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NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (8/17)

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The 2024 NFL preseason is here! While the NFL preseason isn’t the same as the regular season, it’s still a great opportunity to start scratching your football betting itch. That’s right, you can bet on the 2024 NFL preseason! And we’ll be here to navigate your 2024 NFL preseason betting picks with predictions for each and every game. Here are our top picks and predictions for Week 2 of the 2024 NFL preseason.

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NFL Preseason Week 2 Picks & Predictions

Falcons vs. Ravens

The Atlanta offense played as expected for a preseason game last week vs. Miami-it struggled. Michael Penix Jr. had some moments, but he still looked like a rookie seeing his first taste of action in the NFL. When he left the game, the offense went from inconsistent to practically nonexistent. Baltimore’s offense was even more anemic against the Eagles. We may see some progress from either team’s offense this week, but with most starters not seeing any playing time, don’t count on it. With Penix Jr.’s potential, there is a stronger chance the Falcons offense shows signs of life than Baltimore’s. But look for this to be another ‘defensive’ preseason battle.

Pick: UNDER 35.5 (-110)

  • Travis Pulver

Bengals vs. Bears

The Bengals are coming off a Preseason Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. Head coach Zac Taylor has not come out and said Joe Burrow and the first unit will play, but he hasn't ruled it out. Burrow and the starters got one series, and if they were to start, expect the same amount of playing time. There are still some position battles to watch out for, specifically at running back. Chase Brown is trying to establish himself as the RB1 with Joe Mixon gone, but they did sign veteran Zack Moss. The Bears have a chance to go 3-0 at the start of the preseason as they beat Houston in the Hall of Fame Game, then a 27-point beatdown of the Bills. We saw Caleb Williams’ debut last week, and he and the starters got two series. With a rookie quarterback trying to get game-time experience with his crew, you could see the same amount of playing time or even an entire quarter. The Bengals are only 3-10 in preseason games under Taylor, and Chicago could emphasize playing their starters with a few new pieces.

Pick: Bears -6 (-110)

  • John Supowitz

Giants vs. Texans

After letting their star running back go during the offseason, the Giants had a clear goal in mind for the preseason - to see what we have at running back. Three different backs got carries as New York did a solid job on the ground, gaining 155 total yards rushing. Establishing the run could encourage DeMeco Ryans to pull C.J. Stroud sooner rather than later. When he does, what offense the Texans have shown will go with him. Davis Mills and Case Keenum are solid backups, but without quality tools to work with, don’t expect much from either. Self-preservation will play a factor in this one. But whatever C.J. Stroud can score in his limited time may be enough to beat the Giants. We are leaning toward taking Houston and giving the points, but the UNDER (39.5 at -110) is the better bet.

Pick: UNDER 39.5 (-110)

  • Travis Pulver

Lions vs. Chiefs

We’ll likely see a little more of Patrick Mahomes this week, but Andy Reid will not keep his superstar quarterback on the field for long. Reid knows what he has; he doesn’t need the preseason for much more than finding depth. After making a long-awaited postseason run last year, Detroit is not looking to prove anything during preseason play, either. Dan Campbell will get his guys a few reps in this game before yielding the field to the rest of the roster. Look for both teams to take a cautious approach to playing anyone they need on Sundays. Consequently, don’t be shocked if the scoring stops once Patrick Mahomes steps off the field.

Pick: UNDER 39 (-110)

  • Travis Pulver

Vikings vs. Browns

The Vikings scratched out a come-from-behind win, 24-23, against the Las Vegas Raiders in the Twin Cities. Rookie QB JJ McCarthy led the comeback, throwing a pair of third-quarter touchdowns, outshinining presumptive starter Sam Darnold. Trishton Jackson and journeyman Trent Sherfield were on the receiving end of the scoring strikes. Unfortunately for the Vikings, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the right knee, and will require surgery. The Browns were less than impressive, falling 23-10 at home to the Green Bay Packers, while totaling just 56 rushing yards on 21 attempts with a lost fumble, three sacks allowed and four penalties. To be fair, QB Deshaun Watson was rested, but backups Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson were all somewhat efficient. But with no Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper or David Njoku, the Cleveland offense being toothless is not indicative of what to expect going forward. These teams are doing joint practices this week, and that can lead to animosity. It could be an entertaining game, but don’t look for a ton of scoring, especially with McCarthy unable to go.

Pick: UNDER 37.5 (-110)

  • Daniel Dobish

Seahawks vs. Titans

The Seahawks, coming off a 16-3 win over the Chargers in their first game of the preseason, made the trip across the country early to take part in joint practices with the Titans this week. Head coach Mike Macdonald will use Seattle’s first joint sessions since 1991 to get his starters some game speed reps but Geno Smith and company won’t see the field during the actual game. The same can be said for the Titans as head coach Brian Callahan said earlier in the week that the second and third string will get most of the game reps. That means a lot of Sam Howell, P.J. Walker, Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, look for some chances to be taken and some points to be put up on the board.

Pick: OVER 35.5 (-110)

  • Tom Stad

Cardinals vs. Colts

The Cardinals and Colts will hold joint practices this week, a trend that is gaining steam in the NFL, where most of the starters will get the bulk of their work for the week. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon is still not sure if his starters will see any game action against the Colts. If they do, don’t expect to see much of Kyler Murray and company. Expect much of the same from Indianapolis. Colts GM Chris Ballard, appearing on a local radio station, said that there’s a good chance starting QB Anthony Richardson won’t see the field either. Both teams dropped their preseason openers a week ago, but were able to find the end zone. Indianapolis has the deeper roster at this point and being at home should add a comfort level that gives them the edge.

