NFL Point Spreads and Betting Odds: Preseason Week 1

Preseason play in the National Football League kicks off Thursday night around the league. Here’s something to watch in each game along with Sports Interaction’s latest NFL point spreads and odds.

Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Falcons -3, Total 36.5

The Falcons lead the all-time series 9-6 in the preseason but the teams haven’t played since 2004. The Redskins went worst-to-first in the NFC East last year but lost their home  playoff game to the Green Bay Packers. You won’t see Washington first-round rookie WR Josh Doctson here as he’s dealing with an Achilles injury.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Eagles -3 Total 37

It’s the NFL head coaching debut for both Tampa Bay’s Dirk Koetter and Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson. Koetter was promoted from the Bucs’ offensive coordinator position this offseason after the team fired Lovie Smith. The Eagles canned Chip Kelly after a Week 16 loss last year and then hired Pederson, formerly the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, this offseason. We should get our first look at the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, Eagles QB Carson Wentz. Philly coaches don’t want him playing at all during the regular season, however, as a rookie.

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Patriots -3 Total 39

It will be interesting to see how Patriots coach Bill Belichick handles the preseason because of course starting quarterback Tom Brady is suspended the first four regular-season games. Brady can play in the preseason, though. So does Belichick give him plenty of reps to keep Brady sharp or does backup Jimmy Garoppolo see the vast majority of action? The Patriots can’t afford for him to get injured.

Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Ravens -1.5 Total 36.5

Carolina was an NFL-best 15-1 last regular season with quarterback Cam Newton winning his first NFL MVP Award. The Panthers reached the second Super Bowl in team history but were upset by the Denver Broncos. You likely won’t see Ravens starting QB Joe Flacco in this game as he works his way back from last year’s season-ending torn ACL and MCL in his left knee.

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Jets -2.5 Total 36.5

A lot of experts believe the Jaguars are ready for a breakout season as they are loaded with young talent. I happen to agree with that and think the Jags can win the AFC South. The Jets solved their QB problem by re-signing 2015 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick on the eve of training camp. These teams have met once before in the preseason, also at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 17, 2013, which the Jets won, 37-13.

Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears

Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Bears -1 Total 35

All eyes here will be on the Broncos quarterback situation. Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset this offseason and now the battle to replace him is between former Jet and Eagle Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian, a 2015 seventh-round pick out of  Northwestern. It’s not clear who will start this game but they should get equal reps and are currently listed as co-No. 1s on the depth chart.

Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers

Friday, 7 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Steelers -3 Total 35.5

The Lions begin life without Calvin Johnson, the greatest receiver in franchise history and a future Hall of Famer. He retired at the fairly young age of 30 this  offseason. Don’t expect to see Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell in this or any other preseason game.  He had surgery last November to repair a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee.

Miami Dolphins at New York Giants

Friday, 7 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Giants -3 Total 36.5

It’s two guys making their head coaching debuts in this game. Miami’s Adam Gase spent last season as Chicago’s offensive coordinator. The Giants promoted offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to the top job after parting ways with Tom Coughlin. The Dolphins have not faced the Giants in the preseason since 1994, but are 6-0 against New York in games that don’t count.

Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals

Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Bengals -3 Total 35

Both these teams won their respective divisions last year but lost their playoff opener at home. It would be surprising if the Vikings play star running back Adrian Peterson, last season’s NFL rushing leader. Peterson has not had a carry in a preseason game since 2011 but has said he’d like to play a little this preseason. The team probably won’t listen.

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers

Friday, 8 p.m. ET

NFL odds: TBA

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t going to play in Sunday’s preseason opener against Indianapolis and thus it’s not clear yet if he will here (thus no opening line). The Browns, meanwhile, named new addition Robert Griffin III their starting quarterback for the regular season on Monday. RGIII should play on Friday after not seeing the field once last regular season with the Redskins.

Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals

Friday, 10 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Cardinals -3, Total 37

Don’t laugh, but this could be a preview of Super Bowl LI. Not saying that’s probable, but the Cardinals might have the best all-around roster in the NFL and the Raiders are a rising power in the AFC. These teams played in the 2015 preseason in Oakland, with the Cardinals winning 30-23.

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Chiefs -2.5, Total 35.5

Both these clubs were wild-card teams in last year’s playoffs. Seattle is +475 on Sports Interaction’s NFL futures odds to win the NFC title for a third time in the past four seasons. In six seasons under Pete Carroll, the Seahawks have a 15-9 preseason record. The Chiefs are +1100 to win the AFC Championship.

Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills

Saturday, 7 p.m. ET

NFL odds: TBA

It wasn’t clear if Colts QB Andrew Luck was going to play in the Hall of Fame Game or not. He may get a series or two here, but that’s why there isn’t an opening line. You won’t see Buffalo’s top two picks from this year’s draft in Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland. Lawson had shoulder surgery in May and will miss the start of the regular season. Ragland will sit too as he suffered a partially torn ACL in practice last week. Not what Coach Rex Ryan needs in a win-or-be-fired season. Buffalo hosted Indy in Week 1 of the 2015 regular season and won 27-14.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Rams -3.5, Total 35.5

This is an ESPN game as it marks the NFL’s return to Los Angeles and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The Rams are also this season’s featured team in HBO’s excellent show “Hard Knocks,” which was to debut on Tuesday night. This should be the first NFL action of Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He’s currently No. 2 on the team’s depth chart behind Case Keenum.

San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread Titans -2.5 Total 35.5

Both teams might keep the game plans very vanilla here because they also play in the regular season. The Titans fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt just seven game into his second season in 2015 and he went back to San Diego as the team’s offensive coordinator. The Chargers hold a 7-2 edge over the Titans in exhibition play all time.

Houston Texans at  San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, 7 p.m. ET

NFL odds: Point spread 49ers -3, Total 36.5

You can look for an in-depth preview of this game later this week. It’s the Houston debut of quarterback Brock Osweiler and the 49ers head coaching debut of Chip Kelly, fired last season by the Eagles. Kelly has a quarterback battle on his hands between Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick. Regardless of who starts this game, both should see equal time.