NFL Preseason Week 1 Best Bets for Thursday's Games

With our first full preseason slate of the year on tap, we get a lil appetizer tonight.

It's a two-game shindig as the Detroit Lions face the New York Giants while the New England Patriots take on the Carolina Panthers. It may not be the most robust offering, but I do think we can find some betting value in both games.

Let's dive into that, outlining which bets stand out to me in FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL Week 1 preseason odds and why I believe those bets are worth considering.

Tonight's Best NFL Preseason Week 1 Bets

Detroit Lions at New York Giants

Game Over 34.5 Points (-110)

We already know neither team is rolling out its starters here with Jared Goff and Daniel Jones both projected to sit.

But the quarterback depth behind both guys is good enough for me to still like the over at 34.5.

On the Lions' side, the only other quarterbacks on the roster are Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker. Sudfeld has had some past success in the preseason, and Hooker is a former third-rounder who lit it up his final year with the Tennessee Volunteers.

For the Giants behind Jones, it's just Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito, both of whom have at least been competent in short stints in the past.

Things could be a whole lot worse for two teams sitting their starting signal callers.

Both Dan Campbell and Brian Daboll have tended to play in higher-scoring preseason games, as well. The median points scored across Campbell's nine preseason games is 43, and Daboll's is at 45.5. In preseason Week 1s, specifically, they've gone over 34.5 a combined 4 of 5 games.

It will be rainy in East Rutherford, but the wind speed is in the single digits. That one concern isn't enough to push me off given the number of factors pointing toward an over.

Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots

Patriots to Rush for 125-Plus Yards (+145)

We have dueling philosophies for this one with two first-year head coaches. Dave Canales has said that Bryce Young will sit while Jerod Mayo said all healthy players will play.

That's why the Patriots are favored by 6.5 here. With how unpredictable preseason games are, I'd have a hard time backing that number.

But I do think we could see the Patriots move the ball on the ground, enough so that I like them at +145 to record 125-plus rushing yards.

Based on Mayo's words, we should expect at least some work out of Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. That'll help this number some.

But even once they depart, both Kevin Harris and JaMycal Hasty have shown life in past preseasons. Back in 2021, Hasty averaged 5.0 yards per attempt on 35 rushes and scored 3 times.

Importantly, though, this market also includes rushing yardage racked up by quarterbacks. Athleticism was one of Drake Maye's defining traits coming out, and he has a little "hair-on-fire," Josh Allen-style play when he runs. Behind him is Joe Milton, who is more known for his cannon of an arm but did run at least a bit last year at Tennessee.

Overall, the Patriots seem to be the team pushing harder in this one, and they've got enough depth at running back and quarterback to think they'll be able to make some room on the ground. I think getting +145 at this mark is enough to justify some enthusiasm.

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Which bets stand out to you for tonight's games? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's latest NFL Week 1 preseason odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.