Week 2 of the NFL preseason grinds on and we’re all chalking off the days until the real football starts – but seeing some limited game time is better than nothing, right?
Preseason usage is one of those eternal mysteries, like what the hell were the Giants thinking when they Daniel Jones $40m per year, but we can at least try to read the tea-leaves from training camp chatter and coaching tendencies to find a few decent bets. Here are our pick of the punts from Saturday night’s slate…
NFL Preseason Saturday Week 2 Treble
9:25pm: Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns
Moneyline: Browns to win
12am: New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers
Total Points: Under 31.5
12:25am: Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts
Total Points: Over 36.5
These selections combined in a treble pays at approximately 9/2 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
9:25pm: Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns
Moneyline: Browns to win
We went against the Vikings last week, siding with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s poor record and history in the preseason, only for his team to rally back from a double-digit deficit in the second-half against the Raiders and win by a point.
But sometimes, even when you lose, you were on the right side, and we’re going to keep opposing Minnesota this week.
Since last week, rookie Vikes QB JJ McCarthy has been ruled out for the season, so that depletes their signalcaller rotation for this game further.
The Browns, by contrast, have one of the strongest beck-up rooms in the league behind Deshaun Watson in Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. All three have started and won games in the regular season and ought to see the Browns emerge on top on Saturday night.
12am: New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers
Total Points: Under 31.5
We all know the Panthers’ story last season. Sell the farm to get the number one pick, he has a terrible year, his head coach doesn’t even see out the season before he’s canned and now you have one of the hot young OC’s from 2023 in charge and trying to rescue Bryce Young from draft bust infamy.
So it’s a relief that Young was not involved in the 17-3 loss to the Patriots last week as that would be an ominous sign for the Panthers going forward.
He probably won’t suit up this week either as Carolina are expected to rest starters again, but the Jets are also taking it very easy in August with Aaron Rodgers not expected to appear and very little usage for any big names.
You would expect something more from the Panthers this week under a new head coach and the +3 handicap earlier in the week appealed. With the home team now favoured through, and a really poor rotation of QBs likely to see the field, I’d rather take the under on a low total of 31.5.
12:25am: Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts
Total Points: Over 36.5
Kyler Murray won’t play in the preseason according to Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon. That means we’re looking at Desmond Ridder and Clayton Tune under centre for the Cardinals on Saturday night.
They lost to Saints last week and now face the Colts, who gave up 34 points and 32 first downs to the Broncos last week.
Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor were given a few snaps but could see more time on the field this week.
That suggests more points and with their back-ups on defence struggling, the over on 36.5 points is tempting here.
NFL Preseason Saturday Week 2 Best Bets
9:25pm: Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns
Moneyline: Browns to win
12am: New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers
Total Points: Under 31.5
12:25am: Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts
Total Points: Over 36.5
These selections combined in a treble pays at approximately 9/2 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All odds and lines quoted are accurate at time of publication but are subject to change
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