It’s been nearly six months since I last watched Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, but with the NFL preseason back, the familiar question arises: Is betting on the preseason actually worthwhile?
For many casual bettors, preseason wagering feels like a gamble with unpredictable outcomes. Star players see limited action, motivation fluctuates, and games don’t reflect full competition. Many sources even suggest avoiding NFL preseason bets altogether.
However, the reality is that the preseason can offer excellent betting opportunities throughout the NFL season.
Why? Because sportsbooks struggle to accurately account for variables such as insider knowledge, coaching strategies, and quarterback rotations. While most bettors guess, sharp bettors use this to their advantage.
Here are some tips to approach preseason betting more effectively:
Information is Key
During the regular season, news is closely guarded and sportsbooks quickly adjust odds. In the preseason, there’s a wider gap in information.
Coaches openly talk about player usage, reporters speculate on rotations, and players hint at plans on social media. Knowing a starter will get three full drives, for example, can be valuable intel, often overlooked by the betting market.
Savvy bettors often spot these insights before sportsbooks do. If the bookmaker misses something, it creates a rare lower-risk betting opportunity in the preseason.
Coaching Matters—But Not How You Might Think
Every August, John Harbaugh’s strong preseason record influences many to bet Baltimore, but sportsbooks are aware of this trend.
The value lies in understanding coaches’ motives. Some prioritize avoiding injuries, others want to evaluate depth or resolve quarterback battles. For example, Mike Tomlin tends to play starters longer to establish momentum, while Sean McVay rarely plays them at all.
Grasping coaching strategies and past tendencies reveals potential value as lines open.
Quarterback Rotations: The Hidden Factor
Preseason odds can seem odd. You might see the Chiefs as four-point underdogs to a weaker team, but this isn’t a Patrick Mahomes-led squad, and the market may have missed this nuance.
QB depth is especially important in August. A team with two fringe quarterbacks competing can be more unpredictable and potentially more valuable to bet on than a team with a firmly established backup.
Last year, the Cowboys heavily featured Trey Lance—not to win games, but to evaluate him and boost trade value. This approach influenced betting markets, showing how QB usage impacts preseason betting dynamics.
Low Totals, High Leverage: Preseason Teasers
A sports betting teaser lets you adjust point spreads or totals on multiple bets but requires both to win. While usually not appealing, teasers hold more value in preseason play.
Why? Because scoring tends to be low, making every point more critical. For instance, a 6-point teaser shifting an underdog from +1 to +7 is much more impactful in a game expected to end around 13-10.
Playing teasers on low-scoring preseason games can help capture key betting numbers.
Bet the Information, Not the Teams
Preseason betting isn’t about predicting which team will be better in the regular season. It’s about who is playing, for how long, and why that matters.
If you seek soft lines and mispriced odds, the preseason offers a unique window. So yes, preseason bets are absolutely worth making—just treat it as an information game, not casual guessing.
Fan Take: This insight into NFL preseason betting highlights the depth and strategy involved beyond just watching the games. For fans, it means the preseason isn’t simply filler—it’s a key period for understanding team dynamics and gaining an edge in betting, which can add excitement to the sport year-round.
