What Is NFL Preseason Betting and How Does It Work?

NFL preseason betting means placing wagers on the exhibition games teams play in August, before the regular season starts. These games do not count in the standings, so the goal for coaches is testing players, not winning. That one fact changes how you should bet them.

Before placing a long-term wager, check out our NFL futures betting guide to understand Super Bowl odds, division winners, and season win totals.

Key Takeaways

• Preseason betting is wagering on August exhibition games that do not count in the standings.
• Playing time matters more than talent, because starters often sit after a series or two.
• The main bets are the moneyline, the point spread, and the total (over/under).
• One trend to know: preseason underdogs of +1 to +3 went 149-102 against the spread, per VSiN analytics cited by The Ringer (Aug. 11, 2023).
• Offshore books like Bovada and BetOnline post preseason lines earlier than most.

What Is the NFL Preseason?

The NFL preseason is a set of practice games played in August. Teams use them to look at rookies, backups, and roster bubble players. Most coaches rest their stars, so the players on the field late in these games are fighting for a job.

Because the games do not count, effort and playing time swing from team to team. A first-string quarterback might play one drive. A third-string quarterback might play the whole second half.

How Does NFL Preseason Betting Work?

Preseason betting works the same way as regular-season betting. You pick a market, the book gives you odds, and you risk money for a chance to win more. The difference is what drives the result.

In the regular season, the better roster usually wins. In the preseason, the team that plays its useful players longer often wins. So a weaker team with a coach who wants to see his backups compete can beat a stronger team resting everyone. As one Yahoo Sports preseason breakdown put it, preseason betting is about who plays, for how long, and why, not which team is better overall.

Which Preseason Bets Can You Place?

You will see the same core markets you find all season. Here is what each one means in plain English.

A quick term check: the “spread” is a points head start the underdog gets. If Team B is +3, they can lose by 2 and your bet still wins. Sportsbook guides like Sharp Football Analysis list moneyline, spread, and total as the standard preseason markets, plus a few team props.

If you want a deeper walk-through of one market, read how a moneyline bet works before you start.

Why Are Preseason Odds So Hard to Predict?

Preseason odds are hard because books have less to go on. Nobody knows for sure how long the starters will play. Depth charts shift during training camp, and a coach can change the plan the night before.

That uncertainty is also why lines can move a lot on small news. If a coach says his starters will sit, the total and the spread can move fast. Betting into that uncertainty without a reason is guessing, not handicapping.

Do Preseason Underdogs Really Cover?

Historically, small road dogs have been a decent angle. VSiN analytics, cited by The Ringer on Aug. 11, 2023, found preseason underdogs in the +1 to +3 range went 149-102 against the spread. “Against the spread” just means covering the point cushion, not winning the game outright.

That is a trend, not a promise. Coaching plans, roster cuts, and playing-time calls change every year. Treat it as one input, and always check who is expected to play before you bet.

Where Can You Find the Best Preseason Odds?

Offshore books tend to post preseason lines earlier and take bets on more of these games. In our Bovada review, Bovada consistently priced sides at -110, which is the standard “juice,” or the fee built into the odds. BetOnline and MyBookie also cover the full preseason slate.

Why does the juice matter? A $100 bet at -110 returns about $90.91 in profit. The same bet at -115 returns about $86.96. Paying -110 instead of -115 saves you roughly $4 per $100, so shopping for the lower number adds up fast. Use our free calculator to check your parlay math before you bet.

Is Preseason Betting Worth It for Beginners?

Preseason betting is worth it if you treat it as low-stakes practice, not a way to get rich. The games are cheap to bet and great for learning how odds move. Keep your bets small while you learn.

The smart move is to bet only when you have real information, like a confirmed playing-time plan. If you want to keep going once the season starts, our NFL season win totals guide shows how those longer-term numbers move.

References

• The Ringer — “The Dos and Don’ts to Betting the NFL Preseason” (Aug. 11, 2023), citing VSiN analytics: https://www.theringer.com/2023/08/11/nfl/how-to-bet-the-nfl-preseason
• Yahoo Sports — “Why there is value betting on NFL preseason games”.
• Sharp Football Analysis — “NFL Preseason Betting Guide”.