It started with the Raiders and the Jaguars last week, but now we are in the thick of it. Welcome to the preseason!
On Thursday, Week 1 begins with the Giants–Patriots (+1.5) and the Titans–Ravens (-4). For the Giants and Brian Daboll, it’s year one and a new start, and for the other three coaches, it’s just another beginning to a season.
When it comes to the preseason, every coach treats the games and, more importantly for bettors, the results differently. Mike Vrabel, for example, is 4-7 straight up, while Bill Belichick is 13-6 straight up since 2016.
Maybe the biggest storyline around the preseason year in and year out is the success of John Harbaugh and the Ravens. Under coach Harbaugh, Baltimore has won 20 consecutive preseason games straight up dating back to the 2016 season, a stretch of five years.