Pick: Colts -3 (-110)

  • Tom Stad

Commanders vs. Dolphins

The Commanders likely don’t have much to look forward to this season outside of watching Jayden Daniels grow in this offense. However, when it comes to preseason football, they’re a team that is built to win. They have a deep roster of both players with NFL starting experience as well as young talent. Nowhere is this more evident than at the quarterback position. Jeff Driskel and Marcus Mariota who both got run in the opening game against the Jets have started NFL games in the past and that already puts them a cut above most of the quarterbacks playing in the preseason. Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels and Sam Hartman both looked impressive in their time under center as well. The Dolphins are a team with high expectations this year, but you won’t see many if any of their important pieces play in the preseason. They were able to take care of the Falcons in Week 1 but they completed just 12 of 33 pass attempts and their opponent wasn’t much better. It’s clear that Miami is trying to get through this preseason as healthy as possible while the Commanders are trying to establish a culture and winning attitude. I’ll be backing the team that showed more in Week 1. I’ll be backing the Commanders.

Pick: Commanders +5 (-110)

  • Ryan Rodeman

Bills vs. Steelers

Despite a crooked final score, the Steelers actually move the ball well in their 20-12 loss to the Texans. Two costly turnovers did them in, but both Justin Fields and Kyle Allen looked good in the contest connecting on 22 of 29 passes for 235 yards. The Bills, on the other hand, struggled to move the ball. Gaining just an average of 3.1 yards per play and that was with some of the first stringers, including Josh Allen, getting snaps. It was the defense for Buffalo that really disappointed. Allowing the Bears to do whatever they wanted on offense to the tune of 340 yards and 6.5 yards per play. Ultimately it led to a 33-6 demise to the Hard Knocks darlings. Much of the scoring came late in the game with a pick-six and two short drive touchdowns. Otherwise the Bills excelled in bend but don’t break. They should be able to clean some things up defensively and the Steelers should play well again on defense too. This total is perhaps a little too high, and I’ll be looking to play the under.

Pick: UNDER 36.5 (-110)

  • Ryan Rodeman

Jets vs. Panthers

The Panthers were a train wreck in the first game in New England, falling 17-3, and to make matters worse, their Delta Airlines charter flight got stuck in the mud upon arriving back at Douglas International. Ouch. QB Bryce Young didn’t play, nor did the injured QB Andy Dalton, so it was a vanilla offense led by third-stringer Jack Plummer, with fellow QB3 hopeful Jake Luton also seeing time under center. The results are what you’d expect – choppy offense, safe plays and a listless attack. The Jets were able to get the job done against the Washington Commanders, 20-17, despite the fact QB Aaron Rodgers was rested, and we did not see RB Breece Hall, WR Garrett Wilson or many other starters. The Jets actually looked like an NFL-caliber team, but again, it’s preseason. Still, with 118 rushing yards, and 174 passing yards, and no turnovers, the only thing that didn’t go well was discipline, as the team had six penalties. The Panthers are a disaster, and the Jets should be able to get the job done on the road.

Pick: Jets -3.5 (-110)

  • Daniel Dobish

Rams vs. Chargers

These two teams held a joint scrimmage at the Rams practice facility on August 4th. The biggest news to come out of that session was the knee injury to Puka Nacua as both defenses dominated the day. We saw more of the same from both teams in their first official preseason games with the Rams squeaking past the Cowboys 13-12 and the Chargers falling the to Seahawks 16-3. Rookie QB Stetson Bennett played the entire game, throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also threw four interceptions in the Rams win. Expect to see Jimmy Garoppolo this week, even though the former Raider is suspended for the first two weeks of the regular season. Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers don’t have much depth behind starting QB Justin Herbert, who is nursing a hamstring injury and that lack of depth showed up last week.The offense couldn’t even muster 200 total yards against Seattle. That trend should continue against a Rams defense that adds a couple new pieces in a pair of rookie defensive linemen in Jared Verse and Braden Fiske.

Pick: Rams +1.5 (-110)

  • Tom Stad

Buccaneers vs. Jaguars

The Buccaneers came away with a win against the Bengals in Week 1 without playing any of their starters. This was a division-winning team, and with all of its important starters back from last year, don't expect much playing time, if at all. Kyle Trask and John Wolford should split the halves again, but there's also the debate on who should be the running back behind Raachad White. They drafted Sean Tucker last year, but he didn't get the work some thought, and now they drafted Bucky Irving, who could steal his snaps. The Jaguars went in a different direction for their first preseason game and played their starters for two series and as a team that regressed in Year 2 with Doug Pederson. They'll likely want to do the same thing in this game, with Trevor Lawrence having a new top receiver in Gabe Davis and continually expressing how much they want Tank Bigsby to be more involved with the offense. This will give a significant advantage to the Jags as they try to get a win in Duval County.

Pick: Jaguars -2.5 (-110)

  • John Supowitz

Cowboys vs. Raiders

The Cowboys became the first team in the world to be worth ten billion dollars. Unfortunately, that hasn't meant success, as they are now approaching 28 years since their last Super Bowl win. Don't expect any starters in this game and likely not any during the preseason. The quarterback battle is important to pay attention to. Cooper Rush is currently the backup, but they will give former 49ers starter Trey Lance a chance to move up, with the potential of this being Dak Prescott's last season in Dallas. The Raiders are probably the only team that has a starting quarterback battle. Will Antonio Pierce decide to start Aidan O'Connell, who struggled at the time last year, or veteran journeyman Gardner Minshew? Although O'Connell got the start in the previous game, Minshew was the better player that day as he threw for 117 yards and a touchdown. There's a lot of offensive talent that will see the field, and both teams could put 20 points.

Pick: OVER 39 (-110)

  • John Supowitz

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