Big Favorites vs. the NFL Preseason Betting Line

Let’s take a look at some of the recent numbers for favorites in the NFL preseason odds.

NFL preseason betting line results tell us that since 1999 teams laying five points or more in their first preseason game are 3-8 against the sports betting number. That might surprise some people considering favorites are normally popular, even on the NFL preseason betting line. History doesn’t lie though, and big favorites are not the way to go versus the NFL preseason betting line in the opening week.

Last season the New York Jets were laying five points to the Cleveland Browns in NFL preseason betting line odds in their opener and while the Jets won the game 24-20, they did not cover the NFL preseason odds. Two years ago it was the Dallas Cowboys laying 5.5 points against the Indianapolis Colts. The Cowboys got the win and the cover 23-10 against the NFL preseason betting line.

You have to go back to 2002 for the next two instances of teams laying five points or more against the NFL preseason betting line in their opening game. The Bucs were laying six points to Miami and lost 14-10 outright while the Steelers were laying five points to the Jets in sports betting and they lost outright 16-6. In 2001 it was two more failures of big favorites against the NFL preseason betting line as Jacksonville didn’t cover the 5.5 point number against Carolina while New Orleans failed to cover against Minnesota laying 6.5 points in NFL preseason odds at the sportsbook.

The two biggest favorites on the NFL preseason betting line in the past 10 years were in 1999 as Jacksonville covered the 7 point number against Carolina in their opener while Minnesota failed to cover the 7 point spread against the New York Giants.

Laying points is a risky proposition versus the NFL preseason betting line at the sportsbook. Rarely do the starters play for the entire game and many times they play less than a half. That can make handicapping the NFL preseason betting line difficult and it can make laying points in NFL preseason odds dangerous.