitting this one out, Tyrod Taylor will once again take center stage for the Bolts. Taylor was 6 of 6 for 72 yards last week, but also as mentioned above, I think he’ll have a difficult time today vs. this Saints defense that’ll be playing with a chip on its shoulder. Outright victory?! Of course, but in the end let’s grab the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Pats/Titans under (10* TOTAL MONEY-MAKER)

The Patriots destroyed the Lions 31-3 in Week 1, but they could be get caught looking ahead here to their first home game of the season in Week 3. That’s when Tom Brady is going to finally see some action. With the backup offense already firing on all cylinders, I believe an added emphasis will be put onto the defensive side of things for the visitors. Last year Mike Vrabel’s Titans went 0-4 in the preseason, but last week they crushed the Eagles 27-10. These team’s defenses are excelling early and I look for that trend to continue. Play the under.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Cleveland Browns (10* GAME OF WEEK)

The Browns steamrolled the Redskins 30-10 in Week 1 and I believe the visitors come in and find a way to get the job done here as well. Cleveland’s new head coach Freddie Kitchens has set an early precedent and I expect that trend to continue in Week 2. The Colts come in off a loss to the Bills, as Jacoby Brissett was just 2 of 5 for 21 yards. Look for the Browns to continue to put the pressure on team’s early. Play on Cleveland.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Bills/Panthers under (10* TOTAL OF WEEK)

After going 9-7 in 2017, the Bills fell to just 6-10 last year. Buffalo is expected to produce a similar result here, with more questions than answers on both sides of the ball, but especially on the offensive end. The Panthers also took a major step back after making the Playoffs in 2018, falling to 7-9 last year. Note that these teams are practicing vs. each other on Tuesday and Wednesday and when that happens before a game in the preseason, those contests often are much more competitive. And I absolutely believe that’s going to be the case here. From a situational stand point I believe this sets up great as a lower-scoring affair. 

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Arizona Cardinals (8*)

Cards’ QB Kyler Murray looked good in his first start in last week’s victory and I believe the rookie and his team carry that momentum over here. The Raiders enter off a satisfying 14-3 win at home over the Rams in Week 1 and I believe that Jon Gruden and company just go through the motions here today. Raiders’ backup QB Mike Glennon threw two picks last week. LA’s defense looked OK last week, but note that none of LA’s starting offense was even on the field. I expect Arizona to take this game seriously and I will therefore lay the points with confidence.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: New York Jets (8*)

Matt Ryan is expected to play less than a quarter for the Falcons on Thursday night, his first action of the preseason (the Falcons third game after also playing in the Hall of Fame Game.) New York has to be feeling pretty confident here though as note that the Falcons are a terrible 0-10 ATS in their last ten preseason games. Last week New York starting QB Sam Darnold played one series and he went 4 of 5 for 68 yards and a TD. The Falcons’ starters see limited time during the preseason and I believe that trend continues here. Clearly the outright isn’t out of the question, but in the end I’m grabbing the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Cincinnati Bengals (8*)

Dwayne Haskins will once again see the majority of snaps for Washington today. Last week he threw two INT’s in his team’s 30-10 beatdown loss to the Browns. Keep your eyes on the Bengals’ Tyler Boyd, who had three catches for 25 yards last week and who will the No. 1 receiver after the injury to AJ Green. I think Haskins continues to struggle. Grab the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Baltimore Ravens (8*)

Aaron Rodgers and the starters will see limited time here, but the Ravens come in off a 29-0 beatdown win over the Jaguars and I believe they’ll carry that momentum over here. Baltimore takes the pre-season seriously though, as the Ravens come in having won 15 straight preseason contests. Matt LaFleur got his first win as head coach with the Packers in last week’s thrilling 28-26 come from behind effort over the Texans and I think the visitors suffer a predictable letdown here. From a situational stand point, I think this one sets up great for a home side rout. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Jacksonville Jaguars (8*)

2018 Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles signed a four-year 88 million dollar deal with the Jaguars and he’ll see a bit of time today vs. his former team. Both teams come in off difficult/awkward losses in Week 1, which swings the value in favor of the home side in my opinion here with the advantage of playing on its own field. Note though that the Jags sat out 30 players in their 29-0 loss in Baltimore. The Eagles’ are trying to figure out who will play behind Carson Wentz, so expect to see a bunch of Nate Sudfield this evening. Expect a rejuvenated home side to bounce back big after last week’s vanilla effort. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: San Francisco 49ers (10* GAME OF MONTH)

The Cowboys once again come into the season embroiled in controversy, with No. 1 RB Ezekiel Elliot holding out in a contract dispute. That turns the spotlight onto other hopeful backups before his issue is settled, but it certainly also is a major distraction for the team once again. San Francisco comes in as the much more prepared team. The Cowboys are interestingly 0-6 in their last six Week 1 preseason games under head coach Jason Garrett. And that includes a 24-21 loss to these very 49ers a year ago. Both team’s stars will see limited (or no) playing time at all here, but the home field advantage is the difference maker for me. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Vikes/Saints under (10* TOTAL OF MONTH)

