The NFL preseason kicks off in earnest on Thursday, which means we've got ample opportunity to fine-tune our NFL predictions before the regular season begins.
As I run through the Week 1 slate, you're going to hear me talk a lot about QB depth, as I believe it's one of the most important factors when locking in your NFL picks for the preseason.
With a full 16-game slate, let's dive right into the action.
NFL preseason moneyline picks for Week 1
| Matchup | Pick |
|---|---|
 Colts vs  Ravens |
(+210) |
 Bengals vs  Eagles |
(-260) |
 Raiders vs  Seahawks |
(-230) |
 Browns vs  Panthers |
(+235) |
 Lions vs  Falcons |
(-200) |
 Commanders vs  Patriots |
(+220) |
 Giants vs  Bills |
(-125) |
 Texans vs  Vikings |
(-125) |
 Cowboys vs  Rams |
(-135) |
 Steelers vs  Jaguars |
(-150) |
 Titans vs  Buccaneers |
(-190) |
 Chiefs vs  Cardinals |
(+105) |
 Jets vs  Packers |
(-140) |
 Broncos vs  49ers |
(-260) |
 Dolphins vs  Bears |
(-165) |
 Saints vs  Chargers |
(-105) |
Lines courtesy of bet365 as of 8-6.
Expert NFL moneyline picks for Preseason Week 1
Colts vs Ravens: Ravens (+210)
The Baltimore Ravens are preseason royalty. John Harbaugh plays to win, as evidenced by his 45-17 preseason record. AT +210, I'll gladly take Cooper Rush and Devin Leary in the dying stages of the game over Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard.
Bengals vs Eagles: Bengals (-260)
The time to bet the Cincinnati Bengals was yesterday, before they announced their starters would get a good chunk of playing time. I expect them to build a big enough lead, one that the combination of Tanner McKee, Kyle McCord, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson can't overcome.
Raiders vs Seahawks: Raiders (-230)
New Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is on record as saying his starters won't see the field in this opening contest. On the flip side, Pete Caroll is a wild card when it comes to game time for his main guys, but he won't pass up a chance to stick it to his former team.
Browns vs Panthers: Browns (+235)
Let's start the preseason by buying into the Shedeur Sanders hype. What could possibly go wrong? He's expected to get the bulk of the work due to injuries, and Tyler Huntley is a good preseason QB, as he was part of those unstoppable Ravens teams in years past.
Lions vs Falcons: Lions (-200)
The Atlanta Falcons will trot out Easton Stick and Emory Jones, and that won't be enough. The Detroit Lions already have some game time under their belts in the HOF Game, so they can't be any worse in this one.
Commanders vs Patriots: Commanders (+220)
This is one of those games where QB depth will matter the most. The Washington Commanders will split the time between Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman, while the New England Patriots will try to implement a new offense with Joshua Dobbs and Ben Wooldridge. I'll take the plus money.
Giants vs Bills: Giants (-125)
This game may be the toughest to call on the slate. Both teams are being coy about whether their starters will play or not (outside of Josh Allen), but the QB depth suggests taking the New York Giants and trusting Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart.
Texans vs Vikings: Vikings (-125)
It'll be nice to see J.J. McCarthy under center for the Minnesota Vikings, but the QB depth is why I'm taking the home side.
Cowboys vs Rams: Cowboys (-135)
With the news of Matthew Stafford's back issues, the Los Angeles Rams may be extra cautious with who they trot out under center and for how long. I'll take the Dallas Cowboys duo of Joe Milton and Will Grier to put in work and squeak out a victory.
Steelers vs Jaguars: Jaguars (-15)
Reports out of Pittsburgh Steelers camp indicate that the offense is way behind the defense, which is a bad sign for a team breaking in a host of new players. I'll take the Jacksonville Jaguars here to score enough to get the win.
Titans vs Buccaneers: Titans (-190)
This is the ugliest game on the board from a betting perspective, as both teams' depth is limited, and nobody knows how long the starters will play. I'll side with Cam Ward as he needs to make a good first impression.
Chiefs vs Cardinals: Chiefs (-+105)
While the Arizona Cardinals try and set the tone for their season by playing their starters, the Kansas City Chiefs are the better team, with more pronounced depth.
Jets vs Packers: Packers (-140)
No bet against the New York Jets is a bad bet. Preseason or not.
Broncos vs 49ers: Broncos (-260)
The Denver Broncos will give their starters some run in this opener, and similar to the Chiefs/Cardinals game, I like their depth a lot more than that of the San Francisco 49ers.
Dolphins vs Bears: Bears (-165)
There always seems to be a distraction or excuse surrounding the Miami Dolphins, but the same can't be said for the Chicago Bears. With high expectations this year, I like the Bears to set the tone early.
Saints vs Chargers: Chargers (-105)
Similar to the Lions/Falcons game, I'll take the team that already has a game under its belt.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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