NFL Preseason Predictions & Picks: 4 Best Bets for NFL Friday, August 21, 2026

NFL Betting Picks in Summary

• Jets -1.5
• Panthers -1.5
• Broncos -5.5
• Jordan Love 20+ Passing Yards

Three games headline Friday night's preseason schedule, and the prop boards across all three tell genuinely different stories about who's actually taking the field.

All NFL preseason odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL betting odds and may change after this article is published.

NFL Predictions and Picks for Preseason Week 1

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (Fri, 7 p.m. ET)

Jets -1.5 (-106)

Geno Smith, Garrett Wilson and Braelon Allen all have live props posted for tonight, pointing to a real, extended look for New York's skill-position starters. That's a genuine edge over a Pittsburgh side likely leaning more heavily on backups.

Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Fri, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Panthers -1.5 (-115)

Both Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young have live passing markets tonight, so this one is a genuine coin flip at the position that usually decides these games — Carolina's short favorite status on the road reflects a fairly even overall read.

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (Fri, 9 p.m. ET)

Broncos -5.5 (-115)

This is the deepest prop board of the night — both quarterbacks, both lead backs, and five different receivers all have live markets, suggesting full starting units on both sides. Denver's favorite status reflects a real talent edge across the depth chart.

Jordan Love 20+ Passing Yards (+124)

With three separate Green Bay receivers all carrying live props tonight, Love has plenty of options to find a clean completion. A plus-money price on 20 yards is fair value for a starter of his caliber.