New Orleans is stacked with talent once again this year. The Saints have been knocked out of the playoffs in back to back seasons, both times on heart-breaking controversial calls. The Sainst picked up ex Viking Teddy Bridgewater and Latavius Murray, who will see time today in a backup role to Alvin Kamara. Minnesota won’t be lacking for motivation this season either though, as it was just 8-7-1 last year. The Vikes had a horrible run game and that lack of firepower clearly effected the play of QB Kirk Cousins. Minnesota has bolstered its offensive line and it’ll be focusing heavily on establishing its run game throughout the preseason. With the star players of each team seeing limited or no time at all, I do definitely expect this total to stay well under once it’s all said and done. Play the under.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Green Bay Packers (8*)

Both teams have big expectations coming into the season. Every team always has big expectations coming into the year, but a successful campaign has just as much to do with timing and chemistry as it does with the talent on the field and in Week 1 of the preseason, none of any of that matters anyways. The offensive and defensive stars for both sides will see limited to no time tonight. But Green Bay has a new head-coach in Matt LaFleur and I think he coaches to win his debut. And it’s as simple as that for me on this one. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Titans (8*)

Tennessee was 9-7 last year under then first year coach Mike Vrabel. But after going 0-4 SU/ATS in the preseason last year, I think that Vrabel takes it more seriously this time around. Philadelphia welcomes back Carson Wentz to the mix, but there’s still plenty of question marks surrounding the Eagles. In Game 1 of the preseason, the starters won’t see much (if any) time on the field of play anyways. The Titans have an extremely capable back up QB in Ryan Tannehill, who comes over from Miami with a chip on his shoulder. I think he’ll be a difference maker in this one. Outright win is possible of course, but grab as many points as you can.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Browns (10*)

Both teams have big expectations this year, but clearly the spot light is on the Browns to perform an this season. With big free agent acquisition OBJ and with QB Baker Mayfield with a year of experience under his belt, along with what is expected to be one of the best defenses in the league, Cleveland will absolutely want to be starting things off on the “right foot” right out of the gate. The offensive stars for both teams will see limited to no time, The Redskins used three QB’s over their final six games last year, Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez and they’d go 0-5. The Browns were in playoff contention until Week 16 last season. Look for the home side to take advantage of familiar surroundings and lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Giants (8*)

Instead of facing off in Week 3 of the preseason like these team’s normally do, the Jets and Giants are meeting in Week 1. Normally the starters play in Week 3, but in this one it’ll be the backups and wannabe’s. Last year the Giants defeated the Jets 22-16 and I’m expecting a similar final outcome here as well (note that Eli Manning completed four of seven passes for 26 yards in Week 1 of the 2018 preseason.) Sam Darnold isn’t expected to see any time here for the Jets under center, but Davis Webb, who played for the Giants last year in the preseason, is now the backup. The Giants selected Daniel Jones No. 6 in the draft and he’ll be seeing considerable time under center. I believe Jones comes to play today as this one has upset written all over it.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Colts/Bills over (10*)

The Colts made the playoffs last year behind a resurgent season from Andrew Luck. But Luck won’t be playing today. Instead it’s former Bills’ backup Frank Reich under center. Both teams put “stock” into the preseason, as the Colts were 3-1 last year and the Bills were 2-2. Indianapolis has plenty of competitions going on at every offensive position, so this definitely already lends itself to more of a higher-scoring shootout, than a lower-scoring defensive battle. The Bills re-worked their offensive line completely to make sure that sophomore Josh Allen has more protection. I believe each club focuses on the offensive side tonight. Play the over.

T.M. Prediction: FINAL PREDICTED SCORE COMING SHORTLY

T.M. Selection: Broncos/Falcons under (10* TOTAL).

Both teams are coming off crummy seasons and each once again has more questions than answers as we head into the 2019/20 campaign. That said, in Week 1 of the NFL preseason, don’t expect to see to many of those questions getting answered tonight. In a contest in which I see both teams going through the motions, I believe this total will in fact stay well below the posted number once it’s all said and done. Denver has missed the playoffs three straight years and the Broncos have since gone out and hired head coach Vic Fangio, who was the defensive coordinator for the Bears the last four seasons (note that Denver was 24th in the league in averaging only 20.6 PPG.) The Falcons were just 7-9 last year. How much gas do Matt Ryan and Julio Jones have left in them? Who knows, but neither will see any time in this game. Each of these teams gets five warm up games in the preseason this year, but in the first one, I’m expecting each to come out “rusty.” This number is high, play the under.

T.M. Prediction: 14-10 Broncos.