The 2025 National Football League (NFL) preseason wraps up Saturday, and next time these teams each take the field, the games will count for real. There are 10 games on the schedule, starting at noon ET with the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders on ESPN Unlimited, while wrapping up at 10:00 p.m. ET with the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals on NFL Network.
Let’s build our bankroll with our best NFL preseason picks and bets for Saturday, August 23rd.
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Saturday’s Best NFL Preseason Picks & Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
Los Angeles Rams (+315) at Cleveland Browns (-400) | O/U 36.5 (-105/-115)
The Rams (2-0) head into the preseason finale looking to finish with a perfect record in the exhibition season, while the Browns (2-0) are also angling to finish 3-0.
This is the first game in front of the home fans for the Browns, after winning 30-10 in Carolina on August 8th, and 22-13 in Philadelphia on August 16th. Cleveland is 2-0 against the spread (ATS), both times as an underdog. The over/under has split in those two outings.
For the Rams, they’re also 2-0 straight up (SU)/ATS in two games so far in the preseason, both at home, while cashing each time as underdogs. The over has cashed in both games, too.
While quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) completed a full week of practice, he is not expected to play in this game. For the Browns, quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to start, with rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel backing him up, followed by rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. There is plenty of competition and plenty of quality under center for the Browns. Can you lay that seven and a hook, though? That’s a big number.
The best course of action is to bet lightly and take the points, while going over on the total.
Picks: Rams +7.5 (-105) & Over 36.5 Points (-105)
The Broncos (2-0) head down to the Big Easy to tangle with the Saints (0-1-1). All eyes will be on head coach Sean Payton as he returns to New Orleans, although that should be the back story.
Denver quarterback Bo Nix is expected to only play 8-10 snaps in the preseason finale, simply breaking a sweat and kicking off some rust before the games go for real. Denver knows what it has, and it isn’t a quarterback competition. The interesting stuff happens later, as-caller Jarrett Stidham is the backup quarterback, and the team decides if it wants to carry Sam Ehlinger as the third signal-caller or not.
In New Orleans, things are less clear. Incumbent quarterback Spencer Rattler and second-round pick Tyler Shough have been locked in a heated competition. Rattler is scheduled to work first with the ones, while Shough comes on second. Shough is 24-of-34 for 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception through two preseason games.
The rookie has looked very good at times, although he had a pick-six against the Chargers. Still, Denver is simply wrapping up the preseason, but New Orleans has important jobs on the line, and guys will be going all out. That’s the key here. Back New Orleans at home and take it with the three and a hook on its home turf.
As far as the total, New Orleans will be trying to roll up the points, but Denver’s defense has been stout, allowing a total of 16 points in the preseason. Let’s go low in this finale.
Picks: Saints +3.5 (-115) & Under 39.5 Points (-115)
The Bills (0-2) were embarrassed in Chicago, falling 38-0. We trusted Buffalo last week, and we were burned, as we never saw quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook or any of the top Bills players.
For the Buccaneers (2-0), they’ve had a very good preseason, but that’s part of the reason to back the Bills. Tampa Bay’s coaching staff has seen enough. While quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Kyle Trask are in a heated battle for the No. 2 job, that’s about the only meaningful competition that should be hashed out. That isn’t going to move the needle in terms of an overwhelming amount of points.
The Bills want to finish up strong, although Allen will remain nailed to the pine, and he won’t get any in-game reps in the preseason for the first time in his NFL career.
The Buccaneers will not play starters against the Bills, and they just played rookie starters in the most recent game. Don’t expect to see a lot of players you might rely upon for fantasy purposes once the games count for real.
This could be an ugly, low-scoring game. The best bet is to side with the under, while backing backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the visitors, who try to finish on a high note.
Picks: Bills Moneyline (-132) & Under 36.5 Points (-110)
