NFL Preseason Picks & Predictions: Week 1 (Saturday)

Grab a snack and take a seat because Week 1 of the NFL preseason rolls on with seven games on Saturday. It's a time when positional battles are fought, and players hidden on the depth chart make a name for themselves. As unpredictable as preseason action can be, there's still betting value to be found. Here's a look at three of my favorite NFL preseason picks for Saturday's slate.

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Saturday’s Best NFL Preseason Picks

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills

The energy of preseason crowds usually doesn’t compare to that of regular season crowds. However, expect Bills Mafia to turn it up a level on Saturday.

Buffalo’s tilt versus Carolina will be the first game played at the new Highmark Stadium. Head coach Joe Brady is giving the fans something to cheer about, too, after announcing “everybody that’s healthy is going to be playing out there.” That includes four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen, though it remains to be seen if that’ll last beyond a series or two.

On the other side, the Panthers are riding high following their 33-30 victory over the Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game. Rookie quarterback Haynes King made a splash by completing 21-of-34 passes for 180 yards and tallying three total touchdowns.

Momentum is on the Panthers’ side as they attempt to play spoiler on the road. This has the blueprint of a back-and-forth thriller. There was an average of 46.3 points scored in Buffalo’s three preseason games in 2025. Trust that trend to carry over into 2026.

Pick: Over 38.5 Points (-112)

Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants

Kyler Murray has been named the Vikings’ starting quarterback. It leaves J.J. McCarthy in an interesting spot. An exciting preseason won’t change the decision, but it could possibly lead to a trade for the second-year pro.

Veteran Carson Wentz would be the fallback backup quarterback option for Minnesota. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that Murray and McCarthy will see action on Saturday. They combined for 2,594 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in 15 starts last campaign.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh was much more ambiguous when asked about the status of starting quarterback Jaxson Dart. Of course, bettors remember Harbaugh as a preseason darling throughout his time with Baltimore. He led his team to victory in 47 out of 64 preseason contests.

Installing a winning culture in New York in one offseason is a tall order, though. I like the Vikings to get the job done at MetLife Stadium. Murray and McCarthy should both be motivated to showcase their skills on a big stage.

Pick: Vikings -2.5 (-108)

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears

Unlike the Vikings, the Browns have yet to name a starting quarterback. Deshaun Watson will play the first half on Saturday, with Shedeur Sanders taking over in the third quarter.

Injuries have kept Watson on the sidelines since October 2024. Don’t be surprised if the dual-threat capabilities that made him dangerous early in his career are dampened upon returning from an Achilles rupture. As a result, Cleveland’s high-upside rookie wideouts (KC Concepcion & Denzel Boston) ought to see plenty of targets.

Tyson Bagent will be taking the opening snaps for Chicago as Caleb Williams rests. The former Division II standout shined under head coach Ben Johnson during the 2025 preseason. He connected on 66.7% of his passes for 511 yards and five touchdowns across three games.

Familiarity with the offense will go a long way against a Browns defense learning under first-time NFL defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. It’s a toss-up as to which team will score a touchdown first, so give me the plus-odds choice.

Pick: Bears to Score the First Touchdown (+120)