NFL Preseason Week 1 Predictions, Preview & Betting Odds 2026

The first game of the NFL Preseason 2026 was an absolute thriller. The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals traded blows throughout the fourth quarter, but the Panthers ended up on top after Haynes King ran for a five-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock. Now, every other team will take the field for the first time in the first full week of NFL Preseason Games. All but one game of the NFL Preseason Schedule 2026 will take place on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, so keep that in mind when you are putting your money on NFL Preseason Predictions. 

Download the Betcris Arizona app to explore the latest odds, live betting options, player props, and more from your mobile device. Get the app today and stay connected to the action anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD OUR APP TODAY

Keep more winnings, scan or click to get the Betcris Arizona app now!

NFL Preseason Games This Week

Most of the NFL Preseason Games in Week 1 will be nationally televised. The first televised game is already drawing significant buzz, as Aaron Rodgers will lead the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is now reunited with Mike McCarthy, and the tandem would like to get a win against their previous team even if it is preseason. Reportedly, McCarthy has requested that Rodgers play at least 30 snaps in each of the first two preseason games, so that should bode well for Pittsburgh’s chances. 

At the same time Green Bay is taking on Pittsburgh, the Cincinnati Bengals will be hosting the Detroit Lions. Currently, this game has the largest point spread of the NFL Preseason 2026 as the Bengals are favored by seven points. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell already stated that most of the Lions’ starters won’t play, while Cincinnati will play most of its starters, leading to the line disparity.

Featured NFL Preseason Matchups to Watch

Week 1 of the NFL Preseason Schedule 2026 will also give us two potential Super Bowl previews on Saturday. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Rams in a game that has a few different storylines. Trent McDuffie will face his former team after the Chiefs dealt him to the Rams this offseason, and one of these two teams had made the Super Bowl in seven straight seasons prior to last year.

Baltimore will host Philadelphia in the other potential Super Bowl preview. The Ravens and Eagles both had disappointing seasons last year, but both teams are on the short list of Super Bowl contenders. 

NFL Preseason Schedule 2026

Week 1 of the NFL Preseason Schedule 2026 is below:

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals 7:00 PM (NFL Network)

Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers 7:00 PM

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots 7:30 PM

Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans 8:00 PM

Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders 8:00 PM (ESPN Unlimited)

Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers 9:00 PM (NFL Network)

Friday, August 14, 2026

Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons 7:00 PM (ESPN Unlimited)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets 7:00 PM (NFL Network)

Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders 7:00 PM

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills 1:00 PM

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears 1:00 PM (NFL Network)

Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants 1:00 PM (ESPN Unlimited)

Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs 4:00 PM (NFL Network)

Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints 4:00 PM (ESPN Unlimited)

Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens 7:00 PM (ESPN Unlimited)

Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks 8:00 PM (NFL Network)

When Does NFL Preseason Start?

The unofficial start of the NFL Preseason was the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Thursday, August 6. The real action kicks off this Thursday, August 13, and there will be six games that night. 

NFL Preseason Odds for This Week

One of the things you will notice with NFL Preseason odds is that they are all very similar. Since there are a ton of unknowns like playing time and backup quality, oddsmakers make the betting odds for NFL Preseason Games pretty uniform across the board.

Every game has an over/under between 35.5 and 40.5 this week. It’s very standard for all games to have a point spread of three points or less too, and there are only two games this week where one team is favored by more than a field goal per the NFL Preseason betting odds. Cincinnati is a seven-point home favorite over Detroit, and the Denver Broncos are favored by 5.5 points on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.

How to Read NFL Preseason Betting Odds

Reading NFL Preseason betting odds is just like reading typical NFL odds. The three most common bets are spread, moneyline, and over/under wagers. It has become very popular to bet on NFL Preseason teasers over the last several years, and you will see a lot of that given the short spreads and low totals.

Factors That Move NFL Preseason Odds

Playing time is the biggest factor when it comes to shifting NFL preseason odds. The odds will move in favor of a team if their coach declares their starters will see more action than expected. Conversely, any coach that openly states that they won’t be playing their starters will see the betting lines move against his team.

Experienced backup quarterbacks are a big factor in preseason odds too. These signal callers can carve up backup defenses in the preseason, leading to more points being put on the board. Rookie quarterbacks do tend to see more action, but it usually takes some time for them to adapt to the speed of the NFL.

NFL Preseason Predictions and Analysis

The first of my NFL Preseason Picks is Pittsburgh -2 against Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is the type of player that likes to get the last laugh even if it's preseason. As previously stated, McCarthy has said that he wants Rodgers to play 30 to 40 snaps in each of the Steelers’ first two preseason games, and I don’t expect Matt LaFleur to play his starters much despite his recent comments. Jordan Love suffered a minor injury during the preseason last year, and that will still be too fresh in Green Bay’s collective memory.

I will also jump at the opportunity to take a John Harbaugh team as an underdog in the preseason. Somehow, the NFL Preseason Odds have the New York Giants as a home underdog against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. Harbaugh was an incredible 42-21 ATS in the preseason during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, and that will to win won’t go away in a new location. 

Lastly, I believe Atlanta is undervalued. It’s easy to write off the Falcons at first glance since Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are both injured, but both players are expected to be cleared by the start of the regular season. That means there is no need to potentially rest a third-string quarterback with an eye on Week 1. Cooper Rush does not have a great history in the preseason, but he has plenty of experience and is worth a bet at these odds.

NFL Preseason Picks for Week 1

Pittsburgh -2 vs. Green Bay

NY Giants +2.5 vs. Minnesota

Atlanta +5.5 vs. Denver

Best Betting Angles for NFL Preseason Games

The best betting angles in the NFL Preseason involve backing coaches with tried-and-true records. Steve Spurrier was legendary in this regard, and John Harbaugh has been superb as well. Another one of the best angles is to find backup quarterbacks with significant experience who will receive the bulk of the playing time. Malik Willis eventually parlayed his preseason success into starting roles, and other players have taken note.

NFL Preseason Standings and Team Trends

There are no real NFL Preseason Standings to discuss at this point. Carolina is 1-0 and Arizona is 0-1 following the NFL Hall of Fame Game, but no other team has taken the field.

Do NFL Preseason Standings Matter?

NFL Preseason Standings only matter for bettors. Records are wiped clean before the start of the regular season, but it is important to remember what you see from coaches and quarterbacks so that it can be used with future preseason betting.

Download the App to get the latest odds.