Preseason Trends That Need to Be Ignored
Scott Morris | August 30, 2017
The NFL’s preseason has just one week remaining and there have been trends during the short four week period that bettors need to ignore when the regular season begins.
One week of the preseason remains followed a week later by the start of the 2017 NFL regular season September 7. Bettors can learn from NFL preseason games, but there are things that need to be ignored as well.
For example, here are three AFC teams where the truth is not what it appears to be.
New England have given up an average of nearly 29 points per game during the preseason which is the second highest allowed by any team during the preseason.
However, do not consider this a sign that the Patriots defense is still not strong. Over the past two seasons, New England’s defense has been in the top 10 of the NFL in yards allowed and last season finished No. 1 in points allowed at only 15.6 per game. As long as Bill Belichick is on the sidelines for New England, the defense will be near the top in the NFL.
The Indianapolis Colts have not yet ruled out Andrew Luck starting under center in Week 1 even though he remains on the team’s PUP list due to surgery during the offseason on his right shoulder.
Chuck Pagano the team’s head coach will not say who is starting Week 1 at quarterback versus the Rams if Luck remains on the PUP list.
This is huge. Indianapolis without Luck is average and would not fare well if he is out for any length of time.
In Week 1 the Colts opened as 3.5-point chalk against Los Angeles but now the Rams are 2.5-point chalk. Most sportsbooks have the game off the board.
The Cleveland Browns are 3-0 straight up as well as against the spread. However, Cleveland remains a 200 to 1 long shot to win Super Bowl LII.
The Week 1 starting quarterback for the Browns will be DeShone Kizer a rookie from Notre Dame and he will not be able to put fire under an offense that was No. 31 in the league last season in points scored.
Even with just one preseason game remaining and a 3-0 record thus far, the Browns are 9-point dogs at home Week 1 against Pittsburgh. Jumping on the Cleveland bandwagon is very premature.
